Buenas!!
Started the week off with transfers on Thursday! Got to meet up and see all the missionaries which was fun! Then I was off to Changuinola!
So the Chonger gang all hopped on a bus to David at 10:30. We had a nice long bus drive and arrived at 6:30. We then sprinted to the last Changuinola bus which left at 7. They threw all our bags onto the roof of the bus, tied them up, and we were off! The only issue was that there were no seats... which meant that we had the 4 hour bus ride standing! So not only are we enduring the neck pain on the tiny bus, but this thing is ZOOMING! It was literally like a roller coaster! Flying up and down hills, through the mountains, and making a million switchbacks! It was pretty awesome! Anyways. We finally got to Changuinola at 12.
The next day I was finally able to meet my new comp, Elder Long, and go to my new area! La Finca 30! As we were driving to the area, I began to notice that everything was just banana farms! I knew that there were gonna be bananas, but it is just miles upon miles of banana farms!! It's so lit!!
The house is quite interesting as well. Our bathroom door is in fact a curtain. I sleep on a mattress held by cinder blocks. And it's kinda just your good old mountain house here!
Teaching here is pretty interesting too! It's all Ngöbe people! So it's a lot like one of my old areas, San Felix! Ngöbes are one of the indigenous people that live in Panama! They have basically no emotion, stare off into space constantly, and love sitting around doing nothing. They are hilarious! I love them so much! They require some patience, but they are awesome!
Example conversations....
"What do you like to do?"
"...........sleep"
"What else?"
"............Sit here and breathe"
"Do you have kids?"
".............I think so"
"What do you mean you think so?" 
You basically have to ask the same question 3 times before they answer or say anything. Even then they say about 2 words.
This area is also super small! It's not even an official group! But I'm super excited to work here! It's kinda just San Felix all over again!
*The Hermana Carmen here is amazing and gives us all our meals for the week! I'm glad she cooks pretty well!
*I ate a really good red fruit called Marañon
*I SAW THE BANANA TRAIN!!!!!
*The Banana Monopoly company here is Chiquita. Everyone works for Chiquita!
*I ate some bread called Joni Cakey! It's sooooo good! It's like a coconut bread thingy.
*I made fire with a rock! I felt so cool
*No one can say my name, so I'm back to being "Elder Dulce" or as some Ngöbes will say in their Dialect "Elder Mane" (Mah-nay)
*Got to meet a monkey and hold its hand
*Saw a lady carrying a Turkey
*The water comes from the mountain so it is FREEZING
Funny story. I made the big long trip out to Banana Land. But, we in fact have a Leadership Conference tomorrow in the city! That means we took the big trip back to the city yesterday! And then tomorrow we have to go back! In total that's about 38 hours of traveling by bus!
Safe to say that me and Elder Long are a bit exhausted, but it's been fun! We just get to sleep, read, talk to people, etc. Yesterday on the bus we got to teach these 2 girls from Germany! It was weird to teach in English. But we taught them the restoration, the plan of salvation, the doctrine of Christ, and about temples! Long bus rides mean long lessons folks. It was a fun experience!
Pday in the city is always super fun too!! We got to play some pool, sports, and do some shopping!
Spiritual Thought
Faith is like a car. We can read and study how to drive a car. We can learn everything we need to know about cars. How they work. The laws of driving. How everything functions in terms of driving. We can even open the door, get in the car, and have the keys in our hands. But we will never learn how to drive, let alone reach a destination, until we start the car and start driving. That's how we learn! it is by practice! By moving the car.
Faith is the same! We can know everything we need to know. We can be in the car with the keys. But until we act, and just start going, we never will learn anything! Faith is a principle of action. So trust God, and just move! Think about it!
Love you all lots! Keep praying for my people! Until Next Week!
- E. Lutze
Yep, that's my luggage tied to the top of the bus!
It's definitely Banana Land!
Shaking hands with a monkey
Marañon - a delicious fruit
E. Long & E. Lutze making fire with a rock!
A lady with her turkey
Yes, it's a long way from Panama City. We're almost in Costa Rica!
Joni Cakey!!!
We're in Chiquita land! Nice imitation E. Lutze!
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