Week 80 (Nov. 27, 2017)

Alright so this week I was able to go on divisions in an area called Barriada Kuna. Barriada means neighborhood and Kuna is the people that I love to talk to, so you can see why this is a huge deal. So I went with another elder who is from California, we were able to speak somewhat in English with each other but sometimes its hard because we are naturally just thinking in Spanish. But we were able to visit a ton of people in his area and I was able to speak with a bunch of Kunas in their language. I really enjoyed it. Also while we were in the area we were able to go to a lunch appointment with some of the people there and they gave us a thanksgiving feast. We both got one small price of turkey, a small scoop of instant potatoes, and a bunch of white rice with coconut. It was the best meal I have had in a long time. I was talking with the member that lived there and told her how in my area we don't have any people that are kuna, and so we don't get to learn the language and we don't get to see their culture, even if i know it. But something she said made me laugh is she said that we she was poor, and her people were poor, and that's why they always share. It made me wonder and ponder that poor people are willing to share if they have less, and I came to realize that they understand the blessings of giving. They give a little and can see the good they are doing. They cant do a lot and give a lot but sharing just one plate of food is do able for them so they offer it when they can. I really enjoy and miss being among the poor of my past areas. 

Also this week we did a bit of teaching, but we don't have a ton of investigators progressing. I think we are at like 5. We have been trying different areas but nothing seems to be going our way. When we finally do get someone positive they don't ever seem to be available to teach or when we put an appointment to teach they aren't home. Its been pretty frustrating and I've been doing a lot of prayer and just turning to the lord to find an answer to our problems here. Its tough. But I know the lord has plans for us to progress in this area and there are people here to baptize. 

I hope everything at home is going great. I invite everyone to watch the Light the World video from the church and they try and participate in all of the activities. I've tried to adapt a few to do here in the mission and hopefully all goes well. I didn't take any pictures this week, I didn't take my camera with me to very many places, but this week I'll be better. Love you all!! 

Elder Hamblin 

Week 79 (Nov. 20th 2017)

Alright, another week down, and it was an alright week. My companion and I are slowly learning the area and we aren't liking it all that much. There's a lot of walking and we live in the back of a huge rich neighborhood so we have to walk out of that every day. We have been trying to find the poor parts of our area but we only have one small neighborhood that is poor, which is a huge change compared to my last area where everybody was poor. I actually really miss the poorer people. They are so much more loving and humble, and even though they don't have much they were always willing to share. 

In my last area there were basically only people who came from the islands and spoke Dulegaya and were just good people. So now that I'm in this richer area it has been super hard to find people to teach because I'm so accustomed to just talking to the natives and I usually tried to do it in their language. So in the last week my comp and I were able to really search out the area and find 4 families of Kunas. And the good thing about these people is that there are always like 30 that live in one little house. So we found a few and have been teaching them and I love it.

Also I attached a video of our house. And a picture of my hammock. I told my comp i would find a place to put it and he said there was nowhere but never the less I did find a place haha, its strung from the hinges of the door to where we hand our clothes. I've been sleeping really well in it though haha!! 

Also a little about my comp, he's from Peru, his names Elder Castillo, he speaks no English, or dule, but at this point my Spanish is as good as his so we can communicate just fine. Its actually nice to be back with a Latino companion again. Makes it easier to learn, and focus on our purpose here. In English we always joke around but when I speak Spanish I usually use more gospel language, although here in colon they use a lot of Ghetto words which I picked up in my first area so I still fit in well here haha. 

Anyway hope all is well!! Happy thanksgiving i guess, we don't have that holiday here but I did write it down in my agenda so that has to count for something!! 

LOve you ALL!

Elder Hamblin 

Video may not work but this is the new apartment

Week 78 (Nov 14, 2017)

Alright so throw out everything that I said last week. Something happened out there and they had to close a few islands, so I'm now in a new area. Its called Margarita and its in the city of Colon. The part where we live is pretty rich and I don't really like it. I miss the ghetto and the poor people. We are also opening the area so we have no investigators and no idea where to go. We got here last night hence the reason I'm writing this on a Tuesday. I literally spent the entire last week sitting in the mission office waiting to leave but then president ended up having to switch me areas. Its sad because I was really looking forward to going and I was really prepared to go but I wont be able to go this change. Maybe the next. 

Anyway not a ton to write, I'll write next week! Hope all is good!!

Elder Hamblin

Week 77 (Nov. 6, 2017)

Alright so today we have changes. I'm going to San Blas, an island in the pacific ocean. They don't speak Spanish, and they have never had missionaries there before (on this island). Should be freaking sweet!!!

As for the week that we had we did a lot. We found a ton of new people to talk to and had a baptism, and two confirmations. So in the end we were able to confirm everyone that we baptized during the change.

Also to celebrate changes we made some chicken over a fire, we just did it right outside of our house and it tasted delicious. It was delicious!!

Also I just want to add that I have no idea when the next time I will be able to email but I will record everything in my journal and make sure that I have some sweet stories to tell when I get home.

Hope all is well!!! Love you all!!