Dearest Familia! I feel like it's been a lifetime since I've been able to email you. Hermana Ward was supposed to have emailed you about our safe arrival on Tuesday, hopefully she did. If not, I'm alive and I'm in Panama! I woke up at 2:30am on Tuesday morning because we had to leave for the airport at 4. After spending way to much time on an airplane, I landed in Panama. We were greeted by Presidente y Hermana Ward, then we took our things to the temple apartments wehre we would be staying the night. We sat through orientation, then we were able to attend a session at the temple. That was such a blessing. That Panama temple is very small, but it is unbelievably gorgeous.
The next morning we had a meeting with the entire mission because Presidente and Hermana Ward are leaving for home today. Then we were assigned to our tainers and areas. My comp is Hna Rodas. She is from Guatemala and is 22 years old. She's been in the mission for 3 months. She's very obedient and is very patient. I've been blessed to have her. She also spèaks a little bit of English, which is helpful sometimes. The Spanish here is nothing like the Mexican Spanish that I learned in the CCM. THey speak very quickly and they drop the endings of all the words. Hna Rodas even said that she couldn't understand anything her first week here--and Spanish is her first language! It's very difficult, but I'll get the hang of it. I understand more every day.
I've been assigned to the San Miguelito, Santa Librada Area. I'm literally living in the middle of the jungle and the area I'm in doesn't have a lot of wealth. The house I live in has proven to be an adventure. I'm currently coexisting with lizards, spiders, and every other bug you can think of...and then some. I always joked that I was going to get a pet lizard :)
It's also very very very hot. Did I mention it was very hot?! We feel sweaty and sticky all the time. It'll be interesting to come home in the middle of winter after I've gotten used to the heat. I might curl up in a warm blanket and never come out :) We are entering into the rainy season here. I though it rained a lot in Mexico, but that was nothing. I would venture to say that a 5 minute storm here dumps the same amout of wather as all of the storms in Utah combined.
We have a pretty big area, and we walk a lot. Basically I was ALL day, but I like it :)
We also have some very promising investigators with baptismal dates set for later this month. The biggest obstacle here is that NOBODY gets married...ever. This just happens to be something necessary for baptism, so we're working with a lot of people. I'll keep you updated on their progress.
On Saturday morning we had a service project. We were supposed to carry cement blocks and bags of other building materials to a location wehre a house was to be built. We arrived to find out that we had to carry them up a steep stone stairway of about 200 steps. Being the brilliant young adults that we are, we formed a n assembly line and had a wonderful time. At least we got a chance to work of some of the many many pounds of rice that we are fed each day. The members take turns providing our meals and they pile it on very high. I've eaten more rice in the last 6 days here than I ever have before.
To some things up, I feel like I've jumped into a completely different world. It's difficult, but it's good, and each day gets better. Also, the people are wonderful. I've spent time with people in very humble circumstances, but they are all so giving and loving. They have good hearts :)
Family, I love you! SO MUCH! I know I'm so blessed to have you all. I hope you guys can feel the love that I send your way every day.
MUCH LOVE TO YOU ALL!
Go forward with faith,
Hna Falslev :)
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