Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Today was another great day. It really started in a neat way. The man I wrote about the other day who told me the story about planting seeds and not being able to see the results came in this morning with two very touching gifts for me. First he pulled out a small piece of granite, which he said was some of the scrap left over from building the Panama Temple. He brought a piece to me and a woman who had served her about 2-3 years after I left. Then, he pulled out this white shirt that had the Panama Temple embroidered on the front and told me it was a shirt that he had worn in participating in the culteral event the evening prior to the dedication, which was attended by President Monson, President Uchtdorf and others. I told him I could not accept the shirt but he insisted that I take it as a gift. I was so incredibly touched and choked up by this very generous offer. I have included two pictures, one with Ramon Gilberto (Beto) Zambrano Fernandez and me holding the shirt and stone and the other a close up.
Every person in the "brigada" is supposed to participate in one of the several humanitarian projects sponsored by the group during the trip. Sometimes it will include a visit to a children's hospital to visit kids with cancer, or a women's hospital where children are delivered, or an orphanage. In my case, my assigned time was this afternoon and we visited two very humble families with a wash basin-like tub full of basic food staples as well as several gifts for each member of the family. The first family consisted of the mom, dad, three of their own children and two grandkids who lived with them because their daughter had died. The all lived in a single room rented in a house in a very poor neighborhood. In spite of their challenges, they were all so gracious. Their oldest son had been to our clinics on Monday. Anyway, we gave them the food and toys and candy and blankets and back-packs, and some necklaces, and other stuff. The kids just lit up, probably more than they had ever or will ever receive in their lives. The mother had just gotten out of the hospital after 10 days of being ill (I imagine the hospital made available to her would scare us all to death). We took pictures (I did not have my camera but will get copies) and sang songs with them and had a prayer. It was really touching.
Then we went to a second humble family that consisted of mom, dad, and four children. His family had been one of the very first to join the church in his whole part of the city, along with their next door neighbors. He, however, did not join for a couple of years but finally did so during my time in Panama as a young man. He is a plumber by trade but also has to support his aging and ill mother. Their kids were absolutely beautiful and they also very much enjoyed the bonanza we showered upon them. I had the opportunity to be the person who did all the speaking at the second house and it was really cool.
Our clinic is now closed. :( We served over 400 people, with about 340 of them being future potential missionaries. I spoke with a great many who said that this service would clear the only obstable keeping them from going on missions, and I believe that a good percentage will ultimately make it. My heart is full after this service and I am grateful that I could be here. I now have a couple of days to rest and play tourist and I intend on having a good time. Tomorrow's post will likely include a lot of pictures of the canal.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Day 4 Panama
Today was another really busy day. We saw a total of 119 patients in the clinic, bringing the three day total to 341. We have about 101 planned for tomorrow, but we always seem to have several adult walk-ins show up, so between the no-shows for the future missionaries and the adults, we usually wind up a little under the plan. I would expect some of the kids who did not come today may attempt to come tomorrow as it is the last day of the clinic. Hard to believe that the clinic part is almost over, seems like we have been doing it for a couple of weeks, but it has really been rewarding.
I worked in X-ray today, along side my companion, a man named David Borgolthaus. He is a practice manager from Mountain Home, Idaho, and has been working X-ray all week. He is really good at it and I have learned a lot from him today. I sent two pictures of our X-ray area, one with David and a woman named Karen Buckner, and another with me and a woman named Sherri Hafen. Karen's father was stationed in Panama while I served down here and we determined that we attended the same ward in what was my last area. Small world, a phrase I seem to be saying a lot. I was part of a couple of different teams that saw about 35-40 of the patients seen today, a much higher number than when I have been dedicated to one dentist. It was a lot of fun, with one of the biggest challenges being to try to keep from being bitten. It was easy for me because I manned the portable X-ray "gun" all day, but my co-workers really had to watch it. I had a great time joking with and interacting with so many people today.
For example, in the afternoon these two brothers came into the clinic. They are both fairly recent converts and both had hair at least to their shoulders. Well, they got a "missionary" haircut prior to coming to our station and I joked with them that when they returned home their parents might call the police because of the "strange and unknown" boys who were in their house. It took them a minute to get the joke but then had to tell all their friends. Later, a 37 year old local leader was in our chair and he already knew he had some serious issues with a couple of teeth. As he was sitting in the chair, I approached him and placing my hands on either side of his neck just above the shoulders told him that "after conference with the doctor we had determined that we would need to remove everything above my hands." His eyes got huge, but when everyone around us laughed we all had a good time with it.
Tomorrow I will be supporting an Endodontist, meaning a dentist who specializes in root canals. I am learning so much about dentistry, too bad I am too old to do something with the new knowledge, other that start to save my money for another one of these in the future. I spoke with the organizer and founder today and told him that I would like to work with AZ membership to see if we can help raise money for a lot of equipment that they are going to need in the future. They are going to need to replace several of their old (and quite lousy) chairs that belong to the dental school in Honduras. I would love to be able to help raise money to buy some of that new equipment. Not sure how we would do it, perhaps with the support of the Area Presidency. Not sure if the Church can "officially" be involved in something like that, but perhaps they would allow us to publish something in ward bulletins across the valley for a month or something.
I need to hit the hay. I am exhausted but still having a great time. Again, I am so grateful I came. Love you and talk to you tomorrow.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Day 3 Panama
Ok here is a letter from Jeff about today! He is really having a great time! I love all of his stories!
Today was a really crazy day. I assisted a different dentist today and I enjoyed working with her, even though we had some really wild patient cases to work on. We had two kids who were so nervous that they were shaking and could not stop. We later learned from another patient that in Panama when you go to the dentist and you get the anesthesia, that after you get the initial injection you will not get more, even if it starts to hurt you. Many of these poor kids must have had really bad experiences because they were terrified. Our third young man this morning, I am convinced, had never used a toothbrush in his life. He was only 19 and had already had four or so teeth removed. We had to do fillings on almost all the teeth left in his mouth, but only after cleaning off calcification that cannot be described. Then we had to remove three other teeth, and only one of those was a wisdom tooth. The poor kid was in our chair for over two hours without a break. He had a pretty hard recovery and I am sure he was somewhat tramatized, but I saw him a little bit later and he thanked me for all the work we did on him.
At dinner on Sunday night Elder Falabella told a really neat story about how the gospel really changes lives. I am not going to share it all because Brad Porter is pulling his recollections and writing them down so a couple of us can review and correct or suppliment as needed. He is going to use the story in Stake Conference, so I do not want to scoop him. He is going to type out his notes or give them to me to type, but either way I will get a copy to share after conference. You will really enjoy the story.
Another young man (37 years old) told me his personal story. He asked me if I ever knocked on doors during my mission and of course the answer was yes. He asked if anyone had ever slammed the door in my face, and of course the answer was again yes. He told me that his house was one that greeted some sister missionaries in this manner about 33 years ago, but that because of their kind and constant smiles, even after a couple of slamming occurences, that his mother ultimately let them enter the home for a moment, but assured then that they we committed Catholics and were not interested. Well, his family ultimately joined the church, he and his three brothers all served missions and have all been sealed in the temple, as have their parents. His point was that we may never know the impact that we had on some people when we knocked on their doors and were rejected. He said that perhaps there was the child of a household that had treated me this way who was now receiving the service we are rendering. I had to give the guy a hug, he really touched my heart with his humility and passion.
I do not really have any new pictures today. I was going to try to get one with Elder Falabella but we were too busy, and I think he ended up going home today. I am not really sure what I will be doing tomorrow but I know that I have to be on the bus at about 7:00 am, where today I did not have to go in until 8:30. I think that I will get out a little earlier tomorrow, which will be nice. I know I am not assisting any dentists, but I cannot remember what I am doing. My Spanish is certainly taking off, I speak it probably 75% of my day, which is really cool.
You might have seen some text messages that mom is waking up more and interacting with those who are there. Craig said she winked at him several times today and tried to speak but he could not understand her. They have determined that now the poor woman has gall stones that will need to be removed endoscopically and they are not sure when they are going to do that, they want to make sure she is strong enough. I am glad she is doing better and wish I could see everyone in Grand Junction. Obviously I miss all of the AZ family as well and cannot wait to see you all on Sunday night.
Talk to you tomorrow night. Te amo mas!
Today was a really crazy day. I assisted a different dentist today and I enjoyed working with her, even though we had some really wild patient cases to work on. We had two kids who were so nervous that they were shaking and could not stop. We later learned from another patient that in Panama when you go to the dentist and you get the anesthesia, that after you get the initial injection you will not get more, even if it starts to hurt you. Many of these poor kids must have had really bad experiences because they were terrified. Our third young man this morning, I am convinced, had never used a toothbrush in his life. He was only 19 and had already had four or so teeth removed. We had to do fillings on almost all the teeth left in his mouth, but only after cleaning off calcification that cannot be described. Then we had to remove three other teeth, and only one of those was a wisdom tooth. The poor kid was in our chair for over two hours without a break. He had a pretty hard recovery and I am sure he was somewhat tramatized, but I saw him a little bit later and he thanked me for all the work we did on him.
At dinner on Sunday night Elder Falabella told a really neat story about how the gospel really changes lives. I am not going to share it all because Brad Porter is pulling his recollections and writing them down so a couple of us can review and correct or suppliment as needed. He is going to use the story in Stake Conference, so I do not want to scoop him. He is going to type out his notes or give them to me to type, but either way I will get a copy to share after conference. You will really enjoy the story.
Another young man (37 years old) told me his personal story. He asked me if I ever knocked on doors during my mission and of course the answer was yes. He asked if anyone had ever slammed the door in my face, and of course the answer was again yes. He told me that his house was one that greeted some sister missionaries in this manner about 33 years ago, but that because of their kind and constant smiles, even after a couple of slamming occurences, that his mother ultimately let them enter the home for a moment, but assured then that they we committed Catholics and were not interested. Well, his family ultimately joined the church, he and his three brothers all served missions and have all been sealed in the temple, as have their parents. His point was that we may never know the impact that we had on some people when we knocked on their doors and were rejected. He said that perhaps there was the child of a household that had treated me this way who was now receiving the service we are rendering. I had to give the guy a hug, he really touched my heart with his humility and passion.
I do not really have any new pictures today. I was going to try to get one with Elder Falabella but we were too busy, and I think he ended up going home today. I am not really sure what I will be doing tomorrow but I know that I have to be on the bus at about 7:00 am, where today I did not have to go in until 8:30. I think that I will get out a little earlier tomorrow, which will be nice. I know I am not assisting any dentists, but I cannot remember what I am doing. My Spanish is certainly taking off, I speak it probably 75% of my day, which is really cool.
You might have seen some text messages that mom is waking up more and interacting with those who are there. Craig said she winked at him several times today and tried to speak but he could not understand her. They have determined that now the poor woman has gall stones that will need to be removed endoscopically and they are not sure when they are going to do that, they want to make sure she is strong enough. I am glad she is doing better and wish I could see everyone in Grand Junction. Obviously I miss all of the AZ family as well and cannot wait to see you all on Sunday night.
Talk to you tomorrow night. Te amo mas!
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Day 2 in Panama
Jeff and Gary Crawford
Miraflores locks
Elder and Sister Falabella
Ward members waiting at the bus
In front of the chapel
These first four are basically of me either alone or with other people.
#69 - a photo of me with Elder Valledares, Area Authority 70, with his wife. Of interest because he older brother was my first zone leader after I left El Salvador and went to David.
#67 - me in front of the Bella Vista chapel in the central area of Panama City. We had a big conference of sorts with all of these potential missionaries from all over the country, presided over by Elder Enrique Falabella, 1st Quorum of the 70 and Area President. Tonight as we walked into the restaurant, I walked with Elder Falabella and he asked me how long it had been since I was on my mission, I told him I returned 30 years ago. He was surpised at how good my Spanish was and was very complimentary. Nice compliment.
#92 - Me at the Miraflores Locks, the first set of locks on the Panama City side of the Canal. It was sunset so it was hard to get a really good picture.
#95 - Me with Gary Crawford. He is an oral surgeon who has been doing these "brigadas" since 2003, and we were companions in the office in San Jose. I gave him a ride to the airport to send him home 31 years ago this month and had not seen him or communication with him since until a couple of weeks ago when I took Lexie and Haley to EFY. A great man, been fantastic to reconnect.
#96 - Me with Elder and Sister Nelson Altimirano. He was the first Stake President in Panama, and was serving in that capacity when I was in Panama. He was released as an Area Authority 70 in the April 2011 conference.
Here are some photos of the activities we have had today. We drove to the Caribbean side of the Canal near a town called Colon. We attended at the Puerto Pilon ward and afterwards we did family photos with all who were present. They actually had a printer that produced an 8X10 photo after a little PhotoShop, and included a frame. One of the pictures is of a bunch of the members at the bus stop across the street from the chapel.
Other pictures in the group include some from the drive through the "canopy" of plants on our drive back to the Panama City side. I also have several of the skyline of Panama City. These two groups of pictures were taken from the front seat of the bus we were riding in, and I got a lot of glare and reflection off the windshield. I could do nothing about it.
I have a bunch of others but I am not going to send right now. They include pictures of the very nice mall right next door to our hotel, pictures around the city and of the chapel in Puerto Pilon and of other people at the dinner tonight.
Today was a great day. I have had a chance to really renew my Spanish skills and they are getting incredibly stronger every day. It was really nice to have a General Authority of the Church express how impressed he was with my language, he could not believe it had been so long and that I had not traveled to Central America before this trip. After we did the pictures in Puerto Pilon we handed out bags of stuff that was brought from the US. I honestly do not even know what was given the people as I was helping with translation and assisting with taking the pictures. I have made a number of new friends today, both Americans and Panamanians.
Gary Crawford and I were talking about my current employment situation and he promised me that the Lord will bless us for this service. I already feel that I have been so very richly bless by being able to be here for just two days. Then tonight at dinner, Jan Porter told me that she really felt that I was supposed to be here so badly that it has really been a blessing to the people I have met and worked with already. Coupled with the time that I have been able to share with my parents and siblings through my parents health issues, I have to agree, that it has really been a blessing for me to have the time available to do this trip. It has already been an incredible experience and I expect the balance of the week will also be full of great things.
The next couple of days are going to be really busy. We have over 300 kids yet to see but I think that we are kind of in a groove now. Tomorrow (Monday) I will be assisting a Dr. Rawa Hassan, from Tampa, Florida. She is not a member of the Church but has now been on a couple of these trips and is so impressed with everything that we are doing. Surprisingly, there are about 3-4 people who are not members of the Church, all of them are jumping right in with the rest of us.
I am not going to write more tonight as it is late, I am very tired, and have a very long day ahead of me tomorrow. I love and miss you all and will chat sometime tomorrow night.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Panama yahoo chat session
Ok I'm having tons of problems with Blogger, so this is why it's a seperate post. Here is my chat session with Jeff. Just so we have a history of it... Read if you like. :)
Jeff Smith: I am pretty bushed, how are you
Jeff Smith: That was a very interesting day
mandyesmith45: what did you do
Jeff Smith: I assisted a general dentist, we only saw two patients as both of these kids needed a ton of stuff done
Jeff Smith: like 12-15 cavities each
mandyesmith45: wow was the guy a nice guy to work with
mandyesmith45: were you able to translate
Jeff Smith: plus lots of buildup (scale) on the teeth. The dentist was ok, the conditions were pretty rough, I will try to send a picture through this messenger in a minute
mandyesmith45: oh good
Jeff Smith: just a minute
Jeff Smith: I had a really cool experience today. Two children of a guy I knew in David came in today. I was able to talk to them, take a picture with them, and got his email address
mandyesmith45: oh how cool send pictures
Jeff Smith: Accept the photo to see it, we are set up in the gym
mandyesmith45: It's really small I have to save it so give me a minute
Jeff Smith: I will send a couple of others
mandyesmith45: wow that's pretty cool where are you
mandyesmith45: wow so tell me the story of them again, you knew their dad on your mission how
Jeff Smith: He was a member in the first area I served in after I arrived in Panama from El Salvador
mandyesmith45: wow you remember him.. are they getting ready to go on a mission
Jeff Smith: I saw the boy's name tag and asked him if that was also his father's name. I will need to send a picture of me at that age, I doubt he will remember me. I defintely remember him, he was a great guy
mandyesmith45: that's so cool
Jeff Smith: I sent another picture with the dental chair we used and the dentist I assisted. Dr. Ross Crapo, pronounced Cray-po
Jeff Smith: Here is one of my bedroom, very nice
Jeff Smith: I will send the other one as well
Jeff Smith: Mine is the bed closest to the window
Jeff Smith: Nice room
Jeff Smith: has rained quite a bit today
mandyesmith45: That's pretty nice, not bad, where exactly are you?
Jeff Smith: Let me tell you this set up is pretty rustic
mandyesmith45: I love all of these pictures
mandyesmith45: you send me lots of them
Jeff Smith: I will take some of the country side tomorrow as we are traveling over to Colon. I have not had any real time to see anything yet, we have been super busy today, just drove to the chapel, worked and ate there, then returned
Jeff Smith: I may need to go to a pharmacy to buy some more gloves
Jeff Smith: went through a bunch today
mandyesmith45: I'm really proud of you and so glad you are doing it.
Jeff Smith: Honey, I am so very grateful to be here
Jeff Smith: Here is a picture of Brad, I have hardly seen them
mandyesmith45: wow so Jan is helping him have you been ttranslating
Jeff Smith: No, someone else is translating for them
mandyesmith45: weren't you guys sitting by eachother on the plan
Jeff Smith: they were really busy, still at the church building when I left. The Oral Surgeons are always the last to leave, I guess. I will assist a different dentist on Monday, take x-rays one day, and cannot remember the other day
Jeff Smith: We were together on the plane, seems like a long time ago
mandyesmith45: oh I wish you could help them
mandyesmith45: but I'm sure you'll see them the last day at the resort
Jeff Smith: me too, I went back and offered
Jeff Smith: I imagine we will hang together some
mandyesmith45: but they didn't need you when you offered
Jeff Smith: Nope. I did hang out with Elder Martino's wife, he is a 70 in the area presidency, they live in Guatemala and she is here helping us. He will get here tonight, I think
mandyesmith45: so are you meeting some nice people? Are you using your spanish
Jeff Smith: Do you remember me ever talking about my comp Scott Hildebrandt, the one who lives in S. Cal now? One of the Oral Surgeon's is his brother in law, very small world
mandyesmith45: wow that's hard to believe... it is a small world
Jeff Smith: he is going to give me contact information. Scott was my very closest comp
mandyesmith45: how cool
Jeff Smith: It really is
Jeff Smith: Lots of very interesting little miracles
Jeff Smith: I need to write this stuff down, may try to see if I can save this chat session
Jeff Smith: I can save it
mandyesmith45: yea I will have to blog about all of this, I'm sure you can save it
Jeff Smith: will become something of a journal
Jeff Smith: I will send one more picture right now, part of the group eating dinner on the very small stage in this chapel
mandyesmith45: ok send the picture
Jeff Smith: and here is another of us loading the truck last night
34 Share
mandyesmith45: all looks so cool
mandyesmith45: is it really hot and humid
Jeff Smith: That woman in the picture served in Panama a couple of years after me. her husband passed away within the last couple of years, she and two of her kids are here
Jeff Smith: it is really hot and humid
mandyesmith45: oh wow that's really cool
Jeff Smith has signed out. (8/27/2011 8:20 PM)
Last message received on 8/27 at 7:51 PM
Jeff Smith: I am pretty bushed, how are you
Jeff Smith: That was a very interesting day
mandyesmith45: what did you do
Jeff Smith: I assisted a general dentist, we only saw two patients as both of these kids needed a ton of stuff done
Jeff Smith: like 12-15 cavities each
mandyesmith45: wow was the guy a nice guy to work with
mandyesmith45: were you able to translate
Jeff Smith: plus lots of buildup (scale) on the teeth. The dentist was ok, the conditions were pretty rough, I will try to send a picture through this messenger in a minute
mandyesmith45: oh good
Jeff Smith: just a minute
Jeff Smith: I had a really cool experience today. Two children of a guy I knew in David came in today. I was able to talk to them, take a picture with them, and got his email address
mandyesmith45: oh how cool send pictures
Jeff Smith: Accept the photo to see it, we are set up in the gym
mandyesmith45: It's really small I have to save it so give me a minute
Jeff Smith: I will send a couple of others
mandyesmith45: wow that's pretty cool where are you
mandyesmith45: wow so tell me the story of them again, you knew their dad on your mission how
Jeff Smith: He was a member in the first area I served in after I arrived in Panama from El Salvador
mandyesmith45: wow you remember him.. are they getting ready to go on a mission
Jeff Smith: I saw the boy's name tag and asked him if that was also his father's name. I will need to send a picture of me at that age, I doubt he will remember me. I defintely remember him, he was a great guy
mandyesmith45: that's so cool
Jeff Smith: I sent another picture with the dental chair we used and the dentist I assisted. Dr. Ross Crapo, pronounced Cray-po
Jeff Smith: Here is one of my bedroom, very nice
Jeff Smith: I will send the other one as well
Jeff Smith: Mine is the bed closest to the window
Jeff Smith: Nice room
Jeff Smith: has rained quite a bit today
mandyesmith45: That's pretty nice, not bad, where exactly are you?
Jeff Smith: Let me tell you this set up is pretty rustic
mandyesmith45: I love all of these pictures
mandyesmith45: you send me lots of them
Jeff Smith: I will take some of the country side tomorrow as we are traveling over to Colon. I have not had any real time to see anything yet, we have been super busy today, just drove to the chapel, worked and ate there, then returned
Jeff Smith: I may need to go to a pharmacy to buy some more gloves
Jeff Smith: went through a bunch today
mandyesmith45: I'm really proud of you and so glad you are doing it.
Jeff Smith: Honey, I am so very grateful to be here
Jeff Smith: Here is a picture of Brad, I have hardly seen them
mandyesmith45: wow so Jan is helping him have you been ttranslating
Jeff Smith: No, someone else is translating for them
mandyesmith45: weren't you guys sitting by eachother on the plan
Jeff Smith: they were really busy, still at the church building when I left. The Oral Surgeons are always the last to leave, I guess. I will assist a different dentist on Monday, take x-rays one day, and cannot remember the other day
Jeff Smith: We were together on the plane, seems like a long time ago
mandyesmith45: oh I wish you could help them
mandyesmith45: but I'm sure you'll see them the last day at the resort
Jeff Smith: me too, I went back and offered
Jeff Smith: I imagine we will hang together some
mandyesmith45: but they didn't need you when you offered
Jeff Smith: Nope. I did hang out with Elder Martino's wife, he is a 70 in the area presidency, they live in Guatemala and she is here helping us. He will get here tonight, I think
mandyesmith45: so are you meeting some nice people? Are you using your spanish
Jeff Smith: Do you remember me ever talking about my comp Scott Hildebrandt, the one who lives in S. Cal now? One of the Oral Surgeon's is his brother in law, very small world
mandyesmith45: wow that's hard to believe... it is a small world
Jeff Smith: he is going to give me contact information. Scott was my very closest comp
mandyesmith45: how cool
Jeff Smith: It really is
Jeff Smith: Lots of very interesting little miracles
Jeff Smith: I need to write this stuff down, may try to see if I can save this chat session
Jeff Smith: I can save it
mandyesmith45: yea I will have to blog about all of this, I'm sure you can save it
Jeff Smith: will become something of a journal
Jeff Smith: I will send one more picture right now, part of the group eating dinner on the very small stage in this chapel
mandyesmith45: ok send the picture
Jeff Smith: and here is another of us loading the truck last night
34 Share
mandyesmith45: all looks so cool
mandyesmith45: is it really hot and humid
Jeff Smith: That woman in the picture served in Panama a couple of years after me. her husband passed away within the last couple of years, she and two of her kids are here
Jeff Smith: it is really hot and humid
mandyesmith45: oh wow that's really cool
Jeff Smith has signed out. (8/27/2011 8:20 PM)
Last message received on 8/27 at 7:51 PM
Panama
Here they are unpacking the bus. Here' is his room, not too bad.
The dentist he assisted, he said it was a really busy day they saw two patients because those two had 12 - 15 cavities each. Jeff said he met two children from a man he knew on his mission, such a small world. He also ran into the brother-in-law to one of his favorite comps. from his mission. He was a dentist helping there also. Small world.
Here is the culture hall of the church they were set up in. Jeff said it was pretty rustic.
Here he is with the two children of the dad he knew on his mission.
The dentist he assisted, he said it was a really busy day they saw two patients because those two had 12 - 15 cavities each. Jeff said he met two children from a man he knew on his mission, such a small world. He also ran into the brother-in-law to one of his favorite comps. from his mission. He was a dentist helping there also. Small world.
Here is the culture hall of the church they were set up in. Jeff said it was pretty rustic.
Here he is with the two children of the dad he knew on his mission.
Back to School Bash! and Jeff's off to Panama...
Jeff left for Panama yesterday..... He is going down there with the group Smiles for Central America. A group of dentist and oral surgeons and lots of other assistants and random people go down to help get missionaries ready to go on missions. It's a really great service they do for these 19 year old boys and 21 year old women. They spend several days working all day long cleaning teeth, pulling wisdom teeth, filling cavities, giving haircuts (not the dentists), giving physicals, and helping these young people do all the paperwork necessary to go on a mission. The great thing is that about 80 percent of the kids they see actually go on missions and that has increased the missionaries who serve from Central America. Jeff still hasn't found a job, so I'm having LOTS of faith that after this is over something will come up. :) I'm really glad he had this opportunity to go serve in this capacity. He will be helping in anyway he can, and mostly being an interpreter. Not a lot of dentists speak Spanish I guess... His parents are doing better. his dad came home last week, and his mom is doing better every day. She is off the ventilator and has a trach in, (which is a good thing) and was awake Thursday for a few minutes. So we are grateful for that. I know Jeff being unemployed this summer has been a tender mercy so he could help his family. I am grateful for the tender mercies in our lives. 
Last night was our schools Back to School Bash. The kids had a fun time swimming and it was just too hot, and humid... I'm so ready for the heat to leave for a while. :) Hayden and Tanner with Hayden's friend Case.
Last night was our schools Back to School Bash. The kids had a fun time swimming and it was just too hot, and humid... I'm so ready for the heat to leave for a while. :) Hayden and Tanner with Hayden's friend Case.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Sunday, August 7, 2011
EFY and other things....
This past week was EFY for Lexie and Haley, they both had a great time. I'm so glad. Testimony building stuff is always good! I decided I better head up to Grand Junction since Jeff's mom wasn't doing well. So me and Chloe and Cory headed up on Wed. Then we all drove home together and Jeff left his car up there, since he'll be heading back up. We were able to spend some good time with his family and his mom is doing a little better every day. Not out of the woods yet by any means but is continually doing a little better every day. His dad is really getting his strength back and is doing better every day also. I'm grateful for the Lord's tender mercies. Jeff is heading back up there this week to help with other thing and be there to help his siblings. Jeff's dad made a comment to us that he was worried how this was tearing his family apart. Alan, Jeff's younger brother, told him how this was bringing the family together and making them stronger. So true how these kinds of trials bring people together and make everyone stronger. It was so good to spend time with Jeff's family they are wonderful and I love them very much. 
Jeff's brother Alan, Erin (Jeff's niece), Sue his sister (Erin's mom)...
Jeff's Dad
Chloe and Cory with Uncle Craig, (Alan's twin brother) The youngest of the family.
Jeff and his siblings.
Jeff's brothers and him .... goofballs...
On the way home from EFY
Off to register for EFY
Lexie and Kim with some of their company
No reason I put this picture on, Lex took lots of pictures with everyone in her group, I just picked this one... I liked it cause he is taller than her, and the other ones the boys are all so short...
Jeff's brother Alan, Erin (Jeff's niece), Sue his sister (Erin's mom)...
Jeff's Dad
Chloe and Cory with Uncle Craig, (Alan's twin brother) The youngest of the family.
Jeff and his siblings.
Jeff's brothers and him .... goofballs...
On the way home from EFY
Off to register for EFY
Lexie and Kim with some of their company
No reason I put this picture on, Lex took lots of pictures with everyone in her group, I just picked this one... I liked it cause he is taller than her, and the other ones the boys are all so short...
Haley with her company
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