Hola!
Sounds like all the festivals were fun. I like hearing about the culture out there...haha I didn't know missionaries were allowed to dance. One of the sisters in the big family we're teaching danced bachata with me on Tuesday night, the last night with Hermana Chevez. Hehe. We're all going to miss her lots but I'm happy to be with my new compy too. Her name is Hermana williams and she's from West Jordan. My first American companion, woot.
I didn't ever really want to be with an American but now I'm enjoying the advantages....she understands when I say "uhhh, awkward...." or when I say random movie quotes in English. On the down side, they try to rip us off more in the taxis until I talk in a Panamania accent and tell them "Tres dolares! Estas loco!" and call them an aligator for trying to take advantage of us. Haha, I learned well from Hermana Chevez to be more direct...
We've already had quite a few interesting experinces together in the first few days...I haven't really been able to keep anything down since Thursday because of some food or parasite we ate...sometimes we have to take drastic measures when it's the end of the month and we don't have any money...haha. But I love being with Hermana Williams because she's super enthusiastic and supports my ideas as well as adding her own. We started working with the Primary yesterday and they're going to help us with their prayers and giving little talks in the gospel principles class, etc. We made them little name tags (Mom I sent you one in the mail :)
We're still working with the huge family and yesterday another sister with her kids came to church along with her sister-in-law who'd already come two weeks ago. It's awesome to see them progressing.
Eek I'm out of time. Love you all and thanks for writing!!
Love,
Hermana Dance
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Hey family!
It's been a weird week. I sort of feel like the world is ending because my companion is going home in two days. Ahhh!! Oh yeah, I can't remember if I told you all transfers are on Wednesdays now instead of Monday's so I don't know who my new companion is yet. I'll keep you posted. Man when I get transfered out of here I know I'm going to feel like I'm going to a new mission all over again because I'll have over a year in the mission and only 2 areas....weird huh? Welp, el Padre Celestial sabe lo que hace...
Last Monday after we checked our emails we went with two elders from our zone to visit this huge famliy we're teaching the. They're both fun and love music-one of them sings and plays the guitar so they busted out a quitar and started singing a bunch of songs they're written about Panama, about their area, the people, the mission, etc. It made me think of Jamison and Connor and Bubbly Toes on Christmas Eve. Awww. It was a lot of fun and the family loved seeing elders. The daughter of one of Aleyka, one of the sisters who came to church last week, was super sick with asthma that day and asked them to give her daughter a blessing. The elders did it and also prayed for the family and for their jobs, etc. After the blessing Emily (the little girl) already looked a little better and had more energy. When we went to visit them on Wednesday Aleyka told us it was a miracle because that same night she got better and she went to school the next day. Whenever she gets sick with asthma she normally needs 3 or 4 days to recover and Aleyka gained a big testimony of the power of the priesthood. Her husband also felt it and everything went really really well for him at work the next day after the elders prayed for his job. This family is awesome and they're definitely prepared. At least two of the 8 grown brothers and sisters already have testimonies and everyone else is progressing bit by bit. It's like a snowball because every time we come more and more of the family is there to listen to. They're never ending! haha. But it's awesome.
Welp, besides them I've pretty much just been thinking about how I'm going to miss my companion and about how to help the members so the ward doesn't get shut down or merged with another one. There are a few really awesome families that are active but there are way more inactive for the crazy things that've happened with the leadership here, for rumors and gossiping, and for pride and materialism...sometimes I wish there would be an earthquake or a huge storm only in this part of Panama to wake them up. In the meantime, we'll see what we can do as representatives of Jesus Christ.
I gotsta go but I love you all. Thanks for everything!!
Love, Natalie
It's been a weird week. I sort of feel like the world is ending because my companion is going home in two days. Ahhh!! Oh yeah, I can't remember if I told you all transfers are on Wednesdays now instead of Monday's so I don't know who my new companion is yet. I'll keep you posted. Man when I get transfered out of here I know I'm going to feel like I'm going to a new mission all over again because I'll have over a year in the mission and only 2 areas....weird huh? Welp, el Padre Celestial sabe lo que hace...
Last Monday after we checked our emails we went with two elders from our zone to visit this huge famliy we're teaching the. They're both fun and love music-one of them sings and plays the guitar so they busted out a quitar and started singing a bunch of songs they're written about Panama, about their area, the people, the mission, etc. It made me think of Jamison and Connor and Bubbly Toes on Christmas Eve. Awww. It was a lot of fun and the family loved seeing elders. The daughter of one of Aleyka, one of the sisters who came to church last week, was super sick with asthma that day and asked them to give her daughter a blessing. The elders did it and also prayed for the family and for their jobs, etc. After the blessing Emily (the little girl) already looked a little better and had more energy. When we went to visit them on Wednesday Aleyka told us it was a miracle because that same night she got better and she went to school the next day. Whenever she gets sick with asthma she normally needs 3 or 4 days to recover and Aleyka gained a big testimony of the power of the priesthood. Her husband also felt it and everything went really really well for him at work the next day after the elders prayed for his job. This family is awesome and they're definitely prepared. At least two of the 8 grown brothers and sisters already have testimonies and everyone else is progressing bit by bit. It's like a snowball because every time we come more and more of the family is there to listen to. They're never ending! haha. But it's awesome.
Welp, besides them I've pretty much just been thinking about how I'm going to miss my companion and about how to help the members so the ward doesn't get shut down or merged with another one. There are a few really awesome families that are active but there are way more inactive for the crazy things that've happened with the leadership here, for rumors and gossiping, and for pride and materialism...sometimes I wish there would be an earthquake or a huge storm only in this part of Panama to wake them up. In the meantime, we'll see what we can do as representatives of Jesus Christ.
I gotsta go but I love you all. Thanks for everything!!
Love, Natalie
Monday, July 12, 2010
New wave revolution
Hey family!
Ok ok so Thursday we had zone conference with the new president and we got to know him a little bit. They're awesome. I was going to send pictures but the computer isn't reading my memory card... :( next week... But anyways, they're the Wards, they're from California and he likes to surf. He's super happy and reminds me of a perfect cross between Dad, my BYU stake president President Childs, and my mission prep teacher. Heh. It's fun to see them together and how they love each other because los Madrigal were really cold in their affections for each other in front of us. It's interesting to see the differences. Presidente Ward served in Argentina with Elder Scott as his mission president and then at the end of his mission they sent him to open the mission in Spain-crazy huh?
Herm, life is weird these days. My compita is cool and scary at the same time but she's pretty much run out of steam and doesn't want to do very much or always has some sort of illness. I'm trying to be understanding but it's hard to be motivated when I feel like I have to work alone sometimes...but I'm still learning a lot from her and we have lots of fun.
Pretty much you all are the best family ever. just had to get that out there. This week we're still teaching the huge family with tons of grown kids, in-laws, and grandkids and we feel so much love for them. It's hard with the ward though because this family lives in one of the only poor areas within our boundaries and almost all the members live in the rich housing developments...Yesterday this family didn't come to church because they felt like they didn't have nice enough clothes to come... :( Arg sometimes I feel frustrated with how cold and proud and materialistic the members are. Oh and our bishop is inactive again. But we're working on things bit by bit...
Eek I gotsa go, love you all!
Hermana Dance
Mosiah 3:9
Ok ok so Thursday we had zone conference with the new president and we got to know him a little bit. They're awesome. I was going to send pictures but the computer isn't reading my memory card... :( next week... But anyways, they're the Wards, they're from California and he likes to surf. He's super happy and reminds me of a perfect cross between Dad, my BYU stake president President Childs, and my mission prep teacher. Heh. It's fun to see them together and how they love each other because los Madrigal were really cold in their affections for each other in front of us. It's interesting to see the differences. Presidente Ward served in Argentina with Elder Scott as his mission president and then at the end of his mission they sent him to open the mission in Spain-crazy huh?
Herm, life is weird these days. My compita is cool and scary at the same time but she's pretty much run out of steam and doesn't want to do very much or always has some sort of illness. I'm trying to be understanding but it's hard to be motivated when I feel like I have to work alone sometimes...but I'm still learning a lot from her and we have lots of fun.
Pretty much you all are the best family ever. just had to get that out there. This week we're still teaching the huge family with tons of grown kids, in-laws, and grandkids and we feel so much love for them. It's hard with the ward though because this family lives in one of the only poor areas within our boundaries and almost all the members live in the rich housing developments...Yesterday this family didn't come to church because they felt like they didn't have nice enough clothes to come... :( Arg sometimes I feel frustrated with how cold and proud and materialistic the members are. Oh and our bishop is inactive again. But we're working on things bit by bit...
Eek I gotsa go, love you all!
Hermana Dance
Mosiah 3:9
Monday, July 5, 2010
Derp, derp
Hey family,
Thanks for this pictures! I expect more next week since Jamison and Liz will be there too. My family is perty :) Yesterday I forgot it was a holiday and I didn't even miss it because I haven't been in the U.S. for 4th of July in...3 years now. Eek!
Life is good. We've found lots of people that have definitely been prepared by the light of Christ. One of them is a family of 8 brothers and sisters and who knows how many grandkids...it' awesome to see them all together and we have high hopes for them... : )
Sorry if this is super short but the computer is freaking out and refreshing the page every 2 minutes so it makes it complicated to write you all. I'm happy and I'm learning lots...Mi converso Alexander is the best and is super strong-after he got expelled from school for fighting and stopped coming to seminary and church for a week he's back again and stronger than ever. He doesn't have any support in his family but Hermana Diaz his seminary teacher and his YM leader are helping so much. I love when the members help us!
Our new president is here and we have zone conerence on Thursday. It'll be interesting to see how things in the mission change under his direction. Sometimes I forget how to spell in english...oops. Arg sorry, I ran out of time again....Ok ok I promise I'm going to write a real, more detailed letter today and mail it to you because I never have enough time to email good letters... :P
Love you all, thanks for writing me!!
Love,
Natalie
Thanks for this pictures! I expect more next week since Jamison and Liz will be there too. My family is perty :) Yesterday I forgot it was a holiday and I didn't even miss it because I haven't been in the U.S. for 4th of July in...3 years now. Eek!
Life is good. We've found lots of people that have definitely been prepared by the light of Christ. One of them is a family of 8 brothers and sisters and who knows how many grandkids...it' awesome to see them all together and we have high hopes for them... : )
Sorry if this is super short but the computer is freaking out and refreshing the page every 2 minutes so it makes it complicated to write you all. I'm happy and I'm learning lots...Mi converso Alexander is the best and is super strong-after he got expelled from school for fighting and stopped coming to seminary and church for a week he's back again and stronger than ever. He doesn't have any support in his family but Hermana Diaz his seminary teacher and his YM leader are helping so much. I love when the members help us!
Our new president is here and we have zone conerence on Thursday. It'll be interesting to see how things in the mission change under his direction. Sometimes I forget how to spell in english...oops. Arg sorry, I ran out of time again....Ok ok I promise I'm going to write a real, more detailed letter today and mail it to you because I never have enough time to email good letters... :P
Love you all, thanks for writing me!!
Love,
Natalie
Monday, June 28, 2010
Hey family,
I forget that other seasons exist outside of Panama because here it's only hot and rainy or hot and sunny so it's weird hearing about weather changes in Latvia and Utah...
Everything is going well here. My companion and I get along well and spend the whole day laughing and joking around. She's super forward and blunt and sometimes scary but I'm happy we're together haha. This week we've found a ton of new people but every single person or family we've visited has tons of problems and intense trials-divorce after 25 years together, an unfaithful boyfriend 5 days before the birth of their first child, the death of a father, a family member in the hospital waiting for a 4bypass surgery....lots of crazy stuff. We've felt like the Lord has led us to people who desperately need the gospel in their lives right now.
I've also seen how the Spirit has guided us to help the members. Friday night we finished an appointment and our investigator told us that the little bus stopped running by that hour and since my companion and I are both broke right now we were going to have to walk an hour and fifteen minutes just to get to the main road where the buses pass. Then we'd have to take the bus and walk more to get home and we probably would've gotten to the house around 10:00 P.M. We walked part of the way and then decided to stop to ask a member family for a ride to the main road. They weren't home so we went to another member's house as a last resort.
We got there and the hermana opened the door looking all tired and sad, and from the moment we entered the house I decided we weren't going to ask anything, just listen to her and share a scripture, pray with her and sing with her. She started to tell us about everything that was going on in her family and I felt like I didn't know what to say but when I said the opening prayer 2 Nefi 1:15 came to my mind and we talked about the love of God and the atonement. She cried and said that she was so grateful that we came, that she needed us that night and she didn't feel so alone and we felt like we were able to be an answer to her prayers. When we finished it was 9:30 P.M. and she answered our prayers because she called a taxi and payed for it to take us all the way home. The Spirit works in interesting ways... :)
Welp I'm out of time but I love you all and I'm happy to hear from you and that you all get a chance to spend some time together. You're in my prayers :)
Love,
Natalie
3 Nefi 9:13 Christ and his atonement can heal us
I forget that other seasons exist outside of Panama because here it's only hot and rainy or hot and sunny so it's weird hearing about weather changes in Latvia and Utah...
Everything is going well here. My companion and I get along well and spend the whole day laughing and joking around. She's super forward and blunt and sometimes scary but I'm happy we're together haha. This week we've found a ton of new people but every single person or family we've visited has tons of problems and intense trials-divorce after 25 years together, an unfaithful boyfriend 5 days before the birth of their first child, the death of a father, a family member in the hospital waiting for a 4bypass surgery....lots of crazy stuff. We've felt like the Lord has led us to people who desperately need the gospel in their lives right now.
I've also seen how the Spirit has guided us to help the members. Friday night we finished an appointment and our investigator told us that the little bus stopped running by that hour and since my companion and I are both broke right now we were going to have to walk an hour and fifteen minutes just to get to the main road where the buses pass. Then we'd have to take the bus and walk more to get home and we probably would've gotten to the house around 10:00 P.M. We walked part of the way and then decided to stop to ask a member family for a ride to the main road. They weren't home so we went to another member's house as a last resort.
We got there and the hermana opened the door looking all tired and sad, and from the moment we entered the house I decided we weren't going to ask anything, just listen to her and share a scripture, pray with her and sing with her. She started to tell us about everything that was going on in her family and I felt like I didn't know what to say but when I said the opening prayer 2 Nefi 1:15 came to my mind and we talked about the love of God and the atonement. She cried and said that she was so grateful that we came, that she needed us that night and she didn't feel so alone and we felt like we were able to be an answer to her prayers. When we finished it was 9:30 P.M. and she answered our prayers because she called a taxi and payed for it to take us all the way home. The Spirit works in interesting ways... :)
Welp I'm out of time but I love you all and I'm happy to hear from you and that you all get a chance to spend some time together. You're in my prayers :)
Love,
Natalie
3 Nefi 9:13 Christ and his atonement can heal us
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
tender mercies...:)
Hey family!
Uhhh, story of my life-I don't have any time. Sorry! But I'm happy because por fin por fin God sent me a companion that I can be best friends with. *angels singing* Ahhh seriously, we have so much fun and we talk about everything. It's sort of hard to focus sometimes because she's going home soon but it's worth it because the time goes by sooo much faster. :)
This week we went to a poorish area that we've never contacted in a found a ton of people to teach. The field is white and ready to harvest. We found a family that almost didn't let us in but once we got in and started teaching the dad told us that a couple years ago he'd been praying to know which wahe true church and he dreamed of two LDS missionaries walking towards him and he heard a voice say "This is the my true church." He told us he felt better with us teaching than he felt when one of his good Jehova's Witnesses friends comes to teach him every week. Wow, definitely prepared. We found another woman who told us 2 years ago when the new chapel was finishd she'd felt curious and looked up things on the internet to find out about us. She came to church yesterday and we taught her for the first time on Saturday. I love my life.
Hermmm, what else to tell you. I also love my companion because she helps me discover my weaknesses. She has lots of talents and helps me realize where I need to improve. One of the things she's really good at is listening to and recognizing the spirit. I feel like I always recognize it when it's testifying in a lesson or in church or something but that I still don't have the skill that she does to be able to listen to it and recognize right away that we should go here or there, teach this or that, talk to this person, etc. Soooo that's one of my goals for this transfer. Eekk, no time!
Sorry, love you all and hope you're having a fantastic week!!!
Hermana Dance
Mormon 9 .....uh, verse 20? the part where he talks about how God is a God of miracles and if miracles cease it's for our own unbelief
I didn't proofread!! :P
Uhhh, story of my life-I don't have any time. Sorry! But I'm happy because por fin por fin God sent me a companion that I can be best friends with. *angels singing* Ahhh seriously, we have so much fun and we talk about everything. It's sort of hard to focus sometimes because she's going home soon but it's worth it because the time goes by sooo much faster. :)
This week we went to a poorish area that we've never contacted in a found a ton of people to teach. The field is white and ready to harvest. We found a family that almost didn't let us in but once we got in and started teaching the dad told us that a couple years ago he'd been praying to know which wahe true church and he dreamed of two LDS missionaries walking towards him and he heard a voice say "This is the my true church." He told us he felt better with us teaching than he felt when one of his good Jehova's Witnesses friends comes to teach him every week. Wow, definitely prepared. We found another woman who told us 2 years ago when the new chapel was finishd she'd felt curious and looked up things on the internet to find out about us. She came to church yesterday and we taught her for the first time on Saturday. I love my life.
Hermmm, what else to tell you. I also love my companion because she helps me discover my weaknesses. She has lots of talents and helps me realize where I need to improve. One of the things she's really good at is listening to and recognizing the spirit. I feel like I always recognize it when it's testifying in a lesson or in church or something but that I still don't have the skill that she does to be able to listen to it and recognize right away that we should go here or there, teach this or that, talk to this person, etc. Soooo that's one of my goals for this transfer. Eekk, no time!
Sorry, love you all and hope you're having a fantastic week!!!
Hermana Dance
Mormon 9 .....uh, verse 20? the part where he talks about how God is a God of miracles and if miracles cease it's for our own unbelief
I didn't proofread!! :P
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Goooooooooooaaallllll!
Hey family!
Thanks for the pics and updates. I like how I can tell without reading the titles which picture is of the nuevos and which picture is of the group of returning missionaries...haha. The hermana on the right I recognize from when I've visited. And that's awesome you've been able to see some of you ex missionaries who've come back to visit. I hope to be able to do the same :)
I don't have cambios.
Mas bien they sent me an hermana who's finishing this transfer but she wanted to finish as the compañera menor (junior companion..) I guess she's been training for the last 5 transfers so she asked the president to be lowered her last transfer, haha. The only thing is that since she's finishing this transfer, I'm not going to leave this area until September because I'll have to teach the area to another hermana next transfer. I'll have 7 months here by the time I leave! Eek! But at the same time I'm happy because I love the people, my house rocks, and I'm not the best at adjusting to new areas, wards, etc. And since I'm going to be here for a long time I'm stoked to see what kind of activities and iniciatives I can start in the area/the ward to get things moving. Our mission leader is recently called and just got home from his mission a month or two ago so he's stoked and I know he'll help me. I'm excited to be creative, and to be with a new companion who will run with me (in a figurative sense-I'm still waiting for the compañera that will literally go running with me..jaja).
Hermmm what else to tell you all. I feel old. All my friends are going home! It makes me nervous thinking about how someday I'll go home too....Thinking about everything I've learned and how much I've grown and changed makes me so grateful that God was patient enough with me to keep sending me promptings to go on the mission even when I couldn't/didn't want to recognize them. I can say without a doubt that the mission is the best thing that has ever happened to me and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I'm soooo lucky. and happy. Everything happens for a reason, every area, ward, companion, zone teaches us something and helps us develope atributos de Cristo. Someday I hope to be able to tell you all or show you all everything I've learned and document it for my future childrens tambien.
My brain feels mushy from lack of sleep and I don't feel like I have any inspiring stories to share-sorry. Since the world cup started this weekend our neighbors had all night parties with music blasting and lots of alcohol and crazyness so we haven't been able to sleep well. Since all the houses are made of concrete and have lots of open spaces and windows all the sounds bounce around and ehco and keep us awake. Next week I'll be more inspiring, I promise!
Miss yo faces!
Nat
D&C 45:62 (I think...it talks about how great things await us..)
Thanks for the pics and updates. I like how I can tell without reading the titles which picture is of the nuevos and which picture is of the group of returning missionaries...haha. The hermana on the right I recognize from when I've visited. And that's awesome you've been able to see some of you ex missionaries who've come back to visit. I hope to be able to do the same :)
I don't have cambios.
Mas bien they sent me an hermana who's finishing this transfer but she wanted to finish as the compañera menor (junior companion..) I guess she's been training for the last 5 transfers so she asked the president to be lowered her last transfer, haha. The only thing is that since she's finishing this transfer, I'm not going to leave this area until September because I'll have to teach the area to another hermana next transfer. I'll have 7 months here by the time I leave! Eek! But at the same time I'm happy because I love the people, my house rocks, and I'm not the best at adjusting to new areas, wards, etc. And since I'm going to be here for a long time I'm stoked to see what kind of activities and iniciatives I can start in the area/the ward to get things moving. Our mission leader is recently called and just got home from his mission a month or two ago so he's stoked and I know he'll help me. I'm excited to be creative, and to be with a new companion who will run with me (in a figurative sense-I'm still waiting for the compañera that will literally go running with me..jaja).
Hermmm what else to tell you all. I feel old. All my friends are going home! It makes me nervous thinking about how someday I'll go home too....Thinking about everything I've learned and how much I've grown and changed makes me so grateful that God was patient enough with me to keep sending me promptings to go on the mission even when I couldn't/didn't want to recognize them. I can say without a doubt that the mission is the best thing that has ever happened to me and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I'm soooo lucky. and happy. Everything happens for a reason, every area, ward, companion, zone teaches us something and helps us develope atributos de Cristo. Someday I hope to be able to tell you all or show you all everything I've learned and document it for my future childrens tambien.
My brain feels mushy from lack of sleep and I don't feel like I have any inspiring stories to share-sorry. Since the world cup started this weekend our neighbors had all night parties with music blasting and lots of alcohol and crazyness so we haven't been able to sleep well. Since all the houses are made of concrete and have lots of open spaces and windows all the sounds bounce around and ehco and keep us awake. Next week I'll be more inspiring, I promise!
Miss yo faces!
Nat
D&C 45:62 (I think...it talks about how great things await us..)
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