Benjamin on San Blas (week 39)

Hey friends and fam! 

Luckily it was just general conference last week so
they fixed the internet at the church but it is a dead slow connection.  So wow, this week was pretty
crazy to say the least. The island life is way different than the
mission life in Panama City.  Really mellow but we still work super hard in finding people
but its week two for me here and I pretty much know everyone on the island who
can speak Spanish hahaha.  Wow, from the Colombian pirates to these
crazy Kunas to fresh lobster and fish every day my mind is just totally
confused.  I’m living in the middle of the freaking ocean hahaha.  So as far as
the work goes it’s been awesome!  The Kuna people are so loving and kind
and so open to the gospel which is awesome.  So we had three baptisms
that were awesome this week.  The baptisms were kids of 12, 11, and 10 years old.
They’re super great kids and were super open to the church.  The hardest part
is their parents aren’t members and it gets rough when the parents don’t
want the gospel but the kids do.  So a member helped us talk to them in their
native tongue and everything worked out.  So wow it feels like I’m
starting my mission over again.  The language aspect is a little rough
because there’s not much Spanish on the island.  Around 60 percent of the people only
speak Kuna and so communicating is pretty hard.  So right now were are
trying to open up an island that’s like 30 minutes away in a canoe from our island.
Its called Tigre and the church hasn’t been established there.  So we
have been going to talk to the sylas (chiefs) and they are chill but there
is one secretary who is baptized who is corrupt and hates us.  So its
frustrating because the sylas are like 90 and say its chill but this young
guy is telling everyone that we are breaking traditions and we are
killing their culture and we shouldn’t be let on their island so we will see what
happens.  All this week they are having a festival because the head syla (chief)
just died so they have a week long straight where they drink chicha
fuerte (homemade alcohol) and smoke the pipa de paz…lol.  So I’m telling you
about this island because I want you to all pray for me because if we get
accepted to work on this island we will be able to baptize hundreds
because they all are new to the church and want to get baptized.  So
pray for me and I’m praying that a miracle happens.  Today was chill
because we went fishing with the kunas and I’m about to go back to the hut and eat it
along with some fresh lobster some members caught for us today too.  Hammock sleeping is so far
so good, and drinking river water hasn’t gotten me sick yet.  I have a
rash the size of Nevada on both my legs.  Some of you know about firey bung hole
and it suuuucks but I’ve got to grind through it though lol.  I’m going to Carti and
Nargana this week (other islands) so I’m pumped…taking the lancha por
alli!!!   So many details about the islands that I wish I could share but I’m out of time.  I really wish I could write a
better email but I’ve got to go eat some fresh fish and fresh lobster right now!    

Love you all and please remember to pray for me…I’ll pray for you.  Love, Elder Call

 oh and my comp is chill. hes been hear for 6 months and u can tell.
hes super tranquilo. lol imma come back dang tranqilo from here. and
patient lol these kunas aare the best people in the world but dang
slow to teach hahaha.

Benjamin goes to San Blas (week 38) He couldn't write last week...

Hey friends and fam!

Wow…first wanna say sorry for not writing anyone lol I don’t have
internet really and I only have like 20 min right now to write.  Last
week was changes and I’m now in San Blas ayyyy…sooo awesome!! When I got
the call changes night I honestly just went to my bed in tears and sat
and thanked the Lord for a solid hour.  This has been a dream of mine
ever since I could think for myself.  I will never forget my dad
telling me about San Blas and his mission here and showing me pictures
and telling me all about the people.  What an honor to be where my dad and
grandpa were before. 

So it’s been pretty crazy this past week and so much has happened.
So long story short; I packed a little garbage bag with like 4 shirts, 3
pairs of pants and literally nothing else, not even shoes, and I headed
out here to San Blas.  First we had to cut through the whole Panama jungle in a 4 wheel

drive vehicle and then I got on a tiny little boat that took me to my island hahaha…so sketch. 

The island where I am is called Tikantaki and it’s in the middle of nowhere
and was like a 2 and a half hour boat ride from shore.  It’s sooo
beautiful but the boat ride was sketch…that thing was not even a boat…just
like a tiny little trunk with a motor lol.  On my island I’m living in a
hut and sleeping in a hammock.  My companions name is Elder Cak…lol his
name always gets me…but he’s from Guatemala and speaks Kecchi (dont know
how to spell it) but yea he had to learn Spanish.  He’s like a Kuna but from some indigenous tribe in Guatemala.  So the downside about being on San Blas is that I have to learn the Kuna language.  On my island right now very few speak good Spanish so I’m going to have to learn another language which is rough.  I will probably be in San Blas for a really long time too because you have to learn the language and culture and
everything that goes with that.  So this place is a straight grind.  I washed my clothes for the first time yesterday with a seat and a bucket of water.  I shower with a
bucket of water every night and there’s no bathroom…gotta poop on the beach in an outhouse over the water…lol you can’t have pena out here baby and all the fish eat your poop after.

Sorry I can’t send pics right now but if I could you would just see me with my rolled up
pants, flip flops, and a bucket hat looking skinnier already hahaha.  The
islands have tropical blue water and there’s all different tropical fish that you can always see.  The water is so clear you can see the bottom of the ocean easily like 20 feet
or more down.  Well, that’s the life I’m living and we’re going to baptize a ton out here so I’m pumped.  In my area we also have other islands we can visit by canoe
like Isla Tigre and a couple of other islands that are close by.  I’ve got to go now but love you all and thanks for the b-day wishes hahaha.  For my birthday I just celebrated by sitting in my hammock and drinking a coke…didn’t have time to do anything nor do they have anything to eat out here.  Well, I love you all and I’m 20 now…growing up fast!

Peace,

Elder Call