Every little Blessing

Well Hi everyone! I'm back, I mean in Panama haha. And I can say I did NOT miss this heat and humidity! But boy have the blessing just flooded in! Starting from the security line at the airport. A guy from Utah and well Dallas was behind me and we talked a ton, he was so cool and served in Portugal. while talking to him I saw the lady named Dana who worked at Maaco with me! So crazy! Totally gave her a hug and after remembered... I'm a missionary now.. whoops haha. Well then when I sat down at my gate and totally realized I forgot my Spanish scriptures right on my counter. I asked the guy next to me if I could call my mom and he shut me down, haha. 

  So when I got to Panama there was a pretty good welcoming party for me. Elder Dahstrup was lucky enough to be in the city and not on his island and came to see me! And my 2 good buddies are assistants now too. On the car ride to their house they told me my area and companion! I'm in Vista Alegre in Arriajan with Elder Rivera!! He started his mission with me and is awesome. Plus Vista Alegre is the area where elder Miene served in! The next day I met with president and he was so happy to see me and then we went to eat in the terminal. Then another blessing hit me, we got pizza hut and they just gave me a free pizza. No idea why and I tried to say no but they said to take it! Then we headed to our area. Btw our house is awesome!! our room even has tiny air conditioner!!! Our area too seems to have so many people ready to hear the gospel! Friday we taught a girl named Pamela and she was so positive! Then Saturday we watched conference all day! In English! I loved it! Sunday was just another blessing having 3 investigators at conference! We brought Pamela with us! There were so many other little blessings that came this week. As there are in all of our lives, if we look for them. the Lords hand is in everything we do. so keep an eye out for it. One of my favorite talks was Elder Neil l. Anderson, about faith in the priesthood session. 

So that sums up my week other than dogs running loose and sweating my brains out! haha. Have a good week! 

Elder David 

1. The welcome committee 

Hot, humid and humble

Well this week has definitely been a challenge with the heat here. I feel like I'm in an oven here that is preheating at 350 degrees. No but really it is hot. I can't wear dark color pants almost because it burns.. The area where I'm at is the hottest and most humid area in all of Panama, and when there's clouds it is worse because it keeps all the humidity trapped inside. I make the joke to my comp all the time that we are stars of the movie Holes 2 because of how hot it is and it NEVER rains here. Even when there is clouds which is rare it doesn't rain. 

Also as you might have heard, OBAMA WAS HERE. Haha just kidding. I'm not really that excited about it. But everyone here made a huge deal because thats the only thing on tv. They even shut down the bridge that crosses the canal just for him to cross. It was shut down for almost half a day. I had various people tell me that my president was here. They would expect me to make a big deal about it which made me laugh. 

So Right now we are teaching a couple who are in there 50s and knew little about the church but quick to judge and talk about the bad. Its been about a month and a half now and I can't believe how much progress we've seen. So honestly the wife she's a little wacky and just tries to argue about stuff sometimes but her husband wow, yesterday we had an amazing lesson with him. He told us before the lesson about a problem with a loan he got from some Columbians. Yes that sounds bad just from the start doesn't it. We really had no idea what to say or how to help, nor do we know how serious the problem is either. So we let heavenly father answer. We asked him to say the first prayer asking that he might find the answer or help during the lesson. After we asked him to open the Book of Mormon up to any page and we would them read that chapter. He opened to 3 Nephi chapter 4, I think it was, and he was shocked. The spirit was so strong and neither he nor I could deny it. Well that was the amazing part of the lesson and then his wife came out.. and then it went down hill with what she was saying about what she had read because she was confused. All it is with her is she can't except that God would give us more help with another book that testifies of Jesus Christ. The funny part was that her husband showed her a scripture that basically says, Who are you to judge the work of God; and I just laughed with amazement that he did that. 

The power of the Book of Mormon is real, It's the word of god and it's power is real. I've seen it change not only my life but many others. As I said last week, the book of Mormon will bring us to an ultimate happiness that we've never had. And all we have to do is read it, Ponder it or apply it to our lives and ask God to testify that it is true. You will see miracles in your lives if you do so, with your families, jobs, feelings and how you go about life. So this week I hope you can do the easy part and read, and Heavenly Father will then do the hard parts. Have an amazing week!

Elder David 

1. One morning this dove camped out at our house because its wing was broken and while we were studying he came in and joined us, haha. My comp just crabbed him. He wasn't there the next day 

2. Making concrete mix for the pigs today during preparation day. 

3. Final Product 

Our search for happiness

Happy Monday everyone and Happy Easter. Hope you all were able to spend it with your families, because some people are pretty far away, cough cough, me. 

It was great being able to watch conference here, but in SPANISH which honestly was exhausting putting all my energy and focus into understanding for basically 10 hours. But I got so much out of it and hope you all did too! So this week it was again tiring, we built a concrete floor for more pigs at with the families help, which means we made the concrete mix, by hand and shovel.. That left me sore, haha.

So to be frank these past few weeks have been very difficult here in the mission with a mix of a lot of things. Ya the mission is nothing I had ever imagined it would be and Heavenly Father loves to remind me of this frequently. We have been working hard still and been doing great good, but inside I just wasn't as happy as I have once been here. And I'll tell you the joy I have felt here in the mission has been greater then any joy in the past. So I have been a little down but this week I had an amazing experience. In the mornings here we have the chance to study and read the scriptures and I remembered one day about a book I had. This book was still packed away in my bags sense changes and I totally forgot about it. It's called "our search for happiness". Is that not exactly what I needed. As I started to read it again, not remembering exactly what it talks about I realized something. I was thinking the book would talk about how to be happy and all that jazz but no, It talked about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Ya its so simple and I was caught a little by surprise, it was just a big slap to the face. Its not that I didn't know that this gospel is the key of happiness but I was searching for it in other places in which true happiness doesn't come from. That really just changed my week around one million percent. I know this gospel really is the key of happiness. If it wasn't I wouldn't  be here. Just having Easter Sunday was the greatest celebration of that happiness through Jesus Christ. If you don't feel happy where you are, the only way to change that is through Christ, in the scriptures, church, and you will see a change. Mormon or not a Mormon you will see a change. We are all children of god and the happiness of Christ is for all of us. 

Always remember that principle and try to apply it.

Elder David 

1. Today for p day we went to volcan again! The super nice and cold place in the mountains! We did a tour of ancient ruins here in Panama from about 600 years before Christ! Us imitating a statue hehe. Feat. Elder Tiechert from Wyoming.

Divisions Always

Well this was a very fast week and as you read from the title I have been on divisions again this week which makes time fly by here! For three days I was on divisions with Elder Weston! We were in his area and its such a nice break to be somewhere that's actually not as hot as a volcano like puerto. The only bad thing is they don't have even a single fan in their house to sleep with... Its a rough night of sleep here in Panama without a fan. But it was so fun getting to meet some more people in his area! Basically by now I almost know all the people there because of so many divisions and I love that! 

So on Thursday I was also on divisions AGAIN because we had a leaders meeting in David with all the people from the interior! So you know what that means.. I saw ELDER DASTRUP and ELDER GARCIA! Plus Elder Rasmusson was there too because he's in a place called bocas del torro which is just above where I am at the edge of Panama. 

It was a great meeting, we got to hear President talk about some stories he has while serving in Argentina! Hearing some of those definitely is humbling to where I am now. After the meeting we went to eat at the best hamburger place that I've been to here so far in panama. Its called Java Juice and is just on the edge of being American but that is as good as it gets here. 

We then all went back to Concepcion Towait for President to get there and we all had interviews with him! Then right after off to puerto for the first time this week! We got home late so just went to the house. 

Saturday the youth in the district or stake had a big activity called super Salado and it was held here in puerto. There was quite a big group that came and from far away too! They held a few activities on the beach and finished with a scripture scavenger hunt all around puerto which sounded like fun. We just showed up to lunch after they finished and a few of the youth talked about it. Its weird still being 18 here and having people older than me go to youth stuff. I feel like such a kid haha but no one here ever believes me when I say I'm 18. They usually think my comp is 18 though haha. 

Well it was a great week and I'll talk to you all soon!

Elder David 

1. Elder Dastrup and elder Garcica"s hand there in the back 

2. me and that delicious hamburger 

3. So today we came to Concepcion and there were people protesting on a bridge because they don't want them to finish it, Don't ask me why, so the bus let us off and everyone had to go cross under it ant then get on another bus on the other side.   ¿Loco Huh? 

Just Cruising

So this was changes week that just passed and guess what!! We are still in Puerto, haha. I knew that but we did have some changes in the zone. You all remember my last companion Elder Rodriguez right. Well I guess Heavenly Father still wants me to learn some more lessons because he is now my zone leader here in Concepcion. How awesome....Well This week has all been a blur. There really wasn't anything that happened out of the usual that I can remember. Just working, sweating, and walking here like usual. Right now our investigators here have all just hit a wall with progressing so we are hoping this week will be different. 

      So today for preparation day a super nice family invited us to come over and hang out. They basically have a beach house but to get to the beach it is behind the house and through a little grass trail. When we showed up my companion said whenever we go there we just hang out, drink coconut water that he cuts down, eat lunch and they hang hammocks up for us to lay down in, so we showed up in our normal missionary clothes. BUT they ended up putting us to work which I loved. At their house they have pigs, and its law that to have pigs you have to put concrete floor in where they live so they don't make mud and get diseases. He already has one part of this little house done where the pigs live now but he wants to finish the other side to separate them so they don't fight and kill each other haha. It pretty complicated. To make concrete here they use rocks or sand and little concrete to make floor. We went with big potato bags to the beach, filled them with sand and rocks and carried them back and boy they are heavy! My back and shoulders were hurting. He supplied us with shirts to use so we didn't get all dirty. They fed us a good meal of fried fish, rice, beans and some peace of pig which was really good! They are super nice and I think we go back Saturday to actually start making the floor. So at home you all are enjoying this nice spring weather out there, even though I would have no idea here, haha. Have a good week! 

Elder David 

1. Here is our church building 

2. The usual sunrise from the porch

3. Today we are going to the beach for sand to make cement 

4. Yo

5. Playa

6. Puercos! Yummy 

4. On the way to Volcan in the bus!

5. Looks kinda like Colorado right??

6. Haha... This sheep was so friendly no joke, it screamed like a girl though.

7. Elder Rassmuson and I, It guess its always lightly sprinkling up there, 

8. Elder Bush from Utah 

Right now we also have these question cards to give out to people and each card has a inspired question. I've seen these cards really made a difference in meeting and teaching new people. One day we were walking down this super long 2 lane road and there's not very many houses. My companion and I said we were going to contact the next house we got to. At the next house there was a guy sitting outside listening to music on his phone so of course we talked to him. He pick out one of the handful of cards we have and just read the card in silence, didn't look up, but just thought. He then began to tell us that 8 months ago he got in a motorcycle accident and the doctors said he might never be able to walk again. Its been 8 months and he's already back to work now. His question was ¨how can I learn from difficulties in life?¨ We were let right in and had an amazing lesson with him and son after his wife showed up to join us. They are one of the couples we met who are actually married!

 

There's a member here who gives us lunch once a week who has a parakeet named Lora. Which just means female parakeet haha, but she is so cool! She says hello, run dear, and also does the "I'm checking you out¨ whistle. Some things I don't know where she learned but it's so funny. At first she tried to bite me a lot when I would pet her but now she loves me. Whenever we show up for lunch she knows when I walk in and starts screaming and whistling.

 

So every Saturday here we have an English class for whoever wants to come! Usually not very many people show up, like 2 or three but this week 13 people showed up!! All of them were just teenagers who need help with their homework or who want to learn and play games in English. I helped 4 of them with questions they have on homework.

 

Also I forgot to explain that in this time like 30 years ago just in this one área there use to be 3 branches of the church, 3 different church buildings. It was its own district which is like a stake but only with branches instead of wards. But when the company closed most moved out or just went inactive. It was just a big mess. Anyway there is also a huge rumor about Mormons that started here in puerto. I guess its Tongans culture that eating dogs is normal. Well like 12 years ago 2 Tongan missionary's thought it would be okay to kill a dog in the Street and go cook it on the beach to eat. As you can imagine the people here did not like that and henceforth   the people thought that Mormons eat dog. Even until this day people still bring it up. Dumb Huh?

 

Well yesterday we went to a área called Vulcan or volcano which is super high in the mountains, super cold and just beautiful!! Here's some pics!

1. The parakeet that loves me, named Lora

2. Look! Am I as cool as Talan now, because we have tea too...

3. Just a mini alligator by the house soaking up the sun