Day 20, January 29th, 2012

Day 20- Sunday, January 29th, 2012. 

Man! Its almost February!! Crazy man! Today at meeting instead of a talk we watched the blood video because we have a part on Thursday meeting on it. Which helped remember to get my new temporary DPA for when I am here in Panama. Everyone is practically related here so I have Brother Pedro as the Health-Care-Advisor, Brother Nixon as the Alternative Health-Care-Advisor, here you have to have 3 Witnesses. So… Yolenias Miranda, Yarianis Miranda, Abdiel Miranda. haha. It looks pretty fun, and just for the record. Brother Nixon is their uncle. Ha! My legs are itching like crazy!! I need to put more stuff on all of them, but the bites that are swollen didn't hurt last night, but I can feel the swollen part right now. Tomorrow I am going to Rio Sereno again, this time with the Neals. They need to buy some stuff and they want to see around the town. So Wa-La! Travel Partners!! I am gonna buy me some stuff tomorrow. :) But I might have another shopping list for the family so we will see. I like going to Rio Sereno on Mondays, its kind of just a day for me ya know? But tomorrow I won't be by myself… hmm… oh well. :) I had to put a different order in for literature today, I know need 2 placing Bibles. Today's Watchtower was good, it was my last study that I could look at in my English Watchtower, but I didn't even touch my English Watchtower this week. And everything was still good! Well, I don't know what we are doing today. I think we are all just going to have a chill day, FINALLY!! :) That's all for now… OMG!! Someone just texted me! I'll be back…LAME! It was just a promotion:( Whatever… Side Note: What will take away the swelling on my right leg?? Cause I know have only one ankle, and one cankle. :( CANKLE!!! Not that I am complaining, but why is it only my right leg swelling up like a balloon and not my left? Whatever. What will take it away. the swelling is on the top of my whole foot and ankle. Someone tell me something quick! Cause it looks like its gonna start swelling the baby toe! ''ISN'T THERE ANOTHER WAY?!?! HE'S JUST A BOY!!!!!" 

Part 2- Today was a very relaxed day. We stayed home, kinda just chilled. I got to write a bit. We talked all together a lot. The girls were like ''Hurry! Get your dinner, its about to start" So i ran and got my dinner and sat down in the living room and they were right IT was about to start… High School Musical 3… I almost cried, like seriously! haha They love these movies! The whole time we were watching I kept thinking, how are their 3 of these?! But whatever, Iron Man was on, and so was X-Men 3 but NOOOO they wanted High School Musical. Ha. I talked with the parents also today, we decided on a price and everything for rent and food and all that good stuff…. $40 bucks a month… I know!! So, that's good. :) I think that's it. My leg still hurts, maybe it will feel better in the morning. :) Goodnight Day 20! 

Day 19, January 28th, 2012

Day 19- Saturday, January 28th, 2012. 

My legs and feet are completely swollen. The bug bites I got a few weeks ago, have swollen up, and now every time I take a step I can feel them pounding. Yalakah said her bug bites got swollen too, but she doesn't know why…either do I. All I know is that my legs and feet are swollen and sore. Even just to wash the dirt from one day of service off, hurts like crazy. Today, I had to op for doing this weird-squat-thing/stand-on-one-leg/lean-sideways-while-on-your-tipy-toes. I did this so that my leg would go to sleep when I was in the shower that way I could wash it. It honestly hurts that bag. Normally my shoes are a little big, but the shoe on the right foot is now fitting perfectly because of the swelling of my feet. When I got out of the shower my legs were clean but the bites weren't so I had to come into my room and do my own version of a Doctor House episode. Haha! To bad I don't have the theme music for that show. Long story short I finally opened the rubbing alcohol and cotton my mom got for my first aid kit. So the rubbing alcohol, cotton, neo-sporin, a few band-aids, toilet paper, the tip of a safety pin, BiteMD, knee-highs, and 30 minutes later. My bug bites were burning, but clean and bandaged up. I hope this helps! I got a bite this morning on my right hand, in between my pointer finger and middle finger. That whole area is swollen now as well as the base of both fingers. When I make a fist you can't even see my first 2 knuckles. that's lovely! no? My arms are also swore from the bites. So my legs, feet, arms, and now hands are swollen and sore. :( BUT on a WAY more important note… I got ANOTHER Bible Study today, which makes 4 now. This new study is with an older lady named Margarita. The girls were surprised that she agreed to study and that she took the book and said I could come back whenever. I also got 2 new RVs today, one is in the indigenous language here. I think I pretty much killed the presentation though…not in a good way. But she understood at least what I was talking about. :) Another is with a family, they speak both Spanish and Gnobe, I used my new presentation with them. It went really well. After service I went to go translate for the brothers with the Neals. I think its really a good thing I am here, I can help a lot. I was there until 5:30. When I got home the family wasn't even close to making dinner so I had some left overs, showered and then came into my room to study for tomorrow. There were a lot of scriptures in this article. But I got them all noted and such so we are all good. In the morning, I will finish my study. Today, I got all my stuff from Mexico, that the Neals brought down. The phone my mom sent doesn't work. Telcel apparently locks there phones just like in the States. So I bought a chip I couldn't use. But the sister Micah said she had an extra phone she wanted to use for whoever might need it. So I am using this phone while I am down here. Its exactly like the 1st one I had in Mexico except instead of being Black and Red it is Black and Gray. Very nice, very nice. I have no idea what the country code is here but I do know my number is: 507-6386-6034… I am not standing you guys up. The numbers here are actually 11 digits, with the area code in there. Weird right?! Its 12 now, so I need to get to bed. I really want a day off to just sleep in and then go to bed early, I have been really tired lately. Sun is seemingly hotter lately. But I am probably somewhat more tired because of having swollen limbs. :( Sad and sore all around. Well since I am exhausted I am leaving it at that tonight. I can't really think about what I wanted to say. So Goodnight Day 19! (side note: Oh good! The crazy rooster next door has decided its time to wake everyone up. 'Honestly amigo, this is impossible!')

Day 18, January 27th, 2012

Day 18- Friday, January 27th, 2012.

I can no longer sleep past 7. I just woke up again on my own before 7. Its right now 6:58. I woke up at 6:50. But its actually ok because I have to do some laundry and get everything in my room ready for tonight… They are having a party and I am going in service this morning, so when I get back I am going to help everyone get ready. I am running out of stuff to wear for this kind of thing. The other day, I wanted to wear this red and white shirt I wore to Shalem's Baby Shower (❤)and I couldn't cause its to big now. It kind of looks like a bag on me now, its not even the kind of big where you can get away with it, its just to big now. I guess I should be happy about that, but that means I have one less shirt I can wear. I brought with me another button shirt, its brown and that one is to big too. 2 Shirts I know can't use. :(  Oh well. I think I might have to buy new clothes before I go back to Mexico…And I think I am the only chick that isn't super pumped to spend my money on clothes. :{ Well its past 7 now, so I need to get a move on. Oh yeah… Yesterday I created a new presentation. I am going to try it out today, I'll let you know how it goes. :) 

Part 2- So I didn't go out today…as soon as I walked into the house I saw how much stuff the family needed to do in order to be ready for tonight. Basically everything. So I stayed home and helped get everything ready. Then I came into my room I cleaned it throughly after cleaning the kitchen throughly.And then? Two words for you… Nail Art. Its crazy big here, every sister has her toe nails painted and the big nail has some sort of flower on it. So I tried it, not to bad for a first try. :) I am now considered family here. The girls introduce me as their sister. Today before lunch we were sitting around the table making the decorations for tonight, and we started making fun of each other. They really like teasing me about something, so I teased them right back. :) It was fun. We were trying to joke in code and Yorle would laugh and then be like 'Wait…What?" Haha. Made me think of Mali! I miss that lady. I think out of everyone here and am the most similar to Yorle. At least with most stuff, some stuff used to be very similar. She does crazy dance moves when she thinks no one is looking. She is the comic relief in the family. Out of everyone she is the best actress. She is basically insane. But whoooo is she stubborn when she sets her mind to something… :) Remind you of anyone? She's pretty cool! :) "If you want it to be good girl get yourself a …bad boy!" Guess what am I listening to? Haha. So I am done with everything now. I am going to go help with something else. Today I de-shelled (?) beans. There were A WHOLE BUNCH OF BEANS. At the end without the shell part there were more then 5 pounds of beans. Side note… I want to buy a machete. They are like 3 bucks here. :) But I don't have a reason to buy one. Sad. Another Side Note: I am officially out of nice clothes to wear for parties… That's also sad. I found out today there is a party in Volcan on the 4th of February. But I can't remember when the Super Bowl is. All I know is that its on Sunday. But is it the 5th or the 12th? Since I didn't think I would be able to watch it, I didn't check what day! DUMB!! Anyways, I am off to go be helpful. :) 

Part 3- Oh man! That was fun!!! I got to dance Duragngensa (I don't know how to spell it but I know how to dance it). Fun Fact: They dance THAT in Mississippi. Thats how Matt got to learn it. Crazy right?! Anyways, lots of fun tonight!! :) the Neals are here safely. It will be a challenge for them to learn the differences and everything but I think they can do it. It is now 11:25 the last people (Matt and a few others) just went home about 10 minutes ago. I have service in the morning… And I am exhausted… There is another party on Sunday apparently in Rio Sereno. We MIGHT go. But maybe not. :{ We will see. :) Good night Day 18!

Day 17, January 26th, 2012

Day 17- Thursday, January 26th, 2012

There was a boy. A very strange enchanted boy. They say he wandered very far. Very far. Over land and sea. A little shy, and sad of eye. But very wise. Was he. And then one day. A magic day. He passed my way. And we spoke of many things. Fools and Kings. this he said to me. The greatest thing. You'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return… DUN DUN DUN!!! DUN DUN DUN!!!! Guess what I am doing? He he he Thats right Amber! Watching our movie! :) I wish my live was a musical like Moulin Rouge! :) Haha. Except you know for all the stuff. ha! Anyways, today we went in service. No one went out with a car. Brother Nixxon was there so he took us to the territory. We worked out in territory until about 11:45 it took us an hour to get home. We had to wait for the bus and it wasn't going in the same route it needed too today. We all ended up siting next to the road in the grass and when we saw the buss heading down the road towards us, both me and Yorle practically threw ourselves towards it. And we both screamed, "BUUUUUUS!" Haha it was pretty funny, everyone was laughing at everyone else in our group. Then we walked about 10 minutes after we got off the bus Brother Pedro picked us up in a field and brought us home. We ate lunch. I wanted to take a shower but again no water. I don't know whats going on lately with their water. But whatever, I am able to take my showers at different time. (Honestly amigo! This is impossible!) that's what I think sometimes about the water. Haha. Well now I am going to finish my meeting preparation and then get ready for meeting. :) I have to finish my Spanish comments, make sure they are understandable. Ha! They are very understandable, don't worry. The other say I actually thought something to myself in Spanish. And then I was like 'Im a monster!!!' ha. So I guess I am becoming a more fluent speaker if I am starting to think in my second language right? :) Hope so! That's it for now. :)   

Part 2- After meeting we came back home, we had some chairs in the back of the truck so Me and Yorle took them out. Tomorrow they are having a party here for the family that is going back to Panama City on Sunday. When we got home I finally got to take a shower. Tonight the water was actually like medium temperature. It was actually a not to bad shower. :) When I finished my shower I decided I wanted a change. So Milady cut my hair a bit. Don't worry! I just got some bangs. But they look crazy awesome. Cause one of my highlights is in the bangs and its a thick one so it looks pretty awesome. :) We watched 'Combate' again on the T.V. and then I went to my room. So I am going to bed now. Goodnight Day 17! 

Day 16, January 26th, 2012

Day 16- Wednesday. January 25th, 2012

I woke up today to two women laughing there heads off out by the road. It was dark so i though maybe it was just late at night. I looked at my clock it was 6:30 A.M. The nerve! haha! I could only doze on and off after that until 7 then I got up. I went inside to help with breakfast and no one was ready for service. i though maybe I would have to go alone. But Milady decided she wanted to go also so we left the house at 8:15 In order to be there on time. Half way to the hall a truck pulled up next to us, and the driver said something to Milady she responded and then he was like ok Get in the back. And so, yeah! I got into tieback of a truck with a stranger today, Not good!! Don't worry it was Milady's cousin. :) He drove us closer to the hall, so we were like 20 minutes earlier then we thought we would be. We had to wait outside the gate until the brothers showed up for the meeting for field service. I got to work out in service today with Ruby and on my first door I got another Bible Study. Which means I now have 3 different women who want to learn more.This new ones name is Xenia (prounced: X- Sen-E-uh) She seems nice her daughter is named Daniela. So I will go back and see her next week. I left her the Bible Teach book because she seemed really interested. Ruby got a call on her 1st door also and then on her 2nd door. The others were not home. One we couldn't get to the house on time. Then me and Milady walked home, it took us probably about 45 minutes to walk home, lots of hills and such. It was hot today too, so I think I got more of a suntan. Even with using my hat, when I came home the ceiling looked like it was spinning around. So I chilled for a while. The family had gone to Volcan to buy somethings. Yorle got a call last night that she would have to work, so she left early in the morning. After resting a bit it was time to eat lunch. Then Milady said she was going to take a nap so I went back to my room and just chilled there for a while. Now its raining again. :) I love when it rains!! It smells splendid after a good rain, and the ground is a lot easier to walk on in service. So far I don't need my boots at all. They said maybe in May/June time I will need them. I got a very weird surprise today, my leg felt funny when I was eating lunch so I fixed the bottom part of my leggings on the left side. And there was a rubber-band around my leg. I have no idea how that got there at all! But whatever, so my leg was loosing circulation all day. Haha! Craziness!! It sounds really cool right now, the win is pouring down again. I wish it would stay like this for a while, but I don't want Yorle to have to walk home in this. The bus stop is about a 5 minute walk but its down a somewhat steep hill, its ind of slippery. So I think the rain would make it worse. Anyways, I am going to study for the meeting now, cause we have the meeting tomorrow. :) That's all for now. 

Part 2- 

Oh man! I am actually super glad I decided to go to the party. It was a Welcome Back/Anniversary/Nice to meet you/party. Apparently Danny had left Panama 8 years ago. He was now coming back with his wife of 3 years. And they brought friends with them. So there ya go. So why am I happy I went? 1) Panama and USA were playing soccer, and USA won, OF COURSE!! :) 2) I got to meet new people. But more importantly!! 3) I met Rob from Louisiana and Broc from Texas. Who are gonna be here for 6 months also in Volcan. Well they have internet at their house and they are going to by a projector and project the… SUPERBOWL on one of the walls. So YES, we are going to make sure that I will be able to cheer my team on! :) One way or another I will get to Volcan to watch the Superbowl! YEAH!!! :D They seem pretty cool, even if they aren't from California. :) We got home at 11:45 and then we all went to bed because we were all super tired. So that's all I got for you know. :) YAY ME! 

Day 15, January 25th, 2012

Day 15- Tuesday, January 24th, 2012. 

Today I woke up to John Legend again. :) I got dressed for service and went inside to eat breakfast. We had these cheese pancake things with a guisado of carne molida. It was different…BUT it had cheese so we are all good. We walked to the Kingdom Hall for service. And my pre-arranged-service partner didn't show. So I got to go out with Yalakah. The family from Panama City are leaving on Sunday, so after service they took me to a RV that the sister wants me to have. The girl is 18 has a baby. Her husband? … 37 years old…. YEAH! I KNOW!! Crazy! Anyways, she can't read Spanish, so she reads out of the indigenous brochure but we have the study in Spanish. I kind of miss working in English just because I can explain everything theocratic easier to people. But thats ok, I get by. The house probably has 3 rooms and at least 4 families live there. She is very receptive about the Bible, so thats good. She says she is always home, so I can come back whenever I want to. She doesn't know if she can go to the meetings, because she would have to tell her husband that she is studying the Bible and she doesn't know how he will respond. But she says she will try to go she probably lives about 20 minutes from the hall. :) Nice distance, its not to far away. Then we went to the little story where Albin was working, usually his mom, Micah works there but she wasn't there today. Maybe she isn't feeling good. :( Then we met Brother Pedro in a field and we came home with him and his workers. On our way back I got all the chismosa-ness I could probably ask for about the bus drive whose name is Damian, but everyone calls him Yo-Yo. 2 things… 1) He is probably named that, because he keeps going back and forth between his women. 2) How would one say 'Hi' to him? Yo Yo-Yo… HAHAHA!!! That one was good, you gotta admit! :) Anyways, when we got home I sat with Yorle for a bit and watched a show called 'How its Made' it was interesting. I learned Fortune Cookies did not originate in China, but in California! :) YEAH! Then I got to take my shower cause there WAS water. Then I went into my room, got my sheets of the lines and made a very nice looking bed. :) Then the family told me they were going to go do some return visits. So I stayed here, chill in. I needed some inspiration for one of my stories, SO I watched 'A Beautiful Mind' INSPIRATION ACQUIRED!! :) But I sit have a lot to copy onto my computer before I can actually start making up stuff for my story. :{ Then it started pouring down rain like nobody's biznet. So I came outside to be further inspired. I am guessing these people are family members, anyways some people showed up. Now they are sitting waiting for the family to come back, but I don't know when they will be back. So here I will wait. :) Rockin in a old person's chair, typing away. :) Wait…………………. Families back!! :D … OH!! Its the girls' half-brother! Hmm…… I'll just go to my room….  BACK IN MY ROOM! So, gonna do some writing stuff here or whatever… I don't want to get in on their family time, their brother doesn't live close… *sigh* Family :} 

Part 2- Its now 11 P.M. and I am still up!!! this is the latest I have been up in a long time! Thats weird, no? Tomorrow we will go in service and then there is a random party that we will go to at night. I have decided that it is random because it is on Wednesday…which is random…and strange… I am in the writing mood right now but I know that I need to go to sleep. Or else I won't get up in the morning. As it is I will be tired all day. I am guessing we won't be back until late tomorrow night. And then I have a Bible Study Thursday morning.. I still need to prepare for meeting too, and they didn't have family study this week so I need to study my Watchtower also. AGH! So much to do! Welp…I guess thats it… After eating dinner with the girls in front of the TV I felt super awkward cause it was there family time so I came into my room and just chilled in here. I forgot how much 'Pearl Harbor' irritates me. Now I know though, hahaha! Today as you guys can probably tell from this blog, was not a very productive day, besides service and taking a shower, and writing this…Everything else was all blah-like. Ok I gotta go to bed, I guess. Goodnight Unproductive Day 15! P.S. Someone inside the house is snoring REAL loud. I can hear it all the way in my room. HAHA!! Crazies! 

Day 14, January 23, 2012

Day 14-Monday, January 23rd, 2012.

Today I woke up to soft cold raindrops falling on my face. The ground was wet from the morning dew, but hard because it was the ground. My back hurt just a tiny bit. One of the girls in the night, went inside and slept inside. The others were still outside. All trying to stay warm with the 3 blankets that I brought out. They had hats, jackets, and scarves on, they looked pretty funny. I didn't even use my sweater last night. I got up and went and changed for the day, I had breakfast with the family, then I went to catch the bus to Rio Sereno. i got there about 9…The internet cafe wasn't open. So I decided this would be the perfect time to go exploring Rio Sereno…that took me seriously all of 8 minutes. I went back to the internet cafe but they still weren't open. So I waited for a few minutes and then the brother showed up. I got to say 'Hi' to my mom and my sister then they went in service. Which was fine, because I was going to do work anyways…Within the first 2 hours there the lights went out twice and stayed off for about 15 to 20 minutes after that. When it was on, the signal kept going in and out. Nothing internet-wise would load, it took about 30 minutes to load Gmail. So much for working, uploading pictures, updating my blog, EVERYTHING. But I DID try my best. Then I decided a bathroom would be a good idea, but the only places with bathrooms here are houses and places to eat. So… Kill 2 birds with 1 stone, right?! I had some yum food. Then I went grocery shopping for the family and myself… I bought a lot of heavy things. :( After that I talked for a little with my family and then came back home. The whole trip I couldn't help but think…man! This bus driver is REALLY cute. When an old lady had to get off the bus I was moving some bags that were on the floor and he was like "Gracias Amor" my first thoughts were. "Uh-oh! I need to get off this bus now!!" haha!! But seriously. I wanted to run all the way home, to make sure I didn't get back on the bus! But I couldn't run cause all the bags that I had. ha! Crazy Panama-ness! When I got home no was here. So for like 2 hours I tried to figure out what to do. I was going to make some food, but everything was already made so i couldn't do that. Then I was going to take a shower… No water. So I decided what better time, when there are no distractions for me to be distracted with, so… TIME TO STUDY!! I had the first couple of chapters to study in 1 Kings. And while I was reading all of a sudden I stopped and thought wait! Why did Solomon command to have Joab killed?! So instead of writing down a simple comment and moving on, I spent about an hour reading back to what happened. And then I was like ''Oh!!! THATS why!" Everything then made more sense to me. :) So I didn't get to finish my sections of researching and reading because by the time I figured out the whole story, the family was back. So I told them what I had found and half of them were like yeah… so… But the other half were like Really?! That's crazy! and I was like I know!! then we had dinner and we talked some more and we all went to bed. So with that… Good-night Day 14! 

Day 13, January 22, 2012

Day 13- Sunday, January 22nd, 2012.

Today we had meeting in the morning. I was finally able to have an ok sleep, last night. And I woke up at 6:45 and couldn't go back to sleep. So when I heard the family moving around a little inside I got up and helped make breakfast. :) After breakfast, the girls helped me make a map of Rio Sereno so that I can see exactly where I am going to go tomorrow. This way I know where everything is. We spent so much time we only had about 20 minutes before we had to leave for meeting. At meeting I was able to comment a bit, it was basically just our row of 5 and at the most 4 others commenting for the whole meeting. On our way back home we stopped at the little store of Sister Micah and we bought stuff for tonight. We came home and had lunch and then when we finished eating Yalakah and Tatiana were here. We showed them how to dance a few different songs, talked a bit, watched parts of different shows and then decided to go play volleyball outside…Did I tell you guys yet, that this family has a volley ball net? After volleyball we went and set up everything, the air mattresses and they wanted something to cover their heads at night so we put up a sheet fort. I feel like I am camping with city kids. No one brought a flash-light. One of these girls had never seen a sleeping bag, none of them knew how to use one. They all wanted to have their heads covered cause they wanted to see the stars but not at the cost of possible getting morning dew on them. Its kind of funny actually…and weird at the same time. Anyways, its now 7 and we are all putting on our PJs and are going to go outside. Its already dark, but I am guessing we will be up for a while still. We have snacks our dinner is going outside with us and games too, and we are using my flashlight, cause why? No one told anyone else to bring a flashlight. Even though everyone knew we were sleeping outside…strange city people. Haha. Oh well, tomorrow we will get up have breakfast all together and then I am going to go to Rio Sereno. This will be an interesting night for sure. I will let you know how it went tomorrow. :) Good night Day 13!! Can you believe its already Day 13?!?! I can't tomorrow will be 2 weeks!! :O A 1/24 of my trip will be over! CRAZY!!! :) 

Day 12, January 21st, 2012

Day 12- Saturday, January 21st, 2012. 

There is a bug here that is smaller then an ant. And it bites you something fierce. The bites swell to the size of Mosquito bites and they itch for longer, they can also get infected if you itch them a lot. Yesterday when we finished the territory and were waiting for the brother to come get us we sat down in the caseta. Which is like a little cement building with open air, thats where you wait for the bus. Well, apparently there were tons of those little bugs everywhere. Yari has bites all over her thighs. But I guess I lucked out! I couldn't sleep last night cause I was itch all over. I didn't go out in service because last night AGAIN I couldn't sleep. So I told the family I would't go out, and I tried to catch up on my sleep-time. I could only sleep until 10:30. Well when I got up I realized I was really itchy. I kind of just chilled around this morning. When I got up to go eat something, the family got home, there I was in the kitchen with my jams on, at least they were appropriate jams. :) I am at the point now that this shirt is even bagger then when I got here, so you can't really tell what my figure is when I wear it. Ha! At least its comfy. The family asked how I was feeling and I told them I couldn't sleep last night, and that I think there were about a million mosquitoes in my room last night. The mom asked if I had bites and I said yes I showed her my arms. And then Yari said she had bites all over her thighs. So I lifted my pant legs and there are seriously about 15 bites on each leg up until the knee. They told me about the bugs, the mom wanted to know if we sat anywhere in service. I told her we sat at the caseta. And she said that's where they must have been. So now I have to go about finding each bite and putting some stuff on 'em. I don't know what the plan is for today, but that's definitely part of it. All I know is that I am SUPER SUPER itchy on my legs and arms. :( Sadness. I am going to eat in here cause I don't feel like changing my clothes. haha. Then when I am done eating I will probably take a shower and then find each bite mark. Then I am planning to do some more studying. I have 45 sections. So i want at least 5 more by the end of today. And I need to study for my meeting too. I didn't wake up laughing today. :( I keep remembering the Indiana Jones movies where they are driving and the one guy gets swarmed by ants and they are everywhere on him, and then they take him into their ant house…sceeeeeery! But that's what I keep remembering. :( Hope that doesn't happen to me. 

Part 2- I just counted 23 bites on my left leg and 21 on my right. They stopped at the knee.  7 on my left arm and 6 on my right. So… 57 total crazy mad itch spots. There is a possibility they bit my head too cause my head itches. Crazy right?! So I really don't feel good. :( There has been a lot of dust in the air. And for about 4 hours the family today burned stuff, so my throat is hurting. and for some reason I don't have cough drops or anything for throat-hurting-ness in my kit. :( I am going to bed early tonight. Its not even 8:40 yet. But maybe I will get a good night sleep tonight. I found out also that the party isn't on Monday its on Wednesday…weird day for a party no? Anyways, its on Wednesday so I don't have to rush back home on Monday. :) I hope I feel better in the morning though. The other girls are going to come over and we are sleeping outside…I hope my throat doesn't hurt by then. Tomorrow or Monday I will do some more Bible Reading/Research but not tonight. My eyelids are heavy and I want to be able to concentrate when I do my research. I finished my Watchtower and wrote more on my thing. So I guess that's it. Until tomorrow… Goodnight Day 12!! :) 

Day 11, January 20th, 2012

Day 11- Friday, January 20th, 2012. 

I am pretty sure that was close to the worst night sleep I have ever had. :( I woke up about every 30-45 minutes and when I did sleep I had super trippy bad dreams. No bueno! Anyways, I made myself get up and go in service. And MAN! Am I glad I did. I got a return visit today! Technically a Bible Study but not gonna count it until after 3 times. I am planning on going back to see Maxima next Friday when we are out in Pacora again. She seemed VERY nice and interested. Her family was there so I got to use them as examples during my presentation. When we finally got home, the sister had lunch ready for all of us who went out in service. There were 7 of us, plus the sister, Brother Pedro, and his sister. So 10 in total and they made lunch for all of us. When we were almost done eating 4 more showed up and they fed them too. Then everyone visited for a while. I got to write a little today, I brought a few things with me. So I am typing them all out and saving them on my computer. I was SOO tired I wanted to take a nap, but i didn't cause I knew if I did I wouldn't be able to sleep tonight. So I am exhausted now. I studied some more and then went and had dinner. Like usual we all talked for a while and then tonight we watched a little T.V. Then I said I was going to my room. I finished a little more study, I know have 45 sections done of 365 for my Bible Reading/Research Project. So I am about…. 11 days in advance, I guess. I divided the amount of sections with the months I will be here. It gives me about 60 sections more or less to do each month. So I have 15 sections more to do in 11 days. That's barely nothing. I am going to work ahead. So that I can make sure I get it all done. :) Tomorrow I will do some more, I just don't know how much, because I have service and then I need to finish my Watchtower study. Today, all day I had stuck in my mind.. "Estoyyy enamoradooooo! Bla bla bla, bla bla bla, bla. Totalmente something something. Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm." :) Today was a hot day, but I didn't get burned so that's good. It was just hot. But I am super pumped that I got my new return visit. The week after next the family and Tatiana are going back to Panama City. The sister told me she wants to give me her Return Visits to see if I can start studies with them, so maybe I will have more RV's soon. :) Overall still loving it here. The family here is surprised that I am not missing a lot from back home. I told them though that when I start to miss things, I start studying something, and it takes my mind of most things. Somethings like to stay in my mind no matter what I do, but 'Se la vi' Is that how you spell that? Anyways, the Neals will be here next week so I will get a little bit of home from them. :P Other then that, with teaching a wee bit of English here and there, I am not so homesick. They asked me the other day why sometimes you use 'I' and sometimes you use 'me' and I said cause thats how your supposed to talk. :) Well, I am exhausted so I will leave you now. Oh yeah! I put my alarm to wake me up with John Legend_ Good Morning… seems to be having a good affect. I have been waking up in a good mood lately. :) Wonder why? Goodnight Day 11! :) 

Day 10, January 19th, 2012

Day 10-Thursday, January 19th, 2012

Today I made myself sleep until 8 and it was just barely at 8. Im used to getting up at 7 now. I went inside and the girls were there. We said hi and I went and got my laundry off the line. We had breakfast then I fed the chickens and then watched and laughed at the girls as they tried to wash their dogs. I swept off the patio when they were done and then I came into my room and started studying for the meeting. Then I did a few chapters of personal study. Then I went back in for lunch, after lunch and 'McGyver' I took a show and came back in my room. I have 10 sections of the Bible Reading done. If I was here for a year and wanted to have it all done by the time I went back home, I would be right on schedule. BUT I am only here for 6 months not 12, so I need to step it up. I have about an hour and a half until meeting, so I am going to try and get another few sections done. :) Then I will get ready for the meeting, then we will leave. Today I started laughing out loud, I was seriously LOL-ing. Cause I remembered this one time me and Carmen were watching 'Little House on the Prarie' and Mary was running into the barn and she had the little one by one hand… way was her name?? CARRIE!! She had Carrie and was running while holding one of her hands. And then all of a sudden BAM!! Carrie did a straight up face plant into the ground! Her legs like seriously flew up and WHAM! Fast first…We laughed for like 30 minutes over that, cause we kept rewinding it and then we zoomed in and watched it in slow motion! Hahahaha!!! You remember that Carin? (And YES!! I just wore Carin!.. PITTMANS!!) :) Ok I gotta do some more study. i will talk more when I get back from meeting. 

Part 2- Well its time for bed now… after meeting we came home early because Brother Pedro had to go get the workers from the field and he tomatoes. We each went and got changed in our rooms. Their aunt is here from Panama City so they were visiting with her. I finished putting away my clothes and did a little exercise in my room. :) I am excited for Sunday. After the meeting we will come back with the girls from the route and we will camp outside for the night. Then in the morning they will go do their thing and I will go to Rio Sereno. They said I can't take too long though because there is another party this weekend in… Santa Clara. We are all invited and I HAVE to go to this party. So I guess thats what I will be doing Monday afternoon. I just need to figure out what time they are planning on leaving. Tonight on my way into my room I found a second HUGE long spider, it was on the front door. They killed it… These spiders aren't tarantulas at least but they are the color of the lighter scorpions and they are long and some-what skinny. But they look pretty much like aliens. If I die here it will probably bee cause they are aliens and they will probably eat my brain. Who knows! I don't plan on it though, dying I mean. Aliens eating my brain…maybe, You never know. Anyways, it was a pretty good day today. I had my first snack from my stash pack. Since I bought it I hadn't eaten anything from it, so today I had 5 chips from my Pizza Pringles. You guys remember Pizza Pringles? YUM! I got a good amount done on my Bible Reading and research list. I know have 22 sections read and researched out of 365. So I am one day ahead of schedule. :) Tomorrow I want to get in a few more as well. My goal is when I go back home, not only to have the whole Bible read but also have a Bible Highlights comment for each chapter, written there in my Bible. :) So far so good. I have read and Bible-Highlight-ed 65 chapters of the Bible in… 10 days not bad, not bad. :) I have a bit more to do but I am pretty impressed that I have done this much so far. Congratulations self! You make yourself proud!! Haha. :P Anyways, its 10 and I am tired and tomorrow I don't get to sleep in, up at 7. So Goodnight Day 10! 

Day 9, January 18th, 2012

Day 9- Wednesday, January 18th, 2012

I woke up this morning at like 6 in the morning. It was still dark outside but the dogs were barking like crazy! It was freezing!!! I wanted to out more clothes on but then I realized I would have to leave the warmness of my blanket and I decided to NOT get up. Yup, I was lazy! now its 7:10 and the family is starting to move around inside. I want to wear lots of warm stuff, but my guess is that it will be cold only for a little and then I will have to carry my sweater around all day. But I don't care. Today is my laundry day so when I get back home from service I will do my laundry. Let's see if I can figure out the wash machine. I also need to study for the meeting today. But before all of that I have to lave the warmness of my blanket and sheets… :( I don't wanna. 

Part 2- After service with Yole (Yorlenia) and Tatiana we came home and I helped a good amount with lunch. Then Milady and Tatiana went to Rio Sereno. Me and Yole stayed home because we needed to do laundry. Brother Pedro stayed also to study a little for the meeting then he left to do a study in Monte Lirio. Yari (Yariani) and the mom went from the early morning and didn't get back until 5. When I was finishing my laundry and Yole was starting hers we talked again, we both decided we are going to enjoy these 6 months. We laughed a lot because we were both really worried about each other before we met. Ha! :) After laundry she started talking on the phone to get ready for tomorrow's meeting, and I went into my room and rested a bit by watching a good ol' sad movie. Then Yari and their mom got home and we had dinner. We visited some more and then we went through the music we had and I made Yari a CD of the ones she wanted. I am guilty of making another Usher and Ne-Yo fan! :) NAILED IT! Now we are doing some translation things from English to Spanish. I have a HUGE amount of music requests so when I go back to the internet I need to get a good amount of songs for them. Thats the other thing! I found out today that everyone is planning on going to the river on Monday and then they are going to go play soccer after. :( I wish I knew that before! But thats ok, Monday is my family day. :) Oh the sacrifices!! haha! :D I am sure we can make plans to go to the lake a different time in the 6 months I will be here. So no pressure we got lots of time. Tomorrow none of us are going out in service, cause so far no one has studied anything for the meeting. And the meeting is at 4p.m. tomorrow's meeting for field service is in San Antonio arriba which is a ways away. So we wouldn't get back to the house until about 1 maybe then make lunch and eat it together puts us at around 2. We have to leave for the meeting at 3:30. So we wouldn't have time to prepare thoroughly. So tomorrow we will stay home to be ready to comment at the meeting. :) So until tomorrow, I got nothing else of interest to say. So…. Goodnight Day 9! :) 

Day 8 - January 17th, 2012

Day 8- Tuesday, January  17th, 2012.

Nope I woke up the same, sore and laughing. But who knows why. :) But at least my dreams are interesting. I think my subconscious wants me to be entertained. Entonces bueno! :) Today we went in service in the morning, we walked there again. But I was prepared this time!! :) I had a hat, band-aids on my blisters, leggings, and a shirt that covered my arms. :) So all good here. We got back about an hour ago and ate together. Then they said that they were going to go rest and we will go at 3 again for some returns. So, Imma chill here for about another hour and then we will go. :) So far so good, I am drinking lots of water here. Tomorrow will be a service day, but Wednesday's will also be my day to wash clothes so I will have more to do tomorrow. :) My first door, the lady was really nice. She was interested but she said she would have lots of problems if he husband caught her with the literature so she couldn't take anything. So we talked a bit and then we left. We walked more and then got into the truck and drove for a bit and then he would drop us at a door then we would meet up with them and drive some more. :) I think we maybe finished that territory maybe. Me and Milady were partners today, we went up to this one house, the strong wind we have been having lately had knocked down a good part of the porch area. And there were 4 little boys there, there mom wasn't there. They were indigenous and obviously very badly taken care of. One didn't have any clothes and another only had a shirt on, no diaper no anything. They were covered in dirt and other stuff, all of them really needed a good meal and a good bath. The dogs there were really dirty, so some of the flies were on the little kids. They had cuts everywhere, no shoes, and there was a few machetes just lying around. There mom had gone to town before the sun went up and they didn't know when she would be back, so they were waiting there for her to come back and make food. I felt really bad for them. :( Me and Milady crouched down and we read them Jehovah's name in the Bible and showed them the, 'You can be God's friend' brochure. They didn't know how to read so we explained the cover picture to them, and told them that soon the whole world would be a better place to grow up in. We said no one would get sick, or get hurt, no one would die. One of the little boys smiled when we told him that. We left them with a tract about the paradise. They said they couldn't read, and their mom either. But their dad could read a little. Maybe he will read them the tract, hopefully. We met with the other girls after that and they explained that here the indigenous women don't take care of their kids. They said sometimes the mom will leave and be gone all day, so the kids won't eat all day. And some of the women will take a rope and tie one end around the baby and tie the other end around the oldest one, that way they don't lose the baby when she is gone. Today when we past an indigenous family the dad was holding a baby, in between the dad and the mom were too tiny little kids walking and the mom had another baby in a bag, that looked like a mesh bag for the gym. She had it closed and on the top of the bag there was a really long piece of material which she had on her forehead. And there was the baby in the mesh bag. It wasn't even on the mom's back just held on by the curve of her forehead. If she lifted her head even a centimeter higher the bag with the baby in it would have fallen down the hill. I don't understand how they can do that. The parents are for the most part clean all the time and the babies always dirty. It's sad. The only thing I can think when I see that, is that I hope in the paradise they can have better circumstances and a better knowledge of cleanliness. Poor babies. Milady said most of the time the children of the indigenous are always sick because they aren't taken care of very well. Its sad really. I hope Jehovah can help that family, both families actually. 

Part 2--

The family went out to do some studies this afternoon at 3. I stayed home and took a shower, it was a GREAT! idea to shower in the afternoon. The water isn't as cold cause your body temperature is high. After that I did some personal study and then the family got home. We did family study, preparing the Watchtower, we didn't finish before dark though. So we stopped after one hour. And the it was time to make dinner. After we ate I showed the girls my pictures of Queretaro and of my friends there. Then I showed them 'El Sonido' the Mexican version. I recorded them dancing… I think I have created 3 dance monsters haha…It was pretty funny. Then I took pictures of them with their faces all crazy. They laughed a lot. Then we went to bed. Its windy tonight and humid. Good night Day 8! 

Day 7- January 16th, 2012

Day 7- Monday, January 16th, 2012.

DAY 7, ALREADY!! That seems pretty crazy. Last night, was so windy, it woke me up. I had to close all my windows. Then in the morning I woke up laughing, but I don't know why. Haha. when I tried to remember I couldn't think of anything that would have made me laugh so much to wake me up. All I could remember is that in my dream I was campin with my buddies from Queretaro, and we were laughing at Bob I think. Haha! Who knows. Anyways, I got up put some music on and straightened my room from the wind last night. Today I am going to Rio Sereno to check in with the family, re-load my stash bag, and look around. :) I am going to leave in about 45 minutes or an hour. I haven't decided yet. It takes about 30 to 45 minutes to get to Rio Sereno from the house. Which if I left in an hour would put me close to… 1 o'clock. And I am supposed to talk with my family around 1:30 their time. Which would be about 2:30 my time. So that would give me some time to explore a bit. Walk in Costa Rica for a spell. Do somethings online. I really should have brought my phone. The family is a little worried because I don't have one. Which is not good. Matthew told me that right now they are having a deal that you pay $2.00 USD and you get your chip and 100 minutes. Can you believe that?! CRAZY!! thats mad cheap! Anyways, maybe I can get my family to send me a phone down with the Neals. But I need a charger too, hmm… I don't know we will see. I think I am going to make a Youtube account only for the videos of here in Panama. :) I will let you guys know if I do. I found out that this family has a little piggie. When I saw him I started on the "this little pig went to market" but then I stopped and thought…' Thats a kids song?! Its says a piggie went to market! As in meat market, probably. That's sad." haha…so I fed him a nibble of my food and went back inside. FACT! Boiled Bananas taste EXACTLY like boiled potatoes! Weird right?! I learned this today, when Milady asked me if I wanted boiled bananas. And I thought… I don't know…Do I? I still can't get over how beautiful everything here is. Last night I asked the girls what they thought of the stars. And they said literally… "The stars?! Oh…the stars…Uhh yeah they are ok." Again I was like :O So I told them A la mejor if they go to a big city where you can't see the stars when they went back home they would think they were beautiful. they said They are used to the stars so they aren't really amazing to them anymore. Again :O The sky here is always so beautiful. This is, I think, what the earth will look like in paradise. BEAUTIFUL!! Well I know have 30 or 45 minutes before I need to leave… *sigh* Life here is so calm, I am not used to it. I think that 6 months will go by somewhat fast, for me anyway. Cause its already been a week and it doesn't feel like it. We will see. Oh yeah. My burn was only a burn for a day when I woke up the next morning it was a nice tan. o I am already a little darker then when I first came here. :) Here at the kingdom hall they have a box that says its for the New Assembly Hall Project. Ideas! 

I wish I could have fit my running shoes into my bag. Instad i have a bunch of sweater-like-shirts and a pair of hiking boots that I don't think I will ever need here. They say that in March the rainy season starts and things can get muddy. But they still use their regular chanclas. So, so much for that. Apparently it doesn't get any more humid though, which is nice. So my full assignment is 175 days… Well now I only have 168 left!! Haha. 

Part 2-

After going to the internet cafe and talking with my family, I took a little walk in Rio Sereno. I went to a few stores to find some things, including re-filling my stash bag. then I walked to Costa Rica… that sounds so weird to me… And bought a few things, I found some sandals that I will try wearing for service. I CONQUERED and found a razor!!! :) But in Mexico we use the word Rastrillo for Razor, when I asked the lady here she took me to the rakes for the garden. Ad I said no one for your legs and she goes 'A rake for your legs?!' So I had to describe exactly what razors do, and she had no idea. But someone else there, knew what I was talking about and said 'Prestobarba' apparently that is the named for them here. But they didn't sell them there so I went to a different store and bought one. :) Then I walked back to take a bus back to Monte Lirio, the guy at the bus said that they would leave to go back to Monte Lirio at 6:30. I got on the bus at 6. So at about 6:40 they started the bus but instead of going to Monte Lirio they went in circles in Rio Sereno looking for people who might want to take the bus. 6:30 is apparently the last bus out. I finally got dropped off at the Caseta (bus stop) and it was almost dark. the girls came to walk with me back to the house, with a flashlight. But I told them that next week the Neals are bringing me a phone, so they are relived that I will have a phone soon. Next time I will take my flash light just in case. :) It was altogether a nice day. We were about to have dinner and the girls said lets get our dinner and eat in the living room, because their favorite movie was on. So I said ok, guess what movie… HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL!! I was like Gob, "COME ON!" oh well though, so I sat there and we made fun of the movie a little. After we watched the movie, they wanted to know my story. So that took a while, at the end of my story the youngest had tears in her eyes. And the middle one was like. "Im older then you, and you have gone through SOO much more then all of us…more then my parents even." Their expressions were pretty funny. But now they know me and I know them. I don't think we will have any problems when I am here, they are pretty cool. And apparently they are very happy I am here with them, and they seem to like me, so no worries here. :) Then we went to bed. For the last two nights I have had dreams that I was in like an action movie and I wake up tired and sore oh and laughing for some reason…weird no? Anyways, hopefully tonight will be different. Good night! 

Day 6- Sunday, January 15th, 2012

Day 6- Sunday, January 15th, 2012. 

I woke up a few times last night and early this morning from noise. Half of the people left last night I guess. So I was only the 9th wheel this time, HEY! Its better then the 15th! :) We had breakfast and got ready for meeting, I took a video, but had to stop close to the end because we stopped at the bus stop and let out 3 of the other wheels. Then I continued on with the video for about 30 more seconds. :) We had our meeting, lot of people there, they had to pull out extra chairs just to fit in everyone. Someone told me I sound a little like I am from Panama. At the end of their words and sentences they go an octave higher, it kind of sounds like Italian in that aspect, but with its own little twist. Apparently I am starting to do that. Weird… my Spanish is going to be even crazier now. Haha! After meeting we came home and had lunch and then they said we had to leave at 3 to go to Volcan. So we got ready. Getting ready for me here consists of me putting on a pair of of clothes and a my only pair of rec. shoes… Vans High-Tops! :) Then I'm ready. I decided though to go all out and wear the one pair of dangely earrings I brought with me. :) Going all out for these chumps. ha! Then we got into the back of the truck and headed off, we stopped at the paved road because its not legal to have people in the back of trucks so me and two of the girls waited behind for Brother Nixon. Although I am pretty sure putting people in the back of a truck would be the same amount of illegal-ness as the 7 we put in his car. But no judgement. :) We finally got there after about an hour of curves and it was cold! No one brought there jackets and so everyone was freezing. I brought my jacket but it wasn't cold enough for a jacket. They separated all of us, the pioneers on the route on one side and the publishers of the congregations on the other. There are three different congregations here in this circuit. Monte Lirio, Rio Sereno, and Boqueron. Finally they had all of us, route-ers, walk in and they had a standing ovation for all of us. We sat down and brother David Ruedas from Boqueron took the microphone and told everyone that these were all the pioneers that came to their circuit. And they applauded again. He said that he knew everyone was early grateful for all of our sacrifices and that already in all three congregations you could see the difference in the territories covered. (Side Note: In Monte Lirio, we cover a territory in about 2 days MAX) He said that the circuit overseer also wanted to say a few words, so the mic was passed and the C.O. went about saying how much he appreciated it as well. And how he just knew Jehovah was going to reward us for being here, and leaving everything and everyone behind, wherever it is that behind might be for all of us. Then Brother Ruedas got back up and said they all wished they could get to know all of us better and see they were going to. They called up all those from Rio Sereno and had each pioneer say a few words. Then they had one of the elders from there say a few things. And Brother Ruedas said that they had a present for each of the pioneers. They brought each family a wooden plack that says 'Ruta de Precursores Panama 2012' (Pioneer Route Panama 2012) then they gave them a little treat bag. Then some pictures were taken and they sat back down. Then DUN DUN DUN They called up Monte Lirio. And they made me go in front. >:{ But it was good. I said…

"Hola, Soy Margarita. Vengo de la congregacion Queretaro Sur Ingles de Mexico. Circuito 5…quesas 6…no 5….ay no me recuerdo (they laughed at me). Baptiso hace 6 anos, y casi 2 anos de precusora. Es mi primera ruta, y estoy muy emocionado para estar aqui, parte de la congregacion de Monte Lirio. Gracias a todos de abrir tu congregacion y Muchisimos Gracias a la familia Miranda de abrir tu casa para mi." Then I passed the Mic… for my English buddies… (Hello, My name is Margarita. I am from the congregation Queretaro South English of Mexico. Circuit 5…well maybe 6…no 5…ah! I don't remember (they laughed at me). I got baptized 6 years ago and I have 2 years of being a pioneer. This is my first route and I am very excited to be here, part of the Monte Lirio congregation. Thank you for opening your congregation and lots of Thank Yous to the Miranda Family for opening your house for me." Ta-da! Then everyone else said something, and they gave us our placks and snack bags (Guess where mine is going?… Thats right, baby! My stash bag!) Then Brother Nixon said a few words and we took some pictures and sat back down, the same thing for those from Rio Sereno were next. Then once we all got back to our seats. We took a group picture with all the Pioneers on the route in this circuit. Then they said they had a surprise for all of us. So we all sat back down. They brought out Nix Jr. and Madeline and they danced too traditional dances for us. Then we ate some food… the meat part I am not really sure what it was. Then they brought out a group from who knows where and they danced like 5 traditional dances. There is a huge group here from Mexico, and one of them is a dance teacher in Dolores Hidalgo and so the ones that knew danced 2 traditional songs from Mexico. And then they said they had some dessert for us. So we ate it… Again I don't know what it was. Then they said that's all they had prepared for us, so for the next bit we could all visit and get to know each other and dance. They put music on and some people started to dance. 

Nixon's daughter, Madeline (who is like 6 and all into romantic prince and princess stories) came up and sat next to me and she said in Spanish "Why aren't you dancing?" 

"Uhhh….well…. I am waiting for my knight in shining armor." 

"Really?! Well where is he?" 

"I don't know, probably in Mexico still." 

"Why didn't he come with you to Monte Lirio?!" 

"Well… he had to work, he is a very busy prince." 

"Oh…"she said all sad. "well maybe he is on his way, and you don't know it."

 "I don't think so." I laughed. Then one of the girls told me lets dance. And so I left. When I came back she said "I called your prince in shining armor, he says he misses you. And he wants you to come back home." 

"Well, I am not going back to Mexico until July 3rd. So he will have to wait for 6 months."

"He said he would wait for you. but he does miss you a lot. Maybe you should call him"

"I don't have a phone."

"Oh…well. He will wait for you in Mexico. And he has a surprise for you! But I can't tell you what it is right now." This little girl is pretty funny! :D

Oh yeah I forgot to say I SAW A WHITE DUDE!!!! :O His name is Matthew and he is from Louisiana he has been here for 3 years and is in Rio Sereno. AND!!! He speaks English!!! He dances pretty good too. But yeah he is 'pretty fly for a white guy.' Who knows maybe we will hang out, maybe not. Anyways, then…oh yeah! They put on the alarm clock song and I showed everyone how to dance to it. But MAN!! Its a lot harder to dance to it here in Panama. Its like we are up in the mountains and the temperature and humidity is different or something. :) haha. Anyways, I showed them and they want to know more dances that we do in Mexico. So I have the job of being the official English teacher and then also dance teacher I guess. But Imma only show them the ones that are in a line and you can't mess up. :) Those are the ones I am the best at! When we were driving back with Nixon and the family again 7 in a car meant for 5. Ruby said she wanted to get a few people together to learn how to dance traditional stuff from Panama and wanted to know if we would be up for it. Me and Yorlenia said we would so they tried to make a list of everyone that could do it. Ruby was like well Alvin can dance with Yorlenia and Mateo can dance with este Margarita, por que tienen casi la misma hombre. Y Milady puede bailar con ______. She went about making a list of 5 different couples to dance together. So hopefully!! HOPEFULLY! I can learn some traditional dance moves from Panama! :) Wouldn't that be awesome!!! Then when we got off the main road onto the dirt road, Brother Miranda was waiting and we got into the bad of the truck. We stopped about half way to the house and he yelled "Aqui!" and the girls took the garbage bags that where in the back of the truck and threw them over the side of the hill. I was like DAH!! What are you doing?! And they said this is where we dump our garbage. and My facial expression was probably extremely crazy, good thing it was dark! We talked a lot on the way back home. I convinced them to sleep outside one of these nights, cause the stars here are amazing! They have NEVER slept outside before… I think thats a sign they are crazy. But I finally convinced them too. Yorlenia is afraid to sleep outside at night. She was like what about the dogs? They are gonna wanna sleep with us. And I said so? She agreed to do it if she could sleep in the middle of all of us. I said that would be best that way when something came to eat me and her sisters she would have time to run inside. Hahaha! Anyways, one of these days we are going to camp outside. :) They told me they are glad I came here and I am staying with them instead of going back to the States and do other things. :) More peoples approval. :D When we got home no one even said Good-Night to each other. Everyone just went to bed. :) So good night! 

Day 5-Saturday, January 14th, 2012

Day 5- Saturday January 14th, 2012

I woke up today with a crazy rash around my neck…my sister's necklace that she let me use cause I couldn't find mine, is apparently giving me an allergic reaction. This is NOT good since I always have a necklace and its kind of like the thing I need to have with me at all times. Nervous tick…maybe, yeah. Either way when I came to Panama I couldn't find for some crazy reason my necklace so my sister let me use a random old chain that she had and I put a pendent on it. Well I have a very itchy rash now. :( Last night I didn't sleep good, there were about a billion bugs in my room. And it was cold at night. And I don't have but one blanket and like 2 sheets. I was contemplating putting my huge jacket on and pants, but I didn't either way I woke up a few times. :( Definitely something I DO miss from Mexico and the States for that matter is the Hot water. Another ice cold shower. :( 

Part 2 --After Service--

I want that ice cold shower now. I seriously have never sweated as much during service as I do here. And its not just me…EVERYONE that went out today is all sweaty and gross. The whole hall. And I brought sweater-shirts and jackets and boots and high socks. HA!! Well they say that in like a month or two it will be very muddy and cold because it will rain. So… I will be ready when the cold weather comes until then tho. Tssss!! (if you don't understand that sound, ask someone from the Queretaro Sur Ingles hall. They will tell you. And man! My feet are burning! I seriously made walked through 5 different blisters on my feet, today. WALKED THROUGH 5!! Then with all the dust I got dirt in them so I have to wash them… :( Thats gonna hurt something fierce! Plus I forgot to put on my leggings today. Ladies what do you get when your walking in humidity for a long period of time and you don't have leggings or shorts on? … EXACTLY!! And let me just saw Oww!! I drank all of my water-bottle fast and didn't have anymore water for about the last 45 minutes of service. But now not so painful news…. I placed magazines at the first door. bug the guy fue un creepy so I will probably not go back alone. Good news is I didn't completely butcher my first real Spanish door in over 9 years. Congratulations to me! :D I worked today with a sister named Tatiana. Pero MUY Fresa!  She critiqued me on everything and I almost used Sandy's "Ay no!" But I didn't. She is also on the route here but from Panama City. Thats where everyone else on the route is from, in this hall. They said that I have traveled the furthest and am staying the longest. So I will probably have lots of studies by the time I leave…. I said ok. :) I am supposed to drink 3 of my water bottles each day… I see no reason why that won't happen. Oh! I found Cashews here!! :) We passed by 3 little creeks today and I wanted to pull a 'Gerber' and just JUMP IN! If Anja Eklund was here we would have, skirts and all!  :) Thankfully now though I am finally cooling off. Luckily, I don't sweat as much as the other brothers and sisters BUT my face gets red. I guess its either or. I didn't take my hat today and I have a huge headache now. :( I didn't get to use my presentation today either  but I did say "Natore!" So a lady she smiled and walked away…I think she spoke only Spanish. Oh well, I tried! Tomorrow we have our meeting and the Welcome Party. Then Monday no one goes out in service so I will take the bus to Rio Sereno and talk with my family. Then I will walk to Costa Rica and look for a razor. Again! I don't understand why shaving you legs isn't done here…its weird no? the indigenous people tend to live all together in what they call here "Campos Indigenous" which is Indigenous camps. It took like one semi long building, with a tin roof and about 10 different doors. Each door is like a little house but its one room. They eat together in the yard, cooking from a pit. And their bathroom is away from the house. So their "houses" are really just bedrooms. No windows just the door. Their babies crawl around in the dirt and mud and today I saw one baby napping with the dogs in the grass. There brooms are large branches cut off of trees and they rap weeds to one side and tie them on with plastic. That's the broom they use to sweep away extra dust from their house. Their children's hair is matted and stuck to their necks and faces from sweat. The little faces, hands, and feet are filthy, and they play with pieces of garbage and trash as toys. The husbands go off and work in the cities and bring home the money. The wives stay home and take care of the house and children. The wives are timid, they don't like talking to people they don't know. And when we walk up to us they have fear in their eyes as if we might do something to them and their children. But once we explain we are there to talk to them about God and the Bible their whole countinence changes. They KNOW then that we are not there to hurt them but are there to help them. The sisters here say that it takes them a while to become more open and not so suspicious of our activity. IF their husbands are home they won't talk to us. They know their husbands might say no, so picking up on the facial expressions and body language of these women is very important. We really have to use discernment here, since we don't want to cause problems for them. The Panamanians are very amables. They will invite you in to sit. If you stay long talking with them and they are interested they will invite you to eat with them, and talk more after. But again, many women here will not talk much when their husbands are home. The women here live in fear of their husbands, its very sad. Its very rare they say that the husbands have problems with their wives learning about God. Very rare. But the wives are still VERY cautious they don't want to make waves and either do we so we respect their space. 

Today we have our first official English class. We have decided to start with a welcome for the Neals when they get here. Even Milady who can't hear is trying to learn some English. She doesn't know it at all, but she inspires me to keep trying. Can you imagine being deaf in a voice congregation and being able to pioneer?! I can't I think I would give up and go to a sign hall, but she works hard to read lips and facial expressions. She can have a full on conversation with anyone. You just have to make sure to unnunsiate your words properly and she understands, and will respond back. She is a very happy person, always smiling as if nothing in her life has ever gone wrong or been messed up. She is a great example, and an amazing asset to this hall I believe. :) Im seriously considering changing my bath schedule to the afternoons after service. Wouldn't that be a quick way to cool down? After walking in humidity and heat for the morning and you come home and almost get hypothermia from the water… I think so! :) I have to remember when I go into Rio Sereno that I need to try and find an Optical shop. The hinge in my sunglasses from Itzel fell out. :{ And good luck finding that tiny thing here! If their isn't an Optical shop here then I will ask Brother Nixon if I can go with them to pick up the Neals in David. They will have a shop there…I also want to go pick up the Neals. :) Win-Win-WIN!! I have a small stash of goodies here in my room for when I am for instance: writing in my blog, watching a movie or show, studying for the meeting, writing a story… Just a small stash, but I am running low on rations seeing as I didn't have barely anything at the beginning. So in Rio Sereno Imma buy more Stash-Rations. :) I don't want anything like chocolate cause that will melt. Hmm any ideas? So far everything is good. People are amazed at my English skills. :) So I guess thats good. Tomorrow is the welcome party where apparently we will dance…they dance traditional music here which I will be totally lost for, :P Oh well. So far that's it. I think I am going to be a bum and take a little power nap. We will see… Day 5 to be continued…

Part 3--After Dinner--

So… you know how I said I wanted to come back a different darker color? Well, its not brown…its red. DARK MEAN RED! Oh yeah AND I got heat stroke. I'm so tired! But I am not sure if me being tired is worse then my HUGE headache, or if my head hurts worse then my crazy sun burn, or my burn hurts worse then my necklace rash, or if my necklace rash hurts worse then my blistered feet, or if my blistered feet are worse then my nauseous-ness, or if my nauseous-ness is worse then my legs, or if …nope never mind that its. :) YAY!! Happiness! :)  Anyways, unexpected visitors came to the families house today. Its awkward everyone knows everyone and Im like the 5th wheel…well….in this case I am like the… 15th wheel…yeah its THAT awkward.  I am not sure if I should be happy I have heat stroke cause I get to use it as an excuse to go to my room. :) Don't worry the dishes are done, I did them all. YES! For 15 wheels…people. :) DAH! My head hurts so bad. Oh well. *sigh* Once I go to sleep it won't be so bad…but I have to study now…in Spanish! That will take a while. AND I still have my Bible reading for today. Good thing that is in English, or else my brain might explode. :{ I would very much like to show and just wash today off, but HA! No hot-water so not happening until tomorrow. Also I think that maybe Panamanians are LOUDER then Mexicans….yeah I am pretty sure that is true. I want to go explore. SHANNON MILLER! Where are ya when I need ya?! Come explore at night with me in Panama…actually no thats not a good idea. We have panthers up here in Monte Lirio. And the other day the dogs were barking like crazy cause there was a panther outside. Scerrrrry no? Nah! Anyways, all is bueno. Sure having a HUGE headache, crazy mean sunburn, necklace rash, blistered feet, nauseous-ness, leg hurt-age, 15th wheel-ness, panther-ness, and loud Panamanian-ness isn't IDEAL. BUT whose it for? Jehovah! So onward! Bring on all the HUGE headaches, crazy mean sunburns, necklace rashes, blistered feets (this shouldn't have an 's' right?), leg hur-age, 15th wheel-ness, panther-ness, and loud Panamanian-ness, I can take it! :) This whole trip is a privilege so I guess all this is too when you look at the big picture no? So… Thank you?? Meh what the heck, THANK YOU for letting me have all this WHEN I am on a mini-missionary tour of my own in Panama!! :) When you look at the big picture its not all bad. :) And it all can be taken care of :) HUGE headache,nauseous-ness, and heat stroke-ness can be dealt with, with A HAT! Necklace rash…DON'T WEAR THE NECKLACE YOUR SIS GAVE YOU :(,  Bistered feet?! …answer pending…, e.g. hurt-age… LEGGINGS! …. 15th wheel-ness… GET TO KNOW THE OTHE 14 WHEELS! Panther-ness…DON'T GO OUTSIDE AT NIGHT! oh and shut your door!, loud Panamanian-ness? … EMBRACE THE CULTURE!! :D Ta-da! Solved! Except the feet… We will worry about that later…as in Tuesday when I go back out in service. NO!! Tomorrow for meeting. Hmmm…. KNEE-HIGHS!  Ha! beat that Sherlock! 

Oh gross the kids outside are hocking luggies. I want to yell out the window "Have you no shame?!" But 1) That would be rude. 2) They wouldn't understand me. 3) That would be really rude! The heathens!  :( Why is everything SOO loud?!?! And why are there so many scriptures in the Watchtower? Oh wait I guess there are only 17… Hmm… but they are in Spanish. Which is probably why they look like at least double. :{ Yeah…thats probably it. Watchtower excerpt paragraph 3: "At God's invitation, Margarita Palacios gave up the comforts of the city life of Queretaro of the Mexicans and accepted the challenges of living as a nomad in a foreign land." Wait… I don't think I read that right…or did I? :)

That Watchtower wasn't to difficult to do…but I am saving the scriptures for the morning cause my brian feels like its about to explode. And Im so tired, and itchy, and ow!! :( Tomorrow is our welcome party.  Do you think I could go in jammies? Cause I really want to. Oh yeah! I am going to empty my camera and try and see if I can make a video of the whole trip to the kingdom Hall. :) We will see if my camera space lasts. :) I hope so. Ok now time for bed. My head is throbbing! Side note: Today I saw a monkey. :) … OH NO!! My stash bag…its moving! Something is eating my stash! ..False alarm that wasn't my stash bag. :) The stash is still safe! :)

Day 4- Friday, January 13th, 2012

Day 4- Friday January 13th, 2012

Today I woke up at around 7-ish straightened my room. And got once again appropriate before leaving my room to eat breakfast. Todays' breakfast was simple but good. Rice with beans, those weird cheese pancake things. and coffee. I did my text and read 4 chapters of the Bible. My goal is to read the whole Bible in 6 months…Lets see if I can do it. I will read another portion of the Bible tonight before lights out. The girls said we needed to be ready to leave at 8:15…we didn't leave until 8:30 so Brother Pedro took us half way there. We walked through a few beautiful fields and then out to the main road and down to the kingdom hall. I am learning my way around here pretty fast, which surprises me because all I have to base everything on is forks in the road that for the most part all look the same. Pero bueno asi es. I took some nice pictures while walking through the field. I hd plans with the Quintero family today in service. Nixon, Ruby, Nixon Jr., and Madeline. We went to Rio Sereno to do some things and then back to Monte Lirio to do some returns. They knew I wanted to talk with my mom so offered for me to go with them, there is internet in Rio Sereno, so I said yet. But before the internet we went to this school. Nix Jr. and Madeline are learning a traditional Panamanian dance for Sunday. Apprently they are making a party on Sunday for all the new arrivals from the route. So the kids are learning a dance. No offense Panama, but your dances are kinda lame. There dance is called: Viva Panama. And the whole time Im thinking Psh! Viva Mexico! Our dances our cooler. :) Then I went to the internet and they went to the barber. 3 hours I spent talking with my family today and paid…. $3 American dollars, for 3 hours!! :O i know!! Crazy cheap. Then the brother said he had some stuff to buy, so guess where we went. The internet cafe in Rio Sereno is seriously one block away from… Costa Rica. So I walked into Costa Rica today to go to the store. Even though we crossed the border we didn't have to show passport or anything apparently they check farther into Costa Rica not on the actually border. But either way I get to say I went to Costa Rica. :) And guess what I found!! SHAMPOO!!! Lo siento hermanos peru si boy a gastar me dinero en shampoo! For the time being anyways, maybe later I won't. I have yet to find a razor here, apparently the women here do not think it necessary to shave their legs. so…. yikes! Is all Imma say. I however WILL be shaving, thank you very much! I also got a few other basics my own soap, toothpaste, did I mention SHAMPOO!!! :D oh and gum because that is necessary for me to survive…seriously1 I need Chickle! Anyways, when we came back to Monte Lirio we did two return visits and then they brought me back home. They pointed out on the high road where the land of the family I am staying with is. And DANNNNG!! Its a huge piece of land. They also showed me where I can take a bus to Rio Sereno and get dropped off. I guess here Mondays no one goes out at all. That is everyones free day, so on Mondays I will go to Rio Sereno on the bus to talk with my family. :) Not to bad. And so everyone Monday I will also step into Costa Rica. use to say I did it. :) Lets see what else… Oh yeah! I am now going to teach the girls English, so that when the Neals get here they can communicate with them in English. Then closer to the time I leave we are going to go to an English meeting and I will give them comments. I can't believe its Friday already!  I have been in Panama for 4 days now! Granted almost all of that was travel and then sleep but still 4 days! Tomorrow we will go in service again! I am excited hoping to use my indigenous presentation! :) This is it…

Nantore (Hello)

Mo tea no? (How are you?)

Tico Margarita (My name is Margarita)

Mocono? (What is your name?)

Me dare nida kugue drier. (today we are preaching.)

Ti torba note bilbliaboto, juan 17:3 toner. (I want to read to you John 17:3) {The title of the book and numbers are said in Spanish}

----READ SCRIPTURE IN SPANISH-------

Texto nuge care moi? (Do you understand the scripture?)

Texto toner ni ta jatodige Jehova anne Jesus yebodo anguane, ja nice kore. Ye rebai nigue. Mo torba june koregore? {This scripture says learn about Jehovah and Jesus. You live forever, would you like to live forever?) {The names Jehova and Jesus are said in Spanish)

Mo torba june koregore anguane mo raba Biblia mogul ye joke mantra jetebe. (You too should read the Bible daily)

Ye nabi no moi? Ti raba jatari bobukore mo gondi mo dimi galore jatodige Biblia yebodo. (I can help you read the Bible, Let me leave you a brochure)

Toro Tonotequiten (Have a nice day!)

The brochure is 'You can live forever on a paradise earth' the brochure is printed in Guaymi Pacific (le-GMP) Which is what the indigenious speak here apparently. It sounds pretty awesome. So that is what I will be practicing for the next 6 months. :) Im excited about it! Well its 10 here and tomorrow is another day of service. I still want to do my 2nd Bible reading so I guess thats it for the day.. Oh yeah! People tend to call us mamacita and chickia. Today I got called muneca and hermosa… apparently these fools be trippin AND they be blind. :) Anyways, Good Night Day 4! It was an adventure. 

Day 3- Thursday January 12th, 2012

DAY 3- Thursday January 12th, 2012

Today I slept until 1:35!! This was an extremely needed sleep! On Monday night I didn't sleep at all. Tuesday night I sleeped about 4 or 5 hours. I wake up to the sister knocking on my door making sure I am still alive and wondering if I would like to eat something. I get up, make myself appropriate looking…well to an extent. And go inside the house there I have breakfast and they explain to me they will leave for meeting at 3:30. I decide to go and take a shower, a much needed shower and then study for the meeting. I go into the bathroom and all there is, is soap. So I go back out and tell the brother I didn't get the chance to buy any shampoo can I borrow some of theirs? He says Shampoo? And explains that here shampoo is a luxury that they don't use. And that I would have to go back to David to find shampoo. Soap it is. I dare not ask about face soap. The shower consists of a pipe coming out of the wall , no shower head. So I turn the water on and fill the bucket there. I take the smaller bucket and fill it and sploosh! …Mistake! Ice water! There is no hot water and this water feels like the water you dump out of your cooler after the assembly. Ice-cube water! Lets just say that was the faster shower I ever took. But no worries! I can do this! I go back to my room, first order of business….ripping off these nails! And MAN!! That lady was not kidding when she put them on, she wanted them to stay on! OUCH!  Then I begin to study my meeting…in Spanish! I honestly don't think I ever REALLY understood what the brothers who move to the English halls from Spanish go through trying to learn this language! English granted is harder then Spanish. But Theocratic Spanish and English is completely different from Basic Spanish and English .COMPLETELY different. But no matter, its ok for me. Then its time to go for meeting. I though since I was coming out all the way to the boon-docks AND since we don't have shampoo, meeting clothes would be the same as service clothes…Man! Was I wrong. These sisters DRESS-UP!! Thats ok though, I don't need my heels, jewelry, nicer clothes, or nicer bag. *sigh* I don't NEED them. The brother pulls up with a be a beat up pick-up. We climb into the cab and hang onto the rail as we drives down the bumpy road. The view si like nothing I have ever seen before. I plan on making a video of just the way to the kingdom hall. Its AMAZING!! The Kingdom hall is small but nice. There are 3 elders in this hall. Another elder is visiting from the route. and 1 ministerial servant. Everything else is literally little kids and sisters. The hall fills up after about 20 minutes from the starting time. Commenting isn't something that many people do in this hall. I will have to prepare comments for each part definitely. One part on the meeting was about talking to the indigenous here, the Cuno people. I know have a paper with presentation on it. I'm excited to use it. Hopefully, by the time I leave I will have the basics down for Cuno. I have a brochure and a presentation. You don't need much more to start .Everyone here wants me to teach them English, so maybe we can trade. Meeting is over and a little sister brings me a "present" and hurriedly runs away. Its is a Panama key-chain. :) New little friend. I get some meeting books in Spanish and visit a bit. Then its time to go back home. We get into the back of the truck again and drive away. Meeting for field service is at the Kingdom Hall everyday. Tomorrow me and the girls will walk to the hall for service. About a 30 minute walk I think. :) Lookng forward to it. A 30 minute walk everyday will do me wonders! :) On the way back, the girls ask me a million questions about the life in Mexico and the States. We have dinner when we get back to the house and more questions. I show them money from Mexico and they are amazed by it. At 10 we call it a night. I think the time difference is an hour. Cause my clock on the computer now says 9:24. Tomorrow I need to get up at 7. I like this place. :) 6 months here will change me for the better, and I will enjoy it thoroughly. The dogs keep barking, ojala that I will be able to sleep here. Oh yeah! Another thing. They think me saying "Mande?" is hilarious! Weird right. I thin them saying "Chuleta!" instead of Wow! is weird. They also say Freco instead of freo. Weird. :) Good night Day 3, tomorrow I am going to Rio Sereno with brother nixon and his family I will contact my mom tomorrow. :) WOW! A HUGE bug just flew into my room. That thing is HUGE!! Ok lights out! Goodnight Day 3! 

Day 2- Wednesday January 11th 2012

DAY 2- Wednesday January 11th 2012.

You wake up at 7:30. Elsy is knocking on the door. She wants to make you breakfast. While she does that you write a 'Thank You' note and put it in your room. First Thank You note in Spanish…completed! You add a scripture at the end and put your information. She tells you from the kitchen she is making a Columbian breakfast but you don't have to eat it if you don't like it. She made a dish you can't pronounce and definitely aren't going to try and spell. But you can explain it… Its the same flour you use for pancakes but you make a top and a bottom. Then you put fresh cheese, ham, salsa, and something that I don't know what it is, buts its good. And then you put fresh thick and juice slices of tomatoes. And then you eat it!! :D YUMMERS! You look up at the clock its already 8:35 and the brother isn't there yet. You talk again with Elsy and a car pulls up and honks. The brother gets out and comes to help you with your bag, his wife steps out and greets you. You say goodbye to Elsy and you drive away. They are hungry so where do you go? Mc Donald's. You sit and talk with them when they are eating. His name is Josue and her name is Jessia they are special pioneers. And he has been to Monte Lirio. Yes he confirms it is small town, but tells you there is internet and things like that. There are also A LOT of foreigners! English ones! Panama City had their circuit assembly in October. And the English Circuits just had theirs last weekend. But their Special Day Assembly is coming up in March. So maybe you will have 2 Special Day Assemblies this year and no Circuit Assembly. That will be weird. But Jehovah will provide for sure, like he always does. After Mc Diabetes we go to the airport to change money. But you are informed they no longer change money there. They also say the best place to change money would be in the States. So away you go, Josue decides to take you to the middle of the city so that you can change your money. But first, they take you to the PERFECT picture spot. The city to one side and the ocean to the other. He explains that he brings all the visitors there. After a few pictures you go back to the car. And drive further into the city. Finally you arrive at the money changer, taking pictures the whole way. Ok they have stuff to do so time to go to the bus station. You buy your ticket, show your passport for ID and are off to leave your things on the bus. They charge 5 cents to get to where the busses are. EVEN if you are not boarding. The brother goes with you and checks your backpack for you. He writes down both his and Jessia's names, phone numbers, and email. He says if you need anything call or email him. And he will take care of all of it. He even adds if you want any friends or family members to come visit let him now and he will take care of it. Sweet brother. He tells you he will send a text to the brother in Chiriqui that you will get there in 7 hours. YEAH!! You think 7 hour bus ride! 

Part 2-

After 7 hours of the most gorgeous scenery you have ever seen you arrive at the David, Panama bus stop… There are a couple standing tougher. Brothers is your first thought. They are all smiles and unfold a black sign that says in spanish Welcome Pioneer Route 2012. This couple is from Spain originally. But they have been serving in Panama for 3 years now, and MAN! is there a need. You talk and wait for another brother to get to the bus station. They are in a different congregation then you are, so you are waiting for Brother Nixxon to come. He is the coordinator for the Monte Lirio hall. 15 of waiting and brother Nixon, his wife Ruby and their son Nixon Jr. arrive in a black truck. Chit-chat is made and then both decide to run a couple errands and then we will head up the mountain. They explain when they come down to David they have to make the most of it. So different errands are run and we make our way up the mountain. We stop at a city named Volcan which is where the closest English hall is. Here we have dinner and then say goodbye to the Spanards and head up to Monte Lirio. The air is like that at Fort Bragg, its brisk but ultimately awesome. We climb into the truck and head up a very curvy road like that going to Fortuna. Then we take a left on a dirt road and travel on this road for about 25 or 30 minutes. Then another left and we are at the house where I will be staying for the next 6 months. I met Madeline, Brother Nixon's daughter. And the family I am staying with. A Brother and sister and 3 daughters.  We go inside and have hot chocolate and some cheesy bread. Then its time to say Goodbye and good night. They show me to a room that is right off the front porch. This is my room. I say good night and go in. I un-pack all my things. And then its lights out. Goodnight Day 2, it was swell! :) 

Day 1 - Part 2 & Part 3

PART 2

We just landed in Panama International Airport… since its 9:30 everything is dark and hard to see. The darkness mixed with the glare on the greasy dirty plastic windows didn't let my camera pick up any of the darkened scenery. We came in over water, with the moon shining down onto the wing of the plane and then glistening the water, it made it seem like the whole ocean was royal blue jewels. There were small waves and wives in the otherwise straight calm water. The import is surrounded by huge i am guessing luscious green trees. The temperature we were informed is a beautiful 85. With a small breeze, a HUGE change from the low 40's we were getting in Queretaro. Now we are taxi-ing towards our gate where we will all go through customs and baggage claim, this will be the second time for me today to go through all the paperwork and lines. But its all worth it. I haven't ha a good night sleep in over a month and let night I didn't even close my eyes to try and sleep. I hd 2 little 5 minute power naps today, and originally I was exhausted but now all I want to do is go in service… RIGHT NOW at 9:30 at night. You think they would mind? We are at our gate now but I am all the way back at 27F So I have a bit of  time for everyone to get their bus and sleepily move their way to the front of the plane. Good thing I am in no rush. I got 6 months! Take all the time you need :) When I finish with cutoms and baggage claim I will meet a 'welcoming committee' and go to my one night stay house. Tomorrow I will get back on a bus and leave Panama City to go to David, Panama. Where yet another 'welcoming committee' will meet me and then we drive to Monte Lirio. Tomorrow will be my first Spanish meeting in about 5 years i think…but no pressure at all. HA! Yeah! I was able to talk with my mom and sister when I was waiting in Miami, they seem to be doing ok so far. My mom misses me. :{ Poor mom! But I know that she is proud of me for doing this, and I know I have her FULL support! Which is exactly what I will need to hear when and if ever I get to the point that I just want to come home. My family is a big reason why I am here. Not only do I want to make them proud, but I get to have the privilege of representing my whole family for these next 6 months. it will be an adventure sure to be full of happiness, tears, and joy! And I look forward to it thoroughly. Well i better back up my computer for now. Even though they are TAKING THEIR SWEET TIME UP THERE! oh well. I got 6 months! :) As soon as I way out of this plane, taking my first steps my true amazing experience/assignment/craziness/adventure STARTS!! So I am packing everything up now, let the adventures begin! 

PART 3

Stepping out of the plane you feel the heat rising. Its warm but not warm enough to make you uncomfortable. The line for immigration is enormous. 2 FULL flights of people just came in and their are 10 people working at a tired speed. Asking questions, stamping papers, saying the same old tired greeting 'Enjoy your trip'. When really everyone knows they couldn't care less about you or your trip because its been YEARS since they got one.  After standing an hour in line you finally get to the desk and you hand the man your information. The man speaks, his Spanish a completely different dialect from yours. He speaks again slower. Your face just gets more bewildered. Then slowly in a poor excuse of a Mexican Spanish accent he says "Eeeen kaaaayyy trabajjjjjas?" "Ah!" you say, "Soy una maesra de Ingles." He peries his lips and grunts as he punches keys on the computer. And he speak but this time you just stare blankly at him. He sighs and forces out a "Errrrrrresss Marguuuurita?" "Si" you confirm. "Porrrrr cuaaaaanthhhooo thheeempo vaas a quethaaaar aqui?" " Creo que es 10 or 11 dias menus de 6 meses" you say with a smile, proud of how precise you are. "10 o 11 dia?!" he replies not impressed at all."No freiges!" So you repeat yourself "Ohhhh!" he replies and punched in the information. Then with a forced smile he says the tired saying "Gracias pro su visita, now demos para la proxima." What a strange man you think walking to the luggage claim. You find your luggage terminal, but it is not moving so you walk around the other side. ALL and we are talking ALL of the luggage is thrown together on the floor. And people are literally diving for their suitcases. Perfect! You think to yourself mine is on the very bottom. And I can;t leave the rest of my stuff here on the floor. so you palitely try and get through to your luggage. But you soon realize that if this is going to happen any time son, it is not join g to be y being lady ike and politely. Her face changes and so does the scenario, this is the last plane out of vietnam and if you don;t get there your gonna e stranded. Oh hey look! You got your bag.  ;) Perfect it worked. Everyone is happy now, except for the casualties you left behind. Oh well, goes they didn't get the memo. Walking out of the terminal th  and the phone rings. Its for you! A brother informs you through a thick accent on the phone you will NOT be staying very long. IN FACT! He will be there tomorrow morning at 8 to pick  you up and take you to the bus station. Is there any other place you have to go? Money exchange. Everything here is in U.S. Dollars because of the trade route. All you have is Mexican pesos. No problem he says he will see you bright and early at 8. Which means you will be getting about 7 1/2 hours sleep. You confirm that, that is fine, thank you, see you in the morning. Elsy and Guillermo are waiting to here what happened. Both there eyes are as big as walnuts staring at you. You tell them the news, both faces sag. They wanted you to stay longer, buts its good you are going to your assignment. They say Good night. Back in your room, now you have to pack everything back up. It doesn't fit. Finally you get it some what figured out and decide to update your journal and go to bed. You sit on the bed! OH MAN!! Its nicer then the one I have at home! It feels like a cloud. Dumb! You should have said you needed to stay at least one more night here! 

Oh well now you will be at your assignment tomorrow. Good night Day 1 I had a nice time with you! :) Onward!