Bugs

This video captures the sounds of how 'Froggie goes a courtin' ' in Panama.  We are holding piano class outside on the patio at Mariza's mother's home, as we do at many houses and where the breeze is better.   Froggie is captured joining in on the fun.  Just so you know, only his voice is captured.  There isn't one on the flower that you can't see.  Rod is just showing you the flower as well.

 More complaining of bugs!  Actually Rod is surprised that there are not more.  These fly in and dive bomb while I'm teaching outside.  Juan had a fun time teasing me with them.  I'm not sure why I didn't just hold one and then the fun would be gone.

 We just put them on the piano to show you.  There were actually about 50 of them on the floor beside us.  One that was maybe 4 or 5 times bigger came in.  Even Juan thought it was worth his time to bat it out of the way with our book.

 Rod said he thought it might have been funny to eat one, (if I had had something crunchy, I might have pulled it off).  Sister Quezada says they worry about the bugs bombing into an eye in which case they really burn.  Glasses are wonderful sometimes.

 When we arrived here at the Flores home there was no power on a rainy Thursday.  We got out our children's books and read together.  Can you recognize all of them?  We have them in English and Spanish thanks to Apryl's help, some translated commercially, and my friend Irma in Corvallis.  We love sharing them.  We eventually got power and then they read between turns.

Edilsa, a piano student in Las Tablas,  carries a Strawberry Shortcake bag.  I though some of you might have memories and enjoy this.  She wasn't thrilled to have her picture taken.

We took Jose's (a 12 year old recent convert) mom and family to church with us today.  They have 4 children, 12,8,5, 2, I think.  Her husband was killed in a motorcycle accident about 3 months ago.  She is trying to figure out how to make it in a cold world.  The government doesn't offer welfare here for someone in her position.  I'm trying to figure out what is appropriate help given the messages in the last conference.  She also is struggling with spiritual issues and is open to studying together.  I surely hope I can listen to help her.

We visited a non-member family last week.  The mom had had an accident at work and her husband said she was in bed crying.  We went back with the elders a few days later and offered her a priesthood blessing.  Elder del Angel, from Mexico, insisted that Rod anoint and have the experience.  I appreciated this.  (He probably didn't know that we have been giving quite a few blessings, but junior companions need the practice)  We went back two days later and she said she was able to walk around and hadn't taken any pills that day.  Rod emphasized to her that blessings work because of your faith.
 I am trying to learn how often and when to offer blessings.  Even though I know there is purpose in pain sometimes, I also know the Lord wants to bless us.

We've been two days without water now.  I usually wash on Saturday morning, but I waited.  I hope it comes tomorrow as we don't have many more socks. (Translation:  She has a bunch and I'm out)  We actually have water in a tank outside that I can use if I need to, so we're not desperate.  (I could get tired of showering out of a bucket, however, we only have had to do that about once a week.)

Sorry, the squirrel hides tacked up to dry got away

We celebrated our 41st wedding anniversary yesterday.  We are grateful to  be together and to be here.  We are loving it that we get pictures and videos from family members.  We appreciate all of you who share.  Even though we are busy, we check the computer every morning and when we return to see if there is a message from family or friends.  

Yesterday was our branch conference.  We were back up to the 64  people attending (counting the district people).  The new building isn't adequate for this many, but we didn't notice much.  Four of our students played.  Rod says we could have had 5 and set a record if I'd played my hand right.  We had another student ready, and the meeting closed early.  We counted for the district president, and it is about 15 students here in Aguadulce.  

I do love this work. 

Abdiel is one of our most diligent students.  I think he can play about 20 hymns.  He is quiet and modest.  His grandmother sits there through each lesson.  It reminds me of how much I liked it when my Daddy would stand behind me and sing while I practiced hymns.

I was teaching the other son of this family while Rod worked on English with the father.  He is our branch president.  They're reading Blueberries for Sal together.  Rod has him read the books to the children in Spanish and then they work through it in English.  Rod speaking: This time, his wife, a piano student wanted to participate in having her English pronunciation corrected.  So we read each passage twice.  I always have to peer at things, the amount I can focus on is getting narrower and narrower.

When we visited a family this bird was eating his neatly peeled mango outside their house.  I love the colors.

This is a student's mom.  We made bread together.  It doesn't turn out as well here as at home.  It's still fun to do.

These students are throwing mangoes into the tree to make more mangoes fall down.  They are just letting this tree go by because they have others they like better.  These are sweet and wonderful to me.                                                                                                                                                                                                        We visited a town about 20 K. away with a student on Saturday.  Rod loves just to go visit new country, so it was fun for him.  This was where we saw old (60 years) adobe homes still in use and squirrels tacked up on the side of the wall to dry.  And me without my camera.  The grandmother told us that this was the first time her home had been blessed with a visit from North Americans.  She was very gracious.  They shared "Bastante" mangoes with us, and we shared "odd or even", my mother's game, and a hymn and a prayer with them.                                                                                                                                                                                                                        We visited a woman who is slowly slipping into activity without realizing it.  She had much to criticize in the branch, legitimately so, except that criticism isn't legitimate in the eyes of the Lord, I expect, and it appears that she is on the "High Road".  I am so sorry as she is a fine person with lots of good traits.  Enduring to the end starts taking on new meaning as we watch members here.  We visited a widow who needs much help.  I have been thinking about the talks about welfare in the last conference and trying to figure out what we should do.  There is a lot to do.     Hope all of you have a great week.                                                                          

 

 

 

Variety is the spice of life

I wish I had taken a photo of my favorite part of this week. It was a time when, as President Eyring teaches "There are few things sweeter in life than knowing that you were an instrument in the Hand of the Lord.

We have an English student, Carlos, in Penonome who is a returned missionary of a few years and who was slipping away. We asked him if he would consider teaching a missionary prep class partly in English. He said yes, so we asked the Branch President if he would support this. He also said yes, so we got Preach My Gospel in both languages for each student. When we taught piano to Jaan and Angel last Thursday they were excitedly asking for help in English pronunciation. Their text was "My purpose as a missionary is to invite others to come unto Christ..." It turns out a retired couple from Arizona have agreed to help as well, so it should really be worthwhile. Sweet!!!

We volunteered to sing in a school for handicapped children that we walk by each morning. We sang to three different groups but our camera battery died after this group.

Some children had to participate in a different manner than others. The teachers were helpful in giving them the opportunity.

Rod is losing his inhibitions. He dances with people, and helps me all he can. I can't thank him enough for his support and patience. This mission is more my comfort zone than his, but he never complains.

Antonio, in the blue, greeted us at the mini-super on the corner one day. Afterwards we met him at the school and made the connection to sing.

Karyme is a piano student in the Las Tablas branch. They gave us these marinon(cashew) fruit. I love the beauty of the plate of fruit (to say nothing of the beauty of Karyme). I saw a plate of these at a students house several months ago and was sorry I hadn't taken a photo. Then here was my opportunity, and Rod indulged me in it even though it was raining and he had to pick them. Like I said, "He's awfully good to me".

We are amazed that the half starved dogs don't eat chickens. This family told us that sometimes they do, but these two seemed contented together.

The parents of our branch president's wife are not members. They visited while we were teaching one night, and as I met them I misunderstood and thought they were inactive members. I shook his hand and said "It's about time you came. When can we come to visit you?" Luckily he didn't take offense (I think). However, when we came, the next week, he was already in bed. He works construction in the sun all day and goes to bed early. We'll try again. It was a great night with the family.

Oriel Jordan and Rod made a stomp rocket. We had a lot of fun. Some of the excitement at this house was to make sure the rocket didn't come down in the open sewer. It really is nasty. When we park I have to hold on to the side of the car to avoid falling in. Yuck!!! When we got home we took it to the mini-super where we bought the supplies and showed them. Then we played with the kids in the street. After we'd had enough they continued with our landlady and her daughter as audience. It was a lot of fun for everyone.

We read the book Cookies with these kids a few times so I suggested we make cookies. They were jumping up and down and laughing in delight as they took turns beating the eggs and sugar with my hand mixer. We did have a good time. They recently lost their father. Life can be hard.

More of the cookies. They were raisin cookies but they didn't turn out wonderfully. I realized that they have to have the walnuts for me.

Unfortunately Rod isn't reading cookies but Where the Wild Things Are with them as we wait for the cookies to bake. We are so grateful to have good books.

The gospel is still true. Blythe gave birth to a baby girl, Taylia Joy on Wednesday, May 17. Deryk's new baby boy, Adam Deryk, was born April 28. I tell you this to let you know that being here and missing that wouldn't be worth it otherwise. We love the work.

The Rainy Season is Coming

I wonder how Joseph Smith kept on keeping on in the early days of the church.  There must have been many days of discouragement.  I would be dishonest if I said that there were not days here like that, but I am grateful to be serving.  I want to follow the prophet and to make my life count for something each day.  Today at church four of our students played, one hymn each in the Sacrament service.  They are progressing, and the church will be blessed for their service.  Two of their siblings also played when I brought the keyboard to primary. 

While returning from Las Tablas on Friday, it was dark and raining.  We ran over a piece of metal that made a loud bang and flew off in the darkness.  We continued on and in front of a well-lit mini supermarket, Rod heard noise and stopped to check.  We had a flat tire.  Unfortunately we couldn't loosen the lug nuts with our cheapy little tool that came with the car.  I tried hammering while Rod stood on it and we got one, but couldn't get the others.  The owner of the mini sent a child to get her uncle.  He came and really stomped the tool and got them loose and changed the tire.  We continued on safely to our next two appointments, and then on home about 10 p.m.  The next morning we took our tire in.  It had a hole about 2 inches long in it.  I don't know how we traveled to a safe place on it.   We felt like we had a bit of "Hand of the Lord" that night.  I don't know how we could have done it out on the road.  We now have a pipe to help the length of our tool.  We tried to buy the tool like a cross with more length, but of the 4 different types of sockets none fits our car.

This man is a friend from our morning walk.  He was mending his nets.  He fishes for large shrimp, and manta rays break into the nets. He offered to sell us large shrimp for $4  a pound, but when we ordered them they weren't there and we haven't seen him since.  We'll see.

I can now hear people speaking sometimes and the other day I heard a woman say "every day in the same clothes they come".  This is my walking outfit.

Edilsa was our first student to play in Las Tablas.  She works ironing clothes in a store next to the church there.  We come, bring lunch, and give her a lesson.  She loves to work with Rod on English, too, and has a good mind.

This is the bag of mangoes we received from the Trejos family last week.  They are all gone now.  We eat them for breakfast diced with raw oatmeal and milk.  They are delicious.

This frog had the misfortune to be in the street at the wrong time.  He is flat as a pancake, but nothing seems to be eating him.  He's just there drying out as best he can in this rainy season.  It is interesting to see how many frogs of different sizes just go jumping across the road. 

The gospel is still true, and it's still fun to be here together.  We hope everyone gets the opportunity to be so blessed.

Gruel and Unusual Punishment

We met in our new location today.  We had a bout 35 or 40 people.  The chapel we have now is no larger than before, but we have more teaching stations and we are told they have plans to enclose this outside area where the primary met today, add air conditioning, and make a large chapel.  We'll see (at this point, we did have water, but no electricity, so we used the keyboards with batteries -- and no fans).  My job as I see it, is not to become discouraged, but to do my part the best I can so that I am clean before the Lord.  We went yesterday and cleaned to get it ready.  A single sister and a recent convert helped us (interestingly, they didn't come for the inaugural event). I was really glad when we got there today, because it was very disorganized (branch president had to work and 1st and only counselor is sick -- Elder's quorum president came through and did fine), and at least 'clean' helped.   I had to go home for sacrament bread, and I discovered that I could use the keys for the house.  I'd never had to  before as Rod is always with me.

 One of our students in Chitre, Javi, gave us this "hand" of bananas.  They are called guineos manzanas, I think.  Apple bananas.  They have a very thin peel and a sweet, not starchy texture.  I thought there was no way we could eat them all, but we only wasted a couple.

 Aida gave us guaba.  This is the cockroach in a cocoon returning.  It still isn't my favorite.  I thought her use as a pistol was a pretty good one. 

 This is Aida's landlady.  She has a mango tree that they claim is the best anywhere.  I don't agree, but I thought it would be fun for them if I tried eating one like the natives.  It's a good thing they have an outside sink near.  This lady makes drinks for us each week.  The last one she made was a thin, tepid, sweet oatmeal drink.  I told Rod I never would have thought anyone would have thought gruel was a treat.  He quipped back "Gruel and unusual punishment".  I love his desire to make me laugh.  My life is much lighter because of it.

 Everyone got a kick out of Rod's pretended juggling with the mangoes.

 These are almonds, I think.  My landlady says she doesn't eat them.  I opened them to this stage of pink and she says people eat the pink part.  I can't get it more open yet as my hammer can't crack it because it isn't dry.  We'll see.

 Gladys has her own home smoke house but she only had just this one small piece of meat.  She gets it dry and the smoke changes the flavor.  She cooks for the missionaries for lunch each day.  She is the first member of the branch in Las Tablas and had church in her home for about 5 years.  Her husband was the branch president.  The church has fluctuated in this area for many years.  Our job is to try to take some part from fluctuation to steady growth.  I think we'd better start praying more.

Holy Week Holiday

 Friday, we drove to Las Tablas, our farthest drive.  It was Holy Week and there was no school.  You'd think we'd call ahead, but we didn't.  We had three cancellations.  We'd just talked to Audrey and she said she was interested in a beach vacation.  We asked a mom who said April was the month to do it as the rains come again in May.  Since we had time on our hands we decided to visit a beach.  It was on the map, but there were no road signs.  We asked a police officer and found our way.  There were few people on the beach.  It was really hot, but the breeze from the ocean was almost cold, a very interesting combination.  We didn't stay long.  Not very touristy.

This is the way the ladies go, tree tree tree tree.

We went from the  beach to Aurora Gonzales' home.  She is a nonmember Grandmother.  We started singing with her and she loves it.  From there we started telling her the Joseph Smith story.  This day, we were invited to dinner, so I visited with the cook while Rod was in the living room with Aurora.  They started reading the Book of Mormon.  I was really impressed.  Rod's Spanish has come a long ways.  They shared mangoes, plums, and a huge avocado with us. 

 Everyone was thrilled at the Jordan's when Rod danced with the baby.

 Ledys earned her new keyboard.  They were so thrilled.  Her brother, Eric, between us, is her first student.  He can play his first hymn.  She was supposed to play today, but the high council speaker told me there wasn't time, he needed to speak.  Hmmm.

 Ada is our newest student who is active.   She switched from English.  You can tell that everyone is supportive.  She is a young married return missionary who is lovely.

 Jasury is one of my favorite students.  She has a spirit kind of like Audreys, strong and like light somehow.  Jasury was baptized today if all went well.  We cancelled her appointments with us because they conflicted with seminary for her and we needed to cut
down on our travel.  It makes me sad,

This is a before picture.  Jaan assured us that he was going to begin early with his missionary image.  I'll be interested to see him next week. He has lots of musical talent and is really excited to learn to play.  He doesn't always want to listen to the teacher, but that's normal, I guess.

This was our Thursday.  Our first appointment wasn't at home so we visited our last, thinking maybe we could shorten our day.  It worked! Not only that, our last appointment had planned to cancel, so we really hit the jackpot. He, Carlos, has just been called (at our suggestion) to teach a mission prep class  to six youth (including Jaan and Jose Angel -- two of our students) using Preach My Gospel in both languages.  We provided the texts.  I hope it works well.

We love the work and know it is true.  Emma is leaving for her months vacation, but she is planning to take her Book of Mormon with her, and says she will pray with specifics.  She was high on her Mass for Holy Week.  She has learned to worship the Lord very well.  I admire her a lot.

The Good, the Bad and the Oldley

Rod's Turn

(Who would expect wordiness from me?)

Sunday was a good day with our investigators, but bad for the branch as they are still in the old facility and attendance appears to be going down as people may not like the crowding and the uncertainty of where to direct the taxi.  Monday wasn't great either as we traveled to Chitre to have most of our appointments cancel.  Oldley is a picture below.  We don't work with non-members much, but two and perhaps three appear to be accepting gospel messages.

Jesus and Ximena:

Jesus used to be over-active (9 callings), but hasn't been for several years, they are piano students and came to church this week.  Janell has been talking [with the older students, she marriage counsels, shares gospel messages -- what a good senior companion!] about the doctrines to Ximena while I watch the little one.  (You will remember that she got a blessing from her husband to remove fears and the Spirit poured into her body -- so she has a testimony of priesthood power).  

During Relief Society, she was asked to say a prayer and did!  She is shy and coming to Church was a major breakthrough.  They came over after Church for chili and corn bread and internet.  She got to talk to her family in Columbia.  She was able to connect with a favorite cousin with whom she hasn't talked in a long time.  The cousin, a member, promised to come to her baptism.  This is the first that we had heard of it.  (What kind of missionaries let the investigators challenge them?!)

Family picture below:

Emma:

We went to see Emma thereafter -- she opened her house last week to us so Jesus could teach the youth how to prepare talks.  

Janell talked to her and shared scriptures.  After about normal time was up, I asked if she had questions about the Gospel.  She asked what rules would she need to follow if she were baptized.  We talked about attending Church, Word of Wisdom, Sabbath day, tithing, etc.  For a time, she paid tithing to the Catholic church by putting her money in a napkin and slipping in the pocket of the priest, so she works to live the Gospel as taught in the scriptures and won't find tithing a new challenge.  She talked about how the Lord has been changing her life for a long time to bring her to where she needs to be -- for example, she used to smoke and drink -- now she feels that she is getting close to where He wants her.

She has mentioned a couple times before the desire to serve a mission somewhat similar to ours and Janell suggested that she could do that as she cuts hair in her salon.  This resonated well with her as she really does it now.  She senses where a person is at and talks to them to understand and help them.

She currently drinks coffee, but it isn't an addiction.  We hadn't talked with her about the gift of the Holy Ghost, but left her with that page in Preach My Gospel to read and discuss next time.  [What kind of teachers do that! (don't tell the mission president)]

She is going on vacation, home to the Dominican Republic in two weeks for a month.  Janell suggested she take a tape recorder and capture stories from her dad.  So I am also going to take family group sheets and talk more about helping your ancestors with temple blessings, next time.  She seems to have been preparing a long time for the Gospel.  It isn't our great teaching style [leave her the manual to read, Carambalita!] that is catching her attention, rather she feels the Spirit and the doctrines resonate with her.

Lupe:

We have been sharing gospel messages with Lupe who runs a very small internet cafe.  She has a little one and is quite busy, but seems interested in the messages, we just need to catch her when there aren't customers.  She gets a feeling of peace and warmth when she reads the Bible, we suggested that is the feeling to look for in our message.

Here is a snapshot of the oldley, carrying milk cans and other things to the highway for pickup.

Jose is a recent convert in Aguadulce.  His mother asked us to help him after his grandmother died and his dad was killed in an accident (she is not a member), so we are going to see if he is interested in playing the piano.  At this point, his enthusiasm is low.  He wants things easy.

Do Miracles (unexplainable happenings) change lives?
This will be long, but I wanted to capture an experience of the elders here in Aguadulce.
There were 5 people present as Elder Reed and Goodfellow were teaching a recent convert and her mom.  The mom (Victorina Monterey) had been interested in her daughter (Maritza Itzel Espinosa Monterey) joining a church to help her bring her life into better focus.  The mom attended church with her daughter once before Maritza was baptized and has also been studying with the Jehova Witnesses.  Sister Maximina Salis de Berraza is a good strong member who lives about 10 miles out of town, active in helping the missionaries meet her neighbors and is the Young Women's president in the branch.  Sister Berraza characterized Victorina (the mom) as pretty hard of heart.  (I am capturing my understanding from Elder Goodfellow and Sister Berraza.)
These 5 were present as the Elders came to teach of prophets and the restoration.  Elder Goodfellow's Spanish is about as bad as mine, although he understands more, having mostly had Latin companions.  Sister Berraza sensed that the Spirit wasn't present and felt badly as her dogs may have been deterring.  She prayed 'the most fervent prayer of her life' and felt a great Spirit enter the room.  She was not able to hear birds or any sounds from elsewhere.  Elder Goodfellow bore his witness of the truthfulness of Elder Reed's discussion of prophets and the restoration.  Sister Berraza, as usual couldn't understand him.  However, Victorinia said that she didn't hear him, but another voice in perfect Spanish, clearly and logically explaining so that all her doubts were resolved.  The daughter heard it also.  Elder Goodfellow related to me that he bore testimony and the mom said he wasn't speaking to her, it was another voice telling her in excellent Spanish.
I have read of somewhat similar experiences, but have never known the participants.  Not always do miracles change lives, as the answers to prayers of faith can and I'm not sure why the Lord would have intervened in this way.  We suggested to Elder Goodfellow and Sister Berazza that they write it down.  We will be teaching Maritza piano, so should get to know the family better.  Maritza and her mom need to write it down as they will have challenges and the memory will dull and the feelings need to be refreshed by reviewing it.  Janell thinks it is significant that the Elders committed her to baptism the next week in that moment, but Elder Goodfellow received an emergency transfer and we haven't heard more about it.  Elder Goodfellow related that the mom said, 'Now I know that your church is true and not the other one'.  We may hear more at piano lesson time.