WEEKLY UPDATE #10

Elder McDonald and Elder Serrano

July 10, 2017

So, no "Weekly Update" (his group email) from Elder McDonald this week. He did however send out private emails (I think). I'm guessing he ran out of time in the "cyber cafe..." actually, I'm wondering what happened.  Anyway, I'll share from my email.

In his letter to me he said his camera still isn't fixed. He's wondering if it's a software problem. So I told him to go ahead and buy a new one. I want pictures and I KNOW he wants to take pictures of his mission.

He said Elder Serrano is amazing at piano and videoed him before the camera stopped working.

Davis says he and Elder Serrano get along really well. "We are together for 3 months which is the length of my training. That's good. He teaches me a lot and he started an 'English jar' where every time we speak English we put a peso in the jar. So far he's paid 6 pesos and I've paid 2, so I've been speaking pretty much just Spanish the last 2 days. My Spanish is getting really good and I might be pretty fluent at the end of my training if I keep speaking my Spanish and no English."

Davis is really liking the food, which is a surprise to everyone including himself. So I mentioned maybe he won't lose weight like he thought in the beginning, but he said, "I believe I'll still lose weight. I walked like 20 miles in the heat of the day." He also said he had the best macaroni and cheese he's ever had at someone's home and that they made it with spaghetti noodles. Mick and I just laughed because we don't think he was ever willing to even try macaroni and cheese at home. Yay for trying new foods!!

He said he got a haircut that cost 25 pesos (less than $1.50). He said it's good and that he'll send us a picture when he gets a camera. Can't to see what $1.50 gets you. Hopefully, his curly hair will be forgiving.

Davis has been very encouraging for me to stay tough and keep working at recovering from my knee replacement. Even from far away he's so sweet.

Regarding Victor, the young man he baptized he says, "Victor is the best haha! He's super cool and really fun to be around. He has a strong spirit too!! We printed a picture of his baptism and wrote a scripture on the back and signed our names and when we gave it to him he was trying so hard not to cry. He was super happy! His mom is taking the discussions already." Davis told me he'll send me a picture of his journal page he wrote about the baptism when his camera gets working or he gets a new one.

His district went paint balling and said it was super fun! He said Elder Serrano got hit on the neck and that he took pictures and would send it in his weekly email -- so he was planning on sending a weekly email.

"This week was awesome. Every day here is awesome!!"

Hopefully next Monday he'll have pictures and have time to send a group email. I missed it.