..Highlights from our Christmas call.....

--talked about Elder Marquis' baptism of Noelia. It was alot like his first baptism. She was so ready. She reads the Book of Mormon and is so excited.
--Question? Have you eaten dog? Yeah, they're super good, dude.
--The night before we talked he had dinner with some members and ate HORSE and IGUANNA!
--About where he lives: with the Zone Leaders, one of his old companions, and buddy--Elder Morgan, but he is going home in February. It has a shower, but it is really just a pipe coming out of the wall..not "cold", but not hot.
--Just uses his hiking boots in the rainy season. Been out a year and they are still good.
--His area extends down to the ocean. Only one of four or five that touch the ocean. He can't go though because of all the scantily clad women.
--They have American candy, but really expensive.
--How much time on email day..about an hour.
--Where do you email from? An internet cafe.
--Are you happy? I am very happy....the happiest I've ever been in my life.
--What happened to the guy you tracted into while running in the rain. Being baptized on the 1st of January.
--Two more feches this month....so good, so many people to teach.
--Do you tract in neighborhoods since you are in the city? No jungles, but there aren't apartment buildings, just decent looking houses, not pieces of wood.
--What is the grossest thing you have eaten? Cow foot. They just chop it off--it's all slimy on the inside. (Gross!!!)
--He got invited to the stake president's house for Christmas dinner.
--Does it feel like your mission is going by fast? It feels like it has been only a week!
--Tell us about your companion. Elder Langi is such a hard worker, so nice...I can see him being an assistant one day.
--What do you eat? Mostly these little squares of prepackaged meat, rice and red beans, coconuts and mangos.
--Do you like your new mission president? Love him!! He's smart and spiritual. He has his head on,...He's wonderful!!
--We challenged him to make sure and keep all the mission rules... (he does :) He repeated what his president had told them...If you can't keep the little white book of rules, then how will you be able to keep the rules in God's handbook? He told us of his belief that he is walking now as a representative for Christ, to walk as Christ would...

We had a conference call with about 25 of the family on, and it was wonderful! In the end, it was just Brandon, mom and dad...we were able to tell him how much we loved him and talk about a few private things with him before the phone went dead.... LOVE missionary phone calls. Mom was concerned...not dad...that the phone call would make him homesick, but he loves his mission so much and is so happy that he is doing well. It will be very hard for him to come home in 13 short months.
--Family members were able to tell him how important his being an example to the younger nieces, nephews and cousins is.
--We told him how we loved his letters...to write more info....oh well....some days are better than others, but we always look forward to his sweet spirit.