August 22-August 28, 2023-Week 16-Guadalupe

 Here is a funny story that started out my p-day today:

Alarm goes off at 6:30am per usual, I pray, make my bed, and go out in the kitchen and start washing some dishes we had left overnight. All the sudden I feel something crawling up my leg...actually two somethings. I am just thinking it's mosquitos or flies. But then I look down and low and behold it is two little, rice like LARVAE crawling up my leg. Hermana Hatch is in the bathroom and I am just standing there like "uhhhh no puede ser (this cannot be) happening. Its literally only 6:37am and this is the last thing I want to do". So, they are EVERYWHERE in our kitchen. Hermana Hacth is traumatized though since this has happened to her before and the PTSD is coming all back. But there's no time to waste and we check under the garbage can and they are feasting and multiplying and disrupting the peaceful morning we thought we would wake up to. We start sweeping them outside and stomping on them (the soles of my shoes are now covered in dead larvae) and pouring random cleaning solutions on them and in a few minutes I am going to mop and pray real hard to get rid of them. But yeah, we lack a few necessities here in Panama, but it's always fun and full of great surprises! 

My other totally embarrassingly funny story is I am sitting on the bus late one night, so sweaty as always, and I'm like "okay just gotta talk to some more people and let everyone hear this message" and I try talking to this one lady who appears to be 6 months pregnant at least...well...she was not. And of course that was the first I asked her was "oh wow how many months along are you?". So, yep. All time low haha!

Today I am looking forward to playing basketball with some missionaries and some of our friends! Maybe basketball will lead to conversion. Preach my gospel literally says to "use your talents", so I am hopefully! After schooling some Panamanians today, I will let you know how it goes! But basketball really is one thing that I didn't think would have helped me for the mission but it has helped me so much. It gave a good mindset, the ability to endure, the capability to lead and get along with people who are not nice to you, and to know you are able to do much more than you are capable of. 

Something that has been hard is getting people to come to church. I think that's a worldwide missionary problem haha, so I am glad I am not the only one. Practically no one has cars here and therefore they have to ride the busses to church, since taxis are too expensive. I think 5 people in my ward have cars. So, we invite, invite, invite, make fliers, arrange to go meet people up and travel with them, and all that jazz but it still is hard. And people here honestly live such sad lives. They literally wake up at 3am, travel to the city (with terrible traffic) work all day, travel home (with even worse traffic), sleep for three hours, and repeat. So I honestly don't blame people when they don't have time because working is a necessity and everyone lives paycheck to paycheck. We have two younger boys, ages 10 and 14, whose mom's are members of the church for a long time but have since gone inactive. The moms are really loving and are like "oh yeah I want my kids to baptized and go to church" but they don't come themselves and these kids don't have the means to go by themselves. Or we have this one golden lady we found whose brother is a bishop of another ward and she is very resistant to come to our ward, the ward boundaries she lives in. As the Panamanians would say "estamos en la lucha" (we are in the struggle).  But I love these quotes from one of my favorite conference talks, called The Imperfect Harvest --

"As we accept the Savior’s invitation to come unto Him, we soon realize that our best is good enough and that the grace of a loving Savior will make up the difference in ways we cannot imagine." 

"We must remember that whatever our best-but-imperfect offering is, the Savior can make it perfect."

and lastly relating to the story of Peter trying to walk on water...

"Oh, Peter, fear not and worry not. If you could see yourself as I see you, your doubt would fade and your faith increase. I love you, dear Peter; you got out of the boat. Your offering is acceptable, and even though you faltered, I will always be there to lift you from the depths, and your offering will be made perfect.”

All the Savior invites us to do is get out of the boat and to try! So try, sink, stumble, fall, but get back up again and again and again! 

LILLY DAWN PETERSON LOOK WHAT I FOUND

Every Panamanian house has one of these photoshopped photos and it is too much for me sometimes.

I CANNOT WITH THESE PICS HAHAHA. I literally almost peed myself seeing this pic.

Hermana Mejia sleeping during personal study lol

Looking in physical carpeta (folder)

Nights in La Valdeza

Dinner with Tony and Antonio Cueto family

The dogs that will give me rabies

Eating duros in a very ladylike fashion

EMILY I LOVE YOU

PB and j after church

August 15-August 21, 2023-Week 15-Guadalupe

 This week was good as always!! Hermana Hatch and I worked really hard to visit a lot of inactive members of our ward because there is more than 700+! Three that we visited came to church, which was a big blessing and cool to see them remember why they are members of the church in the first place. The hard thing here in Panama is people are very poor and no one has cars. People have GREAT faith. It always astounds me. But, they don't have the means to get to church. We are always trying to coordinate rides and always praying for miracles.

Which brings me to my next point...so if any of you have seen my photos I am always holding a Book of Mormon in my hands. It is a waterproof Book of Mormon cover that I keep my Book of Mormon, pamphlets, a picture of my family, and stickers to give to little kids. Sadly, I lost it while riding in a taxi and offering to hold someone's huge bag of rice. BUT! Normally I keep my money inside of it too. For some reason that morning, I decided to mix it up and put my wallet in my back pack. Luckily, I listened to this slightly random idea and still have my wallet. I would have only lost like $20, but that $20 pays for all my bus rides and meals and needs. I am grateful for little miracles like this! 

One of our friends got married this week, Nidia, to her pareja (partner), Alexander. She and her daughter will be baptized the 2nd of September. I am so excited for them! They are ready for baptism and are excited as well! We had a wedding shower for them too and celebrated their marriage. Marriage is a huge step in Panama. It costs a lot of money and people usually are not married by the law, and a lot of people don't want to be married by the law. It is really weird because to be married they have to do physical exams and often times go to other provinces to get married. So it is a big deal that they got married. We are busy planning their baptism now. 

We had zone conference in the city this week. We were combined with the elders of Colon and San Blas and elders and hermanas of San Miguelto. Elders from San Blas hardly ever come to the city, and one told me they had not seen an hermana in 6 MONTHS!!! They are super isolated and usually only see other missionaries every 8 weeks. They live a crazy life -- literally poop on a beach, bathe in rivers, live in shacks, and baptize people in the ocean, and help the indigenous people grow their gardens a lot. But zone conference was great! I played piano, and it went well. Much better than when playing in the ward because not to mince words, but Hispanics cannot sing normally haha. But something that was emphasized was how we cannot grow in our comfort zone. We can only grow when we are pushed out, and often we have to pass first through the zone of fear, or something that holds us back from growing. I can testify the mission pushes you out right when you feel comfortable. But all is done for a reason! I know I am growing and going through a lot of "growth adversity". Yet, everything will work out for my benefit! I love this scripture in 1 Cor. 2:9 

"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."

My funny Panamanian thing I learned this week is:

They are so scared of rain. I already knew that. But they literally think rain causes sickness and always are saying "yo tengo un resfriado porque yo estaba mojado" (I have a cold because I was wet). BUT!!! They think they can combat their sickness and colds from "the rain" by taking a shower immediately after being caught in the rain. The thing is, the shower water is 10482% colder than the outside rain. I love Panamanians lol.

Lessons with members -- Jair Castilo, Tifani Navarro, Khadir

Happy cumplemes hermana!! Halfway!

Hermana Katiuska and baby Rafael! I gave Hermana Katiuska one of my necklaces that Lilly made me.

Guess who happened to be at my house today!!!!!

The district!!! Elder del Valle, Elder Bowen, Elder Cambell, Elder Johnson, me, Hermana Hatch, Hermana Evans, Hermana Morales

BOBA in the mall at Anclas

Exchanges with Hermana Mejía

August 8-August 14, 2023-Week 14-Guadalupe

 Title My new favorite word: commitment! 

Hi all!!

This week was good! My sunburned has healed a lot and aloe vera is magical to say the least. I get my own phone Friday and could not be happier :))) I hope to write more and respond better because p-days fly by! 

But -- we had friends come to church, I had a duro de banana (a frozen pureed banana treat), we are inviting people to be baptized left and right, we didn't get bitten by this rabid dog that 100% has rabies, a new cute family moved into our ward with a three year old daughter that I just adore, I found my new favorite treat -- choco creams --, fast Sunday was so cool to hear the testimony of many converts, seeing how simple the gospel really is, people praying for the first time, and people give us free rides left and right! 

I loved studying this week about giving our heart, might, mind, and strength to the Lord. It really all boils down to commitment. Are you committed to serve him with all you have? Are you committed to be obedient, serve, sacrifice, live his gospel, and consecrate your all? Are you willing to endure to the end? The gospel really demands our all, but I am so happy to be out here living it with the people in panama. I have attached some of my study notes!

Some interesting moments were eating a boiled banana, eating so much rice, doing sweaty HIIT workouts, avoiding Scary dogs, playing basketball today with an elder from the DR and only losing by one, going to Subway  (the restaurant) today, and getting to learn more about my comp! She is so patient even when I am so stressed haha! Because honestly this is the most stressed I have ever been but also the happiest! 

I love you all!!

Sorry for not responding...know I read your emails and they helped me a lot! 

Study notes

Intercambios (exchanges) with Hermana Mejía Pilier from the Dominican Republic. It was only her 4th day in the mission and we actually spent almost all day in the house because she is having feet problems. She slept for 13 hours straight while I studied. She is so loving and passionate. She is also the only latina who has corrected my Spanish-- which I loved.

THREE MONTHS! Me falta quince más!! (15 more) I cannot wait to hug my mom haha!

I hate using my umbrella because everyone thinks we are Jehovahs Witnesses. But sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do to prevent skin cancer in 20 years. Walking in the hot sun in the countryside of La Capira.

Los Olivios

Marta and Hna Hatch are both double jointed in their thumbs.

Dinner with some of favorite new members in the ward-- Marta Pitti and her daughter Leia. Marta is the sister of the Bishop's wife, Brianda Nuñez.

Walking in La Valdeza today. There are tons of houses but it is right next to huge mountains and uncultivated land as well.

Candid photo in La Valdeza

La Plaza Italia Bridge on Monday to get Subway #whitegirlfood

Lesson with Jackie and her son Isaac. Jackie has a crazy story of how she was baptized and remembers literally nothing. We have retaught her the gospel and now are teaching her 14 year old son.

Alexander, Nidia, and Madelin the day of their wedding. Nidia and Madelin will be baptized this following week!

Car ride home with Eliza and Lya Hernández after Nidia and Alexander Tejada's wedding celebration.

Sunsets in Valle Bonito!

A fridge with a Taylor Lautner sticker...this is for you Liv!

Zone conference with San Miguleto, Colon, San Blas, and Chorrera.

Best friend. Best madrastra (stepmother??). Best person to have 24/7!

Crossing the Bridge in Las Herraduras! Mid contact as well, haha! I forgot how crazy it is we are in the middle of a jungle.

Waiting to do a videollamada (video call)...which fell through...in front of a catholic church.

Coke!!

This guy who did not want to be taught anymore but did decide to post a screenshot of us on his story without permission. At least my arms look good!

August 3-August 7, 2023-Week 13-Guadalupe

Hey all!! Just to clarify, my pdays are almost always Monday, but at the end of transfers it is Wednesday!! But it has been having a really fun week getting to know Hermana Hatch. She is from Anaheim and went to BYUI for two years and wants to be a teacher. She is really funny and we get along really well. Panama loves to be moody and we experienced Polar opposites within 24 hours. On Saturday, I got so burned. The worst ever on the mission. Maybe in my life haha. Everyone was commenting on it and Panamanians think that sunburns equal death haha. Then the following day we got advisories to stay in our house because of a terrible rain and lightning storms. Luckily, we stayed in a members house but literally lightning was striking all around us. Our power was out for 7 hours! Kind of crazy how Panama changes so fast. I have honestly been a little stressed this week since I received a new companion, I have to direct us where we are going, plan our days almost solo since my comp is new, and begin our lessons and remember peoples names. But, it has been good and my companion is really reassuring and she says I'm doing well. My Spanish is still progressing super well and I hope by the end of these six weeks I will be able to talk well in all normal conversations, not just about the church. My tender moment of the week is that I was asked to translate for the mother in law of President Forsberg at stake conference. I came into conference excited to just absorb and not talk to anyone or be bothered for two hours, but I was ready to serve her as well. And God really blessed me for it! It was so cool to see that I understood everything, and really it is all thanks to God for His aid. And, God blesses us so much when we do his will. She reminded me so much of the love my grammy and grandma and aunt Marsha have for me and it felt like another piece of home! My funny moment from the week is that we were contacting this women and she starts explaining how she has been messaging this American from Seattle who is in the military in Irán for 2 years. She says they are super good friends and asks us to pray for him. Then she adds he is asking her for thousands of dollars hahaha and that her kids keep saying he is using her. He keeps saying he wants to move to panama and marry her. We just sit there and laugh but are really like, uhhhh listen to your kids. He is trying to rob you blind, woman. But, oh well. Pobrecita. Something that always makes me laugh is people cat calling in English, especially out their windows haha. They always say "hey how are you? I love you!" That's all folks! Make it a good week! I love you all!

 

Hermana Hatch!!

I love the sun!

Bus rides to Capira

Duros!

Gifts from a cute little boy named Daniel! A cross and flowers

Terrible sun burn

No power for 7 hours!!

Her first chicheme from Las Abejas