Emma's picture is here! (updated with last visit)

 Emma came to church today.  She invited herself to our shame.

We knew that she was coming, so when we went to visit the Diaz family with the branch mission leader last week, and he offered our services as a taxi, we were a bit put out -- feeling we might need the time with Emma.  We need to learn to trust the Lord.  While we were waiting for Sister Diaz and her 4 little ones, to get the last bit ready, a guy from church bicycled by.  He was headed for the new building, so we were able to direct him to the old one. (another small (or great) blessing)

When we arrived with the Diaz family, Emma wasn't there yet so we had time to get them settled as well as ourselves near the piano.  Emma came and she appeared totally comfortable.  The meeting consisted of youth testifying of seminary and missionary work, and they did well.  We had expected testimony meeting because Conference is next week, but no.  When we gathered for Sunday School class Sister Diaz came out of the hall where she had been sitting (this is the last week in this building which doesn't fit us)  and Emma greeted her very warmly.  When I asked afterwards how they knew each other, Emma said,"She was a part of our family".  Sister Diaz had worked for them for four years in their home.  We didn't need to worry.  In fact, of course, it was a plus to have them there together.

Emma participated in our New Testament lesson of "I am the bread of life".  She has a strong testimony of Christ.  After the lesson, the S.S. president asked her to say the closing prayer.  Actually, he just announced it.  She was a bit surprised and covered her face, but she is a confident person and did it with aplomb.

Relief society was abominably hot, but the lesson was President Monson's talk on decisions, and it was good.  I was amazed that she stayed for all three hours, and she wants to meet this afternoon at our regular time as well.  All in all, we couldn't have asked for better, and we didn't ask at all.  We do pray for her.  She will need to have a testimony that there is one true church and we all need  to find it, and she doesn't yet.  Trust in the Lord is good advice. People were really friendly, and she responded well.
Three of the youth shared playing duties and after church they gathered around the piano, even though Janell wasn't encouraging them.  We see our work taking hold and lasting -- and making a lasting difference -- several of our students now come faithfully and didn't before.  The program asks them to read the Book of Mormon daily and the ones that do get a different spirit about them and often start attending church, if they hadn't been.

Update:  We taught her, this afternoon, about prophets and apostasy. When we came she sat back and said "I feel like a kindergarten student and you are my teachers.  Give me a foundation and let's start learning."  We used Preach My Gospel and talked about the apostasy and about the fact that there is only one true church, that Jesus Christ is the one who says this, and we are only teaching His word.  She can pray about it and ask.  She said that she would.  It is a bit strange to teach someone by having them read the book  with you, but her Spanish is better than ours and then she gets it straight.
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 On to tourism.  We visited the Valley of Anton with our student Angel.  This is an acoustic shell.  There is an identical one about 50 feet away.  You can talk softly facing the shell, and another person can hear you very clearly in the other shell.  It was amazing, Janell could say hello in a sultry voice and I could Hubba Hubba back without worrying about being overheard -- power of concave shapes. (if it is convex, I will be vexed;)

 These are the petroglyphs.  They aren't protected at all.  We sprang for all the entrance fees at the tourist places.  I decided just to do it and not think about it because we had the day to spend with Angel. His mom is indigenous from the valley so he offered to guide us. He is a special young man who has attended seminary for four years and has the goal to go on a mission.  I hope he makes it. I don't like the prospects for the youth otherwise.  With a mission they have access to the Perpetual Education Fund and some hope, as well as the testimony blessings of the mission itself.  The church actually sends them to sign up for PEF before they send them home.  Cool.

This huge tree seemed to be made up of a whole series of small ones wrapped around together.  It was magnificent.

It's roots.


Angel showed us this cool spider.  It just runs and hides again.

Rod and Angel with their walking sticks at the exit of the walk.  It was a short, expensive walk.  OK. I lied.  I did think about the money.

Rod is feeding a tapir in the zoo.

This bird appeared to be beaded.  It was really gorgeous.

The valley is famous for its golden frogs.  There are few in the wild now.  We didn't see any and we aren't very good photographers through the glass.

I just liked this hiding one, even though he wasn't golden.

We got this cat for Ray.  He was pretty cool.

Another shot.

Orchids for my mom to see and in memory of Rod's mom, who grew them and made corsages for me.

The beginning of the grand cashew saga.

These stain badly.  I'd worn the correct clothes, so Rod just tossed them into a pile for me to twist the nuts off.  It reminded me of helping Daddy in the potato harvest.

Pickers pose.  These Panamanians dress to protect themselves from the sun.  I especially like Oriel's shirt headdress.  His eyes are exposed because the neck of the shirt fits there. Construction workers have this headdress often.

Along with Everett you can see the fruit developing.

Here the fruit is still brown.  I thought these were bad, but they are waiting to develop the fruit.  The trees here give fruit for a long season, 2 or 3 months.

This "fruit" on the cashew tree turns out to be a parasite.  I opened one, and when Oriel saw my hands he tried to tell me about "fibra de vidrio".  He said "Pica".  I finally got it, fiberglass, and that it stings, and I had it all over my hands. 

His solution (and it worked) was to "wash" my hands in dirt.  He got a kick out of my dirty condition.

I realized as I watched this VERY LONG video (about roasting cashews on a bent piece of tin roofing -- exciting flames and all) that I at least should have talked through it, but Rod was taking the video.  He says no one will watch it all.  If you do, let me know.  I suspect he's right, but it really was interesting to me.

Here we are picking up the blackened nuts.  Now I have a bunch to crack.  They really are delicious.  The people here say to drizzle them with honey, but who needs it.  The branch president's wife warned me that they are REALLY high fat.  I'm not going to eat that many.  The process is delightful.  Our Saturday mornings are free now.  I plan to keep them that way so we can enjoy things like this.  Everyone needs a P-day (Preparation).