On the Border of Texas

N is just about to the six-month mark of  his mission experience (out of two years).  He has been in south Texas, living just six miles from the border of Mexico, since September.  We've missed him like crazy.  He is learning a lot about living with all types of people.  He is also learning to be independent and take care of  himself.  It has been really hard at times, but he has been able to figure it out. 

He speaks Spanish fluently now.  I can't believe it!  He took three years of German in high school and didn't know any Spanish when he left.  When he skyped at Christmas, N and his dad spent the first 10 minutes or so speaking only in Spanish.

We get an email from him once a week.  I scrutinize every picture that he sends home for weight-loss.  He was just moved to an area where they bike everywhere they go.  He'll need to make up for that additional calorie loss.  I'm so glad to know that he has some extra weight on him.  It just means that he will have a chance to make adjustments before any issues with relapse appear.  We check in with him often to see if he has had any feelings of restriction.  He has.  But he said that he knows that the way to deal with that is to make sure that he has full nutrition.  He even let his exercise/food-obsessed companion know that they could NOT skip lunch. 

He is teaching a lot of people.  He is serving the communities there in Texas and making a difference.   What an amazing experience!