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.