Boquete

Stronger, Faster, Smarter!

My companion and I have this investigator in which we taught her the Restoration of the church of Jesus Christ. As we closed the lesson, it is normal to ask the person we're teaching to end in a prayer. During her prayer, she asked that God would continue talking to the Prophet to guide the restored church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It was a sweet spirit that was felt there. It is not too often that you teach someone in the mission and it just clicks immediately.

We had four bus rides from David to Boquete this week. They are about an hour commute and most of the time they are ye-ye buses. Like travel buses and not Diablo Rojos! The majority of them have television and just old music videos of people singing tipico. Accordions aren't the center of my world so... Blagh. One of the four bus rides had an old TV program, 'El Chavo del 8' playing. Now that I can make a few references, I pass off as more Panamanian every second. 

This week we also had a fast and testimony meeting. Wow, was that special. We had an investigator of about thirty years old who has two daughters. One is ten and the other is eight years old.  He has a girlfriend that is a member of the church and got up and bore a great testimony. Then, this eight-year-old girl seeing this Mother figure in her life give her testimony was motivated to give her own. She got up, nervous, but said straight from her heart. “Every time we pray as a family, I feel... I feel Jesus with me. Even after we pray when I go to school!”  I don’t know, it just hit me hard; this testimony of an adorable little girl. Testifying of what she knew. I love fast and testimony meetings.

Then one day around 3:00, we received a call from the Zone Leaders serving in David. "Hey... Umm... When does the last bus get to Boquete?" It was,  Elder Hernandez, and I've known him since I served in Changuinola. He isn't even in the least bit sly, planning on having divisions. Then at 8:30 we were surprised by this phone call. "Hello, this is Elder Valerio... We are in the piquera, come and pick us up." Now for those of you are not living in the Panama Mission, Elder Valerio was just released from being the 'Assistant to the President' to a new special assignment. He is now the 'Travelling Assistant'; or as Elder Daffer calls them 'The Flying Machetes'; or how we refer to them as 'The Sons of Thunder'. But Elder Valerio is like a drill sergeant. When he talks it sounds like he's unloading a clip right into a running blender.  We were in a low-key panic thinking, wait, what did we do? We've been living obediently, we've been completely diligent and we haven't done anything ponch or stupid. Why are they here? The only reason they would be here is if it was to completely machete the crap out of us. As we picked them up, and we started talking the first thing we noticed was that Elder Valerio and Elder Herrara were actually super chill when they weren't in front of everyone. Secondly, they explained that their new calling meant they have been traveling Zone to Zone going on divisions with every single companion. This was to help them with how they can improve. Phew...

Let’s just say, being with Elder Valerio for a couple hours was just super cool. I learned a lot just in a matter of hours. We ended up having to cut divisions short because of the hour bus ride to David to have interviews with President Current.  While I was there I found out that actually we were supposed to be the 1st and 2nd counselor of the bishopric in the branch. That has made Sunday filled with a little more responsibility and if that isn't enough we had Zone Conference the following day. I left this week just feeling jacked up. I've learned from Elder Valerio how to work harder and make it better and that if we do it faster it makes us stronger. Then after the Interview at the conference it just reminded me that more than ever, our work is never over.

Living in the clouds!

Some of the thrift stores here are called Ropa Americana. I was able to find an Alpaca blanket to keep me warm from a members store who was born in Equador. 

Spanglish

Working hard, and feel like I'm in a different world up here in Boquete. Literally, we have run into more Americans here than I've ever seen in my entire mission.  It has been weird how often we are speaking English and it’s now weird to speak in English; wow!

We have been working with a couple of families this week and we actually have had people come to church. Most investigators that we have said that they would like to go to church but if you don't show up at the door in the morning they aren't eager enough to even leave their bed, because its 'too cold outside.' This is the only area where this excuse could actually count in Panama. (Boquete is noticeably colder than other regions of Panama. We live on the top of a mountain and most days we are in the clouds and cannot see more than fifty feet in front of us.) This week we passed by three of the five investigators homes who said they would like to go and all three families actually came. Wooo! It could not have been a better Sunday. 

To tell you a little bit about our investigators, we have one investigator who is sixty whose wife left him around ten years ago and he just slipped into a slump. He ran out of savings and he now needs to go back to work. He has been looking for whatever kind of camarón (casual work), day job, he can get. It has been about two weeks where he hasn't found anything. We told him if he put God first in his life and went to church that God would help him with his needs. This last week he did, and he was excited as we picked him up to go to church with us. He got to church and enjoyed it. At the end of the meetings, we had a potluck meal because it was the fifth Sunday of the month. This happens to be a tradition here in Boquete. He ended up having a forty-five-minute walk home but he did get there. We did go to visit him that night and he told us that he found a job for this Saturday that would normally pay for three days of work. He also mentioned that the lunch that we had on Sunday was a huge blessing because he didn't have any food in his house to eat. These blessings seemed to just drop from the sky in front of this guy.

It is amazing how many people we have found that lived in the US. We found a woman who studied at Utah State, walked around temple square, and visited a few temple dedications.  She has kept in contact with old friends that are members but had never met with or heard from the missionaries. She loved Utah, but just for whatever reason she is here now. She says it was for family but... I am not sure but is now here wither two children. It is just mind-blowing, that we have run into a few incidences similar to this one.

The Lord seems to be waiting for us to pray for our needs. And sometimes it is just the small and simple things.  This week we were far away from home.  We had been walking all day and had a lot of rejection.  I prayed that we could get a taxi home and literally within second’s boom, out of route a taxi just seemed to be wandering at 8:00 at night. It is just these little things that remind me... Oh yeah, that’s right, I'm not on my own. He is actually behind all of this. I am not doing practically anything. He is controlling it all. What an amazing opportunity this mission has been.

HOOOTT SHOWWEEER

My Grandparents asked me this week if we celebrated Pioneer Day here in Panama.  I can tell you that I have not seen anything but can testify that like the pioneer children, I have walked and walked and walked and walked. 

Can I just tell you of the many blessings I have seen here in Boquete? 

1) It's actually cold. In fact, we sleep with blankets at night. 

2) We have a shower and there is running water!!! It has been a little while since I've had running water. The last area where I came from was an area where we were lucky if we had enough water pressure to fill up a bucket to take a shower. The water we did get was freezing, yellow, with a mound of dirt at the bottom, and had small worms in it. And so I am going to enjoy this all I can.  No more bucket showers for a while!! The best thing about this shower and you're not going to believe this...we also have HOT water. YUUUP I said it. HOT water. You guys won't believe this but it is one of the three apartments in all the mission with hot water. The only time I remember loving a shower more in my life is when I got back home from scout camp. You'd take showers there, but there was so much dust that by the time you get out it didn’t even matter that you took a shower, so you just kept working on merit badges and didn’t waste your time taking showers. 

3) We have found a handful of people who actually look like they were chosen to hear us. Normally I find a few people to share a message with, but every day we have been finding literally a ton of people who are receptive. For a few of them, they have expressed that they needed to hear my voice. Recently we found a woman, at an old investigators house, who grew up in New York. Her father was American, her Mother was Panamanian, but when her parents got divorced the family moved back here. She speaks English and lived in New York for some years after leaving the home. Because she didn't have anything better to do on Sundays, she even went to Church a couple of times. She is a spitfire, but in a fun way and has asked us many questions. Do you want to know the best part? Her name is Eileen. Ohhhh Come on Eileen (Too ra loo ra too ra loo rye aye). Ever since I met her that song has been stuck in my head all week long.  With all the people we have met, it has been rather special experience here already.

4) One day we didn’t have much of a budget to eat, so like the normal Panamanian missionary, you get a soda and a bag of chips or a loaf of bread. One night we did just that and a man came up to us and said, “That’s your dinner? Oh no, follow me.” He then walked into a restaurant and bought a pizza for us.  He then said, I understand completely, I once was a missionary too. #Milagrodecosechas 

Elder Nievas and I

5) This Sunday while I was at church, I ran into a family touring Panama from Arizona. They were looking for info on the church here in Boquete and ended up reading my blog. How weird is that!?  

 The Haws Family

(Note from Jakes Mom): What a treat it was to get a text from this sweet family yesterday while my daughter and I had just finishing attending Relief Society.  It read: "I was searching the internet about the church in Boquete and came across the blog of your missionary last week.  I thought to myself, I wonder if we’ll meet Elder Irizarry at church in Boquete on Sunday!? Well, sure enough there he was! I know how much it warms the heart when a random stranger sends me a note and photo of my missionary when they are far away.  So, please know that your missionary is awesome and serving the Lord beautifully here in Boquete Panama! "

This was the first time we have heard from anyone one in Panama.  We wanted you to know what a happy surprise this was. We loved that you shared this with us as well as some of the amazing things your family has been able to experience while in Panama. 

All our love,

The Irizarry Family  

Day-O

All the Chiquita bananas you will every need in Changinola.

A banana boat song I would sing when we ever had district meetings always cracked us up. It was Day-o, Day-o Daylight come and me wan' go home.... Come, mister tally man, tally me banana, Daylight come and me wan' go home.... I have had a few times where laughed as I imagined my great-grandfather as he sailed over from Puerto Rico to New York City on a banana boat.  I am so grateful to have served in this area and will miss banana land very much.  I am now leaving the banana fields and heading to the mountains.

On Splits!

Yesterday I said goodbye to Elder Amaya who was super cool. We had a lot of hobbies in common and there wasn't a free moment when we weren't talking. They actually closed my last area Almirante. Almirante has a few people planning on getting baptized, and luckily the branch knows the people. Elder Amaya will be close by along with Elder Lopez and they said they will go out to baptize them, so I think that’s all under control.

I also had to say goodbye to the beautiful Changuinola where I have literally served half of my mission.  This was kind of sad to say goodbye to but... I did get to move to somewhere nice where we actually have clean water AND A SHOWER. Literally, I got transferred from one of the poorest areas where the houses are sinking into the water to a tourist site. Almirante was also a tourist site and pass through town but the sites there were places we didn't get to see because they were all on the beach and well as missionaries, we can't go there.  

I have been asked why I have not been sending pictures as of lately. Well, I've been working on that. I actually need to buy a new camera. The house we lived in got robbed in Almirante as well as getting trashed. The neighbors happened to see everything and knew who it was and so we reported it to the Police.  I did not get my camera back and I don't know if they will ever find the guy. As well, in Changuinola there weren't cameras to buy but now that we are near the city of David, I should be able to get a camera there. 

My new area Boquete or Volcán is amazing because you are up in the mountains. Elder Vela had told me about this area and mentioned that it was super dope. It is one of the only 'Cold' areas in all of Panama. Volcán was closed until recently and from what people have told me, we live on the top of a mountain so even when it is sunny, there is always a misty breeze coming our way. And at night you actually get to use a comforter!! YEAAA!

Info online from family:  The town of Boquete (pronounced bow-keh-tay) is nestled in the highlands of the fertile province of Chiriquí in western Panama. It’s a town of about 6,000 people and a retirement haven for expats looking for a simpler lifestyle. English is commonly spoken and many International Living readers have already relocated there. Boquete is a microcosm of bliss. Flowers of kaleidoscopic colors blanket the hills and towering mountains form breath-taking vistas. In the distance, you can see the stunning Volcán Barú rising up through the misty clouds while the Rio Caldera flows through the town, soothing residents and visitors with its gurgling sound. Because of its location in the mountains, Boquete enjoys a cool climate, and this draws Panamanians and expats alike to this gem. Due to the elevation, daytime temperatures are generally in the 70s F and 80s F, with cooler nights. The spring-like weather makes Boquete ideal for full-time residents and snow-birders alike.

My new companion is Elder Nevas who is from Argentina.  I met him when he was training my Dad (or what we call our first companion).  He is super funny and although I don't know a whole lot about him I think this will be another great companionship. I will be able to tell you more next week.  I left last night and just barely got here this morning so don't have to much to tell you yet.  

To follow up on last weeks question: For whatever reason and for the 3rd time on my mission, people have thought that I looked like that chef guy from Ratatouille.  But that’s another story.  I enjoyed the great guesses my family sent my way. (Mogli, Aladdin, Prince Charming, Flynn Rider, Robin Hood, Stitch 626, Gaston, Kuzco, and Kronk).