Some of our missionaries work through incredible challenges. We are very proud of this one. We call him Elder Starving. When he came to Mexico he would eat nothing but peanut butter and jelly on bread. Then, he started tasting things like chicken soup, roasted chicken, broiled chicken, grilled chicken, and other forms of dead chicken. Eventually, he loved it. He tried rice and loves it. He tried beef and loves it. He tried fish and didn't really like it, but ate it. He liked the white fish better than salmon. (Confused isn't he?) He is hoping to be able to try armadillo and iguana. What an unexpected change! Well, things are not perfect in Elder Hungry's life. He has developed a back problem. He can't stand up very long or it hurts too much. Now when he eats, he feels like bugs or something else is crawling around in his stomach. They/it might be, but I think that is what food does as it digests. He wants to throw up. We sent him to an orthopedist who X-rayed his back. Yup. It is ugly. Should be basically straight and not offset. It is not. In spite of this, he is still hard at it, walking, baptizing, being happy, giving it his all. In his letter to the president this week (11Jan10) he wrote, Estoy mejor. Bautizamos el sabado pasado. Estoy muy Feliz. Estamos trabajando como locos como siempre...pero la semana pasado no porque mis enfermedades. Pero tengo animo. Tengo fe... Vamos a bautizar esta semana tambien. Con mucho amor, Elder Starving. Translated: "I am better. We baptized last week. I am very happy. We are working like crazies all the time...but last week, no, because of my illnesses. But, I am excited. I have faith... We are baptizing this week, too. With much love, Elder Starving." You know that Elder Starving is not his real name, right?