Designer bracelets anyone?

 Irvin, our pianist, is one of 19 grandchildren of the man who serves with Rod in the branch presidency.  In this lesson we have 4 more (the angle was bad) cousins directing.   It was a lovely moment.  We are teaching 6 of the children.  Irvin played for the first time in church today.




Henry playing Tan Humilde with his nose -- at least he isn't looking at his hands.



One of our students organized a Sunday afternoon visit to the rest home and invited us.  Unfortunately I didn't think about bringing a keyboard, so I played the guitar.  Al Tambor, a song I learned while I was teaching Spanish, is practically the song of Panama and is always a hit.

 Our trip to Puerto Armuelles last week was more eventful than usual.  We took two more elders and were stopped.  There were two men, one on each side of the road, and we thought one waved us through.  The other one took offense and we were hauled in.  They wouldn't accept our copies of our ID.  The church has a deal with the immigration authorities that we can carry copies of them because the missionaries are robbed or lose theirs so often, but these people wouldn't accept it.  They also wouldn't call our lawyer whose number was on the opposite side.  To their defense, we finally called him and he didn't answer, so it didn't do any good.

We had to drive the officer with us to immigration.  The law here is seatbelts in the front, so I suggested he put on his seatbelt (from the back seat).  He drew himself up and snapped, "I don't have to, I AM the law".

He sent Rod to park the car and insisted I come with him.  The young missionaries went with Rod.  We entered immigration, but Rod couldn't tell where that was.  The policeman seated me (there are advantages to age) and told me not to worry, he'd take care of Rod.  He went into another room and I saw Rod and the missionaries pass by.  I went to tell him and he couldn't hide that he knew he's made a boo boo.  He hurried to find them and brought them in.

 From this lineup, can you tell which one is guilty of heinous crimes against the immigration laws of Panama and which is showing off designer bracelets?
Rod took the photo as the elders egged him on.  Their attitudes lacked.  He only got one before he was told not to take any more.  I spent the time praying.  We only lost 1 1/2 hours.  When the chief came in she said "You're fine.  If you ever have trouble again tell them to call their chief, Esther".  Hopefully we won't have to test that one.

 Here are the trucks lined up to get through.  There were so many there were men selling things truck to truck.  Rod joked that you could probably take their laundry, do it, and be back before they could move.  How frustrating!

 This is the family of some of our students and the missionaries.  The dad had just given his permission for his children to be baptized.  They are attending church with their grandmother who teaches seminary, and they are two of our best students.  We decided to go to Puerto for their baptism.  I think they will become dear enough to us that we would wish we had gone.  I made pumpkin bread and we went an hour early for a 4:00 baptism.  Why do I always forget it's Panama?  The baptism started at 6:30 after Rod went and picked up the family.  One of the elders took a bite and said, Oh Oh, these aren't chocolate chips!!!  The last time I ate raisins was at MY baptism and I threw up.
He was nice enough to go around and tell everyone else his story about my pumpkin (squash) bread.  Rod hadn't had dinner so he ate 6 helpings -- YUM!!!

 A new fruit, tree tomatoes.

 Here's the inside.  I ate it like a kiwi, with a spoon.  I was told it tasted like strawberries.  I didn't agree and I won't buy more, but the seeds are a fun design.

 Sometimes bananas grow double.  They cost 4 for 25 cents, so it's a bonus.  Sometimes they've grown together inside as well, but this time they were separate.  I figured out after all this time that if we buy bananas in the morning we get big ones.  In the afternoon they are all small.  Duhhh!!!

We visited in the country today and saw this fence.  Pretty!

Since the fence posts are alive, they don't decay or get termites in our warm humid conditions

These are orchids.  The foliage is huge and few flowers.  I've never seen a bush with lots of flowers.

They are lovely close up.

I started with a photo of one cute puppy, and they just kept coming.

Poinsettias!! On the fence lines in Volcan.

Here are yellow ones,

This is a banana.  Thank heaven for seedless bananas.  I never knew to appreciate it.  These are said to be medicinal and very good for birds as well.  They don't ripen off the tree and open when they are ripe.  She says you can grow them in a pot.  Anyone interested in seeds?

Here are the ripe bananas.  They are beautiful. (unfortunately they don't taste very good)






Here is a slideshow of the artifacts at Los Barriles near Volcan.  Just in case anyone is interested.  The model for the naked statue in front of our house came from here.

We have our challenges here, but I am always amazed at how sweet life is with Rod and with our work.  Our children are supportive and we love and miss them.  The little ones are growing up at an alarming rate.  I do lose track of time here.  The Book of Mormon has become more of a handbook for me lately, and I love the  insights I get.  I am a GRATEFUL woman.

Bananas, Birds, and Blessings

 David comes to our house for his lesson.  He is really excited about directing and found in the book a certificate of completion of the directing course that he says he wants to earn.  He is showing off the bananas that our neighbor gave us.  She told me I needed to cover them to keep the birds from them.  Our landlord said not until they begin to turn yellow.

Here are the platanos that have begun to turn yellow and mute evidence that I need to cover the bananas.  We are learning to eat more bananas and platanos as they are produced here and we are given them often.

Our life has less new and different things now.  We are accustomed to much of life here.  It is raining more than usual.  I washed clothes on Friday, and could still wring water out of my shirts on Saturday night even though they are in a covered area.  I'm hoping the socks will dry fast enough that they don't stink and I have to wash them again.  I don't know what else to do.  (We brought them indoors and put them upstairs where it is often warmer)

We're excited to have Audrey come and show her around.  I hope it will be fun for her.

The fact that we have less photos doesn't mean we aren't feeling good about our contribution here.  Today four students played in sacrament meeting and they directed each other.  I've discovered that I actually need to play the piano and have them direct me or each other in order for them to learn well.  If all went well we had students playing in each of the branches we serve.

We are GLAD, GLAD, GLAD to be here together with meaningful work to do.  We are really enjoying listening to conference as we travel.  We listened first in Spanish, and (now in English) it is as if we haven't heard the talks before.  That says something about our Spanish skills.  However, we are learning.

Boys go to Jupiter to get ...

Last week we traveled to Panama City to renew our visa.  We got on the bus at 10:00 p.m. and arrived in the city at 7:30 a.m.  We visited immigration, they took our photo, and we went to return home.  The de Gracias, friends from Aguadulce, are moving to Columbia.  They wanted to see us and were planning to be in the city at the same time.  We received word that they couldn't come.  I talked Rod into stopping in Aguadulce.  We bought the tickets and boarded the bus (texting to see if they would be there) only to receive a call from the de Gracias that they wouldn't be home.  We jumped off, bought tickets home and settled in.  Then we received another call saying we could meet in Santiago.  They waited on the road until they saw our bus pass then took a taxi, and we had half an hour together as the bus stopped at the halfway point for food and potty break.  What a sweet gift. 

This cactus is here in La Concepcion.  Look at the size of the trunk.  I don't think of cactuses as part of the plants in a tropical climate.

One of our students has baby ducks at their house.  I can't resist them.

Puerto Armuelles is a bit of a ghost town.  This pier is a remnant of the banana business that used to be.  There were three LDS chapels at one time.  Now there is just one independent branch. We walked out on this pier last week at our own risk.  Children aren't allowed and you could see why.

 Our landlord brought this bug on the tip of his machete a few days ago.  We got to share it live on Skype with our kids.  It is amazing.  He said he had one on his ear once and it felt like a knife, so we didn't touch it.  I put on both of our pictures to see if one were clearer for Myles.  He plans to do a google image match search to see if he can identify it.

 Our landlord, Jorge, took us to his tiny farm, Jupiter.  We didn't tell him why boys go to Jupiter.  Here I'm drinking from a tiny spring that they said was pure.  (I hope they know)

Rod at Jupiter.

A fresh fruit from their tree.  I can't remember the name.  The fruit is pink and it has little very hard round seeds.  Edyn said she ate them in Brazil.

 The view from the house at Jupiter stretches to the sea.

We followed Jorge down to the river thinking of chiggers all the way.

Rod carried trees so Jorge could plant them.

Back up to their tiny two story house from the river.

We had two young girls, cousins, play and direct each other's hymns in church this week.  The families are thrilled.  We are thrilled.  I can't stop smiling over it.  We added 4 new students this week.  I keep thinking there's no way, but somehow it works.  We do have a few, of course, that we're starting to wonder about.

Rod has become philosophic about his new calling.  The president is pleased to have someone to prepare the programs for Sacrament meeting, really an executive secretary, and Rod figures together we can do that.

I gave a talk in church Sunday.  One of my students helped me correct my written talk.  I practiced several times, but when it came down to it, I couldn't read it, and I just gave it errors and all.  I tell myself my errors are getting fewer.  I hope it's the truth.  The people are kind and we are coming to love this branch.

Do you follow Jesus this close?

I knew the time would come when I would have few photos and not a lot to say.  Here it is.  We followed this truck home from David one day.  I liked its message. 

We finished reading the Book of Mormon for the second time on our mission in Spanish about a week ago.  The Liahona, magazine from the church that we receive here has dedicated this month's issue to the Book of Mormon, so we've been reading an article each night before we begin the book itself again.  It has made me wonder how closely I follow the Savior, and how much I use the Book of Mormon as a handbook.  However, this morning I felt I received a guide that I needed.  I read 2 Nephi 31:20.  It says "press forward with a steadfastness in Christ having a perfect brightness of hope"  Sometimes when I think of the struggles of those I love, I lose faith.  The problem with losing faith is that then things are awfully dark.  

We had a cancellation tonight and filled it with a visit with our landlord.  They came to sing with us.  He is an artist about our age with a wife about 25 or so.  Amazingly, they both seem content and happy.  We sang Beatles and hymns and ended with a closing prayer.  I enjoyed it a lot.

Rod received a call to serve in the branch presidency as a counselor today.  He wasn't pleased and his obedience will be tested.  We'll see how it works out.  [I won't be able to serve as a counselor because of language and knowledge barriers, more like an executive secretary to help get the Sunday program going]

Our first "starting from zero" student played in Sacrament Meeting today.  We were preparing with 3 other students directing while he played.  At the end of the hymn, all three remembered to cut to the right.  I cheered, and when I looked around we had an audience of smiling parents.  I love it that people are supportive.  There certainly is joy in helping others improve their talents.

The Good, Bad and it bugs me

People are wonderfully kind to invite us into their lives.  This is the little sister of one of our students.  They live with their grandmother in Puerto Armuelles.  After she showed us the birds, the girl took them outside and put them in a bush.  I asked if they had clipped wings.  The grandmother said only one does, the others stay with it.

 Rod tries for a laugh (which he got, of course)

 These flowers are just along the roadsides here.  We didn't have them in Aguadulce.  I always think of hummingbirds getting trapped in them.  Rod says not to worry.  If they did it very often it would take them out of the gene pool.

 We had two students cancel in Volcan last week.  One called in advance, but the other just wasn't home (actually she told me today she was there but just didn't hear us).  Next time, I told her, I'll pound.

 

 We took the time to drive up to Cerro Punta. It was wonderful.  It is the area that grows much of the produce for all of Panama.  They are utilizing hillsides amazingly.  [Rod: It's hard to get the perspective of how steep they are, they would be hard to walk up.]  I can't believe they don't have horrible erosion, but we only saw one bad case.  It's much cooler, so they grow broccoli, cabbage, carrots, onions, peppers, and even strawberries.  I paid $2 for a 12 ounce Styrofoam cup of them and then realized I didn't dare eat them without washing them in Clorox, so they had to sit in the car.  They definitely weren't worth it by the time we got to eat them.  We also tried candied figs there.  The girl said they were higados (I think) and were a medicinal fruit, but they didn't taste like medicine.  She gave me 2 to try in a spoon for a dime apiece.  That was sufficient.

 This young lady in blue is as excited a student as we've had.  She exudes enthusiasm.  It makes our work very nice.  The young man in white has a piano, but has had no teacher, so he's excited to learn. We teach them to direct music as well as play the piano.

 When I went out to wash clothes today, I found this lizard who'd fallen into my bucket.  He was glad to be liberated after we shared him with the neighbors.  Our landlord says he can walk on water, but I didn't see him do it. (the lizard, not the landlord)

[Rod:] Our car was already licensed in Panama city when we bought it and now we needed to license it this month for the next year .  We were told several times we had to go to Panama City -- 8 hours away -- to license it.  In a foreign country, the regulations don't appear to make sense and it is hard to figure out how to manage things.  At town hall, an American, who appears to live here and was changing the ownership of a vehicle, heard our plight and told us where to go to get it inspected and said then you just pay $20 and they license it for another year.  [Without his help, we wouldn't have made it through the first step]. Turns out it was close to where we live.  Then we went back and they said "Oh No that won't work as you have to go to Panama City where it was issued before".  But a man at city hall took us outside and whispered go back and talk to Lourdes about it.  Lourdes (in New York or Italy, it might have been Luigi the fixer) took us outside her place of work and said you need to get a bill from the electric, house phone or water company, so you can show residence.  The church just pays the bill for the Landlord -- however, he was nice enough to go with us to 2 places and let us change the billing for the house to our name -- now we are responsible.  We went back to the fixer and she said she would do it for $90, but ended up charging $95.  [The story I'm telling myself is that $45 is extortion for foreigners, but the alternative would be worse]  She said, "Now, I'll fix it all up for you and get your plates back before the end of the month".  We got nervous and called her after about 10 days and she then called her contact in the city.  It always seems to take a call to keep things moving here.  Turns out somewhere (probably Panama City as they shipped everything off) they made new plates with the same number, but with a new expiration, instead of just a new sticker.  The picture above is the old plate -- they had to use a grinding wheel to get the pop rivets out of our plastic bumper without destroying it.  What a hassle.  The end of the story, however, is that the mechanic spent 20 minutes, fit us in towards the end of his day, and then didn't charge--us to the consternation of the other mechanic.  It wasn't the money, but it is nice when someone is kind (the American also was kind) -- I would do well to remember that.

Execution Summary:  Well over $120, much hassle and two Pass-a-long cards later we got our car licensed.

Interesting aside:  All of the senior couples eventually purchase a car.  In our case, we feel we are easily 3 times as effective.  I did send off an email to the area authority, asking why the Central American Area didn't have cars for the senior couples to rent like many other foreign missions.  However, I guess my pay grade (0) isn't high enough to rate a response.  We expect this one to be a buy high sell low and make up for it on the volume of blessings.  We're going to come out all right.