This Week in Panama...

November 28, 2011

Hola mi Familia,

Wow! This again! I find myself here at the Internet place writing you all again! The Mission is going by way too fast! Sometimes I feel like the week only has 4 days: Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. The rest is a blur of crazy Panamanian madness! So yeah, this week was actually pretty-good. We're still working with a couple families, but we're having a hard time getting them to progress. They just need to go to church! Well, that and accept baptism. Other than that, this week we have run into a lot of crazy people! Like this one lady who's name is America. She doesn't believe in the Book of Mormon, because she believes that there weren't people in the Americas during the time that Christ was on the Earth. She says that Latinos were the first people here! We couldn't believe it, especially seeing as there are many Native Americans in Panama that are called Cuna!!! I haven't met a Cuna yet, but I hear that they are really awesome people. Also, get this, the Cuna have their own stories about a white savior that visited them a long time ago, and they believe that he will come and visit them again. So they already knew about The Savior before they had the Bible or Book of Mormon!!! It's so cool!!!! So for the Cuna, the Book of Mormon is the record of their people. Which is really cool, because almost 100% of the Cuna people in Panama, are LDS!!!

Anyway, enough about the Cuna! Let's see, how to describe Thanksgiving here in Panama... Well, the Mission Home didn't do anything for Thanksgiving, because it's not a holiday here in Panama, but my Comp. Elder Tauta, told all of the members that cook for us, that it was Thanksgiving. So we had an okay Thanksgiving. I have to say, some members feed us like it's Thanksgiving everyday, which actually is a bad thing, cause I can't eat that much rice, beans, and chicken!!! So I always feel bad when I can't finish a meal, especially because Elder Tauta always finishes his meal! It's even gotten to the point where the members are starting to give me less food, which I like alot :) Anyway, we will be having a Christmas Party with the Mission Pres, his wife, and the other missionaries the week of Christmas!!! I've heard that it's going to be awesome! So yeah, I'm going to start singing Christmas Carols on the Bus!!!

So yeah, no need to worry about me when it comes to Christmas here in Panama! I'm all set!

Anyway, this week has been a good one. We had the baptism of Amy Rodriguez this Saturday, which was great! She's one of those golden investigators who accepts the Gospel and it's teachings without any problem! So she's really happy to be a member now! As far as other people go, like I said before we have 2 families that we are teaching, and they're great, but they need to actually come to church. Which it's not even that far from their homes. Though, it's also hard to attract people to our chapel because it's just part of a building. So it's between a Taxi business and the Internet buisness. Anyway, I feel bad, cause I don't have a real good spiritual experience to share this week besides the baptism. Sorry!

Well, it sounds like everything is going well for all of you. Except Chris, I didn't hear from you!!! I really don't like my email!!! So yeah, it sounds like you all had a great Thanksgiving. I hope it was fun for all of you! Also, it's good to hear that you got a new car Mom! Hopefully it stays alive a little longer than the Taurus did! Yeah, but I don't know about a stick shift...no me gusta! (It doesn't please me) Just Kidding! Well Mom, thanks to Elder Tauta, Thanksgiving was actually kinda fun! So no worries okay? :) Anyway, to answer some questions. None of you need to worry about the fridge situation. Most people only have freezers anyway. That, and we just use the fridge as a cupboard for all of our non-cold food items. So all is well :) Also, Dad, your description of The Philipines actually fits Panama very well, cause the houses here aren't nice at all. They have made of cinderblocks, have dirt floors, no windows, tin roofs (which are really loud when it rains), though almost everyone has water, but most people have to wait for a water truck to come around each week to fill up their water tank. So yeah, most houses around here aren't that nice. One of the Families we are working with said that they bought their house for 2 thousand (US). So yeah, it's crazy down here! Also Mik, hanging out with John eh? How was that? Hopefully you are all making sure to have fun!!! Well, I have to go now! I love you all very much! I look forward to writing you all again next week, and hopefully we will go to the Internet cafe with SD card adapters so I can send pics!!! Well, I love you all! Talk to you later!

Love Trevor