The variety of plants and trees is seemingly endless

This joke is about two chickens walking along a road, one in the middle and one on the side.  The last word from the one in the middle is -- drum roll -- 'the same in both languages'.

Even adults enjoy our monkeys and crocodile finger plays.

 We were returning from the district conference (on Sunday).  Imagine our surprise when the bus pulled over and half the members got off to buy fruit.  That lesson hasn't reached here yet.  I don't think I'll give a talk on it in the next few weeks, but we need to have a reminder of the prophet's counsel not to buy on Sundays.  It was my favorite fruit stand, too.

People are patient with the long bus rides.

 Lizardo conducted for the conference.  He stood tall, smiled, and didn't make a single error.  He also played the sacrament hymn in sacrament meeting today with two hands.  Hooray!  One of our other students, Abdiel, who received his keyboard last Sunday had his first hymn memorized today.

 I don't even know the names of these flowers, but they are unusual and interesting.

 More variety.

 We pass by this scene often.  There is usually one chain saw and a group of men, heads protected from the sun by a t-shirt, hacking away at the tree branches with machetes.

 The banana blossom is just beginning to turn itself downward for production.  It's kind of behind the dead leaf.

 Now the bananas form from the top down.

This blossom has bananas above it but you can't see them.  The flower never opens up, just one or two petals at a time.

One of my students had a diary one day.  She's about 10 or so.  She wanted to know if I kept a journal.  I told her I try.  She challenged me to return and report to her.  We've been much more faithful since, looking for the hand of the Lord in our lives.  There are lovely tender mercies each day when we look.  So far all are seemingly small, but who knows.  It's really nice when I, who can't keep directions straight at all, can direct Rod just at the time when he, who seldom gets confused, is confused.

I got my hair cut, (really short) by a woman who says her art is a gift from God.  She told me as she cut that she wants to be a missionary.  I told her about Preach My Gospel and our training.  She said she was interested and made an appointment with us for Sunday afternoon.  When we went today, we told her a bit about the restoration of the gospel and asked her if she was interested.  She said, "When you're thirsty, you want water".  We will see where it goes, but we read together and enjoyed our visit.  She is a little younger than we are.

Blythe has a professor in Organizational Behavior at BYU who is working with the Brethren to improve the success rate of senior couples.  He feels, as do we, that the best way to get more seniors to serve is to have couples return thrilled and ready for more.  We had a nice talk with him.  He says he was a mission president and would love to serve again.  He plans a mission and plans to find out about the presidents in the missions he considers.  If they are hands off, and "go for it", he wants to serve under them.  He has great confidence in people using their strengths to serve the Lord.  He agrees with us that it makes sense to go where people are baptizing.  He feels that there are no coincidences and that we can see the hand of the Lord and directions for our lives in different ways.  We hadn't realized that people change mission calls fairly frequently when they don't seem to apply, nor that there are people whose job it is to help sort these things out and get the right information to the decision makers.  The church generally approves the choice of a couple as to where they should go, unless there is an overriding need (revelation).  We will be more proactive as we apply for another mission, we are learning much, in many areas.

Thursday we didn't have time to prepare lunch, so we stopped at McDonald's.  They had triple bacon cheeseburgers for $1.59.  Rod got 3 of them.  I ate my one as we were sitting a bit before the house of one of our students.  She came to the door and could see us, so I stuffed my mouth and we went on.  When we got there one of the first things she said was, "I've prepared fried chicken and coconut rice with guandu for you!"  Guandu are their special beans.  Rod was a good sport and tucked it in.  I reduced my portion of rice and was able to eat it.  It was delicious.  We never know when we'll get fed.  One of the things I really like is tomatoes with lemon zest, a tiny bit of oil and salt and pepper.  It is grand.

Once again, life is good, the Lord is blessing us and our family.  I love how our students pray for us all.

Pianos and Papayas

 The family Borbon gave me a large papaya.  I asked my landlady and she showed me how to score it.  The fruit gives off a milky gelatinous substance.  You wash it and then it can sit and ripen more instead of mold.  It wasn't the most delicious we have had.  I froze some of it and made papaya shakes by adding milk and a bit of sugar.  It was only all right.  When I went to make more I discovered that I had put the fruit back in the fridge instead of the freezer so even I who don't waste just put it in the garbage. 

 We got our miracle finally.  After waiting two and a half months for the foundation to send keyboards, we contacted our area authority.  We told him about our work and asked his help.  In one week we received word that our 15 keyboards had arrived.  They were shipped out to us, and we had the joy of delivering them this week.  Rod is unpacking them here.

 Happy students (siblings).  She has been serving as Primary President.  He is deciding whether to become active again.  We like him a lot and are encouraging him.

 When we arrived for class they were working on curtain rods for her room.  He made them with the tools you can see.  They were pretty impressive.

 This is a bush decorated for Christmas.  Each point has a glass ball. 

 This woman speaks some English.  She wants to learn more.  Last week out English class turned into piano class for 6 people.  There is a group of families that live close together out in the country in Penonome.

These flowers are ginger.  She said they aren't the plant with the edible roots.

 What appears like a cob of corn is the beginning of the flower of the banana.  It grows out, bends down, and the bananas grow.  This woman grows enough for her family in her back yard.

 Here is the flower after it has grown down.  I'm not sure if this is all the bananas or if they grow down further. 

We had a wonderful time giving out the keyboards.  We needed to fill out papers so we could legally recoup them if people don't keep their commitments to come to church and practice regularly.  One young man fingered each part of it as well as the books, just marveling that this lovely thing could be his.  He is prepared to conduct the music tomorrow in the district meeting, and one of our other students is playing.  She was well taught beforehand by other missionaries but is continuing to learn with us. Rod came up with a way to use them to help with English.  There is a 50 song bank in them with folk songs.  We plan to make a CD so they can listen and learn.  We had a great time square dancing today to Oh Susannah.

We have had a few interesting drinks lately.  One was cantaloupe blended with sugar, water, and milk.  It was very cold and refreshing but not my favorite.  The other was a lemonade made with lemons that are green outside and orange inside and very tart.  The sweetening was "Miel de cana", (honey of cane) or molasses.  It looked like iced tea and tasted delicious.

Rod has used the Lord's method of piano, and in about 3 hours can play Jesus once of humble birth.  Our students are beginning to play with two hands together.  We are praying for miracles for them now that they have something to practice on.

We love our work.  The president of the Mission came to interview us today.  He was a bit off schedule, so our interview was over lunch at our house.  We made baked beans in the crock pot with sweet potato.  It was quite nice, though not what we're used to in the states.

Rod gave a lesson on sacrifice.  One of the questions he asked was "When is a sacrifice not a sacrifice?"  The answer is (for us) when you can see all the blessings it brings.  We are so happy.  I have to laugh when the president says he's impressed with our sacrifices.  With the exception of missing our family, it's no sacrifice at all.  Since they are all supportive, we're just fine.  Love to all.

Separated at birth - reunited 61 years later

These two were born on the same day (Jan 1), same year (mid century), same hospital, same doctor, we think, and may have been switched at birth -- except I can tell that Janell's mother comes out in her at times -- on the other hand, that might be cultural.  At any rate, the lost river valley isn't over endowed with inhabitants, so this coincidence is really unusual, even for those of us who are used to making connections at church.

Elder Cobba's last silly grin -- he was transferred this week.  We are practicing hymns at the piano.  Me piano player???  Only in Panama -- I actually could qualify for a piano -- my income at the moment is not just low, it is negative.

Spanish speakers have trouble separating v from b.  Janell teaches that v one only uses one lip touching the upper teeth -- if they have trouble, she asks them to hold the upper lip so it won't touch the lower lip (giving a b) so they can say the v sound.  This is the result with one somewhat frustrated young man.

This gecko somehow appeared on our windshield going about 55 on the Pan American highway.  He was flipping around -- probably doing tricks in the wind.  Unfortunately, one trick too many, before the driver understood sufficiently the words in command form: 'STOP HONEY!'

Our piano student was sweating just like I do, but she innovated in how to mop her brow.

Rod is giving his Home Teaching message.  You will notice that they like his games better, but it has made him practice speaking and he is improving rapidly.   The lesson was from conference, the story of the man who stole from a former employer and was helped by his bishop as he became active in the LDS church that it was dishonest, so as part of the repentance process, he repaid the money plus interest.  The man was impressed that a lay minister (the bishop) could help members of his flock so effectively.  As 'home teacher' I was bearing testimony of what we see all the time -- going to church is worthwhile, we practice being good on others and usually don't break them.

In two homes now there have been pre-teenagers.  They just broke up in giggles, I have to suppose at his accent.  I don't think it bothered him much, but I gave them a lecture on being bad mannered and they sobered up for the moment.

We're playing go fish (ostensibly teaching English) to the nieces and nephews, while Janell gives a piano lesson.  This young man is friendly and outgoing.  He has come to church twice in the last 3 weeks, he would make a good missionary.  His sister above is quite active.

Water games are always a good idea in my mind on these hot days.  These kids were innovative on their sealed cement front porch.  Usually, we give our lessons there, but we moved to the back yard.  How could you stop something that good?

Lemon Tree Very Pretty

Rafmil is our English student.  He invited us to make ceviche with him.  It is a dish with raw fish and a lot of lemon juice.  The juice cooks the fish chemically with the acid.  He took us to his special store to buy the fish.  Now we can go there again.  We bought the finest fish for $3 per pound.

 Rafmil said we should use our hands, not a juicer, so Rod is juicing the lemons.  We had about a pint of juice but Rafmil said it wasn't enough, so we went home, got all my lemons and used them all.  I was pretty sad to have no more lemons when I tasted the ceviche and didn't like it.  We drained it and made it into fish chowder.  Still all we could taste was lemon.  Good thing we eat to live.  Oh well, the process was fun.  Elder Cobba liked it lots.

His wife came in while we were preparing it and posed with him.  She doesn't want to join our class even though she plans to be an English teacher.

This is their maid showing off the different sizes of lemons.

 This lemon tree is in their neighbor's yard.  The lemons are the huge size.  Rafmil says they are really good for marmalade and lemonade.

These girls are our 7:30 Wednesday night English appointment.  Actually, they are interested in piano as well.  Lidy, on the left, knows 3 chinese languages, Spanish, and is very good at English.  They are students extraordinaire.  We bought our cell phone from them, and when I was really struggling with Spanish, Esther, on the right, offered to help me in English.  What a relief!  Their grandfather speaks only Cantonese or Mandarin.  He came in to say hello and offered us slices of sweet potatoe and otoe, another potato-like vegetable.  He gave us some to take home, and the next week made a sweet soup with sweet potato and ginger.  It would have been really good on a  cold Utah night.

 This celery is our source of green vegetables.  We use all the leaves, just chew them down with sandwiches sometimes as well as cook with them.  I soak them in a little chlorox first, then rinse them.

This family lives far out in Penonome.  They learn English.  The young man is a returned missionary.  The young lady and I are directing the music together. She and the littlest girl showed me yet another puppy.  This one was just a few days old and we weren't allowed to touch.

That day in Penonome we had two cancellations.  They didn't call in advance, so we decided to go to a copy shop and see if we could copy some of our materials.  Usually we pay 3-5 cents per copy.  The price wasn't posted and we paid 10 cents.  Then, to add insult to  injury, when we went down the stairs to our car a pigeon with diarrhea relieved itself.  It came so close to Rod's head that he could feel it go by.  He had just a few dots on his shoes.  We decided to count that as one of our blessings in my journal that night.

One of our "recent convert" students in Penonome, a young man 18 years old, played his first hymn with two hands and chords from the simplified hymn book.  It isn't up to speed yet, but it is coming. We are teaching them to play by faith.  When Jaan became discouraged for a bit I suggested we pray.  He removed his (lavendar plaid) hat and prayed humbly, then resumed.

 Elder Hernandez is our first Elder to take the English test for Elders in our home.  He felt good about it.  It took three hours. Rod has worked with him quite a bit in District meetings, but he was really motivated himself.  He goes home in 5 days.

While Elder Hernandez took his test, Elder Cobba and I played piano.  He learns quickly.  After he had had enough piano we switched to guitar.  I showed him the three chords in D one time and he played them and remembered them.  Here he is teaching Elder Hernandez.  I've never had anyone learn that quickly. He sat and just savored the music.  He started playing Count Your Blessings.  I told him girls like guys who play guitar.  He said he'd sit outside his girlfriend's window and sing "Count Your Blessing".  I suggested he could change the lyrics to "Count your blessings, and I'm number one."  It didn't make sense to him in Spanish.

We spent our day off yesterday cleaning and fumigating our apartment.  I have 6 bites and Rod has more.  His are all on his legs and ankles.   Mine are more generalized.  The bites itch awfully and look like they are dissolving the tissue or something.  We finally went to the pharmacy and got a cream they recommended.  Hope something works!  The fumigating did flush out our record cockroach.  Rod stepped on it before he told me about it.  My Hero!

And now the new year

 Rod is playing monkeys with Hyrum while Hyrum's mom plays piano with me.  Hyrum has a hard time settling down and consequently a hard time obeying.  Rod doesn't enjoy him as much because of it, but yesterday when we came and Hyrum saw him he lit up.  Rod says this is the appointment where he gets romped on.   I like going there because Bertha has 3 children 3 and under.  Her husband is branch president and is going to school.  She is in the nursery on Sunday with just her 3.    I think she deserves a break. Besides, she plays pretty well and it is nice to have a bit of variety.

Lignily's baby, Everett, was blessed Sunday.  They don't seem to make a big deal of it.  Her sister wasn't there.  I like to have my camera and let them have a memory.  I may get in the habit of a camera.

So, the inevitable has happened.  Our lives are in a routine and there were only these two photos (or variations of the same) on our camera this week.    We have taken the last two Fridays off, and it is nice to have a break.  We have only 2 appointments in Las Tablas and have to drive 2 hours one way to get there.  That might be all right if it were the only possibilities, but it seems like we just can't get things lined up.  We finally called the branch president and we'll see if that helps. Otherwise we may get a permanent P day which wouldn't hurt my feelings.  We have 2 permanent appointments to teach on Sunday, so we don't get much time off.

Yesterday we had an appointment to teach English to two children of the counselor in the branch in Chitre.  He prayed as we left and said how grateful he was for our great sacrifice.  It doesn't feel like a sacrifice.  It just feels like joy except for the fact that we can't be with our family.  These girls are pretty good at reading English.  I think I am going to request someone to send more picture books.  These people just don't have them and they are interested.

We walked in last night about 8:30.  I always look to see if there are geckos, but last night there was a cockroach about two inches long up by the ceiling in the kitchen.  I got our trusty spray and Rod got him.  They die spectacularly, not easily.  Then I looked on the sink and there were two more the same size mating there.  Luckily that meant two in one spray, so life is good.  There was a big stain on the wall and I was sorry, but still glad I'd sprayed, but this morning it is gone!  I am grateful.

Last week we decided that we are going to serve as Home Teachers to our families and bring part of the lesson from the First Presidency each time we visit.  Rod prepared and it gives him a chance to practice his Spanish.  I realized as he was sharing his story about the child who saw the stars on the ceiling as her Grandfather was reading to her that this is a foreign custom to these people. Their grandfathers don't read stories.

My student in Chitre, Mihally, gave me her materials to copy.  She had an article about a music missionary in Argentina that set me thinking.  I was able to find this man, Elder Theobald, in St. George.  He will give me a lesson over the internet this Sunday. I am excited to see how he does it.  He tells of how he had to humble himself in order to receive the guidance he needed.  I am teaching chords to my students and telling them they need to play by faith, without using their eyes. Each time I teach this it is a lesson to me of how I need to walk by faith.  I'm studying Elder Neil Andersen's article in the December Liahona.  After a lifetime I am still struggling with the first principle of the gospel.  Interesting!

We had a family over to talk with their family in the States over video chat.  They are older and it was a lot of fun.  Technology can be wonderful!

Here is the music miracle material if anyone is interested.  I am loving studying it. There are errors because we used Google translate, but I think you can understand.

  Love to all.

http://lds.org.ar/noticias2009/noti_200906/info_notiloc_200906_03.htm

Musical Miracles 
through faith and effort

Elder Theobald and his wife, couple missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, visited stakes in the area of Buenos Aires and taught a method to play the piano using chords. The results are a miracle for those who devote time to practice. The music of the Restoration inviting the spirit floats in the air at the chapels that were once filled with silence. But it was not always so.

The Theobalds have served a mission in Honduras where he taught the method inspired by the saints there. From his experiences there, Elder Theobald says:

"We started with about 85 students of piano and after three or four months, were only about ten students.We failed. The Lord had called us to help our brothers to learn to play keyboards and lead the hymns of Zion to stream music while increasing spirituality in church meetings. We taught them to play the chords with their left hand and melody with their right hand, but students could not play with both hands at once. They gave up and did not continue attending piano lessons.

We knew that we had received a call from the Lord to do a very important work, but we did not succeed.

I went to the Lord to help us and he did almost immediately. I started getting thoughts. The first: "You have to use the first principle of the gospel."  An hour later I got the same thought. But I did nothing. Probably the Lord thought that this poor child was so clumsy he could not understand his message, therefore changed the message to make it more clear: "You have to use faith." But I did not understand. I got the same message over and over again, but I still did not understand.

This happened to me almost every hour for three days.
Finally I thought, "I know the answer to our problem has to do with faith, but do not know how."

At that moment I was very thoughtful and I said to myself: "What is a simple definition of faith?"- And thought that faith is believing in something that is real and not seen.

When I thought it was as if a hammer hit me in the head, I knew that is what the Lord tried to teach me.

Since that time, Elder Theobald and his wife have used a method of inspired teaching that is so simple that students can play hymns in a very short time.

Students learn the chords first, memorizing and practicing and then you can add the right hand and concentrate on playing one note at a time because your subconscious plays the left hand chords.

A young man wanted to learn to play the piano before his mission. In two weeks he learned 60 hymns, received a certificate for the course of leading the music, and could pass the written exam to get a keyboard.

In Honduras the attendance of the congregation improved dramatically after school for Theobald, when members began to play the hymns at the meetings. Sacrament meetings become more reverent because of the music.

Some also are learning to lead music. One Sunday when President Chamorro of the Moreno Stake (he learned 13 hymns in 3 weeks) and other members of his presidency were visiting a neighborhood, a leader announced the opening hymn and said there was no one to lead the music. But Pres. Chamorro asked: "What about Diego? He attended the classes of Theobald and can lead very well." Of course, Diego led the music.

The results of this service are impressive. In the Buenos Aires North Stake, 25 students learned from 1 to 25 hymns in 4 weeks.

At Stake Conference, 35 students were able to play from 1 to 4 hymns in a week. In Castelar Stake 19 students learned to play from 1 to 60 hymns during the weeks of instruction and 11 now can lead the music. The same is true in many other stakes in the province of Buenos Aires.

It is common for a person to learn 60 hymns from the simplified hymnbook. Leaders can assist and support students when they assign the hymns we will sing at a meeting well before the meeting so that students can practice them.

The miracle of playing and leading music with faith continues in Buenos Aires. Some of the students of Theobald are teaching others and the music of the Restoration continues to bless the lives of members.
When a missionary couple, with a keyboard, some books and lots of enthusiasm, teaches a group of students for three weeks, and the group does its part with faith, dedication and effort, miracles do happen, and in this case, they are heard as well as seen.