Merry Christmas Phone Call!

Here are some notes I took from our phone conversation with Kenny on Christmas day:

Where ARE you?  :)

Chalchuapa (zone) Cuscochopa (area)

About 2 hours from the mission home. North, near the Guatamala border.  Near a semi-active volcano.

Who is your companion?

Elder Eskiveri (spelling) from Idaho.  Out for 14 months and the district leader.

What have you eaten?

A lot of rice, beans and chicken.  Not supposed to eat pork or strawberries because of potential for making sick.

What is your apartment like?

The fourth wall is a fence!  Large.  No hot water.  Electric stove.

Does anyone help you with laundry/cooking?

They pay someone $3/day to serve breakfast and lunch.  Someone does their laundry for them.

What would you like people to send you?

Ties, sour candy.  No gum allowed.

How close are you to other missionaries/the church?

15-minute walk to next missionaries.

20-minute ride to the Branch they are assigned.

15-minute walk to the Stake Center (not in their area).

Do missionaries use bicycles there?

No, it is too dangerous because the drivers aren't safe.  One area in El Salvador has them, and Belize missionaries do, too.

What kinds of restaurants are there?

In San Salvador (big city) there are:  Wendys, Pizza Hut, McDonalds and Tony Romas.

What is your p-day (preparation day)?

Monday

How do they celebrate Christmas there?

Christmas eve they set off tons of fireworks, so it was pretty loud.

A few other bits and pieces:

-Sister missionaries in the mission attend the Guatemala MTC.

-They are given water in 5-gallon dispensers.  Not to drink tap water.

-Baptism scheduled for Christmas day.  An 11-year-old girl named Joseline.

-Three dinners Christmas Eve:  First one when they went to interview Joseline for her baptism.  They were invited to stay for dinner.  Then they visited someone else and were invited to dinner.  Then they went to their dinner appointment at the Bishop's home!

-Doesn't understand much of the language yet.

-His MTC teacher's wife served a year of her mission in Belize.  They want to make sure you know Spanish well first before you go to Belize, because they don't speak Spanish there.

-4 missionaries in his home.  He is the only new missionary that he knows is assigned to an American companion.

-They had their mission party in Sonsunate (more central than the mission home I guess).

-Doesn't know where the other new missionaries were sent.

-Feeling pretty overwhelmed with not being able to understand much yet.

It was wonderful to talk to him and learn about what he's been doing.  He is in my constant prayers.  I'm so proud of him.

IN San Salvador!

hi mom! I only have 3 minutes, but Im just supposed to let you know that I´m here and safe. Our P-days are on Monday, and I should be able to call on the 25th. I have to get off now, but I hope everythings okay!

Mail to El Salvador

I've been told by experienced missionary moms that this is the best way to get mail to Kenny.  It takes .98 stamp for one ounce(one mom just puts 3 regular stamps on it) ($1.76 for 2 oz., 2.54 for 3 oz., and 3.32 for 3.5 oz.) and it goes to the mission address.  It takes about a week to get to El Salvador.:

Misión El Salvador San Salvador Oeste/Belice
Boulevard del Hipódromo #537
Colonia San Benito
Apartado Postal #367
San Salvador, El Salvador, C.A.


If you plan to send packages, you will need the phone number of the mission home:  503 2264-3498.  We have been asked to ONLY use the United States Post Office because the mission office often has to pay huge fees to pick up packages delivered by other companies.


I've been told that if the package is less than ten pounds it it best to pay regular priority, but if it is more than ten pounds, it is best to put it in a flat rate box.  Not cheap.  But the flat rate priority mail international envelopes and small boxes are $13.45.  I think Kenny will be getting small packages.  :)  The flat rate medium box  is $43.45 and flat rate large box is $55.95.  I think the maximum weight for those is 20 lbs.

Today is the big travel day!

Flying to El Salvador today!  I can't wait to talk to him!

MTC District

I believe this is his MTC district at the Provo Temple.  Thank you to Elder Tuck's mom for this photo!

Less than a week!

Kenny has less than a week left in the MTC!  He leaves Monday, December 20.

To send him letters or packages, the address for the mission home is:

Elder Kenneth Lee Pierce

El Salvador San Salvador West/Belize Mission

Boulevard del Hipodromo 537

Colonia San Benito
Apartado Postal #367

San Salvador, El Salvador C.A.

  Phone # 503 2264-3498


If you ship a package with a private courier, you will need the mission office phone # listed.


It has been requested that we use USPS because the mission office often has to pay a fee to receive the packages from any other service.


To send letters in a pouch from Salt Lake City, you can either send postcards or letters that are single-sheet, folded into three-panels, and taped at the top only (NO envelopes or packages).  The address is:


Elder Kenneth Lee Pierce
El Salvador San Salvador West/Belize Mission
POB 30150
SLC, UT  84130-0150

Elder Pierce, Sister Baker

Thank you to Sharon for sharing this photo with me of Kenny and her daughter (who is on her way to serve in Brazil this week!)  The first photo I've seen of him wearing his official missionary nametag!

Pierce Missionary Journey

I created this blog to follow the missionary journey of our family. Our oldest son, Kenny, is currently in the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah preparing to serve in the El Salvador, San Salvador West/Belize Mission. He is scheduled to fly to El Salvador the week before Christmas. We are still waiting for his travel plans.

We are so thankful to be able to support him and his service. To be able to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others is a gift. Please share the journey with us!