Our new ADVENTURE has begun!

 

We have arrived in Panama!!!

We have had so much going on  it has been too busy to update the blog. (If you're wondering how we ended up here or the process of eliminating all of our possessions minus the 11 suitcases we moved with- I will eventually do a post filling in the details. But for now here is the up to date info) I'm sorry to those who have been waiting.  We had about 8 hours in flights and layovers. We arrived very late in the evening to where we had accommodations for the first night.  (around 2 am) Then the next day we had an 8 hour drive to where we are now living in Puerto Armuelles.  

It took a few days to recuperate from all the traveling and of course trying to adjust to the intense heat.  Our dear friend Monica Gallagher came along with us to assist with the children and offered us the much needed luggage space.  We just love her and as you will see in the next few posts of pictures, she is sooo much fun! (and she speaks just enough Spanish to be very helpful!)

So we arrived late Tuesday night and then we officially arrived in Puerto in the early evening of Wednesday.  It has been a bit of a whirlwind as we had our first English/Spanish meeting on Thursday night.  We were able to meet the Puerto Armuelles Spanish Congregation, and we felt so very welcomed! Despite the very obvious language barrier we had, it was so exciting to get to meet our new congregation!

After the Thursday Night Meeting

 

Since we have joined a newly formed English Group we go into the second school for the first half of the meeting, which we do in English and then for the rest of the meeting we rejoin the Spanish.  It is amazing to feel the love the brothers have for the congregation as they deliver their parts, even though we have no idea what they are saying....yet!!!!

So, we have been actively pursuing a house to rent since our arrival.  Thus far it has been to no avail.  It's frustrating but, the family we have been staying with (who are leading the English group) are The Wards.  They have 2 sons who are teenagers and they have been so gracious and hospitable to us. Including their family and ours we are a total of 10 people living in one house and amazingly it is going very smoothly.  We all work together and have been really enjoying each others company. Obviously though we NEED to acquire our own home to get settled and begin our new routines.  

We are praying to Jehovah to help us find what we need, not necessarily what we may want but what we really need to be able to accomplish our purpose for being here!  Speaking of, we were able to go in field service on Saturday morning! It was so awesome for all of us but for different reasons.  Rita Ward, Jace and myself went on some bible studies.  The first one wasn't home and the second one was in Spanish.  The woman was so kind and very, very interested in learning more about the bible.  We were studying the chapter in the Teach book on death and as she learned the truth about the condition of the dead we could see her relief.  It was a very personal chapter for her as she had lost a family member recently and was very concerned about the condition of the dead.  Even though it was in Spanish I was able to understand quite a bit.  She understood some English so that was helpful too.  It was a wonderful morning and I was thrilled to be apart of helping her to learn more about Jehovah!

In the Ministry resting in the shade!

When we returned we learned Brandon had started a bible study that morning!  It was his first time in the Ministry in Panama and he started a bible study!!! I could feel the excitement in the house when we walked in! What a great way to start our new life!

So on Saturday evening we attended our first Watchtower study as the new English group.  It was awesome! It was a feeling of being with family as we all have the goal of forming a new congregation here.  What is especially neat is that some are learning English from the Spanish congregation and so we are all helping each other...us to learn Spanish and them to learn English!  Thankfully there are a few who speak both and can help us to communicate with one another!  It can be hilarious but, we are all trying very hard to learn.  It is so much fun!  The brothers and sisters are so welcoming and our children really love them already!  Ok, this post is SOOOO LONG!! I apologize.  Here are some pics that we took in the last 6 days of our being in Panama!!! Enjoy!

Puerto Armuelles English Group September 2012

Rayah loves Monica!

Bates and Ward Kids with Candy Teeth!

Kenneth giving KK a ride home from the meeting

They made their names out of upside down dominoes!