Had a challenging week last week. Oliver and Stephanie got hit with minor stomach bug that lasted a few days. Moved houses to another rent house on Friday. We will have to do another move in 3 months. A couple from Canada rented us there house while they visit back home. They are familar with the Jehovah's Witnesses reputation as being responsible and clean people. This serves as a good witness since this helps with the fact that a lot of people and hotels don't want childen. The house is perfect for us. It is furnished, washer/dryer and sits on a beautiful lot with fruit trees, outdoor sitting area, pond with water feature.
We moved on Friday, then turned around and hosted a going away party for the Gilby's on Saturday. They are going back home to New Foundland for a couple of months to earn some income and they plan on returning. The theme was mexican food, and it turned out nice.
Sunday I had the priviledge of conducting the Watchtower study for the first time. Thanks to Jehovah all went well. We have another elder arriving coming back from the states on Wednesday. This is a relief since Richard Gilby is currently the only elder here in Volcan. So it has just been the 2 of us handling all the parts for the service meeting and bible highlights. I have had the priviledge of having between 3-4 parts on every Tuesday meeting. Jehovah's holy spirit is powerful.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Thursday, June 3, 2010
week of June 1st
I gave my first talks in Central America today. We had 24 in attendance in Volcan and 24 in attendance in David. This was quite the experience giving 2 talks in one day. All went well thanks to Jehovah. We started off in Volcan with 1:30 meeting. Only stayed till after talk, because had to drive 1 hour to David to give talk @ 3:30. We ate lunch along the way which we should have done a better job packing. So we ate crackers and almonds. Giving the talk in David was an experience in dealing with the heat. It is quite a bit hotter in David. Neither hall has air units, but really felt the heat in David. I would estimate the temperature to have been 93 degrees in the hall (David). Came back up the mountain and had dinner at the McMillians house and the Gilby family was there. Very upbuilding conversation and nice time.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Top 25 Adjustments needed to live in Panama (for us)
A lot of friends have been emailing asking how is Panama. In our discussions we have mentioned lots of adjustments to get use to...I thought I would put a list together and keep it updated of some of things we are making adjustments in our way of life.(in random order)
1. All children sharing one room. Abby and Sophie sharing a bed. (Until June 11th we move into another house were they will have their own bed for at least 3 months). Has been slightly challenging.
2. Driving down roads that seem undriveable (both in Service and to get around town)
3. No HEB's or Walmarts...have had to learn to shop @ different stores for different items...Use vegetable stands for our fruits and vegetables. We did find some nice stores in David...Pricemart like a Sam's...and a Rey's almost but not quite like an HEB.
4. Speaking lots of Spanish to get around and communicate.
5. No TV.....(we have made arrangements to have Family night on computer watching movies.) Children are actually enjoying playing outside.
6. Taking Military style showers to preserve hot water.
7. Loss of electricity for hours @ a time.
8. To get a oil change...have to go to seperate places to purchase Oil, oil filter, fuel filter etc.
9. No street names in Volcan. Can make service quit the challenge. (go to the house with the blue roof on it...take a left then go to the rock pile where a cow is tied up and take a right...quite funny actually)
10. Here is one that I am really enjoying (in Volcan only)...going to sleep ~ 65 degrees outside....wake up and throughout rest of day nothing above 80 degrees.
11. Dryer and Stove uses propane tank....when empty drive to town and replace. (cost $5.75)
12. Drinking water comes from 5 gallon water tanks that have to get switched out and replaced weekly. ( costs $3.75 each)
13. Waking up to roosters crowing @ crack of dawn. Usually comes around 6am here.
14. Waking up to beautiful mountain scenery. Seeing tons of butterflies and hummingbirds. Fresh air. Don't have to worry about heater or A/C because temperature is perfect.
15. Not being able to find decent clothes to wear. Most Panamians are small. So rare to find shirts or pants in my size (Ralph). I guess if I keep walking in service will be able to fit into their clothes here.
16. Cooking a lot of our own meals @ home. Going out to eat is a rare occassion.
17. Getting into habit of going to bathroom before we leave the house. It is quite obvious there are no health inspectors in Panama. If you are able to find a somewhat clean bathroom it is very suprising. Also finding one with toilet paper is a rare find. You often have to carry your own toilet paper.
18. Seeing people riding horses down the streets is a everyday sight.
19. Lots of people walking down highways and streets with small children.
20. Actually finding the majority of the people we meet to have a tremendous respect for the Bible and the preaching work that we do.
21. Driving down the highways can be quite nerve wrecking. Panama could be considered the second autobaun.
22. Small congregation...lots of opportunities for comments and fellowship. Preparation for meetings is necessary.
23. Very laid back attitude about time (example: most stores have extended lunch hours. Even though it states open again @ 1pm could be 2:30 or 3pm before they are back, or sometimes not come back at all.)
24. Lots of poverty around us. Sad to see the conditions that people live in.
25. Lots of stray animals...cats, dogs, chickens. Got to be cautious in service with dogs.
1. All children sharing one room. Abby and Sophie sharing a bed. (Until June 11th we move into another house were they will have their own bed for at least 3 months). Has been slightly challenging.
2. Driving down roads that seem undriveable (both in Service and to get around town)
3. No HEB's or Walmarts...have had to learn to shop @ different stores for different items...Use vegetable stands for our fruits and vegetables. We did find some nice stores in David...Pricemart like a Sam's...and a Rey's almost but not quite like an HEB.
4. Speaking lots of Spanish to get around and communicate.
5. No TV.....(we have made arrangements to have Family night on computer watching movies.) Children are actually enjoying playing outside.
6. Taking Military style showers to preserve hot water.
7. Loss of electricity for hours @ a time.
8. To get a oil change...have to go to seperate places to purchase Oil, oil filter, fuel filter etc.
9. No street names in Volcan. Can make service quit the challenge. (go to the house with the blue roof on it...take a left then go to the rock pile where a cow is tied up and take a right...quite funny actually)
10. Here is one that I am really enjoying (in Volcan only)...going to sleep ~ 65 degrees outside....wake up and throughout rest of day nothing above 80 degrees.
11. Dryer and Stove uses propane tank....when empty drive to town and replace. (cost $5.75)
12. Drinking water comes from 5 gallon water tanks that have to get switched out and replaced weekly. ( costs $3.75 each)
13. Waking up to roosters crowing @ crack of dawn. Usually comes around 6am here.
14. Waking up to beautiful mountain scenery. Seeing tons of butterflies and hummingbirds. Fresh air. Don't have to worry about heater or A/C because temperature is perfect.
15. Not being able to find decent clothes to wear. Most Panamians are small. So rare to find shirts or pants in my size (Ralph). I guess if I keep walking in service will be able to fit into their clothes here.
16. Cooking a lot of our own meals @ home. Going out to eat is a rare occassion.
17. Getting into habit of going to bathroom before we leave the house. It is quite obvious there are no health inspectors in Panama. If you are able to find a somewhat clean bathroom it is very suprising. Also finding one with toilet paper is a rare find. You often have to carry your own toilet paper.
18. Seeing people riding horses down the streets is a everyday sight.
19. Lots of people walking down highways and streets with small children.
20. Actually finding the majority of the people we meet to have a tremendous respect for the Bible and the preaching work that we do.
21. Driving down the highways can be quite nerve wrecking. Panama could be considered the second autobaun.
22. Small congregation...lots of opportunities for comments and fellowship. Preparation for meetings is necessary.
23. Very laid back attitude about time (example: most stores have extended lunch hours. Even though it states open again @ 1pm could be 2:30 or 3pm before they are back, or sometimes not come back at all.)
24. Lots of poverty around us. Sad to see the conditions that people live in.
25. Lots of stray animals...cats, dogs, chickens. Got to be cautious in service with dogs.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
week of 5-17
Another milestone completed...purchasing parts for the car....everything takes work to get things done here....I have been in search for a fuel and oil filter for our car. Finally found a auto parts store that was reasonably priced. Turns out the owner is from the Corpus area in Texas, and speaks english...looking forward to some witnessing opportunities with him. He mentioned that he has been invited over to the Kingdom hall.....I told him to stock up on the parts I needed and that I would purchase them from him....Today went over to the Langan's house for visit....Steve and Adrianna Langan...he is from England and she is from Argentina...she just got baptized 3 weeks ago. She is conducting spanish lessons with Stephanie and the children. Today children lost interest and played Wii instead with Steve....Tomorrow we drive 2 hours to Puerto Armuellos to preach....beach community....we are planning our first visit to Panama beach....I will post some pictures
Okay so we are in rainy season it actually rained on us all day on Thursday in Puerto Armuellos so no beach trip. The beach isn't anything to write home about anyway, so we will try another beach soon. We did however get some accomplished in our ministry. I found a family from California who live in a upscale community in Puerto Armuellos (ex-executives of Chiquita Banana plantation use to live in this community). The banana plantation have packed up and headed out since then. We did have a nice shopping stop on the way back between the Panama and Costa Rica border. Duty free items...some good deals to be found on clothing, liquor, and other items for house and car.
Friday spent day in Boquete...Stephanie found a lady selling bread in the street that use to study. She is originally from Cuba. She said she is interested in studying again. Friday night had family night with Gilby's we saw "Return to me". Ate pizza and had some upbuilding conversations.
Saturday - spent morning out in ministry till around noon time....didn't really find anyone in census work here. I was a little disappointed with Marcos cancelling our study this morning up in Cerra Punta.
We have a get together to go to this afternoon @ 3pm. There is a pioneer couple leaving the spanish congregation and the english congregation was invited. It is raining pretty hard right now here, so hopefully they have good cover to protect from rain...
Okay so we are in rainy season it actually rained on us all day on Thursday in Puerto Armuellos so no beach trip. The beach isn't anything to write home about anyway, so we will try another beach soon. We did however get some accomplished in our ministry. I found a family from California who live in a upscale community in Puerto Armuellos (ex-executives of Chiquita Banana plantation use to live in this community). The banana plantation have packed up and headed out since then. We did have a nice shopping stop on the way back between the Panama and Costa Rica border. Duty free items...some good deals to be found on clothing, liquor, and other items for house and car.
Friday spent day in Boquete...Stephanie found a lady selling bread in the street that use to study. She is originally from Cuba. She said she is interested in studying again. Friday night had family night with Gilby's we saw "Return to me". Ate pizza and had some upbuilding conversations.
Saturday - spent morning out in ministry till around noon time....didn't really find anyone in census work here. I was a little disappointed with Marcos cancelling our study this morning up in Cerra Punta.
We have a get together to go to this afternoon @ 3pm. There is a pioneer couple leaving the spanish congregation and the english congregation was invited. It is raining pretty hard right now here, so hopefully they have good cover to protect from rain...
Friday, May 14, 2010
Other happenings this week......
Got to meet our neighbor this week. (Clemente) He speaks some English, but this has given me a chance to practice Spanish.
I told him he was my hero, after I learned that he works for a local coffee plantation and he is the official coffee taster for the company. He responded by bringing me bags of coffee the next day to try. They have some wonderful coffee here in Panama.
He has even offered to give me tour of coffee plantation. I need to find a way to make him a brother :-).
Abby, Sophia and Oliver have spent some time with his children playing in the afternoon. So we are all practicing our Spanish and looking for opportunities to witness to this very nice family.
I told him he was my hero, after I learned that he works for a local coffee plantation and he is the official coffee taster for the company. He responded by bringing me bags of coffee the next day to try. They have some wonderful coffee here in Panama.
He has even offered to give me tour of coffee plantation. I need to find a way to make him a brother :-).
Abby, Sophia and Oliver have spent some time with his children playing in the afternoon. So we are all practicing our Spanish and looking for opportunities to witness to this very nice family.
Preached in Boquete today---
Today's meeting for field service 10 in attendance meet @ Brother Jim Faust house. Retiree from LA.
He accompanied us in the territory. We are basically mapping out the territory for English speakers in the territory. Currently only 4 publishers are supporting the English group in Boquette. Most of the publishers were from Volcan that came to support the preaching work this morning. It is estimated to be some 4 thousand foreigners living in Boquete that speak English or another language other than Spanish.
After service had lunch @ Jim's house. Meet a sister from the Spanish congregation who Jim hires to clean the house up.....very enjoyable time. Looking forward to our Friday preaching in Boquete.
He accompanied us in the territory. We are basically mapping out the territory for English speakers in the territory. Currently only 4 publishers are supporting the English group in Boquette. Most of the publishers were from Volcan that came to support the preaching work this morning. It is estimated to be some 4 thousand foreigners living in Boquete that speak English or another language other than Spanish.
After service had lunch @ Jim's house. Meet a sister from the Spanish congregation who Jim hires to clean the house up.....very enjoyable time. Looking forward to our Friday preaching in Boquete.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
First day out in ministry
Last night was our first meeting here in Volcan...Total of 11 in attendance....Abigail was householder and she assisted me on an interview part.
Today we went down the mountain to preach in the city of David. The temperature difference is quite drastic from where we are staying. It is about a 45 minute trip down the Mountain where the temperature is around 70 degrees hottest it gets is 85 in Volcan. However, in David the temperature today was 95 degrees with the humidity comparable to Houston. Very nice response in the ministery. We are basically doing a search in the territory for any English speakers.
Today we went down the mountain to preach in the city of David. The temperature difference is quite drastic from where we are staying. It is about a 45 minute trip down the Mountain where the temperature is around 70 degrees hottest it gets is 85 in Volcan. However, in David the temperature today was 95 degrees with the humidity comparable to Houston. Very nice response in the ministery. We are basically doing a search in the territory for any English speakers.
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