a short update

Hi family!
I hope I got all the email addresses right. I don't really have any time left because I was trying to figure out some stuff with my camera and a jump drive for the English manuel that mom sent me, but I wanted to send you all a short update.
I accidently brought the wrong cord for my camera, so there are no pictures this week, sorry!
The Pinedo family was baptized on Thursday! After lots of stress and crazyness getting them married at 3:00, we rushed back to Volcan for their baptism with their younger son at 6:00 p.m. Satan definitely was working against us because so many things went wrong (we showed up 40 minutes late for their wedding time, the witnesses wanted to come seperately and came late, a few days before the baptism Martin and Mila (the couple) had a big fight and Martin said he didn't want to get married anymore, etc etc.) But with lots of work, prayers, and the help of the Lord, everything came together and worked out.
It was so great to see them all together in their white clothes, and the branch has been very supportive. We still have a lot of work to help them become strong members, but I know the Lord is pleased with them and their decisions.
Now we're trying to help prepare them and get them excited to go on the branch temple trip in January. They don't have money so I'm not sure if they're be able to go but I know if they show the desire, effort, and sacrifice, that the Lord will help them.
A couple of our other recent converts are planning to go as well for baptisms.
Ahhh ok I'm out of time, sorry this is so short.
I love you all and I'll write you a better letter next week, I promise!

Love, Hermana Dance

P.S. The church is true :)

Herro family

Helllooooooooo!
Happy happy Thanksgiving week! Today I just realized that Thanksgiving is this Thursday (I think).
We're baptizing a family of three this Thursday right after their wedding, wahooo! We're planning to do something awesome for them to celebrate but we're not exactly sure what.
Later today we're going to help another couple get married because some elders from before promised to help them. They don't come to church and I don't think they're quite ready to leave the worldly lifestlye/parties but we'll see.... If not, it's already easier for the missionaries who come after us because they're already married.
Welp, what else is new around these parts...my camera lives!! Wahoo!! Charlyn took it home and worked some gypsy magic and now it works :) Ok well I think she really just set it in her room to dry because her room is hot but either way, it's working now. I'll send you some pictures next time even though I'm ashamed because I'm getting chubby cheeks...and chubby other parts as well. Eeek!

I'm glad to hear that James is doing well. I've written him a couple times and heard back from him once and it sounds like he's doing well. How are Zach and Nicky doing with the new baby? And Randy and Coleman? This week I had a bunch of random dreams about pretty much all my cousins in some way or another so they're all in my thoughts and prayers :)
Things are going well here. We had our first English class on Saturday and I think it went pretty well. Only a few members came but I think it will grow and we're going to pass out flyers to investigators and contacts.
The rainy season/winter is pretty much over now so I finally get to see the sun! It makes me happy and it's awesome to be able to see the mountains. I live in a beautiful place! Plus now we're planning a trip up the volcano for a Pday in December with some members and investigators. I'm excited :)
The branch in Volcan is growing. Thanks for your comments on retention mom, I will keep them in mind because retaining members has been a problem here as well.
I love the gospel and I love the Lord. I know the Lord is mindful of His children, that He loves every one of us and answers our prayers. I know the Book of Mormon is true and that it has the power to change lives because it teaches us the principles that Christ taught. I love you all and I'm praying for you!
Love, Hermana Dance

Alma 9:6 Why doesn't God send more authority than 2 young people to declare His word? People ask us this sometimes. 1 Corinth 1:26-27 If He sent some huge powerful person, it wouldn't really require much faithAlso Alma 9:8-10 He keeps saying that we need to remember-remembering is so important, that's why we have scriptures, church, etc. It reminded me of the talk you gave in the first zone conference in the Baltics mom about Helaman 5:12

Placentero nos es trabajar

Hola familia!!
Thank you for the flood of emails this week! I like seeing mom and dad write together in the same email-it creates a happy picture in my mind of you two at the computer together :) Plus then I get to guess who wrote which part. Sounds like things are going well with you all. How are the new missionaries? Have the ones I met in the MTC arrived yet? I told them to tell you hi...
Today was transfer day but luckily I'm still in Volcan with Hermana Rodriguez. She FINISHES her mission the next transfer (Dec 28). So for sure I'll be here until at least February because I'm the one who will know the area and the investigators when she leaves. I'm stoked because it's beautiful here and not as hot and I love the members.
The Martinez family has daughters around my age (Charlyn is 22 and Dayana is 19) and today they took us to a nearby river to hike and play and then we ate lunch at their grandma's house. It was beautiful and we had fun but I don't know if you'll get to see the pictures because my camera fell out of my pocket into the canal...Charlyn rescued it for me but it had been submerged for over a minute so it might be dead. I'll see what kind of operations can be done.
Don't worry, things are definitely safe around here. I feel completely confident that we aren't in danger-they just wanted us to take precautions. And don't worry, I'm not getting infected by rabid puppies, haha. I wash my hands lots :)
Thursday we had the baptism of Felipe Castillo. I made paper cranes in different colors and hung them from the ceiling. Each crane had a question and reference from 3 Nefi 11 and while Felipe was changing we divided the members and investigators into groups to work on the questions together. It turned out really well. Felipe cooked for his own baptism, which I felt kind of bad about but he wanted to do it. He's awesome and is going to be a strong leader.
I've definitely been seeing the Lord's hand in my life. I feel more comfortable here and my Spanish is coming along. I would say I talk around 1/3 of the time in the lessons. I'm working my way up to half :)
I feel happy and I'm trying to find creative ways to serve and to help people here and create something awesome because that's when I'm happiest. Like last week I made a worksheet with questions and references for Candida, our recent convert because we don't think she's reading the scriptures. We also met with a Peace Corp volunteer last week who taught us how to give English classes so Saturday we're starting classes at the church. I'm excited to make lesson plans and games for them :)Plus I'm becoming better friends with the people here. Charlyn and Dayana go out teaching with us sometimes and I feel like they're really good friends.
The Pinedos, the family we're trying to help get married, are awesome too. They're a lot of fun and they like to learn. We're planning their baptism for the 26th of November (the day of their wedding).Other than that we're just looking for nuevos and teaching other investigators. Eek I'm out of time but I love you all! Sorry I didn't share an awesome scripture or experience but I'll write a real letter tonight! The church is true!
Love,Hermana Dance

P.S. Sarah Jayne! Letters are headed your way late because the post office was closed a lot for the holidays. But know that I love you and love hearing from you! Make your mark cuz you're a Clark!

Holidays, interviews, and the latest happenings in Volcan, Panama

Ahh I never feel like I have enough time! This week was filled with Independence Day, Day of the Flag (Not really sure what that is), and interviews with the president. We didn't see much of the festivities but I don't mind because I'm not a big fan of parades anyways.

My first "real" interview with the president was awesome. It's weird because since I've seen the "behind the scenes" of a mission president's life and you two are serving I sort of felt like I was talking to dad when we had interviews. President Madrigal asked about the work in Volcan, who we're teaching, how my companion is, etc. and then he taught me from the scriptures. I know he is called and led by God. I know that even though I don't know how to express myself very well in Spanish, he understood and was able to respond in a way that helped me the most. The things he said to me were very specific to my needs and helped me a lot.

Felipe passed the interview and his baptismal date is set for this Thursday. We're really excited for him and so is he. Aside from the we've been working hard to find new people to teach this week. President Madrigal promised my companion that if we worked around the chapel we'd find a family to baptize, so that's what we're doing.

Today the elders are in Volcan to help us clear the yard of bushes and branches as a precaution because it's really dark where our house is. This week we've definitely seen the Lord's hand in our lives helping protect us. It's never been anything dramatic, just kind neighbors watching out for us and men who are members or who we know walking or riding past our house at exactly the time we arrive at night so they can make sure we get in safely. I know we're being protected and watched out for :)

Eek where did the time go!?? I guess I'll finish by talking about what I read in Mosiah 24:12-16 this week. When the righteous people of Alma were in bondage, they called upon God for help. He lightened their burdens so they didn't feel them (he didn't remove them). They were patient, faithful, and cheerfull in their afflictions. THEN, after God saw how patient and faithful they were, he delivered them the next day. Just another demonstration of how miracles FOLLOW faith.

Welp, sorry I can't share more but I love you guys!

Hermana Dance

Acts 27:10-11, 20-25 follow the prophets and we'll be safe!

Happy Dia de los Muerto

I don't have much time again because the internet was being crazy and not working. I'm glad you got the pictures. Elder Bustillo, and awesome elder from Honduras who was in the CCM with me and is in my district now taught me how to change my camera so the size of the pictures is smaller and I will be able to send probably six or seven in one email next time.

Thanks for the emails and letter. Dad I just got another talk from you from DearElder but I haven't read it yet because the elders gave it to me right before we came in to check our emails. I'm sure it's awesome.

So yeah, I guess you'll usually be hearing from me on Monday now and sometimes Tuesdays. Mom, thanks for sending me a real letter :) I just got some letters from people who wrote me around October 7th or 8th so I think the mail is pretty slow...I mailed you something last week but I sent it to the office address-Cesu iela or something like that. Let me know when you get it so I know how much time I have to leave in the future :)

It sounds like your Sisters Conference went well. I'm sure they loved it and thought it was fun. And that's good you're getting more bold-I'm sure they won't be offended, they pretty much worship you and dad :) That's how we feel about our president and his wife so I'm sure it's the same for you two. They're very sweet to us. After Zone Conference Sister Madrigal gave Hermana Rodriguez and I this homemade raisin bread and it made me think of you Mom just because I know you're always doing sweet things for the missionaries too.

Things are going well here. We've had two baptisms since I've arrived and we have another scheduled for Friday the 13th of this month. Hopefully nothing spooky happens :) Felipe, the one getting baptized, is awesome. He came to church yesterday and took notes in our lesson and in priesthood. He is reading the Book of Mormon, he has good questions and he's progressing fast. He's already planning on going with the branch on their temple trip in January to do baptisms.

We're also teaching the Pinedos, this awesome farming family. We're working to get them married on Nov 26th so they can get baptized after. Their 20 year old son, Martin Alexander wants to get baptized also. They're just a really sweet family and we love being around them. Mila, the mom, marks their copy of the Book of Mormon when we come over to teach them :)

Spanish is slowly improving and I can understand more. I still feel like I can't express myself much but I will learn. This week I've been reading Acts in the Bible. I'm realizing how much more I should've studied the scriptures before I left. I know the Book of Mormon, but I've never even read all of the Bible before. I'm learning so many awesome things from reading Acts. It's easy to see that every time the church has been established, it has face great oposition. In the times of Joseph Smith, but also during the times after Christ came. The apostles suffered a lot of persecution.

I've been thinking about what you and Dad told me about how faith helps us be led to and recognize people who are prepared to be baptized. I found a lot of examples of this in Acts. Acts 14:27 says that God "opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles" and I'm praying that he'll do the same for the people in Panama and also for the people in the Baltics.

I know this is Christ's church and that it is the only church that has the authority to do the ordinances that bring us salvation. I know God lives, and that he loves us. And I know with Christ we can do anything. Love you all!

Love, Hermana Dance

Acts 18:9-11