Elder Beloved (Amado) and winding down

 We made a trip back to Bugaba, our old area.  Patricia is talented, but for some reason quit practicing and attending classes and we had to reclaim her piano.  That's our least favorite part of this job.  We told her that if she could find a way to practice (she had cousins who earned their pianos) that we would come back to hear her play.  SHE DID IT!  Talk about cutting it close.

 Here she is picking mamon chino for me.  She's up on her grandmother's roof.  I was hoping the fruit would be ripe before we left and it was. 

 Second ward, the ward we live in, threw a going away party for us Friday night.  It was pouring (President Ward's flight was cancelled for rain.  He called us during the party to ask for a ride to the hotel.  We didn't answer, and he had to"take a taxi like other people".  Oops! Actually we wouldn't have wanted to leave the party in our honor anyway) and yet despite the downpour most of our students were there.  They put on a concert for us and then we had a kind of testimony meeting with each person who wanted to sharing their gratitude.  It was lovely.  One of my favorite comments was from Bishop Aparicio.  When we first came and were in the chapel, he warned us pretty sharply that the organ was his to protect (it is the most expensive keyboard I have seen -- like a piano, even to the touch).  In his comments at the party he said that when the church sent the organ his thought was "What good will it do us?  We have no one to use it."  Now there are students clamoring.  What a blessing!

First ward has few students.  This morning we attended there, and two of them played while Abril directed. When we arrived (above) they were practicing.  We really hope they continue.  We didn't have the group energy in this ward.

Hilda, a young adult, studied with us.  It was far from easy, but she kept at it.  At our farewell she and her friend played the song she composed.  The message is lovely.  I'm not sure if it will be hard to understand.  I asked for a copy, and we can put it in next time. 


Fooling around during the farewell.  Hilda's friend "En el barco de Noe"


More fooling. Hilda's friend Los Pollitos

Elder Amado came to teach the Elders in this area this Friday.  We had a full schedule, but were able to shift the morning visits to a day earlier where the students had just dropped out!  We even invited one of our shy students to come and join with the missionaries to see what it was like.  Often prospective missionaries are invited, but the mission president was worried about whether he would be dressed appropriately and ready to handle three hours of talks.  Angel Palacios didn't have leather shoes, but they were dark and he wore dark jeans, white shirt and a tie.  We had 3x5 cards and he took notes!  Hopefully, it was good for him.
Elder Amado told the story of Nephi getting the brass plates the best I had ever heard it.  In a prior life, I had picked up on the fact that Nephi hadn't lied to the servant of Laban to get him to carry the plates (let's carry the plates to my elder brethren outside the walls), but I didn't realize that Nephi wasn't breaking a commandment by killing Laban.  Elder Amado taught that in the law of Moses (eye for an eye / toothless society) that you may take the life of one who has tried to take your life.  Interesting.  He said the Lord NEVER breaks his commandments or has us break them.  I haven't thought of an exception, but there are times when a higher law is obeyed and a lesser law bent/broken.  (Ox out of the mire on Sunday)
He also told a story of his own mission.  As he was bearing his testimony to an investigator that he knew that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and God the Son, his companion turned to him and said 'REALLY!'.  Elder Amado gave him a hip and whispered We'll talk later.   Back at the apartment, he explained the First Vision story and then left his companion in his room with the admonition -- Now you need to find out for yourself if it is true.  About 1/2 hour later, his companion came out and stated that he now knew for himself that it was true and after that bore strong testimony to his investigators.

Elder Amado appeared very tired as he waited for his part. His wife was back at the mission home in the city because she was sick.  Each time I view the lives of general authorities/mission presidents, I'm glad it's not my life.  It makes me want to pray for them more.

As we ate lunch, the Hereros (the couple who took over our house in Bugaba) shared their conversion story.  He was working in Australia as an engineer (out on the mines in Western Australia) and encountered the missionaries.  His wife gained a testimony, but he had lots of questions.  The missionaries invited the mission president to come to teach them.  The mission president opened the Book of Mormon and answered all of his questions without his having to ask the questions. The Hereros have served 6 missions.  They have a lot of energy.  They know both English and Spanish and so are very useful here in Panama.

We will teach normally for the next three days.  We have an invitation to dinner each night, so we'll be tired at the end of the week, I suspect.  I do like being busy.  I especially like being busy in the work of the Lord.