Just an ordinary girl...

Two days and three home visits later…Im really exhausted today. Today was my first day flying solo. And its really exhausting trying to fend for yourself when no one speaks any English. I know I’ve mentioned this multiple times but I cant emphasize it enough. It makes serving insanely difficult. But it’s a challenge and I can sense Im growing a lot from it. Even if its mentally exhausting.

---

Today I got up at 7:30am to shower…I should mention, I didn’t have to be ready till 9am but after yesterday’s lovely surprise (the water was shut off) I didn’t wanna risk it. So I woke up extra early to get under that insanely cold water and when 9 oclock rolled around I was ready to go. My ride was supposed to pick me up and take me to a home a Bahai family in a neighboring community that wanted to have a “deepening.” What do they wanna deepen on? What materials do I take? At 9oclock I got a call from my host sister saying that my ride had no left yet and that I should probably take Ruhi Book 1 in Spanish cause they’re daughter has questions about some sections. Ok sounds good, well how will I know they’re here? Oh they’ll honk. Oh ok. 9:30 came and went, 9:45, at 9:58am, I heard honking outside the house. Finalmente! My ride was here. I locked up the house and hopped in the car. They’re dad had picked me up.

---

Understanding that I didn’t speak much Spanish he slowed down his speech, asked where Im from, how old I am, what Im studying, I somehow explained running start to him and the fact that I just applied to law school which explains why Im younger than the usual grad. After a stop for some Pina (Pineapple) y un Melon, we headed to the house. I was greeted with warm hugs y besos, and was offered a seat by the door, home visit style. As I wait for the lady of the house to get ready to start our deepening, I hear the girls singing “Just an Ordinary Girl” by Miley Cyrus, I crack up, because they don’t speak English yet they know every word. I sit waiting and am told that I’ve brought the wrong book. Where is my book 5? Umm book 5? I was told to bring book 1! Oiiii!

---

 So her husband decides he will sit this one out and lends me his book. Ofcourse, its in Spanish, but to my surprise reading makes it much easier to understand Spanish than simply listening. It doesn’t help that Panamanians also have a distinct accent and their own version of abbrevs. Three hours later and a good 5 sections completed. We take a break for lunch.

---

As we wait for lunch to get ready, I go visit with the kids. I see their 14 year old daughter sitting in the hallway with a sketch pad and ask her what she’s working on. She shows me a piece of paper with pictures of the Houses of Worship. She has completed sketching one, and it is BEAUTIFUL! She is incredibly talented. She mentions she also has “gallery” pieces. She means she has completed a few paintings as well. So I ask her to show me one, and she brings in a canvas decorated with gorgeous colors. 

Im amazed and realize that the painting I had been staring at during Ruhi was one of her own. I pay attention to the fact that she has signed and dated all her paintings. The most recent from the Badi School. For those of you who don’t know, the Badi School is one of Mona Foundations project schools. I ask her if she attends and she says only for one year, now she goes to a school closer. The Badi School is located in Panama City and its too far for her to attend on a regular basis. But she loved the time she spent there.

---

After a modest lunch, Im entertained by little “Navid” who wants to show me a card “tricko”. So his first name isn’t Navid, his middle name is, but when I told him I had a friend with the same name they were amazed! And asked me what it meant. Unfortunately, for the life of me, I couldn’t remember but I told them I would ask my good friend and report back to them during our next deepening. 

A few games of “Burro” (Donkey) later, we made a quick home visit to a Bahai neighbor and it was back to the house for me. Im soooo tired right now, I fell asleep in the middle of drafting this post. Whoops! Thanks to the Kermaloo who woke me up!