Another Week in Panama

Well, I'm convinced that American made foods are the greatest foods in the world. I'm not talking like hamburgers and stuff, no; those are good as well but Mexican food trumps American food any day. What I'm talking about is cookies, crackers, soda, juices; junk food type stuff. I've decided that since we have a refrigerator and everything, it's time for me to take advantage of it and get lots of good food that I miss from back home. This week I also incorporated some of the recipes that I remember from back home, that my mom has taught me. I bought some very amazing foods for breakfast, like Oh's cereal. Ever had it? If you haven't, then you're really missing out because it is incredible, had it for breakfast yesterday night before going to bed, like I used to do back home. I also bought Cap'n Crunch, oh man, so good. I bought a box of white cheddar Cheeztis this week as well. I used to think that Goldfish were better than Cheezits, because in my family we never had goldfish and I always wanted them. And after going to San Blas when we brought like 45 thousand bags of goldfish, I got really tired of them. Cheezits are incredible, I'll be eating some tonight with my delicious avena. Lastly, the recipe was "egg in a frame". Yep you heard me right, mom, I'm making them here as well, or Gr-egg in a frame if you prefer. Bread, cut out a hole, crack the egg in the middle, cook in pan with tons of butter. Here I make it with a bit of ketchup and hot sauce, really good. That was a long rant haha.

 

For group night this past week, I also brought American ideas here to Panama, bringing a Mutual favorite activity, human foosball! People heard the idea and just didn't seem to understand how it would work, when really it's quite simple. Unfortunately not as many people came to the activity as we were hoping so it ended up being like middle age women, little kids, and us elders as mixed players for the teams. It turned out well though, the point of it all being the need for unity and working as teams to achieve a purpose. We lost in the end, but we're all winners' right? WRONG! :P

 

In my personal studies, reading the Book of Mormon in Spanish realizing how much I love the book of Mosiah. It's my favorite, by far. The stories get you from the first chapter, it has King Benjamin's speech, Abinadi, Alma and the waters of Mormon, Alma the younger's conversion, etc. It's so good, I don't want it to end haha even though I know how it ends.

 

Everyone here in the interior of the country (everyone from Penonome onward to the border with Costa Rica) are getting prepped and freaked out over Carnavals, which is basically when this innocuous country turns into Sodom and Gomorah. People supposedly walk around in bikinis everywhere, drinking and throwing beer on people, throwing rotten eggs and water at everyone, especially gringos walking around in white shirts and ties. We've been advised to stay in the house for those 4 days, starting the 9th of February. Only leave to go to church because there is supposedly a very high chance of seeing naked people and crap. Last year it wasn't bad at all, being that I was in the city and I guess it's way calmer during that time, but off farther in the country is where it gets crazy. Las Tablas, another area in our zone, is like Carnaval central and the missionaries there are getting taken out for the 4 days. It's gonna be nuts, I'm afraid of leaving the house and getting wacked with a rotten egg. Panama isn't the only country that does them though, all of Central America too so look out Max :P.

 

We had a bit of a rough week, losing one of our investigators, first one for Carrillo, but we're still trying to work with her. We were preparing her to be baptized on her birthday on the 3rd, but we went over and she decided that she doesn't want to go to church anymore...just like that. I read her the story of Alma and the waters of Mormon when Alma asks them what is keeping them from being baptized if they are willing to fulfill all of those requirements that he lays out, and she said she was too. So, I don't know why she decided not to. We're fasting and praying for her every week, so hopefully she stays strong. 

 

We're working hard here though; trying to challenge my district to put lots of baptismal dates for people, see if we can get some baptisms this change before I most likely leave Penonomé. I wonder where I'll go next, it'll be interesting to see. We've met some people this week with some of the weirdest names I've ever heard. Try these on for size: Bienvenida (lady), Feliciano (husband) so that's Happy welcoming haha, lady named Visitación, Abdenis, Abdeli, Marlenis, Adelsi, Xiomara, etc. Weird names people! :)

 

I did divisions this week with my ZL named Elder Larsen, who reminds me a ridiculous amount like Grant, my brother. Facial expressions, attitude, huge from working out all the time, and he speaks Spanish as I imagine Grant would if he was in a Spanish speaking mission. It's pretty cool though, feels like I'm in the same zone as my brother. I've only been talking to my Guatemalan in what they call vos, Max knows what I'm talking about, type of Spanish that only some Central American countries use, it's really simple, and now I use it with everyone, even Panamanians when I shouldn't because they don't really understand it. It's weird, but that's who I am ladies and gentlemen.

 

Good scriptures for you all this week from D&C 38:27 which we used in our human foosball activity about unity, and Mosiah 18:8-10 which is the great story I've been talking about of Alma and the waters of Mormon. That guy destroys me on baptism success, 207 in one day, what a boss haha :) Love you all, have a marvelous week