We were richly blessed with fruit this week. Students gave us a hand of natural bananas. The same day we received a box of mangoes from our friends in Aguadulce. They are the best we've ever tasted and we have eaten LOTS. The Lord certainly has made wonderful things for us to eat. We fill our bowls with mangoes then add raw oatmeal and milk (whole, of course). The adjustment back to powdered skim may be a bit stiff.
We had to have both of us pose so we could send the photos back to the Trejos family in Aguadulce.
Maria, our friend who is organizing the music in one ward and allowing us to teach her to direct (including changing from left hand to right hand), gave us a melocoton. We use that word for peaches, too, but this was different.
Here it is cut in two. There weren't really large pieces of fruit even though it is large, because the two large seeds were REALLY cling peach pits. You had to dig the fruit off each one of them.
I refrigerated some of it, and it was just as fresh the next day.
For flavor it was a hit, but I haven't seen it for sale.
We are down to 10 weeks, and I admit we are counting. Our girls have sent videos lately and we're eager to see the kids in person. They have certainly grown.
Interestingly, we are counting perhaps as much for the students as for ourselves. Many just can't seem to feel the need to practice, yet they say they want to continue.
We are in to winter and have had "aguacerro"s or downpours each evening for the last 4 days. One could get tired of it. Our neighbor says that these are the nights for robbers to break into cars because the noise of the rain on the roof is so loud you can't hear the glass break. So far we've been protected. Our problem is that here we are in the house and could call family, but we can't hear the computer at all. Edyn sent videos and I listened to them again and was surprised to hear voices. It is LOUD! Friday night we were taking our usual route home during the rain when we looked ahead and saw a taxi submerged in water and unable to get out. We reversed, but we found a few big rocks in the bargain and our car's nose is not as happy as it used to be.
We now have 4 of the 7 units who have a music director for us to work with. It makes a difference for the youth to have someone to organize. We're hoping the other three units will see the light soon. One sister who directs poorly (and about whom some have complained) told us how wonderfully grateful she was to have someone offer to teach her because she'd accepted her calling expecting training and had not received any. It makes me rethink how easily we judge others.
This week Rod was playing while I taught a sister to direct. He can also direct while I play so that the students get "real" practice. We are becoming more and more an equal team. We keep marveling at the magic of being able to work together so much. We would have to go far in order to improve on this mission.
This is so unprofessional that probably only family (or only we) will enjoy it, but it captures memories with a remarkable young man, Kenneth Acosta, as well as Rod's persistence in learning. Both admirable.
We decided to teach our students in the chapel so that they could have experience playing the organ they would play for church. The touch is very different, and the keyboard so much larger that they are sometimes confused. I love Teo looking at Rod, with Rod so relaxed teaching them. It is wonderful to do this work.
Each Wednesday night we are treated to a special dinner here at the Miranda's. Sister Miranda takes care with presentation, and the food is delicious. This is one of the best steaks I ever tasted (I admit I was REALLY hungry) with patacones (double fried platanos) and carrot and cucumber spears. She brings us the food as we are teaching and we just eat and teach together. She is a strong mother, holding family home evenings with her children, and encouraging their spiritual growth.
Hattie likes to direct. She was laughing at the picture because it looks like they are not on the same beat. I usually play the piano so that they get a real sense of directing, so Rod helps them when they need it.
This family is interesting. Our student is the young lady (a returned missionary). She didn't get the word that lessons were available, but found out from a cousin who is a student. She just started and is working hard. She invited us to dinner. Lovely salad, macaroni, chicken with yummy tomato-based sauce and cheese.
Her older brother is a returned missionary from Nicaragua. He received his mission call in Russia, where he had gotten a scholarship to study medicine for 7 years. He spent the first year learning the language and basic biology, chemistry, etc. Then he transferred to a different city for medicine and the branch of the church was in the next block. Sounds like he was very active (mission leader). His English is also quite good. He is now doing his internship at a small hospital about 5 hours away by bus and boat -- he likes it better than the 1st year he spent in Panama city at a large hospital. He was home for the weekend. He was able to come home every two years, so he basically spent 9 years away from home (mission and school). The family is more well to do than most. They seem very nice.
Ant hatch.
I got started in English, but when Ana started asking questions in Spanish I switched. She was asking if I hadn't seen something like this in my own country. I haven't (thankfully). I was amazed at their calm. I don't like being buzzed by large flying insects shaped like wasps.
Nicole Ortiz, a student in Lassonde, came for her lesson this week after missing a week for a ward activity. She said she wanted to play Nearer My God to Thee with both hands as written in the hymnbook. I explained that it would be difficult and I wasn't sure we had time to do it. She said "But Sister, I already know it" and she proceeded to play it, a bit slowly, but better than I can do. I sat with my mouth hanging open. I asked her how long she had worked at it, and she told me she'd done it in one day. There are very talented youth here. I love it that we can give them an opportunity to learn music. Some of them at least will continue.
I have students asking to play the song "I'll Find You My Friend", written by Linda Leavitt Hartman. I tried to find to to download, but was unable. One night I was thinking about it and could see it in Edyn's home. I called her and asked, and she did have it. She scanned it and sent it. With that information, I was able to contact Linda to ask if I could pay her for my copies. She sent back a lovely letter telling me the story of how she had written it and offering to send autographed copies of the song for each of my students but asking me to then destroy the copies I had made. I hope we can make it work out in the time we have. What a generous offer. She didn't realize that I have more than 70 students. I didn't ask for that many copies, but she didn't blink at 25. People are kind. The gospel is true. I love the Savior.
Just in case anyone would like to read her account, here is the letter she sent:
Beehive Salesbeehivesales@mac.com
May 10 (3 days ago)
to me
Hermana Watson,
You
might enjoy hearing how the song came to be written. I sent you in the
previous email the story that I read that inspired the song but this is
the rest of the story of how it came to be.
Throughout
the years I have heard many rumors, stories and other amusing tales of
how I'll Find You My Friend came to be. I chuckle as I hear what has
been passed around the church and would like to set the record straight.
I
was preparing for my mission to Atlanta, Georgia in 1979 when my
sister, Laurel Ann suggested I write a song for my farewell. I
responded with, "I don't know how to write a song, you've got to be
kidding!" When it was her turn to prepare the family home evening
lesson, she had the whole family write poetry. The poetry that came out
of our little family was incredible. This gave me the confidence, and
along with her encouragement I decided to try. Laurel Ann's greatest
belief is that "YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT, IF YOU WANT TO BADLY
ENOUGH!"
Laurel
Ann also suggested calling Wanda West Palmer, composer of "Oh That I
Were An Angel", who lived in Mesa to receive directions on how to even
begin such a task. When I called her, she told me the key was just to
PRAY--that Heavenly Father would work through me as an instrument in His
hands to write down His words.
Two
weeks before my farewell the music came as I was visiting in the home
of Ray and Frances Rolph. I worked for two weeks on lyrics but nothing
came. I guess I had faith that it would, because I even asked a close
relative, Lynette Carling to sing it for my farewell.
The
day before the farewell, Lynette was to be at my home to rehearse the
song which still had no lyrics. She called me from a pay phone at the
grocery store to tell me she was running a little late. I was about to
tell her not to come, when her child fell out of the grocery cart and
she quickly hung up. I thought. "she is going to be so disgusted when
she drives all the way to my home and I have no song for her to sing." I
went to my room and began going over my notes for my talk when I read a
story about two friends in the pre-existence. One was being sent to an
LDS home and one was going to be born to a mother in another part of
the country and would know nothing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
After
I read the story, I began to tingle. It was as if a surge of
electricity was penetrating my soul. I felt the Spirit of the Holy
Ghost so strongly and I knew this was the time to pray. As I knelt
beside my bed I pled with the Lord to help me with lyrics. Within a few
minutes the lyrics flowed through my mind. I was finished before she
arrived.
In
1985, George W. Dyer and Tina Brunsdale Wright recorded my album
entitled, "Ill Find You My Friend." Since the first publication I'll
Find You My Friend has been translated into 20 languages. In 1987, a
sequel to the first album was released entitled, I'll Find You My Friend
Part II with a song called I Found You My Friend. Vocalists are George
W. Dyer, Lori Bowen Whittle, Keenan Kanahele and Lynette Vance Carling.
Here is our new family name plaque. The Flia is an abbreviation for familia and the Hnos for Hermanos (my name placque says Hermana (Sister) Watson, plural -- Brethren Watson). The grand piano is a a bit of a stretch for our teclados, but one of our students expressed her love for us with this. It hangs outside our door now, and we'll have to find a place for it at home. It won't fit in our suitcase, but will BARELY squeeze into the guitar case, so it's going to make it home.
Our students shared their surpluses with us this week. It makes me think of how much I like to share my garden. You will recognize the avocados. Above them are a different type of mango, and I can't remember the name of the green vegetable. It works to make it into "zuchini" casserole, and we like it just steamed. Yum! Our only problem (!) is when we buy avocados because we don't have any and then are gifted 4 in a couple of days. We just have to eat lots.
This is a road made slippery with mangos that we walk twice a week. Rod has our teclado and table which we always use.
Here is the bird as a full fledged adult. I guess this is the end of his photos unless he learns to speak and we can video him. Once again, white bread and cream will not kill a baby bird. Who would have thought?
Jhoisi came home from the store with this guaba wrapped around her neck. I was going to say that she is a favorite student, but I realized that almost all are favorites. What a blessing to work with the youth of the church. They are great!!!
We are still adding students. Soon we will need to make a cut off date, but it is hard to do.
Tuesday night our 5:30 student, Hilda Castillo, asked for a blessing of health as she left. She said she'd been sick for almost a week and needed to get back to life. Rod gave her a blessing. Shortly after she walked out I was hit by a horrible pain in my stomach and was really sick(to the point of fear of passing out) for the next few hours. Rod gave me a blessing as well, and I was only sick for that one night. We continued teaching the next day, with Rod teaching in our homes with only one student while I slept. We did cancel one appointment, but that was all. Rod was sick on Saturday, about the same, and we did the opposite. The people here say that when we change from dry to wet season there is a virus. Who knows? It made me even more grateful for the health we have enjoyed here. We didn't have the sickness at the last change. Hilda was at church today feeling better, so "Hurray for the Priesthood". I am so grateful for the blessings we've received through it.
What a wonderful sight these young men are for me. All of them gather around the piano and share before and after church.
Rod was showing them the transpose function of the organ, making it change as they played. It was pretty fun.
It doesn't get much better than this. We went back to our old area and Ashley had her piano out. She was eager to show me her new hymns that she'd been learning.
Ashley's dad had a gunny sack half full of these avocados that he'd picked from his mom's tree. We're in avocado heaven right now. These are the largest of the 6 we've been given in the last week. We tried Audrey's idea of deviled eggs made with avocado instead of mayonnaise. I couldn't get Audrey to ask the recipe, but I tried putting in culantro, kind of like cilantro, because Rod is sick today and wouldn't be eating it. I liked it better with the culantro. I'm getting used to it, I think.
One of our bishops works in Panama City and is seldom home. He sends roses to his wife, and when we visit to teach his kids, I enjoy the roses. When they droop, she cuts them off and puts them in pyrex to prolong their life. They look prettier than the photo shows.
Yesterday after we finished a lesson, one of the students was giving the closing prayer. She talks FAST and our brains go into the mode of just listening for tone of voice so we can say amen at the appropriate time. Unfortunately for Rod, but wonderfully fortunately for our enjoyment, he got it wrong and said "Amen" just after she said how grateful she was for these talented people who were teaching her. Her brother chortled, almost snorted, and Rod lost it, too. It reminded me of some of our family prayers. I am sure the Lord has a sense of humor.
This picture is in one of our students' homes. There are 2 bishops, a counselor in a bishopric, and a counselor in the Stake Presidency. I like to think that this mother held family home evening. We have several of her grandchildren as students. Strong families are needed in the church.
Here is the baby bird again. I can hardly believe it, but Sister Polacio assured me that it is one and the same.
These next photos are of the road we have to travel to reach the Polacio's home. We've been wondering since we came here in the dry season how it will be in the wet one. So far, so good. We haven't had to walk it in a rainstorm yet.
Exposed water pipes that people drive over.
A daunting prospect for our carrito. A student taught us a new word last Friday, llamativo. It means calling attention to oneself, or flashy. He told us our car is llamativo. Rod has always said it appears to be saying "Rob me, rob me".
And here is my new hair cut that Rod said made me feel like a "new man". I do love it when it is short. Apologies to all who don't. I just feel better.
Guanabana
Warning -- this part may require more than 13.6 seconds to read.
It may be going a bit too far to take our own advice: (or not)
This week my spiritual lesson for the students is from Elder Christofferson's article on "Recognize the hand of the Lord in our lives". The examples I have been using from our mission is that most of the time when we have to change appointment times for a student, we usually have to shuffle others (a big hassle), but it will often turn out for the best. The other is that this week (on Sunday) we picked up three new students -- a bit pushing the envelope for making by end of July -- however, we didn't have a piano to share for them to practice with (no envelope to push). The same day, a student called saying she didn't want to practice any more -- come take her piano. [She was a student of the 9 month class put on by the stake here that just terminated. It was a different approach, bring your piano to the stake center once a week for a class of (originally) ten students. They actually had several of the students accomplish quite a bit, but it wouldn't serve most students because of having to travel weekly, basically learn most things on your own with little teacher help.]
So on Saturday after the last class (that of the three new students) Janell get this feeling that it would be nice to go to an activity in Concepcion -- there are times I wonder (grind my teeth) about relationship people!
We have been meeting with people (>60 hours of teaching appointments) all week, she just can't get enough.
So what happens -- just afterward, she gets a call from the Concepcion District Relief society president about an activity at 6pm -- well, actually we'll start at 6:30 en punto. We were on the way home from Boquette (the mountain branch of the David Stake) and had caught the three new students who live part way up there on the way back, SOOOO if we just kept going when we hit the 4 lane, we could get there in time -- likely they will feed us -- always top of mind since we didn't eat lunch. Sigh, senior companion relationship person gets 'her' way again.
OK, Grumblino and Relationship Person got there -- so what?
or Upshot of Hand of Lord:
Keli, our student that has been living with her aunt taking care of a 1 year old, is going back home to Panama (we thought in two weeks, actually tomorrow). She and her cousin both earned their keyboards, but we didn't have one in hand to share just yet for both. So we were trying to connect her with some keyboards in Panama that a young man has from a class that he finished there. We had called him and he said if she would come to church at his ward (basically across the city from her parents house, so a long bus ride) he would let her have it and not turn it into the mission offices. We texted her cousin with the info. He was now quite interested in making the connection as in the phone conversation he got the feeling that she was a 'special' girl. He is a music student and was concerned she wouldn't have a teacher in Panama city to help her. H-mmmm.
Her parents are not members and we are concerned that she might get lost as she got baptized while living here in Concepcion. The membership system doesn't allow records to be sent, they can only be requested. We do hope that music will aid her as likely her ward needs a pianist.
Short story long -- she hadn't gotten the text-- so we made that connection. She also thought bus fares were 25 cents, they are now government buses and are 5-10 times that. So we helped her there.
Basically, we were able to make that connection (and provide her a simplified hymn book -- we had just one extra) and it only took guardian angel overtime and extra inspirations (I'm counting Orlando's 'special' feeling) to get it done.
For our benefit, Janell has been anxious to get a hair cut, but we only visit Concepcion, where a member cuts her hair, on Sundays -- sooo -- yes after the activity, we took her (Sister de Romero) and her granddaughter home so she could cut Janell's hair. At least I was able to get in a comment about it making Janell looking like a new 'man'. It is short, but Janell likes it.
And in true relationship person form, Janell worked with Irvin, a grandson and star student on some new hymns and a start for Fur Elise. He has been kicked out of school (probably bored) and the music has been good for him. We did get home just in time to talk to Blythe and Talia for about two times the length of Talia's attention span and then our BOM chapter and z-z-z-z-z.
Guardian Angels: "All in a day's work -- high fives all around!"
Gabriel Miranda and his brother, Carlos, have been worrying me because they like to memorize, not to read the music. I expressed that fear to Gabriel last week at his lesson. He said, "Hermana, give me a song, make it hard so I could never have heard it before, and I will learn it." I selected "While of These Emblems", the second tune, that doesn't exist in the Spanish hymnal. He began to work, and in less than a half hour he had learned about 5 new chords and had learned to play the melody. Case closed! He can learn more. The best part was that he proved it to himself as well. It was a wonderful night.
Bishop Zarate showed Rod some of the things in his garden. Although many mango trees didn't produce much fruit this year, this one has plenty at least on this branch. This is a different variety. Maybe we'll get to try it when it's ripe.
This is black peppercorns before they are ready to harvest.
Here they are ready to harvest.
This variety of beans needs to be boiled three times and the water poured off before you can eat them. Amazing to discover how to eat something like that. Someone must have been hungry.
This fruit has beans inside. They are medicinal and must be boiled and the water poured off. The tree is rare, and our friends are trying to plant one. It's pretty hard, so I don't think you could sword fight with it like with carrots.
Friday night we finished at 7:00. I was SOO looking forward to a few hours reading a book. I got a call from two of our students of Saturday afternoon saying that they were traveling to Panama City. I decided to call the other two and make sure they would be there. The first one said there was a Super Saturday for seminary in the morning, so we decided to see if we could schedule the other two here and save a 45 minute trip. I called the seminary teacher, then the other student. To make a VERY long story short, I arranged to meet them here, but they were to call me back and tell me what time. I didn't receive a call, so Saturday morning I called again. They hadn't connected and the one student had a cold and if we could come to her at her house alone she would receive us, otherwise, no. The other boy was going to work and call us if he got home in time. This branch isn't doing so well. Saturday, which seems like it might be the best day, is actually the worst. So, after $5 in phone calls and no time to relax, I accomplished exactly zero. Hurray for me.
If the truth be told, I hope the Lord was listening and knows I tried. Missions are a lot about trying and what happens to the missionary as he/she tries to figure out how to love others better. One of the surprising things is how often scheduling problems work out for the best -- this time, it seemed to be working, but didn't.
My prediction of early death for a baby bird fed bread and cream didn't materialize. He's growing fine and getting feathers.
This bird is an adult like the baby bird. It can say "run" or "corre" in spanish, but it chose not to the day I was videoing.
We found a new fruit stand in our area that I'm very pleased with. I bought several dollars worth of produce and then the owner couldn't make change, so I told her she could give me grapefruit instead. She filled a bag with horrid looking grapefruit, but they were delicious. I found a sprouted seed in one, and look, it is a "Middle SEED". Bad Rod joke. It did look like a note [maybe not middle C], though, so it was fun to find.
One day when we were driving, this lizard ran across the road and up a wall. The wall is made of full sized cinder-blocks, so you can see that he was pretty big.
We have decided that it was a blessing to be 'forced' to move. The assistants to the president came to our house on Sunday night with the other couple who moved into our house. They put their things in the upstairs bedroom. I had hired a sister to come help me clean and Rod had dismantled the bed, so we were ready. Monday morning the elders came for breakfast at 7:00. By 9:00 we were moved into our house here (everything was in) and we were only 5 minutes late for our teaching appointment. Those elders were magic.
Water is a problem here. We expect to have little or none during the day. One morning Rod was taking his shower when the water went away. He'd just soaped up. I had filled a bowl earlier just in case, so I helpfully poured it over him. What I didn't realize was that this water was several (SEVERAL) degrees colder than the water coming from the shower. He had his eyes closed and it was quite a shock. Unplanned vengeance for his holding Myles up with the garden hose to get me in the shower when Myles was 4 or 5. Some things one doesn't forget.
It's hotter here, and we're upstairs with the metal roof, so it has been hard to sleep some nights. Also we are in a "zona roja" or an area of the city that is considered dangerous. Our neighbor told us that people break out the windows of cars when it is raining hard because with the noise of the rain on the roofs no one hears them. We're trusting the Lord to take care of us -- and we are more vigilant and take everything, including the radio out of the car.
There are GREAT things about being here, like being able to come home for meals and when students cancel. Before we just had to sit in a hot car, not our idea of fun. Our mornings are a bit less rushed because we don't have to drive half an hour to our appointments. And it's very nice not to have to drive half an hour home on our 8:30 p.m. days.
We hosted young adults for a week end activity Thursday and Friday nights. We were privileged to have Mihally, our favorite student from Chitre who introduced us to the chord method, come to stay with us. We also got a family, as the activity was for marrieds as well. There was a 3 or 4 year old little girl. Her parents are musicians, so my guitar got played WELL for once, and we had fun with the piano as well. We sang from Myles' songbook and I gave them one.
They paid a price in comfort, as they had to sleep on a tile floor with only our exercise mats, and Mihally had our two cushions in a corner.
Mihally was our connection (like Hansel and Gretel) to bread crumbs that led from her to Sister Brown of Saint George to Brother Theobald of Saint George. He taught Janell the method we use -- which turns the church music approach upside down. Instead of teaching music and then learning to play, we start playing and with each hymn learn a bit more music. Instead of 5 or 10% of the students sticking with it (which is where we were headed) we get close to 50% earning their keyboard (play 10 hymns ready for church and learn a new one on their own). We are glad Mihally kept going and wanted to learn more so we could discover a better way.
Apartment
We grumble about the downsides of the apartment and had to learn a bit of obedience to come, but it is working out well and so don't listen to all the grumbling and there are real upsides.
[Rod] Speaking of washer person, just before we moved my back starting acting up again. This would be bad with our students to not be able to sit. Therapy is to lie down or stand up. So I was worried and realized it was probably from not shifting the heavy water rinse buckets properly - the prior wash day. I explained in prayer my situation and that I would appreciate His help in resolving the inflammation as we needed to finish and help our students stay close to the Church (music is secondary, we think). I felt a sensation go over my body, somewhat like washing clean. At any rate, I could move freely and after a few days even the warning twitches have been greatly reduced. Lovely blessing.
Also, this week one of our students asked me if I were an apostle. I'm not sure if it was my dignified manner, comportment or ... probably since she comes from a small branch, Boquete -- she doesn't know any other old people who wear ties and do church work. Anyway, nice that I can be mistaken for an authority.
Sensitive plant
Do you like my new socks? They are more visible than the plant's movement.
In this Easter season, we are especially grateful for the atonement of Christ. I can't imagine living at peace with myself if I didn't know there was Christ's help to straighten out my mistakes.
