This week was another series of ups and downs with very little in between. So many highs and so many lows, but all very worth it.
On the way back from the city a kid, who has no fear of gringos, started talking with me and touching all our groceries. He wrote his name in my notebook and wore my sombrero pintado too. He got to the peanut butter and started talking about how much he loved it and how he never gets it. I gave it to him and felt so good inside. To see him look so happy and all it took was giving him my peanut butter. How can something so small have such an impact on both him and me? There have been many moments in the mission where I've been able to say, "this is the reason I came here." Whether it's seeing someone accept a baptisimal invitation or helping someone smile it's all worth it. God's plan is perfect and I get to see it every day. (That doesn't mean that there won't be trials or adversity. I bodly testify of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and of the scripture Ether 12:6. 100% recommend.)
We met a family this week and they were very receptive to our message. We were teaching them about the restoration and how Christ's same new testament church was restored to the earth through the prophet Joseph Smith. They then told us they knew about Joseph Smith and that their pastor talks about him all the time. Usually when that happens people start trying to machete us, but they started talking about how good a man he was and that they believe he could be a prophet of God. Wow I did not see that coming. They started teaching me the lesson and I was questioning them. They then downloaded the gospel library and said they would read the Book of Mormon! ¡Que milagro! Hopefully they can continue to progress and have this same faith!
Another great story, I has just bought some cinamon rolls from the chino which are my favorite snack and was walking down the street when a SUPER nice Diable Rojo came driving by. Cool paintings, tons of lights, music killing everything within a 50m radius, the whole shabang. Of course I grabbed my phone to take a photo because I'm a gringo. Everyone on the street is seeing this white guy holding his sugary snack in one hand and taking photos with the other. No wonder they have so many opinions about us. Alas, what I failed to remember is that, in panamá, there are sewage holes on the side of the roads. About three feet in diameter, up to about eight feet deep, and nothing to warn you that it's there. As I took another step the ground suddenly left and I proceeded to fall into this said trash hole. Luckily, I didn't go all the way in and I was able to get out really fast and hoped no one noticed. A few bruises quickly formed and sleeping was a little difficult. The next day there was a wooden pole in the pit to remind gringos to pay attention. The presence of this pole means a panamanian was laughing their head off after they watched a gringo look like an oblivious tourist falling into a trash pit... I hope he's happy.
We saw a sloth! They are super rare here and we don't usually go in areas where they would have a lot. We went to a member's house for dinner (another meal of rice and chicken. I think I've had rice and chicken every day fooooorrrr... since I got here. But it is now literally my favorite food and I would choose to eat it every night anyway so I'll stop complaining.) At this members house there was a sloth in the tree! It was super high and sleeping, but still a sloth! Even they hadn't seen one before so that was a cool experience. I tried to get some pictures but, of course, I have a broken hand-me-down samsung for a phone so you can't see the sloth very well and it adds 10 lbs... I know what your thinking and yes it probably adds 15 lbs and takes off some muscle too.
Panamanian food!
We went to a stake activity to raise money for the youth to afford an activity and they were selling all kinds of food. I had donuts, chicha (homeade juice), chicheme (corn milk thing that tastes way better than it sounds) chorisos (spiral sausage thing on a stick with some good sauce), and ojaldras with cow liver (my personal favorite, cow liver on fried bread) It was super cool and we were able to invite a lot of friends to come. We waited and they never came... at least we got food.
Another cool thing that happenned is that we wer having a lesson with a couple and getting to know them, then six more people showed up and started listening! We had the exact amount of pamphlets to give them and they all paid attention. We also invited them to read and pray and they all said they would! And, we are going to watch a session of general conference with them next week! (The prophet, apostles, and other leaders give a worldwide conference where we can here their wisdom and revelation from God!) Miracles do happen
Another miracle, I had just had a really hard day on the mission and was kinda down. I told myself no matter what I would commit to do God's will and plan for me and the world. As soon as I made that commitment, the assistants to the president of the mission called and excitedly told us about this guy they just met. He told them that he wants to be baptized and serve a mission! He lives close to the church and is super excited to learn and serve God. He was prepared by God and is elect. Gods timing is perfect and we just need to have faith! Hopefully we can help him learn as much as he can and continue with this desire!
For this p day we played soccer with the youth of our branch! It was super fun and raining a lot. We didn't have any shoes so we're all hurting right now but it was so worth it! Our recent convert came and we had a ton of fun. I also got to talk with original Elder Nelson (Palmer) in spanish which was super cool. Its super nice to have a brother whose such a great example and is full of wisdom. My family might be perfect and it took me being hundreds of miles away to see it. I'm sure I'll see it differently when we're home again.
Anyway, sorry for my english! Chao!
Elder Nelson
(el misionerio guapo con cabello amarillo)
Little boy Lincoln gave his peanut butter to.
Plantain chips and patacones. Duel threat Fr
Pig ear. JK it's leg.
Pink sm tree.
Middle of the jungle again.
President Barria and his sombrero pintado.
Sweetest Nieta ever.
The power went out and there weren't any lights in the jungle.
Sloth!
Zone jersey with a diablo rojo on it. Just signed.
English class with cake.
We got a fire referencia with Mario, our zone shirts and sombreros pintados.
Puppies and sombreros pintados in the jungle. It was a good day.
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