Us: chat while looking?
Erik: sure. Okay, does this work?
Us: we do not see you now. Can you see us?
Erik: Yeah, I can see you. I lowered the bandwidth as much as possible for this call. I don't know if you'll be able to see me.
Us: We see you!
Erik: If you speak slow, I can hear you.
Us: Just type
Erik: Sure. That's fine. I'll type. The internet really sucks here. I haven't been kidding when I say that.
Us: We need to figure out this tech problem.
Erik: Okay, I have been eating mother. Don't worry.
Us: Mom says good. You look like you've lost weight.
Erik: Yeah, I'm fast at typing. I did. Cool, huh?
Us: Not cool!
Erik: Very. I'm eating less.
Us: You're not a fatty. Don't eat less. Eat to survive. How's the heat?
Erik: I was 76 kilos at the mission home. They tried to kill us with food at the MTC. Hi Karissa!
Us: Food at the MTC is meant to help not kill!
Erik: So I'm eating enough food that it doesn't kill me.
Us: Are you eating better now that you're in Dar?
Erik: I'm eating a hEALTHY amount.
Us: Good! You look great! We are so proud of you!
Erik: I have a light breakfast and dinner and a heavy lunch. I just sent you an email Karissa.
Us: Look at all these people who are praying for you.
Erik: I can sorta hear you. I have my mic muted.
Us: unmute your mic.
Erik: You wouldn't be able to hear me anyway, there's a guy making music behind me.
Us. Try it!
Erik: Don't be jealous mom. I've sent you an email too. The heat? I AM IN THE ARMPIT OF HADES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Us: Good. Thanks. Don't send us emails like Chase.
Erik: It's humid beyond all belief. No, no longer sick.
Us: Are you still sick? Good.
Erik: I was laid out in bed for two days.
Us: Was it a reaction to the malaria pill?
Erik: That was the main cause of my weight loss. Nope. No issue with the Doxy.
Us: Did you throw up?
Erik: I caught two different bugs. Had diarrhea and a head cold. Told ya, the cause of my weight loss. (Us verbally: How is your companion?) We're both pretty calm. This is Elder Phokane. Well, I tried to call you at midnight. It'll slow down the connection. I couldn't get on. We went to the cafe at 10 this morning to email and the missionary accounts were having issues. Givie Kiki a good scquanch. All the cats here break my heart.
Us: Did you see the map I sent? Can you mark where your flat is?
Erik: They're all starving to death and spend their days begging at out-door cafes. I can't access the map.
Us: I emailed it
Erik: There is one kitten, smaller than the one I saved from the(Hollow) road, and it just cries all the time.
Us: Are you sleeping?
Erik: I know he emailed it. I can't access it. The connection is too slow. Hi Lacey!!! I'll say my hellos now. Hello Jordie and Zackie. Sleep? Not really. I try. I'm the lightest sleeper ever now. Just in the room I sleep. I can be standing in the direct breeze and still be sweating. (Verbal question from us: Are there mosquitos?). Not in this area. Elder Robinson has been bit 20+ times. He's in Arusha. (Verbal question from us: Have you been to zone conference?). I was sick in bed that day. For Zone Conference. (Verbal question from Us: How big is your branch?). 25 people. Less than that show. (Verbal question from Us: What do you do to help the branch? Bless sacrament? Lead music? Talk?). Try not to sleep. The entire thing is in Swahili. (Verbal question from us: Are you learning the language?). NO. I know three words. VERY HARD. NO ONE TELLS ME ANYTHING. (Verbal question from us: Does your companion speak Swahili?). He speaks more than I do. I might speak 6 words by the time I come home. (Verbal from us: Alekken is learning a native language in Vanuatu.). Tell him 'hi' for me. I finally got a break!!!!!!!!!! (Verbal question from Us: Are you teaching?) A little. This is a new area and most people speak Swahili. If we want to teach them we need a member. (Verbal question from Dad: Did you get the phrases I sent?). Phrases? Nope.
Us: upendo. habari gani?
Erik: There is one woman we are teaching named Veronica. She doesn't speak English, but she understands a little of what we say. I know Habari. Her brother is a recent convert named Kevin, and he helps us teach. The Lord has prepared her well, she reads everything we give her. There's a weird mix of English and Swahili names. We gave her a Swahili Book of Mormon. Had to order it online. (Verbal response from us: Wait, we thought you only teach in English because Swahili isn't a pure enough language to teach the gospel.?). We can teach in it, we just don't speak it. The mission has a stock of Swahili Books of Mormon. If we wanted one back home we would have had to order it. We need more for our mission. We ran out. I'm gonna cut it soon. He'll help. (Verbal question from us: Have you sent any more pictures or videos?). No. What was the last video you've seen? (Verbal response from us: The elder playing Curious George theme song on the guitar in the MTC. You sent it twice). That's my bad. Jordie should have recognized it though. (Verbal question from us: Are you taking pictures?). I don't take any. I don't carry my camera with me so it doesn't get stolen. (Verbal question from us: Have you been robbed?). (Visual head shake 'no' from Erik). (Verbal question from us: Will you stand up so we can see you?) Sure. (Verbal question from us as Erik grabs and tweaks his neck: Are you okay?). Popping my neck. (Erik stands up). I can see a few more ribs. I stopped pretty quick. (Verbal comment from us: We are going to send you a camera with WiFi so you can upload pictures and video) That would be nice. Maybe. We can try Skype next time. (Verbal question from us: Does your church have wifi?). Ours doesnt have wifi. Our church is two buildings. The chapel is a renovated store room, and the classrooms are in a house. (Verbal comment from us: I got you a 220 volt electric toothbrush). I saw that email. No wifi. It would help. Everyone here has white teeth. (Verbal comment from us: That's because they have dark skin). My companion gave me brushing advice. (Erik visually demonstrates brushing in circles). Circles. (Verbal comment from us: Be sure you are flossing well.). I floss way more here than at home. (Verbal question from Karissa: How are you getting along with your companion?). Pretty well. We don't fight or argue. Not even once. (Verbal question from us: What about your candy supply? Did you eat all of it?). Had to stick them in the freezer. My candy supply is still untouched. We weren't allowed to eat food in the rooms at the MTC. And we weren't allowed to leave our rooms after nine. (Verbal question from Us: What about cockroaches?). I have seen one cockroach. It was about as big as this. (Erik holds up one side of a pair of headphones). Bigger! What was the last question again?
 |
| The cockroach was about as big as this! |
Us: Its name is Pohito?
Erik: NO! It was in our kitchen. (Verbal question from us: Did you kill it?). No.
Us: Picture?
Erik: I didn't have my camera. I haven't seen it since the second day I got here. (Verbal question from us: Is the mission field better than the MTC?). In some ways.
Us: No longer prison!
Erik: I wish for the days of lesser humidity. (Verbal comment and question from us as Erik takes a drink from a water bottle: I see you have a water bottle. Do you get plenty of water to drink?). Yeah, I have a 1.5 liter bottle in the fridge. I fill the smaller one with it. I use filtered water already. (Verbal question from us: How do you get around? Do you walk a lot? Do you need a bike? Do you use a bus?). Do I walk a lot???? The church and the store are both a mile away. (Verbal comment and question from us: Ther is a university close to you. Do you know?). I know it. It's Dar Es Salaam University. (Verbal question from us: Do you know where you live? Are there any street signs or buildings? We're trying to find you on Google maps). The housing is garbage, but the tech is pretty up to snuff. Hafford Health. That's the hospital less than 500m from my flat. (Verbal question from us: Have you eaten Pap in your area?). No. It's called ugali here. I haven't had it yet. I have rice and beef for lunch. Dinner and breakfast is bread and an egg, fried. I try to eat fruit with every breakfast. Yes. Don't worry. My weight is fine. I'm losing the audio. That guy is still 'making
Us: Are you able to see your blog or is that a no no?
Erik: I haven't seen my blog yet.
Us: Everything is on it.
Erik: K. Get me an MP3 of 'He's a pirate' (from Pirates of the Carribean).
Us: We are going to Ridgeline's play tonight. Shrek the Musical.
Erik: Oh, that one.
Us: Zack's friend, Oren, is in it.
Erik: Perfect casing. He's Shrek, right?
Us: I don't think Julia is in it. No.
Erik: Okay. Add a Tanzanian flag. (to his blog)
Us: He's a pig.
Erik: Well, that makes no sense. Looks good. Sorta. He's a Pirate. (Erik holds up another Elder's name tag)
Us: What?! We saw his mom's name somewhere.
Erik: Cool! The name of the song I want is 'He's a Pirate' from Pirates of the Carribian. It should be approved. I have a short version of it already. (Verbal question from us: You can listen to that?!). Yes, lots of music. Send me the mp3 file.
Us: You want to make a list (of songs) and we'll send you an SD card?
Erik: Also, 'Glorious' by David Archuleta. Just those two. Email them to me.
Us: Okay.
Erik: I'll put them on the SD card from that mom (meaning SD card he already has). No. Anyway, I gotta go. End it quick. I don't know. 6 A.M. next week.
Us: What time?
Erik: 4 P.M. here. Love you bye!
