There were 27 out in service on Wednesday. There were only four cars. Thankfully the brothers and sisters are loving and gracious and don't mind being squished. We've had a great time in the ministry. To find out what the title means... keep reading. Except you Irvan. You skip that part. Not sure about the spelling or correctness, but they speak so fast and drop letters, just like at home. And the local people are just wonderful. They readily help when we ask how to say something and when we're wrong they are just as apt to correct us, because they can tell we want to learn. It's been great. We've met a lot of the friends in the ministry and are really settling in. We've gotten used to Bajo,(baho) is the town in the valley. I've yet to muster up the courage to walk that set of hills and valleys. But we will before we leave. We've taken cabs a lot, and I've had people sitting on my lap. Yesterday we took a bus back home, and it was the same price. But I didn't feel like I was taking my life into my hands and my hands were free to move around. Plus it was really funny to see everyone looking at us, because the gringos DO NOT take the bus. It was fun.
We traveled through hill and dale out in service. I felt like I was home. On Tuesday we spent the whole afternoon trying to get to one of the brother's calls. His name is Eugene and he speaks Spanish, however he prefers to learn, right now, in English. The friends have the job of determining whether or not it is in the householders best interest to learn in English and whether they(the householder) would then be able to teach someone else, in English. If not, then they turn it over to the Spanish. The two Spanish Congregations cover their territory in weeks.
This man Eugene, is very kind, and even though his family does not have enough he offered
Carl and Adam (it's Adams RV) to take anything they wanted from the garden or trees.
There is also a Ngobe (Nohbee) Indian population here. They are very shy and typically live out or in encampments. They speak Ngabere, so I have downloaded some literature onto my mini Ipad, which I carry out in service. However, the younger Ngobe usually cannot read their own language because they are taught only Spanish in school. There is a Ngobe group in Boquete. So cool.
The Kuna (Or as the government has decided - Guna) Indians are also here, but more in the business sector. They sell crafts and operate some stores. They speak Kuna (on jw.org it is Guna) or Spanish. They are so kind and gentle. I have some Kuna calls. I want to try to cultivate some interest and then direct them to the appropriate friends.
We went up toward the volcano and down some side roads. They are doing the census again, but there are tentative territory maps with supposed English speakers. Sometimes that is true sometimes not. But it gives you a platform. We got to one house, gated, so the brother continued into the "driveway" and found a man at home. We could hear him in the car and his voice was extraordinary. It reminded me of melted dark chocolate. And boy did it carry. Dave and Carl went up and the man was speaking rapidly in Spanish. He did not speak English. But then he dials his cell and starts talking and then hands Dave the cell phone. LOOK! It's an English speaker. So they are trying to get directions and the man takes the phone away and tells them "follow". So off they go. They went out around back and disappeared into a field, for a while. Then when they came back they were all smiley. They met a woman from England who was VERY happy to talk to them and wants them to come back. She lives in the house that we couldn't get to because it was gated. Jehovah is awesome.
We continued up toward the volcano (you cannot make it up the volcano in a car) and then we stopped at another house because there was a worker who did not look Panamanian. It is customary to stop and talk to anyone who MAY be an English speaker. He was not the owner but was happy to lead Carl (yes he was out again) to the owner whose name is Steve. We knew his name was Steve because this guy just kept hollering and hollering. As it turns out Steve broke his leg and is in a wheelchair. But he hadn't seen the magazines in a long time and was very happy to get them. He told Carl to come back on Sundays. It's a very long way out to his house. The cab ride will be expensive, approx. $3.00. I'm not sure if that's one way or not.
We kept going up this road, no English speakers, but the view!!!
There are a lot of families in the hall with young children. We had the privilege of working with a young sister all day. She and her family have been here for four years. She's 16, now. Her Spanish is excellent, as is her attitude. She has a great call book and some lovely studies. She took me to one of her calls in a Ngobe encampment. We had to take a brother along for caution. Unfortunately, the mother was not home... she was down at the stream washing the clothes!!! When you see the pictures, you'll understand how amazing that is.
This is the easy part of the "road" to the encampment
This is the "door" to the encampment
This is the encampment
And this is the happy brother who had the privilege of joining and protecting us.
The stream is on level with the main road, on the other side of the encampment.
But Arabi (Air-A-Bee) was able to talk to two of the children, although hesitant they were, and she placed a Spanish tract with them for their Mom.
BUENA!!! BUENA!!!
HeeHeehahahahah.! What! You want me to stand there and yell? What if they're sleeping? What will the neighbors think? Will people get mad? No matter, they'll ignore you, the neighbors will think their neighbors have visitors, and they'll get more insulted if you intrude in their space. It's a little different if there is no gate, or if it's open. Then you can get a little closer. And if it's absolutely, clearly a gringo, then go ahead and knock. But in this climate many of the houses either don't have closeable windows, just holes in the walls, or they keep their house wide open. It's the same at the house we're staying at... the doors are always open. So I ask... What if a dog or a cat just wanders in? Not usually an issue, because they are also very shy. I'm not sure that they are shy or just don't care about you, because if they are lying in the road and you want to drive by - they do not move.
This is Cheryl. While we were waiting for Carl and Adam we wandered over to look at a coffee field. We saw some movement which she really hoped was a monkey. I was a little worried it could be a jaguar. But then a man's head popped up and he smiled, because she was pretty far in there. She was startled and in Spanish asked if he was thirsty. "tiene agua" Then asked if he had enough water. He just looked at her funny and laughed. He's only been doing it his whole life! She laughed and said to me, "I panicked!" It was hilarious
The local people are quick to wave and quick with a "Buena"
We did see a monkey.. at a rescue place
I don't know... this just seems wrong in so many ways
This is the dinner process. We have to wash all of the produce in a special solution.
Glad we brought some - thank you Ken Ward!
Carla trying very hard to talk to this little Ngobe girl. They are so shy! She would only stare.
This morning Dave came out and told us there was no water. Apparently the construction crew up a ways either hit a pipe or just decided to turn it off. There is no word when the water will come back on. So Dave went to a brother's house and filled a bunch of five gallon containers with water and that is what we will use to bathe, flush, etc. But not drink. We'll have to work something else out for that.
Whitney studies in English with mom, who wasn't home, and Arabi studies in Spanish with the girl.
cute is cute no matter where you are
Ai alguin que vive aqui que habla englais?
Is there anyone who lives here that speaks English?
Carl froze up on this first attempt. Lovely Arabi was there to save the day,
But he was READY this time!!!
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