More Kuna Life

 

Well here is a Island update....we are on the mainland for a couple of days for several reasons....My companion is being transfered,and it is time for supplies!
Island life has been going well, our Branch continues to grow, I still teach the Sunday School and am The counselor in the Branch Pres....I love it!If it is Winter in other parts of the world, we don't know it! The Seas have been crazy, with high waves and rough waters. We actually ran out of food about 3 days before we came to the mainland, so we became very inventive!!! My new comp. is from Honduras...Yeah lets hear a shout out for Honduras! My Spanish and Kuna continues to improve,, somedays I just miss English!
When we got to the mainland we found out that we could call home for Christmas early, because we won't be back until Jan. 18th. So we had a Christmas party, all the San Blas missionaries (the pictures is of us sing Christmas Carols)...maybe my Christmas package will be here in Jan:)
So some cool news, I may be opening a new Island in Jan., I am stoked about that~ and I am stoked at how the Gospel of Jesus Christ takes us average, ordinary people and makes us extraordianry. I love my Savior and my Father in Heaven and am thankful for the opportunity to serve the people of Panama.

So Merry Christmas to all, and remember Jesus Christ at this time of year and His gift of
Eternal Life to each of us!
Love Elder Hine

PS My phone call home, funny story, I thought I really missed English, the problem I just can't speak anymore hahaha

Baptism 'Day

 

Ocean baptisms...does it get any better than this? The spirit , the water and the authority! I love this work!

My House on the Island of Ukupsini

 

So how hard is this gonna be to sum up a month.But oh mon this is completly different kind of work. But I love it, I truly do! I eat well. The nativies love me and all missionaries. The missionaries are way important to them. The Kunas remember every missionary by name that has served here!They are truly a humble people. I had 4 baptisms this past month and pray for 6 this month. The language is the hard thing. Hardly anyone speaks Spanish, and my kuna dialect consists of praying and asking for a way good bread called mado nika. So alot of times our visits are just singing a hymn, they feel the spirit through the hymn it is way cool. I love the Kuna people they are without outside influence, it is nice. There is no crime here, and we do alot of service like working in the coca and pineapple fields, way cool. Our house is about 10 feet from the ocean, and there are star fish every where. At night it is so quiet you can hear the rain forest sounds, there are alot of monkeys but they are afraid of humans.
But I am fine and happy and doing the Lords work, I love my mission. I should be back on the mainland around Dec. 14 or so, so I will email again then I love you all, and pray for you all every day,
Love Elder Hine

The Islands

 

The Islands

 

I love it here! I wish I could stay here my whole mission, it is so awesome! Our house is pretty big, I mean I don't have to duck in it like all the rest of the buildings or anything. We have a solor battery that runs a light bulb from 5pm to 10pm then it is light out dark! We cook on a gas tove so that is cool, but I have lost 10lbs, so I am working on gaining it back! A really nice lady does our laundry, I think she just dumps it in clorox, but it is done and she is nice! I am learning the dialict, but we still use spanish too. The branch is really cool, sort of deep in traditions, but are so good to the missionaries...way good. I am the Sunday School Pres. and lead music and teach Seminary...mom remember when you would tell us, "where you sit I once sat, and where I stand you will stand before you know it?" Well, here I stand and man I wish I would have listened better when I was sitting..j/k...teaching seminary is HARD! Have I told you what a good teacher you were lately? hahaha.
The girl in the picture is 15, the people here are so small, I really am like a giant to them! Well I guess that is it for now...except I want you to know that I love the gospel of Jesus Christ, this is His work not mine, I am an instrument in His hands and and thankful to be serving in Panama. God lives Jesus is our Savior and the Church is TRUE!
Love Elder Hine

San Blas Islands Here I Come!

Here I go! so about 11:00 at night The Zone Leaders came over and guess what, I am going to the San Blas Islands! How sweet is that? I get to learn a Kuna Indian dialect! Oh man I am so happy! The island that I am going to is called Playon Chico. My companion is Elder Cruz from El Salvador. We will be sleeping in hammocks and living in huts. I am so pumped! I am gonna work my butt off, baptize in the ocean! But there is kind of a down side, I can only use the internet about every 4 or 5 weeks because there is no electricity. But every 4 weeks or so we can catch a small flight to the city and we will be there 3 days buying supplies and use the internet and get our mail and things. I can only take a small suitcase and I leave the rest in the city. so when you get a email from me, make sure you email back because we will be on the mainland for 3 days and can use the internet on all 3 days:) Mom I am so excited, I am one of the youngest, I mean greenest to go and you know what? I think it is because of my obedience. Just another blessing! Oh yeah I've become a stickler about the rules. hahahahaha, who would have thought huh mom! In my Book of Mormon reading I am in 2Nefi 1 in Spanish, but in English I am in 3 Nefi. How sweet is the Book of Mormon! But all is well, I am working hard and i'm obedient. all is well, I am safe the Lord is watching over me so don't worry. I love you and miss you all,
Love Elder Hine
ps.just keep emailing me, but be patience in my response!

Elder Hine's Testimony

Dear Friends and Family,

How is everybody doing? How are the Cash families? Both the R. Cash and the K. Cash family? How is Jorge? I know that I can ask these questions in a e-mail, but it is always nice to practice my handwriting!

I can't believe that by Dec. I will have been out 7 months....That is Loco! I sometimes can't even believe that I am really on a mission! It just makes me laugh! I grew up fast! Can you believe It? Next year I will be 20 years old!!!! Viejo! Wow, it is weird to think I'm a missionary, you grow up idolizing them, and then wow you are one! It is very weird, but AWESOME! And Hard! And many other things. A mission is the best decision other than moving back home from Abq., that I've ever made. And you can quote me on that when I am whining about this being hard. But really, I have a stronger Testimony of every principle of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have no doubts that Joseph Smith was called by God to restore the gospel. I know that he was called by God, I KNOW it! I truly am apart of the "Fellowship of the Unashamed." Elder Eying said it best-"My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is clear." I testify by the Mantle which I hold as a Representative of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, that this Gospel is true! "I have stepped over the line, the decision has been made.I am a disciple of Jesus Christ." I bear you, my family and friends, my testimony. I bear it with the up most love for each of you ~ He lives, remember that. This is my testimony, your son , your brother, your friend, and I know that it is true. I write these things in the name of our Lord and Savior our Friend and Brother, Jesus Christ, Amen.

So, I know that I really didn't really bear my testimony all that much, maybe that is why I do it so much now? Or maybe that's my job! But, I just love bearing my testimony. So there you go...just know I love you guys and pray for you all everyday. I do miss you allot, but I'm putting my head down and shoulder to the wheel and going to work,

I Love you,

Love Elder Hine