Audrey Arrives

 We wanted the car to be nice and shiny for Audrey's arrival.  I teach Endira, our landlady, piano lessons on Monday nights.  When I asked them where to take our car to have it washed, Jorge said that Endira likes to do it.  I accepted as a trade of services, and one evening about 9, we did it together.  It was a fun change of pace.

 Our first appointment after Audrey's arrival has 3 students, so Audrey hit the deck running.  She gave Henry his lesson while we concentrated on 2 new students we've picked up.  Her Spanish is better than I would have thought.  She can understand a lot and, of course, being Audrey, isn't afraid to try.

 It was a downpour while she was teaching.

 The next family has four boys.  I Spy Go Fish was a hit.

 Navid is reading to the family.

 Apryl's gift of Oreo Turkey makings was a big hit.  This family lost their dad in a trucking accident a few years ago, and life has been hard.

 Another turkey party.  All the family was involved and then Audrey did the reading and Go Fish routine, this time by herself because we were both teaching.


Turkeys with the Romero family.  Just a bit of a blurb.  Rod is learning to talk while he videos.  Yeah! for him. 

Saturday in Puerto Armuelles where Audrey will spend 4 days lazing on the beach, she began by teaching the boys to throw a frisbee. 

 This isn't clear, but you can see that Rod can still run and catch a frisbee.  Pretty fun.  Audrey was hot enough when we finished.  She said she needed to change clothes as she felt like she'd wet them.  "Welcome to Panama".

Both were charmed.  Audrey taught him to play Go Fish in English, then shared her cake and lemon sauce and then her WATER BOTTLE.  I don't think she's related to her dad in this way.  He wouldn't even share his with me.


We had lunch with some of our students.  They played the piano and we sang.  Not great music, but great company and fun.


Eduardo has earned a keyboard.  Audrey made it into a party for all of us.  They were thrilled to meet her and have her sing and play for them.

It is awesome to have her here.  I had a hard time coming home without her, but sitting at the beach for 4 days isn't in our schedule, and I think she'll be happy with some alone time.  We'll pick her up on our regular trip to Puerto next Wednesday.

 We were invited as a zone to the Young's home in Volcan for a Thanksgiving dinner.  The Youngs are a retired American couple who have a Down's Syndrom daughter. They were wonderful with her, including her in everything.  She put on a program for us after dinner.

Sister Young did it all herself.  It makes me crazy to think of doing a dinner for a lot of people.  I've lost my touch.  She says I don't have a kitchen, either, which is true.  She had homemade pumpkin pies and wonderful whole wheat rolls that were the best thing to me.  She shared her blackstrap molasses (straight from the factory for $3 for a 5  gallon bucket).  I think I'll try to make some.  They loaned us some books to read, and it was wonderful just to relax and visit.  As Audrey says, "It takes effort to speak in Spanish".


We had a bad moment Thursday night when the Mission President's wife called to say they were stuck in traffic and couldn't make it to the airport.  We were in Volcan teaching, and just told them we'd given Audrey emergency instructions just in case.  Then we continued teaching and started praying.  Less than half an hour later they picked her up and called.  Blessings!

Forbidden beans -- coffee and cacao

In Volcan Thursday, I was teaching Yiniva (pronounced like Geneva) and Rod started studying with her grandad.  He is a member, she isn't.  They looked at the family home evening manual, but it is too complicated for him.  He was interested in the book of gospel art and they started looking up familiar scripture stories.  Two old grandads together with the gospel.  Pretty sweet!

Wednesday in Puerto Armuelles we had the same two cancellations.  The music teacher, a man about 50, had a heart attack that morning and passed away.  Our student was at school with his hymnbook teaching some of his classmates a hymn for the service the following day.  Good excuse!  Anyway, we visited our friend, Elvira, and she and I peeled cacao beans while Rod took a nap.  She says you have to roast them and then grind them.  I need to get some more and try it.  I hope while Audrey is here, because I don't really want to eat chocolate, but I am interested in the process.
NOTE:  Chocolate is not really forbidden, or 101% of the Church would have problems.  I got a feeling once that if I didn't eat chocolate, I would be able to discern things better and Janell decided it was a good idea.  Neither of us has lost weight over it, to her disappointment.


Here we are appealing.  (I know, Rod makes the jokes)

This is a coffee plant from Rio Serreno.  She brought it years ago before she was a member.

She picked a red berry and squeezed it.  These two halves came out and separated.  She says they have to dry and then you can roast them.

This woman came by and asked for the coffee beans.  Elvira gave them to her.  She tried to convince us how healthy coffee is as a relaxant.  I told her we didn't drink it even so, because a prophet of the Lord asked us not to. I don't think either of us was convinced.  These beans were in various stages of ripeness.

This plant is in front of a student's home.  I thought the seed pod was interesting, many of them and so round on one stem.  I do love the variety of plants here.

Our compost pile.  It had flowers until today when a machete master came by and chopped them down.  It is kind of fun just to throw anything in there and it disappears. It is just outside our fence. The squash and corn are just from seeds we've thrown out with the compost.

We keep saying we can't add more students, but yesterday we added two more.  Also, our recent converts that quit from fear that they would need to play in church started up again after more than a month.  They could remember well.  It was wonderful to have them back.

We went to a training meeting with the Mission President on Friday morning.  He talked about sacrifice and used us as an example.
He mentioned how we don't have hot water, but his audience was young elders, none of whom has hot water.  They kept the puzzled looks pretty well to themselves.  He also likes to talk about our $80/month apartment with $10/ month electric bill (our prior one) when the people from Salt Lake call to get an idea of mission costs for couples (one couple pays $750/mo rent and likely $100 electric bill, so hard to compare or average).
I still say that it may be a sacrifice (not seeing the kids) but the Lord is compensating us and we love our life here together.  It's satisfying to be engaged in worthwhile work in a cause you know to be true.



The missionaries in our area were having training and the mission president asked a question none of us could answer correctly.
It was:  What lesson that you teach is most effective in keeping members active in the church -- persevering until the end?  (assuming they follow it -- naturally)



There were a lot of good answers -- listening to the spirit, prayer...


However, he said it was the law of tithing.  That if the converts / we pay our tithing, it shows a commitment and is reinforced by Heavenly Father (Malachi 3:10) with blessing so great we have an overabundance [I don't think we get to choose what overabundance we get].  Good point for the missionaries to emphasize and all of us to consider.  I was told once by a stake leader that he didn't know of a family on Church welfare that was paying their tithing -- I know of one or two, but not many.  The habit of paying the Lord first causes the blessings (and good habits) to flow over into the rest of our lives. We learned this after we moved to Idaho Falls. (Pretty late, actually)  We would save our tithing checks (in case we didn't have enough -- What Faith!)  Finally we just decided to do it at the first.  We have always felt we were able to live much better on 90% than 100%.



We had the temple president come to speak.  The timing was wonderful, just after a branch trip to the temple.  He said that when we pray, study the scriptures daily, and hold family home evening we receive, not blessings, but strength to endure the tests that are part of the purpose of life.  After the tests come the blessings.  An interesting twist for me.

He asked us for "inspired questions", then he followed Elder Packer's advice and answered the questions we "should have asked".  He tried to relate each question to a principle, and was very effective.  We can't remember the question asked, but in the process of answering one question he pulled 3 rocks out of his pocket.  One was clear, one was white like an agate, and one was a plain old rock.  He talked about the effort required for the brother of Jared to prepare the rocks, that the Lord just solved two of his three problems (steering, air and light), but he wanted Jared to put forth effort on the last one. He pointed out that the Lord  could touch the common rock and make it be light as well as the other, but that WE are blessed when we put forth effort -- as much as we are able to do, then he may do the rest.  He taught that the Lord recognizes not only results, but efforts.

He said that they are trained to provide in the temple the best experience possible for all involved.  He said they were told each ordinance should be done as if it were "for your own son", that each person involved should have time to  savor the spiritual experience.

Sandwiches and square dancing

Sister Romero, grandmother of 6 of our students, made this little doll to hang in our car.  She let me choose, and I love the face of this one.

Last Thursday I woke up a bit sick. I'm having the same symptoms I had when I discovered that I couldn't eat peaches any more, but I haven't discovered the source.  It's not as bad as the peaches yet.  I'm keeping a food record to see if I can find the culprit.  Anyway, I didn't have energy to hurry and fix a lunch, so we put our avocado, tomatoes, mayonnaise, and bread along with the peanut butter and honey jars in a sack and decided to invite ourselves to lunch at the Sanchez home. 
She gave me this dress.  Rod didn't want me to accept it.  They have little, but I didn't feel like I could say no.  We had a great time with them that day.

That stripe across it makes me feel less than thin.  It does "Leave everything to the imagination" as Matthew Cowley used to say about the Maori mumus.

This is out student Daphne.  She had leukemia a year ago and spent a year in the hospital.  She is talented, and very soft and sweet.  Her hat fits her better than it does Rod.

After lunch we turned on the keyboard to Oh Susannah and danced a bit.  It was completely without skill, but it was great fun.



I think it wouldn't be possible to get much more joy out of sandwiches.  We made them together and enjoyed them together.  Simple and wonderful.

Seminary graduation was Saturday night.  It was very formal with Graduation music playing and lockstepping in on the arm of a parent.
There was no one to play the hymns so I did that.  We really need to teach our students here and then let that stake have a chance.

Wednesday in Puerto Armuelles I was feeling pretty sick with this food allergy or whatever it is.  We had two students cancel, so we decided to go visit a widow there who once gave us lunch and ask her if we could crash on her couch.  She was accommodating, and we moved her chairs together for me, Rod took the couch, and she put a fan on us.  When I woke up half an hour later, she was sitting on the porch rocking.  I went out and we visited.  She is lovely.

We received videos from Edyn and Apryl this week.  I love to sit and watch them while we eat.  I really appreciate their efforts.  I know it's hard to be a young mom and get everything done.

Every day I am grateful for good habits and meaningful work.  This is a good season together in life.  The gospel is true.  The Savior treasures each of us.

A happy 'Coincidence' and next time don't trust the map

This is a photo of a tender mercy from the Lord.  I talked Rod into participating in a walkathon for Leukemia. (The mission has softened him.  It was easier than you would think).  The youngest girl in the photo has it, as well as another older one of our students.  Ashley, on my right, is one of our students.  Carlos, on Rod's left, is a student from Penonome.  He didn't come to our farewell party, and I was really sad.  He was one of my favorites.  He was visiting here in Chiriqui and decided to do the walkathon.  He spotted us.  I'm sure my long dress and bobby socks helped him.  Everyone else was dressed more like him.  He said he knew he was close to where we live, and was praying that he might see us. 

Rod is helping our student Karin with her algebra homework.  She hates having her photo taken.  This may be the only one I ever get, and she saw me in time to duck into his shoulder.  They tease a lot together.  She is one of those about whom you wonder how they ever even have a chance in life, and you want to do anything you can to help.

We were invited to the birthday party for Octavio. 

Here's his dad with the pinata. 

On the way to the birthday party we passed this iguana running across the road.  He was nice enough to pose for a photo.

Definition:  Adventure -- surviving a potential disaster.

Our Adventure: This week was a holiday when we went to visit our students in Volcan, chiriqui, panama.  We rearranged our schedule, but still had two cancellations -- letting us go home early.  However, one of us had the bright idea to see some new country (in case Audrey might like to see it or it might have been (past tense) an inherited trait).  At any rate, we have a Panama road map and it didn't look much more than twice as far to go home through Rio Sereno, Chiriqui, Panama by way of the Costa Rica border in Canoas and then home on the 4 lane.  If you put in Volcan and Rio Sereno in maps.google.com, you won't find our route -- they show another one, sort of in the middle and say it can be done in 1.5 hours.   Actually our more direct route took about 45 minutes to get to Rio Sereno.  We passed beautiful coffee plantations (Cafe Duran).  It is up in the mountains, very green, very hilly and the road has just been paved -- quite passable.  However, when we got to Rio Sereno, there wasn't any road signs showing where the 3-4 exit roads went.  We saw a nice looking couple (without a machete) waiting for a bus and asked if the road ahead lead to Canoas.  They confirmed that this was the correct cow path.   So we gave them a ride and decided that surely the road would get better. We passed tomato fields.  They are covered with plastic and have rows about 3 feet apart and maybe 4 feet high.  Our guest works in the tomato fields.  They say that the tomatoes just melt if they aren't covered with plastic. About 1/3 of the way, we came to a border crossing with Costa Rica and they got out and pointed the way to continue and said in not too long there would be an improved path with reflectors.   Well, the road was narrow and mostly (85%) paved.  Even after it got dark, non of the chuck holes swallowed our Yaris.  It took well over 2 hours and very winding hilly slow driving road to get back to the freeway.  The reflectors were on sticks to ensure you didn't go over the edge without warning.  There were a few big trucks on the road, luckily going our direction as there wasn't always room to pass.  As you can imagine, the view wasn't very spectacular considering the dark and the fog. You will notice we got home, but most of our friends talk about it as a dangerous route to take.  (Rod tells people I was in the back with my head covered.  Actually I was straining to see the road as well, and praying hard.) We are glad that our car is reliable and that we didn't break down in the dark -- no gas stations the entire way.  If you put Rio Sereno and Volcan Chirqui Panama in google maps getting directions, you will find the way we didn't go -- according to Google maps we went overland from Volcan to Rio Sereno and then took a non-road to Canoas which is on the 4 lane.  So far we consider ourselves cured of the adventure addiction -- I guess you have to hit bottom to give some things up.

Last week I went into our dark kitchen in my stockinged feet.  I felt something on my leg and reached down and brushed off--A LARGE COCKROACH!!!  I of course screamed for Rod--My hero-- who yelled back "I don't have any shoes on".  I made a snap decision that he couldn't escape and STOMPED!!  If you stomp hard enough they don't even crunch. Amazon woman!!  The mission fumigates our houses periodically.  I got a call from the fumigator who said he was coming two weeks ago.  I believe I'll call him.

Yesterday in church the bishop came down from the stand to ask for more hymns.  Someone had forgotten the sacrament bread.  The district president went to buy, but I had bread at home closer, so I followed him out and ran all the way home and back.  He was impressed with my energy.  I was, too.  Actually, it's only a block or so, but I don't run much any more. Our students were doing the hymns when I got back.  Yeah for them!

I don't remember if we told you, but our first student has earned his piano.  In 2 months he can play 12 hymns and has taught himself a new one.  He has played in church 3 times.  We're awfully proud of him.
Once again we're grateful to be here and have meaningful work to do.