Missionary Email #17

 Dear All -

Although we don't usually have temple meetings on Sunday we did just finish up with a training session for all the shift coordinators.  Given that they all attend the temple on the days they are able it was impossible to find another time during the week for a training meeting, so we did it today.  In the process of today's meeting we discovered that the internal lights in the temple are programmed to turn off Sundays, and there was no obvious way to turn them on.  After calling the temple facilities manager I was able to find the secret switch on an electrical panel in a facilities room which overrode the programming.  It is so exciting to learn about the secrets of the temple!  Oh, yes - one other secret about that particular room that I learned a couple of weeks ago is that the door closes by itself, and the same key that opened it from the outside apparently does not open it from the inside.  So today when I went in I was careful to prop the door open.  I made two pans of brownies as part of the refreshments, and they all disappeared in a matter of minutes after the meeting was over.

This week we had a group of saints from Guyana come to the temple.  It turns out that those who attend the temple from Guyana usually go to a temple in Brazil, but their area presidency decided they would try sending them to Panama this time.  There were three couples who came to receive their endowments and to be sealed.  They also had a senior missionary couple with them.  Like the saints from Jamaica, they speak English, but no Spanish, so Delkys and I ended up helping them with a number of things.  In particular I got to perform all three sealings, which was a wonderful experience.  They were so grateful to be at the temple and we all had a marvelous time together.

Today was stake conference for our stake.  There were three choirs that sang; a Primary chorus, a choir of Kuna women, and then a more traditional choir.  I enjoyed all three of them, but I was particularly struck by the Kuna sisters.  The Kuna indians are from some islands off the coast of Panama, and although legally part of Panama, they are very autonomous, and maintain their own language and customs.  These sisters all live here close to Panama City, but they were all dressed in their traditional clothing.  They sang the hymn "How Great Thou Art", alternating verses between Kuna and Spanish.  In all honesty they had little sense for the melody, but they sang with great enthusiasm and spirit, and the meaning of the words came through just fine.  I found their performance to be very uplifting.

As is customary, at the end of the week we are very close to exhausted.  It has been a great week and a lot has gone on, but it does take somewhat out of us.  Next week we will be working mornings again, which means we have to get up earlier, just to add to the challenge.  But we are having a wonderful time, learning lots, and are grateful for this opportunity to serve here.  Thank you for your love and support.

Love,

John and Delkys