3 June 2013

Dear Family,

It's kind of strange to write this letter now, knowing that I get to talk to you in a few hours. I am super excited to get to actually talk to you. My companion is great and generally communication isn't a huge obstacle, but I feel limited in what I can really talk about. We can figure out when we are going where and what we are going to teach. But it's hard to express what I'm thinking and feeling. I can explain that I can mostly understand sister so and so, but that I only heard two distinct words from brother such and such, but that doesn't quite capture my feelings about a lesson.

Good news! I have sandals! I will show you them this evening when we Skype. I emailed Pres. Veirs, and he said I might have to go to the mall in San Pedro Sula. Missionaries generally aren't supposed to go there, but doors open when you ask. The shoes aren't perfect. They don't have as much arch support as I get with my inserts, but I think they'll work at least for rainy days.

We have one investigator right now, Angel, who is just amazing. He's sixteen, has almost nothing, and lives with his older brother. He came to church two Sundays ago with another boy we had invited to church. After that we started teaching him. Most people either don't read what we invite them to read or don't remember anything. However, when we started teaching Angel, I almost thought he had memorized the Restoration pamphlet. When we came to bring him to church yesterday, he wasn't there. After a moment of despair, we learned that he had already left for church! He showed up at church with a group of young men. Someone had loaned or given him a white shirt and tie. He totally looked the part. Then, he got up and shared his testimony in sacrament meeting. I'm trying not to have my hopes too high on him since I think we really might have trouble getting his mother, who lives in another city, to give permission.

On Saturday, I had a fun service opportunity. A lot of our service involves helping with washing clothes or dishes. I really don't have much skill washing clothes by hand or washing dishes in at a pila. Accordingly, I usually feel useless. But, on Saturday, we walked past a family that was moving a pile of dirt, some sort of regrading event, I think. We offered to help and they accepted. Let me tell you, I know all about shoveling dirt into wheelbarrows. I felt like I was at home all over again, working on some project outside. I was really grateful for that moment where I could feel close to home. I also felt a little ridiculous about shoveling dirt in a skirt and dress shoes. Only missionaries do stuff like that!

Other things about here. A lot of the buildings are made out of concrete. Concrete floors, concrete walls. The roofs are often out of corrugated sheet metal, like Dad described in Argentina, I think. Occasionally even walls are made out of corrugated metal. Some houses have some wood too. Usually the wood has some serious termite (or carpenter ant?) decay. Almost every house has a gate (with a padlock) and fence surrounding the property. In some houses the gate adds some security, in others, it's just there out of force of habit and is falling apart. Lots and lots of people have dogs, partially as pets and partially as security. Also, a lot of the cats here are really, really small. Like every cat is a kitten. Maybe they eat them before they grow? But I don't think so. In some areas, there are a lot of chickens that basically roam loose in the streets. Chicken is definitely a staple here along with rice beans and everything you can do with a banana. They even have banana soda here. The first time I tried it, I thought it was good but strange, but like every other missionary, I am learning to love it. The trees here include a lot of the palm variety, but also some deciduous trees that seem similar to ones we have at home. I'm not a tree expert.

Well, I love you lots and lots and I can't wait to talk to you!

Hna Davis