We'll figure it out!

When we started our mission, Craig Ward, who was just finishing as mission president here in Panama, told us that if they say it will take 2 weeks, and it gets done in 3 weeks, consider that a blessing. And then told us "You'll figure it out", and that has become our slogan here as we "figure it out in Boquete. Water flow problems, electricity problems, bug and ant issues have become part of our lives, and yes, we are figuring it out. On top of all this, I was called to be the 1st counselor in the Boquete Bajo Branch presidency this week, so this will be another growth opportunity for both of us.

 When there are city problems, like trying to get them to help us get water to our house, it takes many attempts to get them here, and weeks before they decide to do something. So....

Since we live in a rain forest, and it pours every day, we decided to capture the rain and fill buckets as well as our large water tanks. Once in the tank, the water is filtered. I also have it so the rain comes off the roof right into the tank. Since it rains every day, the water is pure and clean, even off the roof. Note the stream of water coming out the drain pipe. That is rain water, just like a big hose of water. And yes, it is pouring rain, and thunder and lightning to boot!

transferring water from buckets to the tank. Note in the corner of the roof how the water is also pouring into the tank. Our friend Isodoro is helping me.

This is Isodoro and me. We are soaked. He is a great kid, 18 years old, the young men's president (yes, no mistake in my typing, the YM president!) in the branch, and preparing to go on a mission. He is one of the members of the family we are building the small house for in the back of the yard.

Here are two wet missionaries, water still coming out the drain pipe, and soaked to the bone after working to fill buckets and get it to the tanks. Yep, we are figuring it out!

On Pday, I have to help with some chores. The dogs needed some heavy duty flea shampooing, so I decided to help Isodoro. Not sure who got more wet, but I won't worry about fleas for a while!

One of several beetles that land on our doorstep or window sill. About the size of a quarter.

Another visitor that was on our dining room wall.

This is beautiful Baru, the volcano that sits above Boquete, and what many tourists come to see. We see it every day as we drive into town. Today was a beautiful morning to see this massive volcano. There is a national park near the top, and if you wish to hike it, plan on 8 hours one way, sleep over night in a little house, and then the same amount of time down the volcano. I think I will admire it from here.



I had to get a picture of one of our many city buses. Don't see it? It is the yellow school bus. It seems that Panama likes to use older school buses for their city transportation. They are all over the place, along with taxi cabs. Most Boquete people don't have their own cars, so traveling by public transportation is the common mode of travel.

Youth dance, and chickens at church!

The rain is picking up and just to get into our house after coming back from wherever we have been, Lynda gets out and unlocks the gate so I can drive in. At times, the rain can drench you in seconds. Here she is in her rain gear joyfully opening the gate in the rain. What a woman!!

We had a dance festival, and guess who was in charge of making 50's style dresses, including buying fabric, making patterns, and making the dresses. You guessed it, Sister Presley! She was so glad to have gotten the sewing machine from the week before from the mission home. For 3 solid days she sewed and worked with Sister Bram,who was her assistant. The girls loved the skirts!

Here are the young men and women practicing for the dance festival in our living room. They chose to dance Rock and Roll to the song "jailhouse rock". They were practicing for hours, and did great.

The Young men and women of Boquete Branch!

We went to David in 3 car loads to an actual chapel. This is a treat for us, as we don't have a chapel in Boquete. You can also see one of the girls in their skirt and blouse outfit at the door.

and finally, if you look closely, where else but in Panama are there chickens in the church parking and lawn areas. Ah, Panama......

More fun times for all to experience!

We continue to work on the small house in the backyard of our house. Today, we only had 4 of us. We sift the sand through a screen by hand to fill the wheel barrow, then mix a bag of concrete with water and the sand on the ground with shovels. Then,looking at the picture,  Augustine, on the left, lays the cement and brick one by one with great care, and Rene Bram, a past stake president and mission president, on the left of me, filled the cracks. Richard Swalm, on the right of me, worked on the steel posts, cutting them to specific measurements, as well as mixing the cement with me and getting it into the wheelbarrow. it's a good workout shoveling and mixing with just a shovel. We cover ourselves with 30% Deet, which works well keeping the mosquitos and other biting pests off us for 4 hours or so. Great men to work beside, and a service project of love.

This is what a beautiful morning looks like in El Frances. This is where we live. Heading up the road is the Volcano Baru, and the beautiful little city of Boquete. This is the main highway into town. Pretty much the only road. Note the heavy traffic. It is 8 am in the morning.

This is the next morning, same road, same traffic,about the same time, but ready to get some wicked weather. 

This is wicked weather. It will rain cats and dogs for 15 minutes, then clear up. Other times, especially in the later afternoon, it will rain this hard for a couple of hours. You have to yell to talk to each other!

a few days in Panama City

This week was a busy one. We had helped the youth prepare some genealogy for the temple, and then went to Panama city, a 7 hour drive, to do some additional tasks, try to learn the city, as well as go to the Temple. We left Thursday and came back the 7 hour drive on Saturday. We didn't take as many pictures this time, but we did accomplish quite a bit. Lynda was able to get a sewing machine from the mission home, so she can start working on making some skirts for the youth dance festival. We went to the mall and were able to have lunch with the Mission President and catch up on work in Boquete. We also spent time with our friends who came with us in the car, the Swalms, and had time to relax and go bowling. I am really out of practice, and the bowling shoes in Panama are, well , a bit worn out. 

We spent Friday evening doing baptisms in the temple. I performed the baptisms on the youth, and did about 140 baptisms. It was great, and yes, my arm was a bit sore the next day. Not bad for an old guy! The next morning, Saturday, we went back into the temple and did sealings for a couple of hours, then a session, and then started on the drive back home, getting back home about 9 pm. Then, of course, Sunday, and the service we try to do to help some of the older members get to church by picking them up and taking them home afterward. It makes for about a 6 hour church time, but it is well worth it to be able to help.

This is Richard and Tina Swalm, are very good friends here in Boquete. They traveled with us to the temple on the long drive to Panama City. They are relaxing at the bowling lanes. 

About halfway, we like to stop and rest in Santiago on our way to Panama city. We stopped into McDonald's to enjoy a sundae. I decided to try the new Smurf sunday, and I think Lynda wants a bite!

After the long drive to Panama City, we went to a very nice mall and ate dinner, then went bowling for an hour. It was nice to relax with my companion. By the way, we wear our badges wherever we go, and whatever we are doing!

Hermana Presley demonstrating the proper technique in bowling. Notice that the ball is actually heading for the pocket! Great Shot!!

At times, we must have a prayer in our hearts to avoid the monsters that lurk about us. You never know.

Another week around the people of Boquete

Boquete Panama has a very nice plaza where people sit and enjoy relaxing. This is the fountain in the plaza.

And this is Hermana Presley taking advantage of me. Note the shoes she wheres on days we have to hike around the rocks and mountain trails, which is just off this picture!

We have been working hard on geneology with the members. This is Sister Swalm, the branch geneology specialist. She is ON FIRE and loves helping the youth, She is sitting with Isodoro Montezuma, with his first name to take to the temple all printed and ready to go. By the way, Isodoro is 18, preparing to go on a mission, and is the young men's president!

We had the chance on Sunday to get a picture with this wonderful family, the Marcusi family.. They live in the hillside and walk about an hour to get to church. When I can, I pack them all in the car and take them back to the bridge where they cross and walk along the river to their little tin home. They are always smiling and clean. Great family!

Local people

the local indigenous women are always dressed in these beautifully made dresses in many colors. This woman was just walking by our car as we were waiting to pick up the Sister missionaries.

The Marcusi family is an incredible example of faith. This entire family lives up in the mountain where we visted (see the previous blog to see where they live). They walk about an hour as a family to get to church. Notice that they are clean and happy, even though it seems the mother (next to me) is the most serious. Dad makes about 0 dollars a month, and has to pay 10 dollars a month to live on the property. But they are preparing to go to the temple, and are some of the best you can find in the church

Lynda hated me for this one. She was dead asleep after coming home from church. We had picked up some members early in the morning, then took a couple of trips to take members home. We just can't let some of these poor people walk home for an hour or two after church with small children. We then both worked on cooking dinner, and while we were waiting for some members to join us for dinner, we had some time to relax. A sunday nap is always good. Even if Lynda didn't like seeing this when she woke up.

1 month anniversary in the mission field!

We completed our first mission month on August 1st, 2013. It has been challenging, exciting, lonely at times, humbling, and a growing experience for both of us. We have met new friends, have begun to immerse ourselves in the culture, and feel a great love and concern for the people here, both member and non member.
This past week, we have continued to build on the small house for a family named Montezuma, fought off bugs, frogs, and ant invasions, visited homes of our members, picked up and taken home members for church with the blessing of a wonderful car, continued to go to stores to get the house in order, prepared meals for members and missionaries, been invited to meals with members, and taught the gospel to less actives. Lots and lots going on.

after a long day of traveling about the city, the Brams took us missionaries and their family to Las Posadas for pizza. This is the best pizza in all of Boquete, and it is owned by Argentines!

Ants are the most common pest, and they are everywhere! I finally was to my wits end, so I bought some very strong insecticide, put on the protective clothes, and went after them with my spray tank. Seems to have helped alot

While traveling about finding members, this horse seemed very interested in us. So, Lynda decided we would make him part of our blog. 

On the other side of the river, we saw a member woman and her children gathering wood for the evening fire to do their cooking, so we decided to help her. I was not sure where we would end up, but grabbed the biggest piece of wood from her, and we followed her across the rocks.....

along the grassy path...

up the hillside on a slippery, rocky path...

And then into a little path that took us up to their little house where 12 people, adults and small children, lived in some very poor circumstance.

then back down the mountain!

these are the sister missionaries who walk everywhere to visit families. They are incredible. Sister Lecher and Sister Herrete are always smiling and looking to do their work.

to get to the other side of the river and back, we all had to cross over the rushing water below over this swaying bridge made of wire and cable, with a couple of boards at our feet. Reminded me of the bridge you get to go on in Tom Sawyers Island in Disneyland, but this was for real

Our best potion to solve the itch for bug bites. It is called Jungle Oil. Not sure of the ingredients, but it sure works, and heals the bites quickly, while removing the itch. A Panamanian exclusive!

We continue to work on the little house behind our house in our yard. We made good progress this day, getting  the first three rows of brick laid about two of the walls, and 1 row of brick around the front wall. The brothers of the church are doing a great job, and I am enjoying working along side them.