Sunday Day 6 in Panama

Sunday we got to attend church at my parent's branch. They are one of the few unique branches in that they sing and have talks given in both English and Spanish. That has been a nice thing for my mom and because of that, there are many Americans in their ward. We got all hooked up with the translator and earbuds so we could understand. 

Everyone was so kind and multiple people came up to me and told me how great my parents were and how much they loved them. That confirmed to me again, that they were just where they needed to be and that I was happy to share them with these good people. This branch had not had baptisms for several years and while my parents and the sisters were there, they baptized many! 

This is our kids with Kathryn's kids that we did the service project with. Carter and Kaynie (in the maroon dress) were starting to enjoy each others company ALOT. 

This is Kathryn. Not a member yet, although her kids were newly baptized members. She belongs to another religion that is a little more like a party at chuch with good music and dancing and bands. She also has been relying on a man who helps her by giving money in exchange for certain favors. She's between a rock and a hard place. She also grew up in similar circumstances of the families in the dump and was on the run by the time she was 12 growing up in the streets. She refuses to let her children experience a life like that and will do just about anything to keep their heads above water. She is such a good lady with the BIGGEST heart in anyone I've ever met. She was the one going from home to home in the dump hugging people, kissing babies and children and talking to people to see where the greatest need was. She truly is an earth angel. 

It was different to see a chapel that looked like ours but it all had tile. No carpet anywhere. It was beautiful nonetheless. 

Here wer are with the Ortegas and sister missionaries that we grew to love too. 

Rylee was happy to see her friends again from Thanksgiving and were trying to arrange another hang out, but the girls had school and we had plans! What cuties! They took her to primary and she even learned a song in spanish. 

We attended the youth class because they were having a special missionary class and they asked my parents to attend. They had 2 returned missionaries, a sister and a brother, talk to the youth about missions. The hard parts and the good parts. It was a really great meeting and they also did it in spanish and english so we could understand. 

We saw more of these monkey things after church. 

While we were in church we could hear the rain coming down hard. It didn't let up for quite a while like it does in Utah. It poured rain for a good few hours. When we got home the girls wanted to play in the rain since it was a warm rain. Sure, whatever. 

Carter got a little wet but was ok not jumping in puddles. 

 The rest of the day was spent relaxing and playing games with the sisters. Mom and dad taught many of them Nertz so we played and, wow, Sister Dunn was incredible and so fast. Tommorow is beach day!