Eli has such limited time on the computer each week, if you haven't guessed. He has 30 minutes to read all his email and respond, then 30 minutes to talk. He and the other missionaries meet at the church and use a member's computer so they are strict on the time. He will stop mid-sentence, both in writing and speaking and say that his time is up. I am grateful he is being obedient.
Last week, he told us about his new favorite fruit, a granadilla. He held one up and showed us.
He then showed me how he hits it on a table and eats the fruit out of the thick skin. He had just gone shopping so he told me what food he purchased for the week: bananas, 2 mangoes, eggs, bleach, "a gigantic head of broccoli", hot dogs, mandarins, a bag of milk (he showed me that one too), 2 soup flavoring packages, green onions, 8-9 tomatoes, and 8-9 apples. He still juggles the oranges and is going to try the soup experiment this week. I asked him is he has enough money. He said that he is doing just fine. So many of the other missionaries waste so much money on junk food, he had left over money at the end of the month. They get their money once a month. He plans for 90-95 soles per week for food and transportation. He said this week he has been doing a pancakes experiment, making them often. He also made scrambled eggs with chopped hot dog in them and topped it with a tomato and an avocado.
This was all reassuring for me as his mother to hear. The first few weeks out of the MTC were a big learning curve for Eli. He is learning to be an adult, shop for himself and to be a missionary at the same time. He was hungry because he hadn't purchased enough food. Luckily, he gets one good meal per day. They have a pensionista that cooks lunch for them and does their laundry (ok, so I guess he gets broken into adulthood slowly). He is responsible for breakfast and dinner. They can't eat with members because the members would give them their best food and their children might starve. They love the missionaries.
He also told us about talking to his mission president. He asked him how he learned Spanish so well, he has been impressed. Eli told him that his Dad practiced with him before he left. President said, "You have a great dad!" I agree wholeheartedly with that.
Eli and his companion were thrilled with 11 new investigators at church last week, and this week not so many. He just said, "So, we have work to do." He is good friends with his companion and they are goth gringos with red hair!
He loves being in Peru and loves to hear details about what each of his siblings are up to. He hasn't been able to talk to them for almost 2 months because he calls during their school day. I often don't know what time he will call, but need to start checking out one child at a time, so he can see them and they can talk to him.
It is so wonderful to see his face and hear his voice. He is happy and working hard. So many new little cultural differences and experiences are just an adventure to him. We are so proud of him. He loves to get letters, even if he has to speed-read them!
Thanks for all your love and support for our missionary!
Love, Angie
We also finally got pictures from him!
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