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! :)