Compared to the last few weeks, this week seems rather
uneventful. We had zone conference and I absolutely loved how spiritually uplifting and motivating it was. It was also great because they feed us as well. They spoke about being obedient to the
mission rules. Since then I have been more diligent with my personal
study. During the last week and the weeks before I would be walking,
talking and taking the occasional picture; this week I have used flash cards that I carry around everywhere. While we are walking from one appointment to
another I am studying. My goal has been to memorize many new words
every day. As I have turned to the Lord and asked him to help me I have flown through these flash cards like I could not have imagined. My grasp of Spanish
grows a little bit every day and now I am understanding significantly more this
week than I did last week.
When I was younger, I learned a small little rhyme. (Find a penny, pick it up and
all day long you'll have good luck.) While in Panama I have found a penny every day
this week. I viewed this as good luck or a blessing in my
life. While some days I may have seen one, other days I found 3, 4 or 5
pennies. On those days I knew something good was going to happen and as I
put forth the effort to make my days filled with good luck. I found better
results and had a more positive attitude. In life sometimes we
have only one penny worth of blessings, but that shouldn't limit us. We
shouldn't say, oh, man, I have been given only this penny, and just walk past
not picking up that penny thinking it's practically worthless. If you put effort into making a penny you find on the street motivate you to work harder,
or look harder for your blessings in your life you will find more success and
more happiness. Some day that penny will lead you to another and another
creating a cycle of blessings. Don't walk past that one penny. Always be thankful for your
blessings, even the small ones.
This week I questioned myself a bit one day. I was like oh man a
mission can be rough at times. For example, am I tired at the end of the day?
Some days couldn't end sooner. Is the heat a challenge? Yeah, but not as much
as the Spanish. How bad is the Spanish? Well, it’s getting better. I heard my
bishop say watch out for this family. They have a rocky past. He actually said
watch after. I still have a lot to learn. Do I wish I didn't have to search
five to six stores just to find tortilla chips or jelly? OH YEAH! Always! Then
I think to myself, but Jacob, isn't this everything you asked for in a mission.
A challenge that I will grow from, an opportunity to learn a new language. The
beautiful floral scenes and the humble homes. And the crazy stories to tell.
Panama in many other ways is the mission I always wanted to go on, but
never realized that it was the mission I truly wanted. How blessed am
I!
I would love to leave a bit of advice for any other future
missionaries. This week I went on divisions with Zone Leaders so we were in a
trio. That night we were fed a meal at a member’s house which is always so
great. But there was something about those beans that didn't sit well in any of
our Mexican, Peruvian, or American stomachs. We are not allowed to track door
to door... so we ran down the streets looking for a member’s house or even an
old investigators house. Let me tell you, if every day you looked for
investigators with the same intensity we looked for a toilet, then I have no
doubt that you'll have several new investigators before the end of the week.
Love you all- Elder Irizarry
Tips for Future Missionaries:
Socks:
I like the CTR Clothing DryMax and the Darn Tough socks.
Fans:
They have not come in use yet unless you are using them to dry your clothes. I've heard that many of the areas outside of the city and suburbs have problems with electricity. Find one that can plug in or run on batteries.
Shoes:
You'll definitely want a pair of boots for the rainy season. Other than that you will want a very comfy shoe.
Hangers:
Make sure you bring some with you to the MTC. I did hear that the girls had them but we didn't. This mission home will give you around five and the rest you can buy here. They are really cheap.
Lights:
I brought a few lights. A flashlight, and small Mila saftey LED light, a head lamp and a blow up solar lantern. I love the small light that I hang on my bag. I ordered it from ILC travel outfitters. It's powerful enough to light the road as I am walking at night. The headlamp has been helpful at night because there have been a few times that I've washed my clothes in the dark.