Highlights from our Christmas Phone Call

So here is just a few of the things that I remember from Hayden's call home. We called him at nine thirty his time when he came in for the night. We were at our traditional lasagna dinner at Grandma Murdock's and the whole clan was there. It was a bit hectic to say the least.


1. Hayden is doing well. He was homesick for our Christmas traditions and for his family. However when I told him that he only had one more year before he would be home and I mentioned that other missionaries say the second year goes by a lot faster—he said, "I am not ready for that, it really worries me. This year has gone by WAY to fast and I do not want the next one to go by faster. I do not want my mission to be over." He said he loves his mission and he loves the people.

2. He did mention that it was hard there in Guatemala. He was not complaining or anything ...just a matter of fact.

3. He said that he was "STUFFED" full of tamales.....listening to Christmas music on his new iPod and relaxing in his new Christmas Story pajamas. He said that he wanted to eat a little Christmas Candy that we had sent but he could not fit another thing in his stomach.

4. He said that his health is great but that having the diarrhea most of the time is just part of being in Guatemala. Phillip warned him that the tamales were going to creep up on him...and if you read the previous blog ...it came to pass....literally :)

5. He enjoyed talking Spanish with Bryan. Bryan said he is very good at speaking the language. He did mention that he had quite the Guatemalan accent when he spoke. He told Bryan that one of the families that he baptized walks four miles to get to church every Sunday. Amazing!!!!! and we are late when we have to drive 2 minutes.....need to work on that!

6. He got very emotional when he spoke to Avery. Avery said, "I love you Hay'N" and she wished him a "Merry Kiss...mas"....she did not speak at all when he left and to hear her voice made him cry. He kept wanting her to say more but then she got shy. A good portion of the time when Avery comes to my house to visit all she wants to do is to get on my computer and look at photos of Hayden. She especially likes the ones of him eating marshmallows with the family from Dolores.

7. He talked Guatemala food with Grandma Murdock for quite awhile. We found out that the tamales Hayden is eating are not what we think of when we think of a tamale. I guess that they often have a fig in them. Grandma and Grandpa Murdock were recently called to serve a mission in the Lindon Cannery. They will be released form their "mission" about the time that Hayden comes home. I guess Hayden and Grandpa joked that they can report at the same meeting—Hayden reporting on his conversions and Grandpa reporting on his "can" versions. They thought that was really funny.....Hayden misses Grandpa's silly sense of humor.

8. He told Abby and Taylor that if they get straight A's and become fluent in Spanish he will take them back to Guatemala. I think he better prepare because Abby is going to do it and she will hold him to the deal!!! And knowing Hayden....he will take her. He does not make a promise that he does not follow through on. It might take him a few years —but he will follow through! And the challenge made Taylor excited because he is already learning Spanish. He is so excited to be able to talk to Bryan and Hayden....and make jokes about mom without her knowing it.

9. When it came time to go He did not want us to. He kept asking silly questions and saying don't go yet.   We had to call late in the night and that was not a good time to call. Nothing to distract him and help him adjust back into Guatemala and missionary life before going to bed and being homesick. Note to self....do not do that next time. Also we had difficulty with the calling cards and had to run and get different ones. The first connections were bad and we had to keep calling back. On Mother's Day everything worked like a charm so we did not worry to much about all of that. It was a bit chaotic for sure but in the end it worked out.

10. He still misses Dolores, but is doing great work with the members and the investigators that he has found in San Jeronimo and he loves it there too.

11. He did tell me a story that made me cry about the orphanage in San Jeronimo. He said that he and Elder M. were walking by and that they saw a little girl playing with her Barbie (one of the ones we sent) all by herself in the dirt. He said that she looked up and saw them and lit up. She started yelling, "Elders, Elders, Elders!" and she came up to the fence and talked to them through the fence for a while. It made Hayden so happy to see her so excited to see them.

I just have visions of a grown women someday letting the Elders into her home to teach her because she remembers the kindness shown in an orphanage when she was little. By small things do great things come to pass.

10. And last but not least........ It was just wonderful to hear his voice. He sounded very tired, a bit homesick.....but strong and mature. He is doing Well. What a wonderful Christmas present for all of us.