Hermano Carlos November 30 -December 21, 2009

November 30, 2009

This week was a hard week, almost every single one of our appointments fell through and I literally watched some ladies hide in their house after they saw me and refused to answer the door. It gave me a pretty good laugh. Something good must be coming because Satan is wrecking havoc this week. But despite it all I have definitely learned how to be happy despite the constant rejection. Honestly it has brought me closer to the Savior as I am beginning to feel in part how he must have felt and still feels every time we choose something else over him. He truly was a compassionate Savior to take on all of our sins and pains when the majority of the world won't even recognize him. I am so grateful for the sacrifice he made for me, and for the opportunity I have to be here serving him.

I put my first baptismal date yesterday, a guy who has been coming to church for 14 years but never been baptized, I have been working to help him overcome an addiction to gambling and he accept to be baptized Dec 19th!! Yay!!


Not much else happened this week, still just working my little heart out, I'm so tired I think I'm just going to take a huge nap today. My Area on the map is Acalde Diaz, it is close to Panama City.

December 7, 2009

The guy with the baptismal date is still on to be baptized. He is still working on his addiction but he really wants to be baptized. It is not one of the question in the interview, but I don't want to baptize anyone who won't be able to keep their covenants.

We started teaching a guy this week who is really really positive, he was really excited to pray and learn for himself if the church is true so we will see.

Things are good, same old same old. Except my hair gets blonder and blonder everyday and you should see my tan lines: attractive. And my number of admirers grows everyday. I get at least 4 or 5 I love yous in English everyday. I had a guy tell me this week that my mission is over, its time for me to marry him. Sick. I look forward to not having everyone staring at me all the time. Love you all!!

December 14, 2009

This week was good, hopefully the baptism of hno Carlos will happen this Saturday. He has given up lottery and the leader who interviewed him said he thinks he is ready but because of some past sins he needs to have an interview with the Mission Pres. first. So we are doing everything we can to get that done.
We had several good lessons this week, but we also had conference, a Christmas devotional and Tuesday was Mothers Day here, so I didn't get a whole lot of work in again. But I am definitely raring to go.
We are teaching several families right now that are pretty awesome, but none of them are married so we have to work on that first. Overall its the same old same old work in the Lords vineyard. This week I really noticed some of the ways I have become stronger and the many areas I still am faltering in. It is incredible to see the ways the Lord is shaping me to be a better tool in his hands.

December 21, 2009

Hey Everyone, This week was an interesting week. Hermano Carlos finally was baptized and confirmed this weekend. His testimony was so sweet, he said that he felt full of joy to finally be able to give his testimony as a member, that after 15 years of watching everyone else bear their testimonies he was really excited to be able to participate. I am glad for the example he has shown me of faith.

Hermano Carlos after his baptism with Kara and Hermana Chevez

My actual week didn't go so well, needless to say being sick with a fever when it is roasting outside is not fun. I worked as much as I could but being sick definitely put a damper on things. But I received a blessing and I was able to push through and today I am pretty much all better. I am so incredibly grateful for the priesthood. I know we have the power and authority of God on the earth today and I am so grateful to have the blessings it brings in my life. I can't imagine my life without the church. We are so incredibly blessed.

This Christmas I have been thinking a lot about the great sacrifice both my Father in Heaven and my Savior made for me and for each one of us. I beg each one of you, take advantage of that sacrifice. Don't let it go to waste, use the atonement in your life. Strive to repent and go forward, no sin is to great, our Savior has already paid for them all. I know we can change, it is possible to change. I testify that we can change for the better because in the last few months I have seen a change within myself and others that I can't explain except through the grace and atonement of our Savior. I love each and every one of you deeply and I don't want to return to my heavenly father without each of you there.
All my love and feliz navidad!!!!




This the Nativity as portrayed by the members in the ward at their Christmas Party.


Kara said the lady with the pink scarf is pretty old, but she danced her little heart out. Her eyes were on her husband the whole time and his were on her. The next day she was sick from dancing for him. She said they were really cute.

The Relief Society danced with Santa hats on for the Branch Christmas party

Thanksgiving or Not? November 23, 2009

hahaha, I didn't even realize it is Thanksgiving this week. Time surely flies by.

Things were great this week, my new companion and I worked like beasts, it felt so good to come home knowing I had worked my hardest every day this week. I love being a missionary. It is hard at times to watch my investigators make wrong choices, decide not to act on their faith, but overall it is amazing to help them feel a part of the Lord's love for them. My Spanish is coming along pretty well, the Lord has truly blessed me to able to learn. I understand almost everything now it's still hard to speak perfectly but practice makes perfect. Sometimes I can't remember words in Spanish or English. It is great fun.

We are teaching a senora right now who lost her son about a year ago and has terrible depression. It truly is a testimony to me that the Lord has prepared me to help the people I find here, and that I have a purpose and a job to do here in Panama. I am so blessed to be here.

My companion is from Nicaragua and has been telling me all about her home. Kyle is in good hands. She does speak a little different than my other companion, I don't notice too much of a difference in the accent but she uses a lot of different words. I love her, she is a fat short little thing that has housewife written all over her, she loves to cook and is really motherly. She has taught me to cook something which is awesome and we have a lot of fun together.


This is a picture of Hermana Chevez standing in the back of a house. Most of the homes are made of cement blocks and then the cement is painted. This one was never painted.

New Companion November 16, 2009

Hey everyone!
This week was pretty good, I experienced my first cambios today and now have a new companion, her name is Hermana Chevez. She is from Nicaragua. It was fun to go to cambios (transfers) I saw a lot of my friends from the mtc which was way fun.


This is Kara and her new companion Hermana Chevez from Nicaragua

This week we taught a few pretty awesome lecciones. One was to two sisters, one lost her son a year ago and embraced the plan of salvation. In our second lesson, we were inviting her to pray about Joseph Smith to know if he was a prophet of God and she said that she already felt it was true. It was so awesome. We also have a brother in our ward that has come to church for 12 years but never been baptized. He has problems with gambling and says that he tried but can't overcome them. I taught him about the atonement and the grace we receive through Christ. The spirit was so incredibly strong and I felt it bear testimony to me anew of the times I have been healed through the atonement in my life. I am so grateful for my Savior, for the support I receive from him everyday of my life.

I don't remember if I told you about the bat we have in our house, it likes to visit us occasionally and has been visiting quite often as of late. Last night I was basically army crawling to my bedroom, gotta love the missionary life. Also this week we had a activity in our stake in which the members dressed up in typical Panamanian dress and danced and we ate typical Panamanian food. It was so cool to see the clothes and dances, people here are so full of life. I will send you guys pictures of everything.


Some of the ward members in Cludad Bolivar.


Typico Panamanian dress

But I must say I am glad people don't feed us comida tipica a lot. It was some kind of fishy mush thing...Not my favorite. I'd much rather stick to the rice and chicken I am given everyday. Oh one more interesting thing, there are a lot of Chinese here, entonces people eat chow mien here often as well. I love you all!!! and I hope all is well
Hermana Bloomfield

Independence in Panama November 11, 2009

Well this week was a little strange. It was independence week in Panama, so basically the whole week was a holiday. For safety, president asked us to stay in our houses Tuesday and Wednesday until 3 in the afternoon. So, I got to experience what it is like to be a real Panamanian woman. I have gotten used to washing my clothes by hand, as I do so every pday, but I must say cooking from scratch, without a microwave or an oven was interesting. I made a version of Hawaiian haystacks and my companion showed me how to cook rice without a rice cooker. All I can say is I am so grateful for washing machines, ovens stoves and the conveniences of America. Mom, just imagine washing all of the kids clothes by hand, It takes me an hour and a half to wash my clothes by myself, I can't imagine how long it must take the women here, no wonder everyone wear such a scanty amount of clothes.

We had a few good lessons this week, it is amazing to watch the spirit touch people. One man, we contacted from the beginning said he was catholic and not interested, but as we talked to him a bit about the restoration, he said we could come back and talk to him again. So yesterday we went back and taught him the first lesson. He listened intently and at the end he said he always felt that Christ had come to the Americas, and that he liked what we taught. He committed to pray about Joseph Smith and read the Book of Mormon and we have another appointment with him this Wednesday.

This is my companions last week in the mission, and she is kind of slowing down, I am doing my best to push her along, but it has been kind of difficult. I can't believe I have already been here over a month and that changes are already here.

"Love being a missionary" November 2, 2009

This is a picture of Hermana Barralaga and Kara dressed in Native Kuna dress. The Kuna's are the aboriginals who live on the islands in Panama. Kara said that she loved the way they dress as it is always bright colors and tons of jewelry.

Her email from the week:

This week went by so fast, I had a lot going on, between my companion getting sick, interviews with the President and district meetings. I didn't get to work a whole lot. But, I am starting to love being a missionary. I love my companion, we are best of friends and have lots of fun together. My Spanish is getting better and better everyday. It is better than most of the elders that have been here for 6 weeks longer than I have, so I know the Lord is truly blessing me and helping me. I still haven't gotten used to all of the cat calls and people staring at me though. I had a crazy drunk man tell me that I must be a queen in my country the other day which was pretty funny. Ivonne went to the temple to do baptisms this week. She is so amazing. I learn from her every time we visit. We don't have any other strong people we are teaching now so we are busily looking.
Gotta go, out of time, but I love you a trillion!!!

Ivonne and Erick's Baptism October 26, 2009

Saturday was the baptism of Ivonne and Erick her 9 year old son. I felt the spirit very strongly as they entered the baptismal waters. It was amazing because after wards, when Erick was sharing his testimony, he got about two words out and then began balling. I felt the spirit literally move through me, I know he is someone special and has a great work to do on this earth. I am grateful that I was able to be apart of their conversion and lives, they are truly amazing and set an example for me every time we meet with them.


Erick (9 years old) and his brother Issac (7 years old) They are Ivonne's two oldest boys. Kara became very close to this family and was sad when they had to move out of the area.



Other than that it was basically a normal week, lots of walking, sweat and talking. I have become accustomed to everything for the most part. My Spanish is increasing rapidly, it is easy to get frustrated but I can express myself for the most part and understand most everything. I have a lot of fun with my companion. Last night a bat got into our little house which was pretty funny. We just shut our bedroom door and went to bed. This morning the bat was gone so I guess it found its way out.
I am in a branch. We meet in a really nice chapel for church, it was built about 5 years ago. I am in a suburb of Panama, I think its about 30 mins. outside of the city. I am in a house. You should send me all your questions and I will print it out and send it back.

The "Pink House" Oct. 18, 2009

Hey Everyone,
Good news! Ivonne passed her baptismal interview yesterday and will be baptized this Saturday. I am so excited for her, she is so awesome. We are teaching quite a few other people, but no one ever comes to church. We find most people we teach from door contacting or in the street. We invite almost everyone we meet to church on Sundays but no one ever actually shows up.



I live in a house which is pretty nice compared to some other houses I've been in. And don't worry grandma, I have a great fan that I take from room to room with me. Right now we are in Panamas winter season, which means it isn't too crazy hot, but it does mean that it rains everyday. And when I say rain I don't mean drizzle I mean full on pounding rain with lightning and thunder. All of the roofs here are metal, it makes it pretty difficult to hear when we try to give lessons and it is raining.
Good news mom, I joined you in the world of giving talks this Sunday. I was asked to talk in sacrament meeting again. I am not really sure how much people understood, but I did my best so that is what really matters, and I felt the spirit there. It is really hard to follow the spirit when I can't just say whatever pops into my head, but I am sure with time I will figure it out.
Mostly, my day is spent walking and talking. People here stare at me a lot but for the most part they are pretty respectful. I did have a 9 or 10 yr old boy yell ¨come to papi´´ out the window of a bus the other day which was pretty entertaining. The good news is no one slams doors here. It has been such a blessing to watch Ivonne's faith grow so rapidly, I know that I am here for a reason, and hopefully I am helping others, even if they don't quite understand everything I say...
I love everyone and I hope you are all safe. My prayers are always with you.
Love,
Hermana Bloomfield