If picture is worth a thousand words, then skyping is worth a gazillion! We got a great surprise Sunday when Masen was able to skype from the jungle. There was a delay and it was hard to discern what he was saying, but just seeing his smile was all we needed.
He was at the ward mission leader’s house and as we talked people came by and Masen would aim the camera at them and introduce them to us. We were all squished together trying to be in the camera frame all at once. He had ear phones and a mic so they could not hear us, but we would wave and they would wave back. There were several children, a cute 2 ½ year old who Masen persuaded to say “Hola”! And a little eight year old girl snuggled right up to him and “shared” one of the head phones. Her name is Sondra and when Greg commented to Masen that it looks like he has a little “friend” Masen burst into a big smile and nodded his head. EJ and Brietyn cried several times when he spoke just to them.
He looked incredibly happy, showered with love, and completely at home. It was hard to believe he has only been there for 3 weeks. He has a pensionista—a member that is hired to cook for the missionaries. In Lima his pensionista did not cater to them, but his pensionista now has told him she will try and cook American food that he wants if he gets her a recipe. So his big request was a recipe for pizza dough. His companion, who is from Chile, was in the background saying “pizza please…pizza please”. He also asked for us to send him brownie mixes. We asked him if he was still having to eat a lot of fish. He said the pensionista saw him eating fish and recognized that he did not like it and told him she would not make him any more fish. Can I just say I LOVE THIS WOMAN! I am so grateful to her for spoiling Masen!
He said he has to cross the river everyday on a bridge this is bouncy like a trampoline…just like the movies. He takes a cold shower every morning…colder that the river. He said that the bugs and spiders have not been any more ominous than the ones in Lima. He said that it is beautiful and amazing and he is loving it. I don’t think it is as remote as you might imagine.
As we were saying goodbye, he aimed the camera at the group of people and we made a heart shape with our hands. He aimed the camera back at himself for a minute then back to the group of people who were making hearts back to us. All barriers vanish…geographical, cultural, language…and we all felt the exchange of pure love and we became brothers and sisters instead of strangers. It was a powerful moment for me.
We asked Masen to call us for his remaining 15 minutes so we could really communicate. It was about another hour when we got his call. The connection was fuzzy and still hard to hear and I asked him if he wanted to call back to try to get a clearer line. He said he only had 12 minutes left on his card and was headed for a meeting and asked me what else there was to talk about? Enough said…”been good talking to you but got to get back to work.” I actually thought that was the perfect way to end the call. Can’t wait for Christmas!
I’m writing this at work and funny thing just happened his mission president, President Blunck, just called in. I could not help it…I had to tell him that I had a missionary in his mission and what a great conversation we had with him on Sunday. He, of course, told me what a great missionary Masen is and thanks for sending him to us!
This is Masen’s “two-line” e-mail from Monday…(really Masen?)
ya so it was good talking to you yesterday. ill write you next week. this computer stinks. ill see if i can send you pics another way. love you all. bye
No comments:
Post a Comment