It was great to talk to you and see you all on Skype even if it was a bit postponed. Better late than never I suppose. Skype creates an otherwise nonexistent connection between my two worlds that is a bit strange for me, but good nonetheless. It's good to see that you all seem to be doing well, and it was fun to be able to sing to Nathan for his birthday. Like I said, it was one of my seminary student's birthday as well on Saturday. We had a small celebration with him and some of our other students and his family. Kuna celebrations vary quite a bit from those in the states, but the general idea is the same.
To be honest, this week kind of feels like a blur, and I'm not entirely sure what to write about. Maybe if I just start typing things will come to me :) Here it goes . . . so earlier this week we went to the river again. We went to do laundry and visit the cemetery once again with Lily and Miriam. We really enjoy going to the river, but the rainy season has made the bugs almost unbearable. At the river there are millions upon millions of a little tiny bug called "chitras". They are microscopic and appear to be nothing more than a little black spec. However, small as they may be, they bite . . . and they bite hard. They suck your blood and leave little red spots on your skin for a while. Fortunately, they don't seem to bother me as much as Hermana Hastings. Mine go away completely within an hour or so, but my poor companion suffers for a few days. I think she has some sort of allergy or something. Poor girl. The silver lining to the river is always the tasty things we find in the jungle. I think I ate a total of 5 delicious mangos that day as well as two cacao pods. I'm convinced that cacao is similar to the manna sent down from the heavens . . . it is so tasty. We have to be sure not to bite into the seeds though, or else our tongue gets covered it a purple explosion of bitterness. That was learned by experience, but will never happen again.
Remember Ata, Lily's husband who died about a week and a half ago? Well, they've been investigating his unexpected death and have found a few mysterious and intriguing details. As you already know, the drug trade frequently travels right up past Panama and through the San Blas islands. It's hit our little island pretty hard. Well, Ata was part of a group of leaders from our island that put a stop to one of the bigger movements from one of the other islands. They recently found out that the alcohol that he took with him fishing was poisoned. They are all in the process of clearing up the situation, but in the meantime many of the leaders here have left to Panama. That story wasn't to concern you, we're perfectly safe where we are, but it certainly was an unexpected twist to the situation. You just can't make these things up.
Hermana Hastings and I have made it a habit to assist the island's government/religious meetings once a week, called Congreso. We've been trying to gain a bit more support from the Saglas, the Kuna leaders, so we've been working hard to give them support from our end as well. It's all in Kuna, so not much is understood for the span of two hours, but it's the thought that counts, right? Many people bring something small to entertain themselves. I've begun re-reading "Jesus the Christ", my companion this last week took to watching a spider spin it's web on the ceiling, many Kuna women sew mola, and we were very pleased to see that many youth that attended brought their Books of Mormon to occupy themselves! Nothing makes me prouder than seeing the youth walk around with a Book of Mormon in their hand. Many of them are finishing up reading it completely for the first time. Oh it is wonderful!
Speaking of the Book of Mormon, I'd like to restate my admonition from last night on Skype. While talking to you I received a very strong impression to invite you all to read the Book of Mormon if you are not already doing so. I know it seems simple, but I have gained a firm testimony that consistently reading the Book of Mormon is one of the most important things that we can do to strengthen our foundation in Christ. Each and every time that I've watched somebody fall, we ask them if they are reading their scriptures. Their answer is ALWAYS "I don't know what happened, I just have a really hard time reading them now." Read the Book of Mormon each and every day. It is our armor, quite literally. We cannot afford to go without it. I know that the Book of Mormon is a true and inspired book, written specifically for our benefit. I promise each of you that as you read it each day, you will be protected from the fiery darts of the Adversary. Put it to the test.
I miss and love each of you! Thank you all for the support and example that you provide me!
Go Forward With Faith,
Hermana Falslev
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