SORPRESA (part 2)

Hello again family! So today is my last day in the real world for a while, tomorrow we head out at 4:30 in the morning. The other Blas missionaries will be heading out on a plane next Tuesday, but our island is a little bit closer and we want to get to work :) I´ve spent the last couple of days stocking up on food (we have no refrigeration), repacking because I can only take a small suitcase, and doing my best to figure out what exactly I´m getting myself into :) This morning I had the first warm shower that I´ve had in about 10 months . . . it also happened to be the last real shower that I´ll have in the next 6 weeks. On Blas we get to use a cup :) Also, the water occasionaly has maggot type bugs in it, so we have to be really careful. Just a few other tid-bits that I´ve learned about my island . . . . Our drinking water comes from the river, and we put bleach in it to make it potable, the church is over the ocean (meaning that the toilet is above the ocean as well....I invite you all to do the math). I´m sure that there are many other interesting adventures that are in store for me, but overall I truly am looking forward to the experience. It is very possible that I´ll have at least 2 changes on the island, quite possibly three, but nothing is for sure in the San Blas zone.

I know that I have a special work to do in Carti Tupile. The changes were done differently this time. Usually Pres. Carmarck puts changes together with various leaders, counselors, and his family. Due to direction from the First Presidency, the mission presidents now do them completely by themselves in their homes . . . pure inspiration :) Usually, if somebody is sent to San Blas it is because they requested to go there. Though I´ve never been opposed to going, I´ve never mentioned that I wanted to go, it´s honestly never really been on my mind much, so it is really strange that I´m headed out there. I had forgotten about it until now, but in my first change here in Panamá I felt really strongly that at some point in my mission that I would serve in San Blas. I mentioned it to my companion, but didn´t think much of it until now. I´ve read over my patriarchal blessing, as well as things that I wrote down from my setting apart a few times in the last couple of days, and I am looking forward to some things that could be fulfilled on San Blas. I feel really strongly about this assignment and hope to fulfill what the Lord has in store for me.

I´ll do my best to keep in touch. Continue going forward in faith. I love you all so much!

Love,

Dani :)