7 Abril 2014

Hello Family!
Unfortunately I was not able to write last week because we were
setting up the system for General Conference and had some technical
difficulties. It's all fixed now though :) We now have a few more
solar panels, batteries, and a satellite, so writing each week should
be much easier. Woo hoo! Even more exciting is that for the first time
in history General Conference was broadcast here on Carti Tupile!! It
was a very wonderful experience. I only heard bits and pieces of
conference myself because I was busy being a technician and helping
others enjoy their first conference experience, but we should be able
to watch the sessions in some upcoming PDays.
I'm just not sure how to explain how much I love being here! Each day
brings a new adventure and my love for the people, especially the
youth that we work with, grows by the minute. Here are the stories for
the week :)
While at our friend Lily's house I glanced over to see the ground
moving. My curiosity was spiked, so I began to watch more intently. It
happened a few more times, so I began digging. I finally reached a
large crab hole. A few minutes later I pulled a large, bright blue
crab out. He was a feisty bugger, but we were able to put him in a
small bucket. When I returned the next morning, I was informed that
Mu, Lily's 80 year old mother, had eaten my crab buddy before the rest
of the family had woken up. And such ended the life of my first pet
crab. I felt slightly responsible for his tragic end.
Last Monday one of our other friends, Zobeyda, came running up to the
chapel to tell us that Ayleen, one of our young seminary students, had
fainted. We grabbed some first aid supplies and ran to her house. We
were expecting that she had fainted because of dehydration since we
are still without water. However, we found it to be a little more
serious upon arriving. From what I can tell she suffers from
Narcolepsy, a neurological disorder that prevents the brain from
regulating sleep cycles. She frequently gets sleepy, lays down in her
hammock to take a nap, then goes into a state of deep sleep from which
nobody can wake her. We stayed there with her for about 2 hours,
monitoring her vitals. We figured we'd just have to wait for her to
wake up. However, the Kunas have a limited understanding of modern
medicine and quickly began the ritual processes. Kuna medicine
involves a basket of wooden figurines that were carved while one of
the medicine men sings/chants and are believed to have spirits inside
of them. They place the basket underneath the hammock of the sick
person. The medicine man then sings in ancient dialect while many
herbs/incense are burning. I found it all very fascinating.
Fortunately, Ayleen finally came out of the deep sleep. After making
sure that she was okay we explained that she needs to go to a hospital
to get help for her condition. Last I knew, they were making plans to
take her to Panama.
Last Thursday I had one of the most wonderful experiences of my
mission. There is a 15-year old boy here who is one of the few people
on the island who has not been baptized. Countless companionships have
worked with him and tried to set a baptismal date, but he's always
refused. He's a wonderful kid who has already had a really difficult
life, he deserves the joy that comes from the restored gospel. I'm not
quite sure the reason, but he's really come to put his trust in me. I
suppose each missionary makes a connection with different people. He
always comes to the chapel to look for us and likes to just sit and
talk with us. The other night we were cleaning up from an institute
activity when he walked in and sat down next to me. I asked him how he
was doing and we started talking. I'm not sure how, but we started
talking about baptism. At first he was very indifferent and shy about
the subject. However, after bearing my testimony to him he opened up a
little. I didn't say anything for a while; we just sat there while he
thought. Then, as we were getting ready to leave, he quietly said,
''Quiero bautizarme" (I want to get baptized). My heart almost burst.
I was overwhelmed by joy and the wonderful presence of the Spirit, it
was so strong. I had to resist every desire to give the kid a big hug.
We talked a little more, and we're now planning his baptism for this
next Saturday! I couldn't have asked for a better birthday present :)
Well, that's all for now folks! Make it a wonderful week. Search for
our many blessings and be sure to smile when you find them :) Love and
miss you all!
Go Forward With Faith,
Hermana Falslev :)

24 Marzo 2014

Dear Family! I feel like I have so much to tell you this week. I'll
try to get it all in the email. The first exciting thing that happened
this week was that we got locked out of the church. There are two sets
of keys and they both got locked inside of the church due to
forgetfulness, exhaustion, and a bit of bad luck. It was late at night
and we didn't want to break in because there was a group of kids
sitting outside and
 we didn't want them to think they could try it as well. After saying
a prayer we headed to Lily's house. She's the one we go to for
everything. She is wonderful and came without hesitation with her
equally wonderful husband to help us out. To put it simply we
successfully broke in about an hour later. Then we spent about another
hour repairing our break in so that it couldn't be repeated by
delinquents. It turned out to be a memorable experience and reflecting
back on it, Hna Dawson and I could find a few valuable lessons that
the Lord needed us to learn.
Today makes a little over a week on the island without water. We are
all hoping it arrives soon, but until then we make do with what we
have. Last Thursday we took a trip to the river to collect a little
bit of water, wash clothes, and take a bit of a bath :) The river
connects to the ocean, but if you go in far enough it is no longer
salty water. I don't even know how to describe how incredible that
experience was. It was one of the most peaceful places I've ever been.
It was so beautiful. I felt like I was on a National Geographic tour
through the Amazon. Upon arriving we loaded everything out of the
small boat and started washing our clothes. In case you're wondering
how to wash your clothes in a river, this is how it's done :) We laid
a piece of plastic over a flat slab of wood, then scrub and scrub,
then scrub some more. Afterwards you take your clothes to the middle
of the river and rinse them out. Tedious, but worth the clean clothes
:)
Afterwards we all took short bath in the river, don't worry we all had
clothes on. We were able to wash our hair and get relatively clean.
Since the river meets up with the ocean we were able to find some cool
animals. I found some crabs and saw a large mantaray floating by in
the center. The most interesting one was when we had to scare a
crocodile in the other direction. We didn't see it, but the boat
driver shouted over to us as he was pulling away.
Afterwards, our Kuna friends that were with us took us through a
little jungle hike to see the Kuna burial ground. When a Kuna dies
they take them to along the river and bury them in the family
''house''. Basically it's just an area with lots of rooftops made out
of dried palm leaves with gravesites under them. It was an interesting
experience.
On the way back the sea was really rough. We made it back safely, but
we quickly all got covered in salty sea water . . . . so much for nice
and clean :) All in all it was an incredible experience. I loved each
minute of it.
The other day we took another trip to Sugdup. Each time we go to
Sugdup we have to wait in the por for somebody who is willing to take
us. Fortunately there is almost always somebody that comes along
fairly quickly. Very shortly after arriving to Sugdup we realized that
we had forgotten to mention something to the boat driver, so we turned
around and started walking towards the port again. While walking, a
man walked out of a door and ended up directly in front of us. I don't
honestly remember how the conversatin got started, but we began
talking with him, and he asked us almost immediately about the church.
He explained his story to us and explained that he had been
miraculously saved from an accident a while ago. He was really happy
to have found us and wanted to go to church. When we explained that we
had run into him because we had had to turn back he began crying and
told us that we were angels sent from God. He asked us to take down
his information and come back because he was working. We're planning
on going back on Tuesday. I'm really excited to talk more with him.
This week has been full of incredible experiences. I'm not sure if I'm
having more of them here, or if I'm simply learning to better
recognize them. Either way, I'm very happy and grateful to my Heavenly
Father for this opportunity :) I'm looking forward to this week's
experiences. I love each of you SOOOOO much!
Go Forward With Faith!
Hermana Falslev :)

17 Marzo 2014

Dear Family!
I'm really not sure how to describe the experiences that I've had this
past week in an email, but I'll do my best. I am loving it here on
Carti Tupile! I especially love teaching seminary. I wasn't sure about
it when I first got told that we were the teachers, but it's turned
out to be one of my favorite things.
So early this week we went and visited one of our surrounding islands,
Sugdup (soo-e-doop) (the rule is if you can see it it's in your area)
We met lots of interesting people there. While walking past an
abandoned and lsightly torn down building we saw a man in cut-off
shorts, no shirt, and long hair sitting on one of the high concrete
slabs while playing Zelda music on his harmonica. We asked him what he
was doing. He told us that he was waiting for his shirt to dry because
he had spent the last 30 minutes trying to swim from the other island
because he couldn't find a boat. He finally arrived, but apparently it
is frowned upon to walk around the streets without a shirt (odd
because kuna children often run around naked).
We also made friends with a 21 year old Colombian who is traveling up
the coast of Panama selling food supplies with 6 other Colombians. We
actually talked to him for almost an hour and a half about the gospel.
It was a really interesting experience. He invited us to Colombia, but
we told him that we'd have to take a rain-check :) We eventually made
it back to Tupile.
They say that the mother of invention is necessity. I would definitely
agree, but I would say that laziness and boredom play a large part in
it as well :) San Blas inspires a sense of improvisation and
ingenuity. My companion tells me that I was made to be a San Blas
missionary because I've come up with a few silly little things
already. Here's a list of a few of them: I created an entertaining
balance game with a tin can and a board, we are now able to switch the
lamp off without getting down from our high-hanging hammocs, I've
created an easier system for brushing our teeth (that one is still in
progress because it can be difficult if the wind is strong), and I've
booby-trapped a few areas of the church where some thieves were
sneaking in :)
I'm not really sure what else to say about the island, there's so much
because it's such a unique experience. If anybody has specific
questions let me know and I'll answer them.
As I said before, the majority of the island are members, but the
majority is also completely inactive. There are a few people who are
not members who we are working with. One of them is a young man who
multiple companionships have tried teaching, but have never had much
luck. He's friendly, but doesn't seem incredibly willing to sit down
and talk about the gospel. He also has a huge drinking problem.
Hermana Dawson and I have both had strong impressions that we should
try to work with him this change. The large drinking problem can be
slightly intimidating. However, I've learned that those who have to
really apply the gospel, especially the principles of faith and
repentance, prior to baptism are those who become truly converted to
the gospel. I see a lot of potential in him and am excited to work
with him!
I love you all so much! Thank you for all of your support! Make it a
wonderful week :)
Go Forward With Faith!
Hermana Niscua (my official Kuna name, meaning ''star'')

10 Marzo 2014

Dear Family!
Nuedi!! I'm going to do my best to sum up the last couple days for
you, but I'm not sure that it can all be put into words :) So on
Saturday we got up super early and loaded everything up into a little
truck that would take us on a trek through the rarely traveled path to
the islands. We were up really late packing things up, so Hermana
Dawson took advantage of the time to sleep. I considered sleeping as
well, but my innate curiosity got the best of me. I was fascinated as
we drove through the untamed mountains of Panama. Mountains and
mountains of jungle that has been seemingly untouched by man. It was a
breath-taking that will forever be painted in my mind. After a few
hours of driving we arrived to one of the tiny ports where we had to
find a boat to take us to the island of Carti Tupile. After a short
boat ride we arrived. I immediately fell in love with the island. With
the help of a few inhabitants and lots of little boys we took our bags
to the other end of the island (a 2 minute walk) to the chapel where
we live. The chapel is built on stilts above the ocean because there
wasn't enough room on the island, so as I look down I see the clear
water :) We constantly hear the ocean and feel the breeze. It even
gets pretty cold at night in our hammocs sometimes . . . that's right,
I sleep in a hammoc :)
As we arrived to the chapel all of the little boys that were playing
ran up and gave us hugs, then they just stared at me. They called me
Hermana Yer Dailege (which means ''pretty'' in Kuna) Each missionary
in San Blas gets a Kuna name. I've now been given two: Yer Dailege and
Bunabippi, which means hermanita (because I am the youngest sister
missionary to ever serve on the Blas islands) I'm not sure which one
will stick, but I'm happy with both of them :)
Needless to say, I am currently living in a very different world. The
Kuna culture is unlike anything that I've ever seen before, but I love
it. I love listening to them speak (I'm working on learning) and I
love visiting them in there homes. It is a very simple way to live,
but I love it. Last night while we were visiting a sister in her home
I was playing with her little kids when an odd little animal crawled
out of the ground. The little boy told me that we can't touch those
animals because if we touch them our angel goes away. Obviously they
think in a different way, and I love it!
This morning we taught our seminary class where a total of 6 youth
attended. I really enjoyed teaching it. We have to work to adjust our
teaching methods to the mindset of the Kunas. I can see a great desire
to learn in some of them, they've just never had anybody willing to
really teach them. There is a 17 year old here named Sergio who is
incredible. He is preparing to serve a mission and frequently comes to
church, seminary, and our mission prep classes by himself.
There is also a member named Lily who is very special. She is the only
endowed member on the island. We love spending time with her. Her
mother is a teeny-tiny woman who we call ''Grandmother Willow''. She
only speaks Kuna, but she loves the missionaries so much. Every time
that we leave her hut she buries her face in her head dress (part of
the traditional Kuna attire).
Well family, I hope that I've done this incredible experience some
justice with my measely words. Many more adventures to come :) An
bemar sabe! (I love you all)
Go Forward With Faith!
Hermana Falslev :)

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 :)

SORPRESA!!!

Dear Family! Well, we´re gonna cut to the chase . . . . I just got called to work in San Blas! San Blas is the zone made up of many islands where the natives of Panamá, the Kunas, all live. I knew that I would be changing areas, but I wasn´t expecting to go to San Blas at all. I´m still slightly in shock, but I´m truly looking forward to the adventure. My companion is named Hermana Dawson and is from Arizona. She seems wonderful, and I´m really excited to work with her. This week is known as ´´P-Week´´ for the missionaries of San Blas because we utilize this week to stock up on food and anything else we´ll need for the next 6 weeks. We´ll be sleeping in the temple apartments until Saturday when we´ll make the trip to the islands. The island that I´ll be working on is called Carti Tupile. Hermana Dawson tells me that if we walk slow we can cross the island in about 3 minutes. All of the inhabitants of the island are members, so our work will be slightly different. We live in the church (tomorrow I have to go buy a hammoc to sleep in :)) and each morning we teach seminary and institute. We have computers in the church that we can use for email on Mondays, but it is all run by solar energy, so sometimes the connection is a little iffy. I should be able to continue writing each week, but don´t worry if you don´t get an email . . . . it just means it´s a little cloudy on San Blas :)

I´ve been advised that I should take $80-100 dollars of personal money with me to the island, so I hate to ask this, but could you put transfer some money into my account? I recently had to take a little out because my comp and I had a slight problem and had to take a taxi that we weren´t planning on. I promise I´m not just spending carelessly! Thank you for everything!!! We´ll be able to get on email once more before leaving on Saturday morning, but we aren´t sure which day yet.

I´ll keep you updated on my island adventures :) I love you all dearly!

Hermana Falslev :)

3 Marzo 2014

Dear Family,

This week is carnival week here in Panamá. To put it simply there are a lot of crazy parties going on in the interior and the city is practically empty. Everybody throws water (and occasionally eggs) on everybody and there are lots of people drinking . . . . a lot. Obviously as missionaries we don´t take part in the festivities, but we are all walking around cautiously. Fortunately Hermana Lopez and I haven´t been soaked yet, but we´ve heard lots of funny stories of other missionaries getting soaked. Carnival gets over on Tuesday, so we´ll remain extra alert until then.

In our zone this change we have all become really good friends are are always teasing one another or playing little pranks on eachother. I may or may not participate such activities ;) This past week a few missionaries decided to get me back for some of my harmless teasing. Here are some of the better stories . . . .Upon returning home from a long day I left the room to fill up my water bottle. My companion decided to hide under my bed. As I walked in and approached my bed she grabbed my leg. Needless to say, she scared me half to death. She was laughing so hard that she couldn´t get out from under my bed. A few days later an elder handed me a small package and told me that a sister had sent me something. I excitedly began to open it. He, however, had rigged it to set off a loud and vibrating alarm in my hands. I had a minor heart attack and ended up throwing the ´´package´´ at him. He, as well as those privileged enough to see my scare, were all laughing so hard that they couldn´t get up from the floor. These are only two of many small pranks that have been exchanged. Looks like I´ll have to be more careful with my teasing haha :)

Last Thursday we had a multi-zone conference with Elder Carlos H. Amado, the Area President. We sat in the chapel for 8 hours as he filled us all with a greater spiritual knowledge. I thoroughly enjoyed the conference and was able to learn a lot. I felt like he covered just about everything. I especially like the new point of view that he gave me concerning repentance, in respect to both myself and my investigators. He explained that God loves each and every one of us, even those who commit the worst of sins, that love will never go away or be diminished by circumstances. However, few are those who have the TRUST of God. We gain that privilege only through consistent and sincere REPENTANCE. Repentance leads to trust. It makes sense; I simply hadn´t thought about it in such a way before. It motivates me even more on a personal level to repent of even the small sins that I commit each and every day because I want God to know that He can trust me. Also, I´m grateful for the new understanding of such an essential concept for my investigators. I hope that with it I will be able to help them more efficiently.

I don´t know for sure yet, but it´s almost a guarantee that I have changes this Wednesday, so I will probably be writing from another area next week.

I love and miss each of you! Thank you all for your support and love. I feel it each and every day here in Panamá.

Go Forward With Faith!

Hermana Falslev :)