Keyboards and Cats

We added a new student, Lorena, this week. Her father is crazy for cats. Rod doesn't usually indulge, but he does like them, and we had a lot of fun talking about cat memories.

Rod had a cat when he was a boy who would curl around his neck companionably while he read. This cat could do it, too. He also had one who would jump from the floor onto his shoulders without digging in.

This is the Rodriguez family. He is the branch president. We are teaching both of them on Sunday evening. Their daughter wanted to learn to direct as well. It was a rainy Sunday evening and a lot of fun.

We finally received more keyboards. When we were returning from Puerto Armuello on Wednesday we were panicking because we had such a great need. I prayed about it and thought about the fact that the last time we were in this situation we had called the area authority (ex) who is the church employee in charge of temporal affairs in Panama. I e-mailed him and the next day we magically received the keyboards. When we review it, all our "facts" don't match, but I've decided not to worry about it and just be grateful. We gave this one out to Irvin, a young man who has been walking quite a ways to another house to practice. He sat right down to practice and Rod was right there to teach.

I'm especially grateful for prayer lately. It's amazing how I just go along taking things for granted. I had the idea in prayer to pray for our family while we were praying with our students. Often I can't hear or can't understand what they are saying, so I was just marking time. When I am praying it makes a big difference. Duh!!!

I loved the women's conference and Elder Uchdorf's talk on forget-me-nots. I could only remember 2 of the things he said not to forget, though, when I was recounting it to Christie. He said "Don't forget to have patience with yourself, and don't forget that the Lord loves you." I'll have to look up the rest, but these are definitely worth remembering. Too often when I listen to conference, I allow myself to judge myself instead of to be inspired to do better. This meeting was a gift, in that I did go home inspired and hopeful. The Lord definitely is good to us.

Fish, Floors, and Flowers (Spiritual of course)

 This man was riding down the street with two fish.  We went to take a photo, but by the time we caught up he'd sold one.  Oh well.  We thought about buying one and then remembered filleting a fresh tuna and how long it took and decided against it.

 This is Ever.  He is a new convert and is one of our students in Volcan.  He is darling with this baby.

 This is the inside construction of a grass covered hut. 

 Here is the side view.

 And here is the outside.  Many of these have a metal cap on top.  They are much cooler than the metal roofs of the houses.

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 I complained about the tiles that cut my hands when I tried to clean.  Anita Watson suggested that I regrout.  My landlord was having a tile job done on one of his other houses.  I asked if we could redo ours, and he did it that minute.  I'm pleased.  It is almost smooth now, and will be much easier to clean.

This tree house is on our way to Puerto Armuelles.  I think it is awfully clever.  Sometimes it is even more tightly trimmed.

Here is a flower (orchid) that is the Panama flower.  It looks like a dove inside.  It is called the Flor del Espiritu Santo (Holy Ghost Orchid)

Another Week in La Concepcion

Sister Chevita, who came with us to move, introduced us to her friends of the Baha'i faith, the Harpers. They invited us to dinner. They are vegetarians and the food was delicious. Look at this salad and eat your heart out. She served homemade dressing of yogurt and lemon. Wonderful!

Here is Olga. talk about presentation!! She also introduced us to a tiny bakery next door. It is clean and the treats are a bit sweeter than in most bakeries, and I'm not baking any more.

Our student, Marvin, makes animals from seashells for sale. He gave me an armadillo which will come home to live in my armadillo sewing basket.

Rod snapped these photos of cacao. We haven't tried the fruit yet, but the fruit is attached directly to the trunk. Rod wonders if the fruit of cacao qualifies as chocolate. I vote no.


We tried a new fruit, mamon chino, in Aguadulce and it wasn't much good. It is very common here. A woman we visited offered us some and I accepted. This was fresh and juicy and as good as it gets. Rod has a bit of a different opinion.

This is Chanis' mom in Puerto Armuello on the coast. She has a duck with 11 ducklings. It is wonderful to watch them. Makes me think of Make Way for Ducklings.

Rod introduced a family to the stomp rockets here on the beach. We had a great time.

We have geckos that play on the windows at night. I caught one of them. I love to watch them.
We returned from Volcan last Thursday night and went by the church to find out how many of our students were going on a temple trip and wouldn't be able to study with us the next two days. We met a family from Canada who were here visiting her mother in Volcan. The mom had an aunt here in Concepcion and hadn't visited her yet. We offered to give them a ride to her house while we were waiting for the bus. Rod took as many as would fit and I stayed at the church to watch their luggage. They visited and returned. Rod had promised to bring me by to meet her later. We went by on Saturday afternoon. She met us at the gate and didn't want to open it. I think the family had tried too hard to offer the gospel. I convinced her that we weren't trying to force anything, and she consented to a visit. She was distant until I told her how much I enjoy some of the hymns they use in their church. One says "How can I pray when I am angry with my brother? God doesn't listen to prayers unless we repent" It sounds a bit middle eastern and is very beautiful. After we sang that, she got out her hymnal and we searched it a bit. She talked about being a teacher and we enjoyed the visit. At the end, she offered us manon chino, "Bien Dulce", and it was. This is the second time I have used this hymn to thaw very cold women of about my own age. I love the power of music and the power of love. I think it is possible to forget that Christ says if we have not charity, things just don't work. (mas o menos) It makes me think of Brigham Young who said (mas o menos) that it is foolish to offer the gospel by trying to snatch away the doll that someone else values. Only we show what we have in love and see if they are interested in the blessings it offers.
I love our life here together. Rod is a huge blessing to me. [I AM NOT GETTING FAT!]
We currently have at least 47 students. Many are sharing keyboards and we are about to say "NO MORE!" It is hard to come to that point.
Last Saturday night I played for a wedding. They asked me to play at 4:30 for a 5:00 wedding. I started at 4:30, but the wedding didn't start unto 6:45. A student told me the next day that the groom's hair wasn't right! I had a sore shoulder and neck for a few days, but the ironic thing was that, after practicing hymns for the 2 hours, when I played for the congregation to sing I messed up royally. Go figure! A dose of humility?

The Lord's Work Wherever We Go

 Jorge, our landlord, owns a farm he calls Jupiter.  He gave us oranges, a wonderful papaya with firm fruit and a beautiful star center for the seeds and fresh corn.  The corn was disappointing, because it hadn't formed properly.  We got 4 bites from 4 cobs! The papaya needs to be propagated.  Yum!!


In walking we saw this large monkey chained to a tree.  He seems reasonably happy.  We tried feeding him bananas (our regular bananas are called:  Guineaos here -- not sure what it is when they say bananas -- we'll need to find out).  We walk in a different direction every day for our walk -- 20 minutes out and 20 minutes back.  So we weren't sure we could find him again with the camera, but it worked.  We feel a bit more secure here and are glad not to be driving where the traffic is worse.  So far we have gone down 3 one-way roads the wrong way -- the natives are nice enough to flash their lights or yell helpfully when we get it wrong.  We haven't seen a 'una via' sign yet and apparently the natives don't need them;)

 This is our bathroom floor.  The spaces between the tile pieces are deep and the tiles are sharp.  I wonder how long it will be before I cut myself cleaning it. 

 One corner of the kitchen.

 

 this is the view out the bedroom/living room window.  The jail windows really don't add much beauty!

 When you look down, this is the water that flows under the house.  I just heard a change in the music of the water and went to look out.  There are FISH in the water as well.

 This is our "closet".  I'm not willing to chance the steps without a handrail very often.  Luckily, the stairs have a rim for hooking the hangers on.

 Another view of the kitchen.  The fridge is made for shorter people we both stoop a lot to use it.

Our table for meals.

 One of our students.  He lives on the beach in Puerto Armuello.

 The Elders stayed and played Go Fish with a group of kids who were playing soccer in the street with our students when we arrived.  Our students were dedicated and paid attention to the lessons, even while the game was going on, so we stayed and played a time or two with them.  Our driving here is about 1/2 as much as in Aguadulce, so that is nice.  (Two trips instead of three and shorter ones.)

Another group of students.  We are sharing pianos, sometimes one for 3 or four students until we can get more.  The eleven year old in the gray sweater gave up on his lesson a bit early -- sometimes we strike out;)


We were walking by the church last week and saw someone drop their garbage on the lawn.  When we reached it, Rod picked it up.  I was a bit surprised, because that is usually my role, but I was even more surprised when we caught up to the culprit and Rod handed her the garbage and asked her if it was hers.  He said to me when I raised my eyebrows, "I said it nicely".

Yesterday we were teaching a group in the church in Solano (really part of Bugaba/Concepcion).  Another woman came with her daughter.  The daughter, Karla, speaks very good English and is working on a government program that gives English to very motivated students in Volcan.  They study 4 extra hours daily 4 times a week.  They have computers and a lab and she says they are progressing nicely.   She and her mom came to the church to ask if I could provide music for their sister/daughter's wedding next Saturday.  We agreed to visit their home after the lesson to talk about it and ended up having lunch.  The father is an electrician and works all over Panama.  He says he'd be glad to take us around when Audrey comes if we'll pay the gas!  What a blessing.  I'm practicing the music well this week!  You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. Actually I like it better when it's expressed
 "What a blessing we can be to each other with our various strengths."

Apryl and Deryk dressed their babies with us this morning on Skype and they (the babies) were blessed together in our home ward.  Thanks to Bishop Rogers for his generosity.  The kids also got together and played hockey yesterday.  Great memories.  We really love and appreciate our family.

Departing and Arriving

Our students have been wonderful in their love as we were leaving.  Each branch held an activity in our honor.  All week before our "surprise" party in Aguadulce I was wishing that we could find time and patience to do a slide show to honor them.  When we arrived, here it was!  The sister that is such a wonderful primary teacher had gotten pictures as we made cookies with her family and created it.

Sister Chevita did her own party for us in her home at our last lesson.  Even though she worked hard, she didn't  earn her piano, but she wasn't bitter.  She came with us and helped us clean and move in.  What a blessing.

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The last Sunday, we had an activity for the young girls in the branch.  They looked at our pictures, we ate, and we made cookies with Layne and Dorrie's last bag of m&m's. We had a great time.  

This is the banner our students created.  The M and N are interchanged in English and Spanish often (at least here in Panama) so we are Watsoms. No importa.

In Chitre, Vanessa and her Uncle danced for us.  Mayra, our friend and student and Relief Society President and her daughter made a wonderful program with quotes, and each student played.  Javi played the guitar and I got to sing with him our Help Me Teach With Inspiration.  Great fun and wonderful spirit.  Two of the more advanced students played a duet, even.

Our last pose in front of the church with Jorge Luis.  This family was one of the only 15 who attended church the Sunday following our farewell party.  Somehow the members don't attend church following an activity.  I don't know if it's economic or what.

Vanessa and her uncle danced the typical dance together for our farewell in Chitre.    Mayra and her daughter prepared a program with lovely quotes and each of our students played.  Javi invited me to sing with him (he is our only guitar student) and we did Help Me Teach With Inspiration.  Two of the more advanced students played a duet.  They served dinner and we felt LOVED!

We found this huge butterfly in the church.  Sister Chevita says they attack sugar cane in their larva stage.  I imagine they could do damage. 

Here you can see the real size.

A new fruit.  I can't even remember it's name.  It wasn't a favorite.

Here it is open.  It wasn't very sweet and had an avocado texture.  Maybe I should have tried it blended with ice, sugar, and milk, but I gave it to the neighbor.




Sister Savedra is struggling with cancer, so we tried to visit as often as we could.  They treated us to pipa, a small coconut that people drink the juice. 




Another take.


And another.  The meat has a slimy texture, and Rod slipped me his to help him out.  He often helps me out when I have too much rice.

We have a brook that runs UNDER our house.  It babbles wonderfully all day long.  We've turned the house into a studio apartment and are only using the oven upstairs for storage.  It will work fine. Our view is of trees and bananas and the bridge.  I'm going to enjoy that.  Our landlord asked us to compost!  Yeah!!

It is marvelous to go to church in a chapel again and feel part of a going concern.  I had never realized how hard people have to struggle to get a branch really going.  The members are talking of home teaching and there is a large youth group.  We met with the branch president, President Rodriguez, and his wife who helped us organize a list of more than 20 students .  Another branch has 5 who want to meet between seminary and school, so we'll have an early day Friday, but we don't have to travel far.
 
We also traveled to Volcan, about 45 minutes and met with the wife of the branch president and the missionaries.  The Young Women's president will help organize there, and we'll return Thursday.  I wanted to wash our clothes, but Rod was anxious to get things going, and he was right, of course.

Three of our Aguadulce students have called just to see how we are doing and two from Chitre and one from Penonome.  The members are AWESOME!  The gospel is true.  The Savior does love us.

Moving Parties, from cookies to black beans

Mayra is from Guatemala.  She has spent a lot of time with us and we've cooked a bit.  When we arrived she was cooking black beans, Guatemala style.  She taught Rod, and here they are.


She has a great way to cut cabbage.  Here it is.

As we are leaving families who have become dear to us, we are trying to spend a little time together.  The Diaz family invited us for lunch and to make snickerdoodles.

It was fun.  I wanted the children to have a chance to do, but their mom said they had to watch and learn.  Sad for me, but what do you do in another woman's kitchen with another woman's children.?

Their grandpa wanted me to take a photo of his truck which had made the trip from the U.S. to Panama.

I climbed in back with the kids.  I have great memories of pick-up rides when I was a child. (Some not so great as well).

Finally we get a smile from Abdelito.  Usually he tries to be cool.

Kevin, on the other hand, just has a great joy in life and loves to laugh.


Javi is the district Young Men's president.  He knew some guitar before, but he has learned a bit from me and now is enrolled with a real teacher.  His goal is to offer classes to the youth in his branch and to use he music in his family home evenings.  I taught him Help Me Teach With Inspiration, and he says it has become his new favorite hymn.  I loved sharing with him.

A young girl who spent time with us when we first came and then left for another life style called us the other day to ask us to come by.  She said things had been hard and she was interested in coming back.  We went by and offered to give her a ride to church on Sunday.  When we arrived she wasn't there or awake at least.  I took Damaris home after sacrament meeting and Rod suggested I stop by again.  She was there and willing to get dressed and come with me.  It took her awhile and I was doubting my inspiration, but when we walked into the church and all 5 of the young women came running to give her a hug, it was a wonderful sight.  As I was waiting for her the thought went through my mind from Elder Maxwell, that 'people come from an increasingly long distance to enjoy the gospel, and too often they are reaching to enter a lifeboat and those inside, instead of helping them in, hit them over the head with the oars'.  These young women were following the Savior.


New House pictures.  In case anyone is interested in viewing the new house, we're trying the video approach.  One more week here and our rent more than doubles and we start anew.

Today, two of our adult students (with whom we have worked very hard) told us that they would like us to take the pianos they've earned and use them with other youth in our new area.  The Harman fund is out of funds at present, so this will help us.  It was touching to have them offer. People are GOOD!!! --as is the Lord.  We're glad to be here in the ups and downs of missionary work.

Stomp rockets, Family Home Evening and sugar cane harvest

 Two grown men and a stomp rocket!  This stadium had a roof that we could stand under.  If I jumped high and came down hard with both feet, I could make the rocket hit the roof.  It's kind of fun to have a goal and reach it.

 Kevin Diaz is one of my favorite kids here.  He waits for us to come, comes out smiling to help us bring things in, and helps us into the car when we're done, then the family stands and waves us out of sight.  We were just celebrating being together.  Today Rod and I went to their house for dinner and to make snickerdoodles.  It was a fun day.  I didn't communicate well, because I brought fish for everyone and she'd already cooked a whole dinner.  Wow! how do I miss so much?

 We gave them a Family Home Evening manual and had  the first one to show them how.  This is the grandmother being the "Tree of life, from Lehi's dream in the Book of Mormon.  Our stomp rocket turned into the iron rod. 

A new fruit.  This one is a cereza which I always thought was the word for cherries.  This fruit has the three seeds inside it and is pretty sour.
Here is a quote I'm using. "Don't weep because it is over, Rejoice because it happened."  "No lloren porque se ha terminado, Alégrense porque sucedió." (Guess who said it.  Answer at end of blog.)  It is my feelings upon leaving this area.  We all knew it wouldn't be forever, and I wouldn't want it to be because I miss my family, but it has been good, and we have people to love that we didn't know before.  I love the Savior.  He has truly blessed my life.

 I decided that since I had little else this week, this might be the week to share the sugar cane harvest.  Notice above, the ash that falls (for about 5 months) from burning the leaves on the cane fields.

 This field is across a 4 lane from us and was the best picture we got, but there would be big plumes of dark smoke frequently over about a 40 mile stretch of highway.  They sometimes irrigate so they use flat land for the sugar cane.

 These are two of the harvesters.  They seem to windrow and then use these to lift into field transports drawn by tractor.  We didn't see it, but it appears they often take the cane to loading yards for placing in trucks.  (We would see the field transports on the highways at time heading to common destinations.)  Sometimes trucks are directly loaded.


The video was taken of a crew gathering cane (missed by initial harvest) into piles for eventual loading onto trucks.  We had pulled off to the side of the 4 lane (pan-american highway), but they were working in the center on the drainage system, so had blocked off one of the lanes.  We are listening to conference, but you will note that we get advised to move on and not be a menace to other travelers.  We don't count this one as one of the 9 times we were stopped by traffic police for violations, as we were already stopped.  No tickets yet.

 We picked up a cane that fell off a truck 8-10 feet long and a bit sooty.   It is pretty stiff -- useful for sword fights (in dirty clothes).

 This was very disappointing -- not very sweet.

 Tough to bite into and unsatisfactory, maybe green it is better.

 Most trucks aren't loaded so carefully by hand, but this one looked like someone aligned each cane, placing to maximize space.

 Here are some empty field transports, looks like they are built locally, perhaps on the large farm.  We estimated that they must have been harvesting 20-40,000 acres for this one factory.

 Here is hand harvesting on the burned over field, that which was missed by the mechanized crew.  The machetes must be pretty sharp and the cane is tough.

This guy has been in the soot a bit much for me.

Here is a shot ready to grow again.  The first fields to be harvested were already 2-3 feet high when the last ones finished.

Answer:  Dr Seuss