(week 43)

Hey fam and friends! Wow super sorry for the internet and everything it’s been a crazy time out here.  Ok, so yea last week was changes and I had changes. So they called me and my comp Elder Cac Sunday night and told us that we didn’t have changes so Monday and Tuesday we worked like normal.  So then Tuesday night the zls called us at like 9 at night and said our mission pres received revelation and had a change of plans for us.  So they said they were closing the freaking island ticantiki where I was living for a bit and are later going to send hermanas because there are no girl missionaries on all of San Blas.  So at 9 at night they told us we had to pack all of our stuff and leave in the morning in a boat to an island called Playon Chico.  So that night we packed up basically the whole house lol…stove, gas, all of our stuff, hammocks, food and in the morning we left at like 11. So that was kind of sad because I didn’t have time to say bye to like anyone not even my converts but that’s just the way the mission is.  So the zls, who were arriving with all of the food for the missionaries on the islands, pick us up in their boat and take us to our new area.  Holy cow the ride was nuts.  Huge waves and it was super rainy and stormy and I’m happy we made it to Playon Chico alive!  Even the freaking motor broke down on our way so we had to stop on a different island to get it repaired.  So we got to Playon Chico and then took a canoe, with a good old 1.5 hp motor, loaded with all of our stuff and 5 other people, to a teeny little pueblo.  So the president’s news is that we we’re going to be opening up a bunch of pueblos along the coast that have never really received missionaries before.  So an Elder talked to the sylas (chiefs) who said we could live in Aidirgandi and travel to other pueblos along the coast with the permission of the other sylas.  So we get in the canoe with these people and went to this little coastal pueblo and we didn’t even have a house or anything there to live in.  So on our way I asked the passengers if they knew of a little house we could live in the pueblo and thank the heavens one of them said that her family was in the city so we can live in their house.  So we get to the pueblo and clean out this gross little hut, hang up our hammocks, and set up shop with our stove too cook on.  So another elder arrived the next day named Elder Garfias, he’s from a Bolivia, and is an awesome guy.  So now I’m in a trio with him and elder Cac.  So basically they put us in a trio because obviously there isn’t any priesthood out here so we need another elder to be a witness for the baptisms.  So yea, that’s pretty much it for now.  We have just been in Aidirgandi working but we plan on leaving to another pueblo along the coast on Tuesday to see how it is.  So this morning we ran about 45 min along the beach to use the internet in a little pueblo called Okupa where there’s a small branch, missionaries, and an internet connection.  So idk how much I will be able to write because if we don’t come here every week we won’t have internet lol so I will try to come here when I can.  So yea that’s pretty much it and these pueblos are by far the most uncivilized places that I have ever been to in my life.  Everyone walks around naked and no one has toilets so we just poop on the beach lol and wipe with sea water.  There’s only one little pipe with clean water that comes from the river so we shower with that because it empties onto the beach and is always running.  So we have just been drinking that water and showering with like 10 other people on the beach…yea, I think y’all get the jest of how I’m living right now.  I’ll write you more stories these coming weeks but I’ve got to go now.  Love you all and thanks for all the support and love!!

Love, Elder Call

Happy Halloween (week 42)

Hey fam and friends!  Wow, alright well another week down here and I can’t
believe it but today is the end of this transfer.  I can hardly believe
I’ve been in San Blas for 1 and a half months…its crazy! The weeks go bye
freaking fast here hahaha and its crazy.  Sorry but this letter can’t be too long
because the internet is soo slow and apparently they up the speed of it
on the weekends and that’s why I’m writing today and not tomorrow.  So this week the work was a little slower than the other weeks have been.  The success we had this week wasn’t huge and we have been getting rejected more because the island is small and we had already visited every house by here like week 2 of this change hahaha.  But we are still managing to baptize alright and are having many miracles. I think this next change we are going to be working with this island and another little village on the shore like 30 min away that has
accepted missionaries.  But we will have to see if president Current gives us permission. So this week I don’t have that much to write about except for one
spiritual experience I had.  So today was fast Sunday.  We have been
teaching three less active young girls between the ages of 16 and
19 and they are great and the all have new born
babies (sounds crazy but here they get married at like 16 and it’s kind of sad but I’ve seen 13 year olds with babies).   So we reactivated
them and they have been coming to church.  So today at church me and my comp had the opportunity of giving their babies a baby blessing in sacrament meeting.  So I had this newborn little Kuna baby in my arms and I blessed it and the spirit just came over me so freaking hard. It was the craziest thing and such an honor to be blessing these little babies.  The spirit has only been
that strong and notable on a couple of other occasions in my entire life.
So after we blessed their babies I just went and sat behind everyone in the
meeting, its kind of weird to tell you all this but I just sat there and cried like a freaking baby. I felt so much peace and love and I was just overcome. I’m so
honored to be serving the Lord and I’m so honored that he has blessed
me with being here in San Blas with such an amazing people. I know this church is true and I know that god lives and jesus is our savior.  I love him so
much and am so grateful for everything he has given me. Love you all so
much…haha…that’s all I’ve got for you this week…peace fam.  -Elder Call

Halloween next week (week 41)

Hey fam and friends!  Wow, first of all I apologize for not writing and
replying to all your letters…having tech difficulties here on the
islands
and i haven’t written anyone in like a month. Thanks for your letters and
support hahaha.  Wow, as for me this has definitely been one of the craziest
months of my life. I don’t have much time to explain stories so I’m sorry
about not being able to can’t write anything from before like last week. But ok so one story is that this Saturday the zone leaders called us in the morning and asked if we could help out some elders that are in the main land of San Blas in a
pueblo called Okupa.  So we sad yes and we headed off at like 1pm. So the
thing with San Blas and the mission right now is the 14 missionaries that
are here are all trying to open up pueblos in san blas and open up the
church because most of the people don’t know the gospel. So we are trying to
get into to all of the pueblos but the culture of the Kunas is super
strict and the laws are hard to deal with. But little by little we are
entering in and baptizing people and introducing the church.  So yesterday
we went to help the missionaries with baptisms and sacrament meetings. So
we left in a little freaking 8 hp motor cayuko with some guy we didn’t know
and traveled like an hour in the middle of the freaking ocean with big old freaking waves (and thats a normal everyday thing). So we get to this to little town barely alive and are warmly welcomed by all the kids who hold your hands and bring you in.  So this guy totally ripped us off for the ride so we had absolutely zero
money and neither did the other elder who we met there. So we get to this town with our hammocks on our backs, no where to sleep, no money, and no food.  So we start talking to people and teaching people.  There was so many people that they already had that wanted to be baptized.  So we hadn’t eaten all that day and that night we were praying for who in the heck can give us food and a miracle happened when these kids randomly gave us a little fish. So we made a fire and fried those bad puppies up…suuuch a miracle.  So Sunday morning we had a tiny little sacrament meeting with like 15 or 20 people in a little house where they make alcohol…lol…kind of ironic.  I gave a talk, blessed the sacrament, and
lead the hyms... typical for out here hahah.  So after church we had the baptisms and then we were off to another pueblo.  So the thing is we couldn’t find a
boat and no one could take us so we ended walking with nothing but
hammocks and a little water because we heard there was a path to the next pueblo through the jungle.  I wish i could send pics because we were in the
middle of freaking nowhere like jungle jungle.   We walked along a beach that lead us to a tiny path.  The path was super muddy and the mud was up to our shins and we were wearing flip flops.  Holy cow that hike was sooo nuts with us 4 clueless missionaries in the middle of the freaking jungle that was filled with monkeys and toucans and we were just trying to get to the next town. So after like 2 hours of the craziest hike ever we got to the other town.  So we had another sacrament meeting of like 15 people and then we had some more baptisms.  We had no idea how we were going to get back home to tikantaki to have more
baptisms that we had planned.  So another miracle happened…this guy that we baptized had a friend with a tiny boat that we didn’t know about.  So we basically begged him to take us back to our island.  We almost had to hike to Okupa to stay the night but thank the heavens that this guy said yes and took us on like a three hour boat ride back to our island.  That was just this weekend but all I will say is it really was just another weekend here in San Blas…haha.
So yea its crazy out here but I’m so blessed and so honored to be introducing the gospel to all of these people.  I pray that one day churches can be built here in every pueblo and one day these people that have never even left their villages can make it to the temple of the lord.  Well yea, that’s all I have time for but just know I’m staying healthy and doing alright here…all is well!

Love you all and i pray for you all daily! - Elder Call

Wish I could send pics but the internet is too slow.  

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

Fall is almost Here (Week 36)

Hey friends and fam! (the usual title every week lol) 

Well, this week was dope and this next week is the freakin last of changes which i can't even believe.  Life has been good this week and the mission is amazing hahaha. I'm learning so much every day and my testimony just gets stronger and stronger.  I also have 8 months in the mission today...hahaha...so crazy how time flies.  This week was another good one and we continue having so many miracles.  We had two baptisms this week which were dope.  We baptized a girl that's like 26 and we also baptized Ofelia's son.  Ofelia is the lady we baptized last week.  Super awesome stuff and we just continue to see blessing and miracles.  Well today was one of the dopest days that i have had here in Panama not guna lie.  So the 1st counselor of the stake presidency knows my comp cus my comp was in this same zone before.  So my comp talked to him and he said he'd take us in his car up to his house where there are amazing views.  So we talked to our mission leaders and asked if we could drive in his car up to his house.  It's a miracle that we got permission to go, and that it all worked out, and he took us in his car all the way up to his house which is in a place called Cerro Azul.  This guy, Pres Gahona, is the freekin man!  He took us exploring all over this huge mountain where he lives all of today.  It was soo dope...we got to see the view of both the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans together.  We also got to see a view of the whole city and all of the surrounding cities that border Panama City.  We also had a great view of the canal.  Soo awesome and we just chatted, laughed, and drove around up there.  One of the highlights is Pres Gahona was telling me that there are a bunch of sloths up there but we had't seen any.  So at the end of the trip we got out of his car and started looking in the trees for sloths when these gardeners pass by us and ask what we're doing.  We told them we were looking for sloths and they just drove off and left without saying anything.  About 15 min later the gardeners came back with a huge sloth in the back of their truck that they caught and brought back for us...hhahaha...it was the funniest thing I have ever seen in my life.  That's why i love this place...some dirt broke Panamanians went wayyy out of their way to find a sloth, catch it, and then bring it back to us.  It totally made our day. The people are so humble and nice and are freekin hilarious...hahaha...these guys just had a freekin rope around this sloth in their crappy little truck and were just messing around with the sloth with us hahaha.  Well, love this freekin little country and love you all too.  The sad thing is I didn't have my camera with me during that part of the day but luckily my comp did and he's going to send me the pics later.  I'll try and send some pics of the sloth out to you next week.  Love, Elder Call  

Birthday month (week 35)

Hey friends and fam! 

Well this week was a little slower of a week but it's still awesome just being out here.  The mission is the freaking best and I'm still hanging in there hahaha.  My Comp is a really good guy and I can't believe it's almost the end of the change...only two weeks more to go.  Time is flying and I can't even believe I almost have 8 months here in the mission...so crazy.  Well, we had some baptisms this week.  We baptized a lady from Nicaragua who's been living here in Panama for like 10 years, she's in her mid 40's, and we also baptized one of her sons who is 9.   Her other son is going to get baptized next week, which should be exciting, and he's 12 years old.  We found her and her family in a tinnnnyyyy little shack in our area and I'm talking literally a shack.  My room is about as big as her house where she lives with her five small kids.  She's struggling toooooons and doesn't have work right now so she relies a lot on the neighbors for food.  So she only eats like beans and a little rice and her kids are always complaining about being hungry.  She literally doesn't have very much money at all.  So we found them and started teaching them the gospel and she was sooo humble and open to the church.  She has a lot of faith and is honestly just sooo awesome.  I love her and her family so much. So that's the big news that happened this week and not much else.  We're just working out here trying to serve and survive day by day hahaha.  I can't send photos right now but I will make sure to send a bunch out next week.  Love you all and thanks for the continual support!!!! 

Love, Elder Call