29 de agosto

Today I am completing 11 months of my mission. Time is so strange here. Sometimes I feel like I have been a missionary my whole life, but at the same time the time is really flying by.

This week has been super busy. I am fighting to stay awake as I write this. I am working at the Stake center in Brisa del Golf translating for a group of dentists that have come to do humanitarian work. They are called Smiles for Central America. I have been working there since Saturday and got a break Sunday. Well, not really because I went back to the area to work. Elder Bentz is with Elder Estrada working in our two areas while Elder Reber has been coming with me to translate. We will be working with the doctors through Wednesday. We work the whole day with the doctors and then return to my area each night to sleep. We are basically on really long divisions. The stake center in Brisa del Golf has been converted into a hospital. They are providing everything a future missionary needs to prepare for the mission (haircuts, pictures, dental, oral surgery, physical...etc). I was assigned to translate in the oral surgery room. I just translate to the patients whatever the doctors say and then translate their responses. They obviously cannot talk during the surgery, but ow and ouch do not need much translating. A lot of the patients were really scared because they would see bloody trays coming out or look in when the door opened. I think we lost a few that decided against it. A lot of them thought that when they were fully numb they would not feel anything, so I had to explain to a lot of them that they would still feel pressure and stuff. Several were hysterical and crying. I thought watching the surgeries and being around so much blood would be difficult, but I was fine and had a really fun day. The night before I looked up a lot of words I did not know like numb. I thought a lot about when I had mine taken out. Since I was put under I did not get to see or really experience any of it, so it was interesting to be in the room and see everything that was going on. I think that if they have time one of the dentists might be able to look at my chompers. I was looking around for Dr. Judd, Dr. Favero, and Dr. Mullen.

They have also needed a lot of help on the humanitarian side. We have been carrying around food and big black duffel bags filled with fleece blankets, toys, and candy. The first day (Saturday) was a lot of moving around heavy stuff and organizing. I was cataloging translator and receiving devices the group brought for Sunday meetings and a fireside. I have a chance to slip away and write you because several of the oral surgeons left for an hour to pass some gifts out. It has been so weird to hear so much English.

This week was also zone conference. Elder Martino from the seventy came to speak to us. I really liked the messages he shared with us, and he set apart a time at the end to answer our questions. He gave some really good responses, so I have been trying to use some of his ideas. I have been working closely with his wife since she is coordinating the translators for the oral surgeons.

So I have had a pretty busy week, but I am having so much fun too. I hope everyone has a good week. I will try to send pictures next week of all the craziness. No, it is actually really organized which is amazing given the scale of what they have going on here.

Love,

Elder Whiting

22 de agosto

 

 

Last pday we went to Panama Viejo because it was completing its anniversary of when it was founded. Normally it is not open on Mondays, so we took advantage of it. Plus we got in free, so we were happy. It really reminded me of some of our other adventures with the family exploring ruins in Central America. I always like to try to imagine what it would have looked like when they were inhabited.

This week was really funny because I have been coughing a lot and practically lost my voice for several days. We relied a lot on my companions Spanish because every time I began to talk I would start coughing. He has had lots of chances to grow this week. Everyone keeps telling me to go to the doctor. I did not tell them we do not normally go to the doctor for every little cold or cough, but they were convinced that I must have tuberculosis.

The ward is really animated with missionary work right now. The mission leader started leaving with us for visits, and has been a great help to us since he is a convert. We have started several programs such as group nights and passing out a Book of Mormon each Sunday. The group nights are just social activities at members houses. They invite their friends and neighbors which we get to meet and share a message with. The Book of Mormon is passed out during the week to someone. They then go up to the pulpit and share their experience with everyone Sunday, then get to pick who is going to go next.

Thanks for all of your support and mail. I love you guys. Have a great week. 

Love,

Elder Whiting

15 de agosto

Elder Sanchez headed home after completing his two year mission. Neither of us could sleep the night before changes because he was going home, and I was informed that I would be training a new elder. My new companion is Elder Bentz. He is from Los Angeles, California, so he is cool. We have been getting along well. He is a lot better prepared than I was when I entered the field. I have been impressed with his Spanish. When I talked to Elder Voss at changes he was happy that he is going to be a "grandpa", so we took a picture of the three generations (Elder Voss who trained me, me, and now Elder Bentz that I am training). Then have a new program that went into use this week. It is called the first 12 weeks which is two changes, and yes we will be together for both of them. They are now keeping trainers with their trainees for two changes. I thought that was interesting since I was only with my trainer for one change. All of the trainers received DVD players and have video segments to watch each morning to supplement our studies. President Ward also added an hour of extra study time each morning. We have a packet that tells us what we are supposed to study each day and the application/goals for that week. I took a peek at the end of the two changes, and the new elder is supposed to take the lead is pretty much everything from planning to proselyting. He is also supposed to be able to train after our time together. The program has worked really well when it was tested in the states. My life has been really difficult since Wednesday. I have been fairly overwhelmed by going up to senior companion and training in one change. I am used to teaching the area to the new elder that comes, but this is completely different. I have been reminded of myself a lot this week and when I first arrived in Panama. The new elders that come are so eager to get to work, and so full of their "good ideas" from the Missionary Training Center haha. I have realized how far I have come experience wise as a missionary, with the language, and street smarts in Panama. I feel bad for Elder Bentz since this area has more challenges than most. He has a super positive attitude though. I have been watching him pretty closely. Some days full of rejection can be brutal. That is a normal part of the mission, but on top of that I remember how hard the beginning is. Anyways, please pray for my sanity as I adjust to my new assignment.

Love,

Elder Whiting

 

8 de agosto

This week we had capacitaciones (training) in the chapel of Bella Vista where changes are. President Ward really emphasized asking inspired questions to get to the needs of the people we teach faster. I really learned a lot. I met the senior couple serving here, the wallthrops or something throp. I do not really remember. Anyways, I talked to Hm somethingthrop for a bit. He has been working for the church forever, and has worked on tons of temples. He is a very interesting guy. President Ward and his wife are always really good to us. They bought us all pizza, and I stuffed as many carrots and brocoli my stomach as I can since I do not get those a lot.

 

My weird food of the week was cow heart. It tasted like any other cow meat, and I actually liked it a lot. I was joking with Elder Sanchez that we have tried almost every part of a cow. The same lady said she was going to make us cow tail next. Thanks... Anyways, my food adventures continue.

 

Saturday our baptism went through as planned. She could not decide who she wanted to baptize her, so she wrote "yo" on a piece of paper and kept the other one blank. Then she crumpled them both up and had us each take one off the table. I thought that was so strange. Elder Sanchez drew the paper with "yo" on it, so he was able to end his mission with a baptism. We had a lot of support in the baptismal service, so we were happy about that. She bore her testimony afterwards, and I realized how much knowledge in the gospel she had gained. A lot of members came and her family was there. Afterwards, we had refreshments and broke a piñata. I am always really motivated to work even harder after a baptism.

 

The scare right now in Panama is the dreaded dengue. I always thought people got really sick from it, but 6 people have already died. There have been a lot more cases of it this year than last year, so the government is taking action. There have been lots of fumigation trucks going around spraying everything. I see men walking around with a device that looks like Br. Howes potato canon shooting out poison. Now whenever I get bitten by a mosquito I pray to God that I do not get it.

 

This week we will have changes, and I will receive a new companion. I am 99% sure that I will be staying here in Juan Diaz. That is fine by me.

 

Love you guys,

 

Elder Whiting

 

 

1 de agosto

Celebrating Elder Sanchez' 22nd birthday at Friday's
[in a separate short email he again commented about how expensive it was.]

Here are some pictures of my apartment [in Juan Diaz]

 

I looked at my suitcase, and it appears like both wheels are the same. I am not sure if the other one sheared off as well and I never noticed. The wheels are functionable, but it looks like the outer layer came off or something.

[If you remember a prior email the wheel on his Costco luggage delaminated, leaving the inner shell. It did this on both sides and is the second piece of Costco luggage to do this.]


Wow, we are already in August. I can hardly believe it. 

Elder Sanchez turned 22 on the 30th of July, so we went with a group to Fridays to celebrate. The Fridays in our area is a symbol of America for me. I can feel like I am in the states for a bit. The menu was a little different though, and a lot of the plates included rice. I searched out something without a single grain of rice, a California club sandwich to show my pride for my state. The food was painfully expensive for a missionary budget. I never realized how expensive eating out was. I am afraid I let dad pick up the tab every time. The food was so good though, and we had a great time. The week before, Elder Sanchez was telling everyone about his birthday. All of the members are really nice and all wanted to throw parties. They all asked me when my birthday is and if I am going to be here. I think they are already planning something. They are so funny. I think they are more excited than I am.

We have a baptism planned for this Saturday. We were really worried about her because when we passed by her house to pick her up for church she was not there, and the house was all locked up. I was surprised when we walked into church and there she was sitting in the pews waiting for the meeting to start. She got there before us.

I hope everyone has a good week.

Love,

Elder Whiting