Fun with "La Gente"

 Family night with Jose's family.  We sang, Rod read a story, and the children created a "Tree of Life" with white and delightsome fruit (bananas).  We had a belt for the iron rod, and Rod decided to get lost much to the children's delight.

 Dinner with the Familia Cordero.  He cooked.  Unfortunately it was our third meal of the afternoon.  The elders joked that Rod will be able to be Santa Clause by December.  At least here he allowed me to choose the size of my portion of white rice.  Other places they just set before you a large plateful.  At one house I got brave and asked for a half serving.  The mother and two daughters weren't eating before, but afterward one of the daughters sat down to eat with us.  Hmmm....

 Some of the handwork designs she sells.

 Elder Cobba drew a small version of our wall map.  We are working to create a map to use since we can't find one to buy.

 The Familia Smith, Kuna Indians,  shared their Mola with me.  Spanish is Lizardo (name of dad and son)'s second language and he speaks slowly.  Rod feels like he has died and gone to heaven.

 This is how we look when visiting the members.  I usually have my guitar on my back, but it was raining and we were going to get a taxi so I didn't put on my plastic bag.

Saturday while waiting for the talent show in the afternoon after the piano class in the morning, we played games and had lunch with some of the youth.

They taught us this game.  It was a lot of fun to play.  We recommend it for family night.

Two stories for this week.  We decided after walking one night with a member who was very nervous that we do need to buy a car.  We had to return to the city on Thursday (leaving at 4:00 a.m. by bus) to have photos taken for our visa.  It isn't possible to do them when you are there immediately after entering the country!  I felt pretty sorry for myself until we met with elders there who had been traveling by bus since the previous afternoon.

We thought we would be efficient and buy the car while we were there.  We visited a Toyota car lot with a member of the mission presidency.  We had walked from immigration, without umbrellas, and while we were there the rain started.  We had purchased a car, but no one there thought it was worth it to give us a ride two blocks down the street or to loan us an umbrella.  We waited for about a half hour, but the rain just kept coming.  Finally our friend ran for the car.  We had paid 1/4 the price of the car on our credit card, but needed to visit their other dealership to finalize that transaction, then go to the office to call our bank and try to transfer funds.  They wouldn't guarantee the funds could be there the next day, so we returned to Aguadulce.

The next morning we called to verify that the funds had arrived.  They had, but the dealership had sold the car to someone else.  They thought we should be willing to buy another sight unseen.  We called our friend, and he said he would go to deal with them.  We have to go back in this Tuesday to meet another couple who are beginning their mission an hour away from here.  We'll see what happens with the car.  Welcome to Panama.

We attended our first branch activity, a day of talents.  We had our class that day, and students stayed with us between the two activities, as it is too far to travel.  We went to the church at 3:00 because one of my piano students wanted to practice his piece for the talent show.  He arrived at 3:45.  We practiced "Sweet is the Work" many times, then went to see when we would begin.  The activity actually started at 5:00.  We had just one family and the youth who were performing.

By 6 we had about 35 people and we began the performances for the second time.  I suggested it because the mother of my student had arrived and I didn't want her to miss his performance.  We translated the chorus of "Kisses sweeter than Wine" and had them sing with us.  Rod was the capo, of course, and we had fun singing.  The second time he leaned down and asked for a kiss at the end.  It went over very well.

Rod mopped the floors all the way to the door to go home and we returned here about 8:30 with the Elders to do English study.  We are trying to get them to study with us every day.  They have a hard time doing it, even though we tell them it is our work and we appreciate their giving us the opportunity to do it.

Elder Pena wanted squash pie for my contribution for the potluck.  I used the oven even though it was so hot, and it turned out reasonably well.  We had to put the cloves in the blender forever, because they were whole, and you can't crush them because they aren't dry enough. 

English classes aren't going well except for the elders.  People just don't come.  I am not ready to give up, but we'll see.  Until next week Chiau.  I think that's how you spell the word "Chow" for good-bye.