Here are some things we learned when we talked to Matt on Skype on Christmas Day!
He said to get around they walk, ride buses or taxis. It would
probably be possible to walk the circumference of his area in a day.
None of the elders have bikes. Matt thinks they would just be stolen
anyway.
He has had two haircuts since he has been to Honduras, and he got his hair cut by a member.
The
stake center there (where they had their Christmas party) is the
biggest in Central America and bigger than the ones in UT--it has 3
floors. His ward there has about 75-100 people who come each week.
His
address isn't an address--it is directions. That is is why it is so
long. It says something like: go this way, turn left at....
His mission president does not speak English. His kids are all grown and gone from home.
In
one of his pictures, there is a sister missionary with a cast on her
foot. When we asked him about it, Matt said, the zone was crossing the
street as a group, and she was hit by a car, which ran over her foot!
They drink bottled water, which they haul in 5 gallon bottles up the hill to their apartment 2-3 times a week.
The weather there is like UT in August.
He said he knows a couple of missionaries who have been mugged.
To
take his daily shower, he boils a gallon of water, which he adds to 4
gallons of cold water in a bucket, which he pours over himself.
Most things are available there, but quite expensive.
People sit outside the supermarket trying to sell things like toothpaste.
20 limpiras equals about $1. A pizza costs 100 limpiras, which is about $5, but the pizza is a lot smaller than it is here.
The
zone gets together on p-days. They often play soccer. On Thursdays
they have district meetings and usually go out to eat at a place where
they can make their own burritos.
40-50% of the mission are American Elders/Sisters. His zone leader is from Mexico. He doesn't get much of a reaction about being American since he is in the city, but he thought he might if he were in the more rural areas.
There are 11 zones in his mission. Transfers are every 6 weeks.
A
lady in their area washes their clothes for free. They have brought
her candy bars to say thank you. After she washes their clothes, they
bring their damp clothes home and hang them up to dry. They clean their
own apartment. I asked Matt to send me a picture of the bathroom, but
he said he wouldn't, so I am assuming it is pretty bad.
Once when they went to a member's house, the lady was straightening the daughter's hair with a clothes iron.
He gets 1-2 hours/p-day to spend on the computer.
There
is no bedding provided, but he has his own sheets and that is usually
plenty. If he ever gets cold he just puts on his hoodie and warm socks.
I asked if they had problems with flying bugs, like mosquitos, and he said no. They have a few flies, but that's about it.
He hasn't seen any snakes, but his companion did.
It gets dark about 5:30-6 p.m. and light about 6 a.m.
He
understands quite a bit of Spanish, but still struggles to speak it.
He said he is happy and enjoying his mission.
He looked and sounded really good. It was great to talk with him!
