Pinatas and Compost!

Another great week in Panama for Elder Meine!  He said a lot of pictures this week and answered some more of our questions!

Questions first!!

1.  Do you have any inside jokes on you mission?
I'm sure we do, but they  are probably hard to explain hahaha.... Like one of the Elders calls me Princess, and another one always touches my ear when I see him.

2. Are there any street vendors in your area and what kind of food do they serve? Have you eaten at any of them?
There are quite a few, but I haven't gone to very many. There is a really good empanada stand outside the migrations office though.

3. What has been your favorite Pday activity so far?
When we went and had the Multi-zone activity when we got to play basketball and a ton of other sports and I got to see all the Elders from the MTC for the first time!  It was soooo much fun!

4.  What is your favorite this to smell in Panama?
Anything but outside because there is trash everywhere  and it smells horrifying!

5.  What are some of the local sayings?
Que Xopa  (slang for wasssup) Que lo Que (What's Up) Que Pritty (That's cool) , Chuso (coolness)
Chuleta (Cute girl "porkchop")

6. Is it still just you and Elder Ismael in your house?
Yep! And it's great!

7.  Did you meet any new hopeful investigators this week?
I hope so.... I'll explain more in my big letter soon!

A little bit of Water Balloon PDay Fun!!

Elder Gomez. He went home last week because his 2 years were up.  He was my first Zone Leader and stuck it out with me til the end of his mission!

Elder Quinanilla

Giving Elder Hernandez a Piggy Back Right (Look home much Elder Meine is sweating!)

Elder Tuesta being the Pinata man

Pinata Fun!

Mario Pinata

We got a Pinata With Elder Gomaz' face on it for his last Zone Meeting!

Elder Ismael pretending to be a white American Girl on the Internet with some meat,
being photobombed by one of the youth in our ward.

This is the bishop's daughter.  She tried to get me to dance.  Had to tell her "Whoa!  Nope I'm
a missionary!!"

Ma and baby Cocobolo! That's just his nickname, but he's adorable!!

 

One of the acts at our Ward Christmas Party. Hermano Chavez has my guitar , but he
has no idea how to play it!

One of the party games for the kids in our ward.

Our amazing service project this weekend....Digging a hole and filling it with
disgusting compost,  to bury it again!

Hermana Ochoa "working"

Missionaries and Service invoke magikal powers!

Feliz Año Nuevo!!

Happy New Year!

We asked Elder Meine some questions this week!!

1. Did you and the other Missionaries do anything for New Year's?
New Year's Day we had 3 zones gather in one church building  to have silly relay races  and play sports  and all that stuff.  We actually got to play basketball in an indoor gym which was awesome!

2. Who is the most interesting person you met this week?
We met a guy this week who I've only talked to one time before named Oscar.  He's really cool, but the reason this is also interesting  is that he  invited us to his birthday party already!  Haha! He said he wants all of his friends of all religions to show up without arguing  about stuff  and just enjoy  a good time together.

3. What I one way that your mission has changed you so far?
It's gotten me in a good habit of prayer and scripture study in the morning, which is something I want to do for the rest of my life.  I also know Spanish now which is a plus! Haha

4. What is your favorite thing to read during personal study time?
I have the book Jesus the Christ by James E Talmage and it is AMAZING!

5. When you do your personal study time do you read your scriptures in Spanish or English?
I'm reading them in Spanish  to learn faster and because I want to finish the Book of Mormon in Spanish.  But I also have the English ones right next to me to translate or clarify things whenever I don't completely understand.

6. Is there a food that you had in Panama that you wish they had in Idaho?
Look up 'batidos' on Google. It's not a food , but it is delicious.  

7. Who has been the biggest influence on your mission so far to you and why?
I couldn't really pick one person. My first ZL Elder Arismendi, my first Bishop (Diaz), Hermana Ingrid from Santa Librada and President Carmack all make the list so far.


This week Elder Meine sent pictures but forgot to capture his face in any of them.  He was scolded and will do so next week haha!

New Year's Fireworks in Panama

A little game we did at our New Year's Missionary Party

Arcade time for P-Day!

Elder Mejia posing in the middle of the road.

The caption for these pictures said " I hurt my finger. Don't worry mom."

Merry Christmas from 88 Degrees and sweaty!!

Christmas in Panama is a bit different.  Here is how Hunter described it:

A panameno Christmas involves waiting until midnight and then eating a ton of food, opening all the presents. and then going to bed basically all day hahahaha.

We were able to skype him on Christmas Eve for 3 hours which was wonderful!!

He had a very busy week with a Zone party and a great visit to the temple!

Hunter says this is the funniest Latino he has ever met!!

A stirring rendition of "1,2,3,4" by the Plain White Tees

Hunter's Christmas gift, A GUITAR!!!

He is REALLY enjoying it!

What is important about this photo is how Hunter is eating his potato in the background.
Only an Idaho kid would do something like that!

Trip to the Panama Temple.  Always an awesome experieince!

Donuts and Milk

Funny story this week! Elder Meine and Elder Ismael were in charge of breakfast this week for the District Meeting. But they didn't think about how 3 boxes of donuts and 2 gallons of milk would fit in to their tiny fridge.  So they employed a little creativity.

Then on their walk to the church one of the jugs of milk got hit by a car in an Elder's hand.  Elder Zamuido got knicked too.  He didn't get hurt and the milk survived... almost

The picture of the week has to be of the $130 Ham in a box that they saw while shopping at Price Mart! So ridiculous that he and Elder Adams HAD to take a selfie with it!

Changes

This past week were transfers in San Migueltio.  Elder Meine's companion got transferred.  He is now a SENIOR COMPANION!!  His new companion is Elder Ismael from Paraguay.  Also, two zones were merged together: Miguelito and Alcalde Diaz.  This new zone has 30 missionaries in it!  Elder Meine is excited!

A few of his new zone.

With Alex, an inactive boy in his ward.

This is Kenya, she is Elder Meine's favorite orphan.  He let her wear his wise man costume!

Panama Temple at night

With Elder Totsch before transfers.  Also with Johann and Alex.

From Panama with Love

Monday (Dec 8th) was Mother's day in Panama.  Elder Meine only had 20 minutes of internet time, enough time to send off a short note home, but no photos.  Luckily, some of the other missionaries were able to send some home and their mother's shared them with me!  

San Miguelito Zone

Elder Totsch's TWO birthday cakes!

Reunion with the MTC crew!