May 13, 2007 Mother's Day Phone Call Home

I was reading my journal and found a summary of a phone call home from Bryce:

• In Port Elizabeth ward there are 85 % white, 15 % black and no coulored.

• Zone Conference is on Tues. and they have taught a Pastor.  He has read 1/2 of the Book of Mormon and they have set up an appointment with Pres. Egan so he can ask him questions.  

• Tyler asked Bryce when the last time was he had pizza and he said yesterday.  They have weird ingredients like bananas, Russian sausage, etc.  He still doesn't like to eat smiley ( goat's tongue, goats head).  He can eat yams now, beet root and anything but tells people he is allergic to soda pop.  
• He talked about townships and that they don't go there at night because everyone burns their garbage   ( no garbage collection) and they would smell like bonfire.  He gets to hear Bob Marley being played and says I probably enjoy it more than I should.   His apartment is small.  There is just the two of them.  There are 100 in the building.  They are on the 2nd story.  All the houses are cinder block with barbed wire and glass around perimeter.  There are police men with armored cars and machine guns everywhere.  The crime is mostly with the blacks and racism is common.  
•   They do service in the mornings then have lunch, do tracting, visit members and get referrals.  He says tracting is a lot like video games.  They keep finding ways to be creative to talk to people and to keep from getting bored.  
• He just finished reading "Our Heritage" and said it was really good. 
• He doesn't mean to be ungrateful but everyone sends him Swedish fish...variety is nice. 

His questions:  Is my room still painted?  How's Provo Canyon construction going?  Mom...do you miss Elder Christensen? Mom: I am so grateful that you are on a mission!  Do you get homesick?  I figure I am down here for only 2 years and it will be gone before I know it so I had better make it count because I will be home before I know. 
Question from Mom:  How do you know how to make meat pies?  I 'm a missionary.  I just figure it out.