HALFWAY THROUGH TRAINING

Hey everybody, how's it going?? I hope you are all enjoying the fall weather. I certainly miss this time of year back home, but I also love the sun so I'm good with having summer every day for the next 21 months

This week was the best one yet! Elder Putt and I knew that it was going to be a GOOD week despite all the fiestas that were going to happen. Here in Panama, November is a party month so everyone is out drinking and partying all the time. The beginning of the week was rough because all of our lessons were falling through due to all the parties. Elder Putt and I did our best to stay positive and the Lord blessed us with a couple miracles later in the week. Friday and Saturday was just a day of finding and hitting an area that neither of us have been too. Since transfers are happening tomorrow, we figured that it would be a good idea to get to know the area better because we both thought that Elder Putt was leaving, and I was going to have to lead the area with a new companion. It turns out that both of us are staying so Elder Putt will finish my training.

We went to Puerto Caimito which is right along the beach. Everyone says that it's dangerous but we can't not go there. There could be someone there that is dying to hear from missionaries. So we took a bus and traveled there. We found like 6 people that would like to hear our messages so it looks like we'll be back in Puerto Caminito a lot! The beach is pretty cool but the water is super nasty so honestly it's not that cool haha.  

During an exchange with the Zone Leader, we found another area that has lots of poverty. All of the houses are just metal shacks with no doors, but there are a ton of kids that were so happy to see us. They were all asking us to do magic tricks for them, so good thing I had a Magic Card Trick in my backpack. They loved it and were so happy. Some of their mothers were watching and they had the biggest smile on their faces. As I was showing the kids the magic trick, Elder Furihman was talking to one of their moms and he basically set up a lesson with her family. He is such a beast and I am so grateful for him. There's a lot of potential in this area because the people that live there are insanely humble and have so much faith in God despite their living conditions. It's safe to say that Elder Putt and I hit the jackpot with these two areas. 

MIRACLE: We met this man named Manuel. He's an old man that is blind in his right eye and half blind in his left. We were walking down the street when we saw him hanging out in his front yard. It turns out that that's his son's house and he actually lives close to all those kids in that super poor part. He invited us into his yard because he wanted to hear our message. It turns out that he was being taught by missionaries before the pandemic and he has a ton of faith in Christ. He wants us to help him flip his life around. Our 2nd lesson with him was yesterday and we put him on date to be baptized for December 11th. 

I am extremely blessed to be a Missionary during this time after the pandemic. Even though it's super hard reaching out to people, bringing less active members back to church, and having to wear a mask still, I wouldn't want to do anything else. I'm here to serve Heavenly Father and help bring his children unto Christ. The missionaries right now are just finishing the work that the missionaries started before the pandemic. 

I love and miss you all so much. I hope you are all doing well. Have the best week!

PICTURES