Christmas phone call

There are 3 new posts here.  So look back in the blog archive to read them.

Friday, December 24 (phone call)
We sat around a speaker phone and talked to Brandon for about 40 minutes.  He said he has been assigned to a companion that is from Guatemala and they are in the city of Managua.  Their apartment is very simple with a dirty floor, concrete walls and tin roof.  They sleep on a mattress. no hot water. They eat at a member's house each night.  She is their cook and will also wash their clothes.  They get up at 6:30 each morning and have study and get ready time.  For breakfast, they buy a piece of bread or a roll on the way to the bus.  they walk around and visit church members, talk to their friends and neighbors about the church.  Many people are interested and there are usually people ready to be baptized each weekend.  He said the lessons are short.  Everyone has been really nice. They have to be back home in their apartment by 9pm.

He said the native people are hard to understand, they talk fast and leave off the ends of their words.  Other missionaries he can understand ok because they pronounce their words more clearly.  He said he can reply back ok in spanish. His companion doesn't speak english, so he is teaching him some english, but they talk all spanish to each other.

For Christmas the people have christmas trees and lights on their houses.  There will be fireworks at midnight.  they have eaten 3 times already today.  One family made pizza.  But he usually sees rice and chicken.  They will go around and do more visits on Christmas day.

It is hot, 90 degrees.  Mosquitos and big bugs. sometimes he sees lizards crawling on the walls. He said they played soccer with some other missionaries and members on their P-day.  There are soccer goals in the parking area of the church.

He is happy and doing well.  We know he is safe and the members will watch over him and keep him safe.  He is excited to teach the people about Jesus Christ, and teach them about Heavenly Father's plan for families to be together forever.  The gospel can bring peace to our lives as we repent and choose to follow Jesus Christ.  Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to be happy.

Have a wonderful Christmas with your family!!