Adventure in Panama!

We went to this beautiful island called Taboga about 20 km off the coast of the city.   Super cool painted beach shacks where they sell souvenirs and snacks!  We went on a hike to the other side of the island for a private beach. Almost stepped on this little guy! Not sure if it's one of the poisonous ones but it was super cool.   Ciao Ciudad! View looking back to the city on the ferry.   Just arriving! Taboga! Such a cool little colorful island town Hermoso!

Been a little while since I posted an update here. These past few weeks we have been conducting a survey to all of the Young Single Adults of the church here in the country to find out why it is that some of them do not go to school, what they know about the church's Perpetual Education Fund, etc. It's been interesting getting responses back from the members. This weekend Elder Uceda, a general authority seventy, was here and we presented this information to him. So far we have received answers to our survey from 190 young single adults! A lot of them said they do not have funds to study and so we are glad this information can be shared with the leaders to hopefully help the YSA be able to go to school. We love the YSA and have become great friends with a lot of them. We started a FHE group that meets on Monday nights at our place and we have a spiritual thought, play games and eat food! Here's a pic of that event below. Aside from that we participate a lot in English class...

What a crazy week it has been here in Panama! Sometimes I can't believe its only been one week. Crazy. It makes me excited that we have such a long time here because I feel like in just one week I can already tell my way around the city and I feel that I have already developed some great relationships with different people. Today and yesterday were especially adventurous. Yesterday we went on a good 4 hour hike in the Parque Metropolitano which ended in a downpour and us sopping wet. I guess they don't call it a RAINforest for no reason. This beautiful park is a natural reserve that was established over 50 years ago and it so amazing. We were able to spot monkeys within the first 10 minutes of the hike! They were hopping from tree to tree high above us. We also ran into a park ranger who pointed out two sloths up in the tree hanging there. We watched the sloth try to grab this branch for literally 15 minutes about. You have to have patience with these little fellas! There wer...

Playa (Beach) Day and Institute! We had a great one today. First went to a nice beach near Veracruz, about 20 minutes from Panama City. We were almost the only ones on the beach and enjoyed the murky warm water, friendly stray dogs, and beautiful shells. We kept laughing about trying to blend in but inevitably being labeled 'tourists'—Panamanians don't really wear shorts right now (maybe because it's the 'colder' time of year?) and we were on an almost deserted beach haha. Very chill! We saw the canal on our way to and from the beach, on the way there we took a taxi that cost $20 but on the way back took a tiny white bus (van really) that only cost $1 each :) we loved it! After the beach we walked to the chapel and went to institute! It's a big nice chapel with the mission office, Institute offices, and general offices of the Church for Panamá. Institute was good, we are going to try and go every week—studying the Saints book. It was good to meet so...

carrying the heavy groceries up the hill 6 mangos for $1 in the street! dinner our first night - Arroz and Pollo! our building! on the left, tan we have a pool! perfect for throwing oneself in after a morning run this delicious fruit is called Maracuya - Passion fruit in English (I think?) delicious MANGO AVOCADO another view of our building Late-night walk on the hunt for some good empanadas