Month #13 in Panama

Well as you can, Ethan is doing great,he is serving in an area on the border of Costa Rica,called Changuinola. he walks by the Chiquita banana plant all the time...very cool. The other day he said he was stung by a red bread plant that left pus-pockets on him...some strage stuff for sure. He sent hone his journal for us to read, and I thought I would share this one small entry:
"I am now who I always wanted to be. I have a testimony stronger than ever. I am a missionary in Panama, and I know for a fact the my Heavenly Father loves me."

Mothers Day Letter

I know it has been a long while but ...here we go.
Ethan is back on tthe mainland and enjoying electricity and running water again:)
We haven't recieved any new pictures from him, but have recieved some amazing letters.
the following is just a little piece of his Mothers Day letter:
"This morning me and my comp. were doing comp. study, and we were looking in 3rd Nefi 28( I'm leaving the spelling as the original). It is where we find the 3 Nefites and what not. We were looking at the differences between the 3 who wanted to live forever and the 9 who were to die at age 72. All 12 were engaged in a good cause and the all loved the Lord. But we found the difference....the 9 were satisfied with dying when it was their time, and the other 3 wanted to be missionaries and disciples forever. Mom that is who I want to be. I don't want to just be a 2 year missionary and be satisfied. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ! I 've grown up and realized what is and what is not important. Mom I love you and our family too....lets Do It until He tells us to stop, we can do it! I love you and all the ladies I didn't get to tell Happy Mothers day too. The Church is true! The Lord loves us, choose the right, haz lo justo, Love Ethan

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