This week in Panama.......

"I need a pen, someone find the Elders!!!!"

I think that is one of the aspects of our calling when we are called to be full time missionaries, traveling pen men. It's funny actually, when people need a pen, they immediately look for the missionaries to help them out. I can't tell you how many pens I have lent to members and have never seen again, haha. I think it's because we learn in Scouts to always Be Prepared, even with a pen.

 

Our mission here is changing quite a bit, starting now and coming up in the next few months we're going to see lots of changes. We had an announcement that because there are so many sister missionaries here (half sisters, half elders, crazy), that Pres. Ward decided to make leadership positions for certain sisters. Not like having sister district or zone leaders, but a companionship of sisters over the sisters only in a certain amount of zones. There are 4 companionships that cover the sisters in all the zones here in Panama. I think it's a good idea, since we can't really go on divisions with the sisters, unless they have another member with them. I love the fact that so many young women are deciding to go on missions, it's a really good idea. I'm sure there have been thousands before that have wanted to go on missions but they didn't want to delay their studies or marriage and have to wait till 23 to get married, that's a long time. Now they have decided to join the ranks and serve missions too and still get married at a young age. It's guaranteed that return missionaries are at least a bit more mature afterward than they were when they started the mission. I know that they will be better wives as well if they serve missions, more caring, more responsible than they already are. I hope all you young ladies out there that are thinking about whether or not to serve, do it, what've you got to lose? Nada.

 

This week I got to travel to Veracruz and visit my baptisms and members that I love back there, and go with Ortiz because he was just in that area too right before coming to David. We had so much fun, and I visited one of the 14 year old kids that I baptized, Cristian, and he still remembered me by name and gave me a big hug. Told me that because of me, a year ago, he has been so blessed. I saw a few people in Veracruz that didn't even remember who I was, and others that knew me by name. It was so nice to see that guy's smile and know that he is still active. I found out after that Ortiz had later baptized his sister, and his mom is getting baptized soon, and his inactive aunt is now going all the time. Wow. Blessings come when you least expect them.

 

While in the city we had a meeting with Pres where I got to see Elder Arbon and lots of other mission friends of mine. It's sad to know that these guys are going home really soon. I gave him a shirt that I found that I knew he would love and would "fit" his personality just right. Turns out it was actually his birthday that day as well, cool coincidence, he was so happy that I remembered his birthday...umm...;)

 

We're prepping this 22 year old guy to get baptized this weekend. Literally has done a 180 degree turn, this guy. When we met him he was saying how he couldn't go to church because he was really involved in a Sunday soccer league. He smoked like a chimney and didn't really care about anything. What now? He came to church yesterday in a white shirt and tie, stayed all 3 hours, and is excited for his baptism. He has so much support from the members in this ward, because the pre-missionaries all know him and have known him for a while. Va pa'l agua ese pelao haha, a little Panamanian slang for you all.

 

Oritz has taught me a lot this change about the difference between having meetings, talking about crap for like 2 hours, and not getting anything accomplished in the end, no action, when we can have a meeting for a half hour or less, then immediately act. The Lord does not want meetings, He wants action. Anyone can be a member on Sunday; it takes a real Mormon to be a member of the Church during the week. It's so frustrating having tons of meetings with great ideas, but as soon as it ends and we're all excited to make things happen, no one does anything. Action people, not meetings.

 

I'm excited to call my Mommy this weekend for Mothers Day. Tell your moms that you love them. They deserve it. We had tons of investigators in church yesterday, thanks to fasting, 9 people baby.

Script for this week is just one, Helaman 3:7, which is the proof that these Central Americans are decendants to the Lamanites, working with cement.

 

Love you all have a wonderful week!