i received THE call last night. that's right, i'm OUTTA HERE, folks. i am super sad. its hard to think that i will leave behind the wonderful people and areas that i have come to know so well in the past 5 months. even more sad that i have to leave Hermana Medellin behind. but, i know the Lord has plans for me elsewhere and i am excited to find out where i'm headed.

i was looking at my agenda this week and thinking about how i mark it full of who i'm going to teach, when im going to teach them, how im going to teach them, and what im going to teach them. everything in my agenda is centered around the gospel and how it will help these beautiful people. but then i thought about THEIR agendas. they just dont have the gospel ANYWHERE in their schedules. not to mention, they dont have it planned to change their lifestyles to live the gospel. but then something amazing happens. we present the gospel to them and invite them to mark it down. it is their choice whether or not they want to have the gospel in their lives. what a blessing to be the person to show them that this part of their agenda will change the rest of their lives!

to the people who had a rough summer, to the people who made some mistakes, to those of you who feel alone, and the people scared about the upcoming school year--

the gospel of Jesus Christ is available  and WILL help you overcome any thing you have faced, are facing, and will face.

"..let us remember Him, and lay aside our sins, and not hang down our heads.."

"therefore, cheer up your hearts and remember..."

i promise that if you remember that you have a Savior, and a Heavenly Father who loves you, they will show you the way to cheer up your heart and press forward in faith.

i love you all.

ps new mission blog

http://sunshineinmysoulpanamamission.blogspot.com/

well, i finished "Faith" in my Personal Progress this week, and while we were at immigrations, i saw Presidente Carmack. he signed off on everything, and i'm pushing along with "Divine Nature".

we worked side-by-side with some awesome members this week. we taught the relief society how to talk to people about the gospel, and this week we received 10 references! it was an answer to prayers, and it gave a lot of confidence to the members and their abilities to share the gospel with their friends and neighbors. we had the big pioneer activity on saturday, and it was a hit! the people of Volcan are very talented, and i was grateful to be a part of such a memorable day.

one of the references we received was the family Castillo. a mother and 2 sons and a daughter. the mother has to work a lot to support her children, but the oldest son, Christian, came to church yesterday! he jumped right in with the youth, and even returned to the chapel last night for guitar lessons with the members! we are excited to keep working with Christian, and we hope his mom and siblings will join us next week!

thats about it for now. a lot of my friends are entering the mission field this week, and the weeks to come. it's so neat to get emails from them and hear about the wonderful things they are learning and experiencing alongside me. what a privilege to be a servant of truth, and to bring this light into the homes of Panama's finest. even on hard days, we have the gospel of Jesus Christ to pick us up and remind us that we are beloved children of our Father in Heaven. i relied on that knowledge a lot this week, and i hope each of you can take comfort in the fact that you are special children of the Most High God.

i love you all. do good in the world this week!

We divided the area with the other sisters, and we are working in Cerro Punta, Bambito, and the places in between. I am in paradise. We have a service project this week where we're going to pick potatoes in the fields up in the mountain with a family we found last week. The branch is super strong here, and the members have welcomed us with arms wide open. Since its Pioneer Month, there is a big activity we are preparing for. Hermana Medellin and I will be singing a few hymns to contribute to the activity.

It was a little hard to leave Puerto Armuelles behind. I thought a lot about our investigators and members this past week. But then we went to church yesterday and I found one of the many reasons the Lord has put us here for the time being. Her name is Rachel Young- she is 24 years old and she is a beacon of light and love. She made it a point to introduce me to all of the members, and made me feel very welcome. She knew my name, where i was from, and she shared her hymnal with me during sacrament meeting. I feel the Savior's love when she smiles. The four sister missionaries, we had lunch with Rachel and her family yesterday after church. Sister Young is a super, all-american mom who  makes homemade bread and is crafty. Brother Young is a kind, humble man who lifted me up with encouraging words. I loved being in their home, listening to their heartfelt prayers, and hearing a short, sincere message about family history from Rachel. Since the Young's speak english, i was able to translate for the other sisters, and by the end of Rachel's lesson, all of us were in tears. Rachel was right! We have a great responsibility and privilege to do family history research and move along God's plan of happiness.

"There is something about reviewing the lessons of the past to prepare us to face the challenges of the future. What a glorious legacy of faith, courage, and integrity those noble early Mormon pioneers have left for us to build upon." - L. Tom Perry

I love you all. Happy Pioneers Month!

Long story short, President Carmack moved Hna Medellin and I to a new area called Volcan. Its one of the two cold areas in Panama, so im actually getting use out of my cardigans. We are excited to work here and get to know the area better.

Last week we worked with a man named Alexis. He was explaining how he wanted to change his life, but there are things he cant give up. We talked about the importance of the Holy Ghost, and how if we strive to keep the commandments, the Holy Ghost will help us and guide us. We made a 3 week plan for him to give up smoking, drinking, etc. We will continue to pray for him as he works towards baptism and reception of the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Yesterday my entire zone hiked the volcano here in our new area. It was hands down the best and hardest thing i've ever done, physically. I was 1 of 6 that made it to the summit, even though my body had told me to turn back halfway up. I remember a story Michelle Walker told me once about climbing mountains, and i repeated a phrase from her story "you were made for the top!" and so i pushed through. It was amazing.

All is well. A little sore today, but I am happy. The Lord is real. Life is grand. I love you all!

another birthday shout out to the millions of people who have birthdays in july!

I had a very special experience this week. On Saturday, we woke up early (earlier than 6:30like normal) to go to a part of our area that we didnt know about. A sister in the ward came with us, and we started contacting houses. We met some great people, and some inactive members of the church. We went to one house, and the woman who was there was in a rush to get some chores done before work, but she said that we needed to visit her neighbors. So we went. We walked up to a house, and on the front porch there were 6 children sitting in silence. We greeted them and asked them if their parents were home. They shook their heads no. "Where are they?" Turns out their father had left them to move to Panama City, and their mother had left last week to try to find work. They didnt have food, water, or electricity. Nothing. 6 of them ages 3,5,12,14,18,19. My heart just broke. We sang the hymn "I am a child of God", and we knelt together in prayer. The 14 year old boy offered the prayer, and i think it was the most sincere prayer i have ever heard; asking for protection for his father, work for his mother, and success for his brothers and sisters. Hermana Medellin and I taught them about Jesus Christ and how when He was here on the earth, He always took time to talk, heal, and love the children. We also taught about how even though their dad may not be  at home, that they have a loving Heavenly Father who wants them to come home to Him. We gave them the money we had in our pockets, 2 dollars, and asked them to buy bread and water. We kneeled in prayer again, and then urged them to come to church.

AND THEY CAME.

Words will never describe the joy i felt when i saw them crossing the bridge coming to the chapel. Hermana Medellin and I ran to them, and just hugged them. They loved church, and they want to come back. We will be visiting them this week with the Elders in our area. Pray for the Santos-Miranda family!

Yesterday we also witnessed the dedication of Geovanny´s first grandson, Daniel. Geovanny was an inactive member when I got here to Puerto almost 14 weeks ago, but now is completely active, worthy, and is exercising his Priesthood to bless his family. It was such a happy thing to see him standing in front of the congregation, pronouncing a blessing upon his grandson. He seemed pretty happy, too.

Every week there are miracles to be found. Through obedience, love, and work, I know i will continue to have these experiences. I love the Lord, and i love His work. All is well. I love you guys! Be good!

'merica

since i won't be doing it on thursday, i am wearing red white and blue today for 'MERICA! yes. everyone eat a hotdog for me, especially because they are disgusting. am i making sense? i am tired. but happy.

so i went to panama again last week and picked up MY DAUGHTER! thats a mission term when you train a new missionary. her name is Hermana Medellin, she is 19, and from Mexico! thats right! i got another mexicana! want to know the coolest part? we were confirmed members of the church the SAME day-- November 20,2011. how beautiful is the Lord's hand in this work!

sad news about going to panama was saying goodbye to Pte and Hna Ward, and also the Galke family. the galkes put together a beautiful care package for me, so ive been enjoying some homemade cookies. i also received a package from my parents with shoes, sunblock, my favorite pens, and clif bars! do they know me or what!? i am so grateful for everyone that takes care of me.

so, like i said, i am training now. its pretty cool because i get to set the work pace, and teach someone how to defend the front lines of missionary work. we are growing together, and building our testimonies of this grand gospel. this past week, i was teaching hna medellin how to contact houses. we passed a certain house 3 times during the day, and i kept looking at it thinking we should contact it, but i didnt do anything about it. finally, the 4th time, the Spirit spoke directly to me and said "Hermana Bond, GO TO THAT HOUSE!" without realizing it, i had turned around and was heading towards the house. i saw hna medellin jump around and chase after me. i stood in the doorway, and greeted a woman sitting on the couch with her 5 yr old son. we introduced ourselves, then i asked if we could sing her a hymn. as we were singing, her husband joined us. they also had 2 other children! A FAMILY! wow. i cant explain how rare and amazing it was to have an entire family listening to us. we taught about the gospel of Jesus Christ as we got to know them better and learned more about their beliefs. we invited them to be baptized, and they smiled and said yes. the husband said "Sisters, i havent been to a church in a long time. every time i pray i ask for forgiveness because i know i should be going to church, but i just dont know which one!" i assured him that we were an answer to that prayer, and that the Lord loves him very much and wants him to learn more about the gospel. they left out of town for a few days, so we will visit them again this week. i dont know what will happen with them, and im trying to stay positive. it all seems too good to be true! just be praying for the family Lescano!

i love you all. i pray that Heavenly Father will keep you safe this week as you celebrate happiness, independence, and LIBERTY!

first thing is first-- HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RYAN PEGRAM! what a stud. am i allowed to say that?

so this past week was a LITTLE hectic. on tuesday one of the leaders called and said "hey bond, you have immagrations this friday". so our work week was cut down because we had to leave Puerto thursday night to be in Panama City friday morning, then turn around and get back on the bus to return to Puerto Saturday morning. but all of the missionaries that came with me from the CCM were in immagrations, too. so we had a nice little reunion. Hermana Wilson and i were also able to go to the temple in Cardenas; it was my first time going here in Panama, and it was beautiful! i had a really special afternoon in the Lord's house, and received the strength i needed to march back to Puerto and get to work!

i started the Young Women's Personal Progress this past week. can i just say that i am SO stoked to be working on this program! i know it will teach me a lot about what it means to be a daughter of God in these latter-days. to all of you who have completed, or are currently doing it, could you write me a letter and tell me about some experiences you had while completing Personal Progress?

i received a phone call last night from my Zone Leader. "Hermana Bond, vas a entrenar", which means i will be training this upcoming change! i just finished being trained this past week, and now i turn around and train a missionary who is entering the mission on wednesday! which ALSO means, i will be traveling to Panama city AGAIN. Presidente Ward leaves next week, and we will meet our new presy sometime within the next change!

be good, do good! love you all!

(the second picture is with a temple worker who fell in love with the "fulas")

WHAT A WEEK! what blessings! tuesday i had divisiones with Hermana Bustamante, who was Hermana Fraga's trainer. she is so humble and so sincere. i learned a lot from her! then we had our interviews with Presidente Ward on friday. he made some changes for the next 2 weeks, and Hermana Vargas left to work in Volcán, and Hermana Wilson came back to work with me! we had "stake" conference in Bugaba on Saturday and Sunday, and i learned so much from the inspired men and women who spoke. on Sunday night the temple president and his wife, Presidente and Hermana Richardson, came to Puerto Armuelles to hold a fireside for the branch. it was brilliant! AND they know the Townsends (a family in Austin who i love dearly, they work at the Institute where I attended classes when I first got baptized).

Hermana Wilson is teaching me so much, and we are working hard to be instruments in the Lord's hand. everyone here loves that there are two blonde gringas walking around talking about Jesus. hope we can share our unique message with those who have been prepared by the Lord!

i love you all!

HAPPY FATHERS DAY! well, its on wednesday here. so, just know that all of you wonderful dads are on my heart this week. also.... I AM ALIVE. calm down, ya crazies! it was just a little allergic reaction, but i am going to the private hospital in Chiriqui today to get an Epi pen.

well, we had divisions this week, and i spent 3 days with my soul sister Hermana Wilson from Massachusets. i learned so much about myself, and we have started to plan a grand adventure for when we get back from our mission. to celebrate our last night together, we bought a pumpkin pie and ate that for dinner. it was glorious.

I officially have no shoes. i have been working as hard as i can, and my shoes have definitely paid the price for that. hopefully i can find some today to hold me over.

I received a perfect package from a special someone this week which had sweet baby ray's bbq sauce, so i am really happy. i also got awesome letters from Amber Miller in the colleyville stake, Maryann Shipp who received her mission call to Brazil Ribeirao Preto, and Haley Tucker-Noble who is ENGAGED! wow, what blessings, you guys! i am so fortunate to know all of you.

the work moves forward, and there is a lot to look forward to this week in Puerto Armuelles! word has it that i get to stay here for another change! i am excited!

i love you all. be good, do good.

Niel Young once said "its better to burn out than to fade away."

This week i learned how to direct hymns, so thats what i do now at every church gathering. I studied Alma 36 in the Book of Mormon a lot this week. I also studied the Atonement, because Preach My Gospel says when we have a deeper understanding of the Atonement, we have a greater desire to share the gospel. All is well, the sun is shining, and the work moves forward. On a lighter note, i nearly died with an allergic reaction. Cool story, and i dont know exactly what i ate to trigger it. So im being careful. I love you all. Happy summer. 

And congrats to Eduardo Cavazos who got his mission call to CALIFORNIA! 

random thought: i miss film-- all of you buy a disposable kodak this summer and take wonderful pictures. love you!

hey good lookin people! i have to start off by congradulating one of the missionaries who taught me, Lucas Brook, because he is now married to the beautiful Melanie Jones! congrats, you two!

to sum up a few precious moments of my week:

we are teaching 2 sisters and their children. one of the sisters has a son who is 15 years old, and has the personality of a ladies man. after one of our lessons, we were saying goodbye to the sisters, and its traditional here to kiss women on the cheek. well, the son, not being shy at all, grabbed my companion's hand, and pulled her in for a kiss on the cheek. i supposed because she's used to that sort of greeting, she wasn't too put off. i, however, was dumbfounded. when he tried to pull the same card on me, i jumped back and said "no!!", in which everyone began to laugh. his mom is pretty set on me coming back to Puerto to marry him. the same sweet family gave me new shoes because mine are dead. i am so grateful for that!

we were contacting in a little town called Fabrica de Cajas, and we found a woman named Adrian. she is here with the Jehova's Witnesses, and she is from Georgia. we shared a short message and she gave us skittles and water. she is such a kind woman, and gave me plenty of opportunities to bear my testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

last night when we were walking home, we heard someone cry out "hermanas! ven! rapido!" It was one of our neighbors who has a mother who is extremely ill. she shuffled us into the room where her mother sleeps, and when we put the light over her, it looked as if she was about to die. immediately i said "regresamos", and took hermana vargas by the hand as we began to run towards the Elder's house. i called the Elders and said "aceite" which means oil, and they met us on the corner by their house. the four of us ran back to the bedside of the woman, and the Elders gave a blessing. the Spirit was there. I could feel it like never before. it was so powerful to be standing in the presence of the Priesthood, hearing the words of the blessings, and seeing the frail woman begin to calm down. afterwards we taught the family about the Plan of Salvation, and how we know that death is just a part of God's plan. they were relieved and grateful as we shook their hands and returned home. i am so grateful that the people here know who we are, and trust us enough to ask for our help.

i love the gospel, and the priesthood, and the many opportunities the Lord has given me to understand His love for His children.

happy memorial day, up there! eat something fried and covered in barbeque sauce for me!

Well, today I celebrate 1.5 years as a member of the Church by sitting in this internet shop in Bugaba, listening to the rain hit the tin roof, and enjoying the cool breeze. I am happy.

So, we had changes last week, and I ended up going to Panama to receive my new companion. Her name is Hermana Vargas, from Ecuador, 20 years old, and full of energy. I have learned a lot from her already, and I know I will continue to grow spiritually (and in my spanish) this change with her. We had a Relief Society Activity in our branch on saturday, and it was a lot of fun to learn why the women here appreciate this wonderfully inspired program.

Last change we had found a family in our area, but they didnt seem too interested in the gospel. When Hna Vargas came last week, I had the feeling we should try one more time. The wife of the family, Evelyn, welcomed us with open arms. She explained how they are Hindu and they dont know much about what we believe. We taught her the message of the Restoration, then invited her to the RS activity. SHE CAME! Then we invited her to church on sunday, and she stayed for ALL THREE HOURS! Serious miracle. She participated actively, and was curious to learn more. We gave her a chapter to read in the Book of Mormon, and we are going to visit her again this week.

While I was in the city, I was able to talk to Brother Galke who was the session director of one of the EFY sessions i did last summer. His son, Brayden, who was in my company, has received his mission call to NY spanish speaking. Congrats, Brayden! One of my brothers in the gospel, Eduardo Cavazos, is waiting for his call which should be in his hands this week! The work moves forward, and the Lord continues to bless us all with opportunities to serve His children around the world!

Until next week,

Hna Bond

first off, HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to all of you who have contributed in big ways to my becoming who i am today. also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! my mom turns 21 tomorrow ;)

see ya, Hermana Cruz! my companion is being changed from this area, and i will be spending a few days in Boquete again until i get my new companion. i am excited to update you guys and let you know who she is! i have learned so much from Hermana Cruz in these short 6 weeks, and i know her and i will be friends when we return home.

we were able to skype on saturday night with our families. i think my mom recorded a video of me speaking, and she said she was going to post it on facebook. so if you want to hear a cheesy hello from me, then look out for that!

last p day we went to the mountains in Volcan, and spent some time in the gardens there. it was a perfect little break to play in flowers and enjoy the cold mountain air. AND we just found out that area is being "pink washed" which means its open to hermanas now! tomorrow we are getting 10 new Hermanas and 2 Elders. women are taking over the mission field! and i am STOKED to be a part of it!

not much to say this week, but i am learning a lot. so much. God is in everything, He is my heart, and He loves me. there are so many tender moments throughout the day when i receive that confirmation.

love you guys!

ps. pray for my dad who had a minor little surgery last week! he is healing quickly, just want some extra thoughts sent his way!

It is my privilege and honor to introduce to you Daffne, the newest member of the church in Puerto Armuelles! Her baptism was beautiful, and afterwards we had a great branch activity. Hna Cruz and I sang a song, and there were also a few skits that the Young Single Adults put on. It was a perfect weekend!

The week, however was a little rough. Do you ever have those days where you feel like youre in a foreign country, thousands of miles away from home, and you are speaking another language? Yeah, me too. It all kind of hit me at once. But I am so grateful for my companion, Hermana Cruz. Saturday morning I asked her how I am supposed to be the kind of person Heavenly Father needs me to be. She took me by my hand, looked me in my eyes, and handed me my english copy of the Book of Mormon. She said-- I promise you if you open to whatever page you want, and read the first thing you see, you will find your answer. I opened the Book, and read Alma 29:6-9. My calling is my joy. It humbled me, it comforted me, and it showed me that God is listening and He recognizes my efforts. I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon, for the opportunity I have to share it, and for God's plan of happiness.

I spent May 1st in Boquete with a Hermana from Colorado. We were on divisions because our companions had to go to Panama City. It is a mountain area there, with not a lot of sun, and the perfect weather. I enjoyed working there, and have another opportunity to go there next week because unfortunately Hermana Cruz is getting moved to the city. We ate with Hermano Frank who is a CHEF! He made us talapia with mashed potatoes and vegatables. It was so delicious! He shared a little of his story with me, and he strengthened my testimony. I am excited to eat with him again next week!

Yesterday during Relief Society, we were studying Charity. President Mojica's wife said that Charity is not a principle, its a doctrine. I loved that bold statement. The Book of Mormon expounds on that idea in Moroni 7. Well, Hermana Cruz is learning english and she is doing a great job. She leaned over to share a thought with me, and she wanted to say it in english. So she said-- "Hermana Bond, I have Chastity!" in which I replied with a laugh and said "Espero" which means "i hope". We laughed, and are currently laughing about it. Dont worry, I taught her that its Charity, not Chastity.

Last night in our weekly meeting with the Branch Mission Leader, President Mojica asked me to teach a workshop for all of the teachers and leaders in our branch. I will be teaching it in a few weeks, but I am starting to prepare now. I am a little nervous, but I know I will learn valuable things as well, because I have chosen the topic "How to be a Christ-like Leader". I am really excited for this chance to help the branch and to strengthen our Sunday classes!

Take care! Love you all!

note from Ryan- Sorry I'm late posting this weeks letter. I have been out of town (in Guatemala), and havent had access to a computer). But here it is.


hey up there! i want to start by thanking all of you who sent me birthday cards! i FINALLY receieved them this past week during a training. our mission president came, and he came bearing gifts! i got a package from my dear mother, and about 25 birthday cards and dear elders! THANK YOU! your words mean so much to me! 

so, like i mentioned, we had trainings or "capacitaciones" this past week in David. the Assistants and Presidente Ward came and taught us tons! one of the questions Elder Bentz asked was "is your area better now because you were there?" this question has been heavy on my mind and heart. it has given me a new motivation to talk to more people, bear my testimony more, and to never be afraid. i want to leave my footprints in Puerto Armuelles, and i want to do exactly what the Lord sent me here to do! 

Hermana Cruz and i have planned an event for next saturday called "noche de talentos", and we have the young adults helping us out. its just a branch activity to get people back to church, to invite non members to learn about who we are, and to celebrate Daffne´s baptism! they have asked me to sing "amazing grace" in english, and go figure, someone found me a ukelele. i am grateful i mastered that before i left! so, that should be a neat experience. hermana cruz and i are also singing Come Thou Fount, but in spanish, and one of the members knows the piano part. some other people are dancing and doing skits. i am really excited for it!

on our way to plan on wednesday with the members at Family Home Evening, i heard a sweet voice call out from a car "do you speak english?!" it was music to my ears! a sweet woman named Lynn has just moved to our area from Maryland, and we helped her find the market. she is coming to our activity on saturday! 

we have been visiting a less active member, Daisy, for a few weeks now. this past week, her daughter was off of work and sat in on our lesson. we taught the Plan of Salvation, and Doris (the daughter) seemed to really love it. she said "hermanas, my husband died 4 years ago, and i knew there was something special about where he is right now." we are continuing to teach Doris, and she has expressed her desire to be baptized! i am speechless. the Lord is really pouring out miracles for us!

i dont know if i mentioned this, but i received my first calling a few weeks ago. i teach english classes every saturday in our chapel. it has been hard trying to teach my own language. but its also helped me solidify my basic spanish vocabulary. 

all in all, i am living the dream! oh, congrats to my cousin Amy-- she had her son Xander! i can´t wait to meet him! take care, yáll 

-hermana bond

I prayed a lot this past week, probably more than I ever have in my entire life, but probably less than I will. Puerto hasn´t received rain in quite some time, and in my prayers, I asked for that rain. On Thursday, we were going to drop off the baptismal record papers at Daffne´s grandmother´s house (she is a member) because her parents need to sign it in order for her to get baptized. For one reason or another, her parents kept dropping their appointments with us to sign the papers, so thats why we were giving the papers to her grandmother to hold on to, in hopes that her parents could sign them when they picked up Daffne. Well, on our way (its about 2.5 miles from our house) it began raining. It was beautiful. Hermana Cruz ran towards a member´s house and kept saying we needed to wait till the storm passed. I insisted that we keep going to Gladys´ house to take the papers. Finally she said "okay, gringa. vamos pues." As we walked, the rain got harder and harder, and I began laughing, singing and dancing. Hermana Cruz gave in and followed my lead. It was rejuvenating to feel the rain on my skin and to have that nourishment. When we arrived to Gladys´ house, would you guess who was there? Daffne´s mom was there waiting out the storm! We sat down and spoke with her about Daffne´s choice to be baptized, and we gave her the For the Strength of Youth pamphlet that explains the standards for the youth of the church. She was very supportive, but said she would not sign the papers without her husband´s approval. Well, he works a lot in far off cities, so we weren´t sure when that would happen. We asked her to give the papers to her husband to review, and invited her to share the pamphlet with her husband. Well, blessings were not finished coming our way, because within the next 30 seconds, Daffne´s dad pulled up in a taxi. We shared the message with him, too. We prayed with them. I gave them my testimony that I know that the gospel with help Daffne be a better student, daughter, sister, and disciple of Christ. It was an unforgettable moment. AND her parents signed the papers! Everything is set, and Daffne will be baptized on May 4 if everything keeps going at this rate! Pray for her!

We had another experience this week with a 87 year old woman named Andrea. She is an evangelist, and her daughter is a pastor in another church here. She has a sweet little smile, and a cute laugh. We asked if we could sing a hymn for her. I chose to sing "Abide With Me, Tis Eventide". When we finished singing, Andrea began to weep. She said she has been sad for a long time, but when she listened to the words of the hymn, that sadness left her. It was neat to see the influence of the Spirit so directly like that!

On Friday night, one of the members in our branch asked us to come speak to some of her family members. Her father died a month ago, and said it would be a good opportunity for us to teach the Plan of Salvation. When she said "some" family members, she actually meant over 30. No big deal. We taught the lessons, and we promised this family that they would see their uncle, brother, son, father, and friend again through the perfect plan that God has given us.

Well, yesterday I was asked to give a talk in sacrament meeting, and I spoke about the Atonement. Its amazing that I have the same feelings and testimony of Christ and His infinite goodness in two languages. I am grateful for the support of my companion and my branch. I couldnt have given that talk without the help of the people here, and of course without the gift of tongues that i am developing more and more every day. 

I love the Lord. I really do. and I love all of you! 

-Hermana Bond

(the picture is after we walked 2 hours in the rain. you cant really tell, but i was soaking wet! fun stuff.)

this has been a week of many prayers, and many miracles. this past week was HOT, but i have to say that my tan is coming along quite nicely. i am drinking tons of water, and i am buying sunblock today. we had the opportunity to visit a less active member of the church in our area, and while we were visiting, her 13 year old grandaughter came outside and asked us questions. she was positively interested and curious about the message we had to offer. then hermana cruz gave me the wink and i extended my FIRST baptismal invitation to sweet Daffne, who was more than thrilled to answer yes! she came to church yesterday and was so happy to be there. she stayed by my side the entire time; she said i dont know whats happening, and neither does she, so she will stay by me. haha sounds about right. i had the opportunity to bear my testimony in front of the congregation yesterday during fast and testimony meeting. when i said i believed in the gift of tongues, everyone laughed. my branch is super supportive in helping me learn the language faster. there is even a kind little 8 year old girl who has offered to teach me haha. i really am so blessed to be here in this area. we had 6 people in church with us yesterday who havent been to church in over a year-- thanks be to God! true miracles are stirring up in this branch, and i am grateful that the Lord trusts me enough with this work! 

so i love my companion hermana cruz! she wants to learn english, and she already knows enough to make simple sentences. i taught her how to say "aint nobody got time for that" and "sup dawg" and "darn it". basically, she is going to be awesome at speaking english. 

i have been studying the words of Isaiah, and from the BOM. i encourage you all to read 2 Nephi 17:2 in the Book of Mormon. i have read this time and time again, and i am captured by the beauty of the idea of our hearts being as trees. i know i am planted on the right foundation, and i know the wind will move me, but i will not fall. i will move because that is the natural reaction. i need movement to remind me that i am alive. 

i love you all!! 

-Hermana Bond

oh, and hapy birthday to Cody Hoffman! 

Greetings from the beach! I arrived safely in Panama City on Tuesday night after waiting 13 hours in the Guatemala Airport. Thats a whole other story. I met my trainer on wednesday morning. Her name is Hermana Cruz, she is from Mexico, and she is absolutely beautiful and kind! I could not have dreamed of a better first companion in the field! After spending some time in the migration center with Presidente Ward, Hna Cruz and I got on a bus and headed to our area-- Puerto Armuelles. It is the second farthest area we could´ve been sent, considering it took over 11 hours to get here. Our house is.... humble, to say the least. I think I have always taken running water, air conditioning, and pillows for granted. But we are happy in our little abode. Our area is pleasant because we spend most of our days knocking doors along the beach. No but really-- the backyards are sand. I am experiencing new foods, new smells, and new interactions. I am the only gringa within hundreds of miles, so we use that to our advantage. A few days ago Hermana Cruz told me to contact a family we saw sitting on their porch, and just invite them to church. Instead I said "hi we are missionaries and we have a message about Jesus Christ to share with you and your family. do you have time to listen?" and next thing we knew, we were sitting with them in their living room! After the lesson, Hermana Cruz laughed and thanked me for my bravery. Thats why we´re here... to courageously bring the restored gospel to the people of Puerto Armuelles. Turns out there hasn´t been a baptism here in a few years, yet the Lord has already worked miracles as we now have 3 dates for baptisms. I understand this is not a set in stone thing, but we are continually praying and visiting these great families in hopes that they will gain testimonies of Christ´s church and how it can help them. The other day I was a little discouraged with the language and culture shock, so I turned to the Book of Mormon for comfort. I opened to page 213 where Alma sets the example for what it means to be a disciple. he prays "O, Lord have mercy and spare my life, that I may be an instrument in thy hands to save and preserve this people." Amen and Amen. I truly know that the Book of Mormon contains the word of God, and in our greatest hour of need, we can turn to the Book of Mormon for comfort and relief. 

well, here we are. week six into this grand adventure, and i am SO

ready to get to panama! this coming sunday is easter sunday, my 21st

birthday, and fast sunday at church. i am so excited. during sacrament

meeting, our district is singing come thou fount (i wonder who picked

that...) and in english!!!

i have learned a few things week week from others and from the Lord.

1. i am afraid of forgetting things-- thats why i keep such a thorough

journal. 2. Hebrews 11:25-- this is a little sacrafice to ensure that

i am doing what the Lord expects (obedience brings blessings, exact

obedience brings miracles). 3. "a better Hermana Bond will be a gift

from God. He will better her as she helps His children become better.

it is a process."

I had the opportunity to speak with Alex in the cafeteria again. He

asked why i was wasting my time talking to him. I bore my testimony

that I knew he is a special son of God and it would never be a waste

of time tell him that his Heavenly Father is mindful of him. i can see

his heart being softened every day. pray for Alex!!

With my assignment as Coordinating Sister, i have grown really close

to Presidente and Hermana Nicolaysen. during relief society on sunday,

Hermana Nicolaysen said "you will raise the generation that will greet

the Savior. your mission is the training ground for raising that very

generation. get to work." I love how calm and assertive she is when it

comes to giving me counsel and advice. you all would love her!

just to remind everyone, start sending letters to the Panama address

from now on! also, dearelder sends letters to Panama for free! so take

advantage of that blessing! also, this will be my last pday for 2

weeks because next week i will be traveling.

One of our investigators, Laura, got baptized on saturday! she is a

mother of 3 and has a very supportive husband. because of her example,

her oldest son and husband are now being taught the gospel! we had the

opportunity to teach her about the temple after she got baptized. she

shared with us that a long time ago she fell while pregnant and lost

her baby. we were able to promise her, in the name of Jesus Christ,

that through the saving ordinances of the temple she WILL be reunited

with her baby boy one day, and her and her family can be together

through all of eternity through the temple sealing. what a blessing! i

am so grateful for the Lord´s perfect plan, and how He loves families.

i love ALL of you, and thank you for supporting me.

last night one of our teachers, Hermano Hernandez, prayed for us by

name. it was the first time i´ve heard "Heavenly Father please bless

Hermana Bond" in the last 6 weeks. it pierced my heart in a way that i

didn´t realize could happen. i needed to hear that my God knew me,

knew my heart, and cares so much that He knows my name.

life is good. the church is true. and HAPPY EASTER! love love!

March 19th, 2013

well, i survived one month! i did it! today is beautiful, and what
better way to celebrate being a member of the church for 16 months
than to go to walmart?! thats right... those are the kind of things
that excite me now.
well, turns out i had to get a tetanus shot this week. in the states
you get them every 10 years, but when you´re down here you have to
have it every 5 years. blessings. we just moved all 30 of us Nortes
into the CCM housing, and now we all have latina roommates. pretty
excited to meet them when they get here tomorrow! i started reading
the Book of Mormon on saturday night, and i just finished it today
during deportes. i learned a lot. and i, michaela bond, actually
finished a book! in DAYS! woah.
just two more weeks left in guatemala. holy week is coming up this
week, and there have been a lot of preparations for it. thats one of
the reasons we had to move housing-- a lot of members from all over
the world are coming to the temple for holy week. pretty neat!
the highlight of my week was when i was able to talk to one of the
cooks here in the CCM. his name is Alex. he is a kind person, and
always is nice to the missionaries. one day he saw my tattoos and said
¨"you´re the first mormon ive seen with tattoos!" it opened the gate
to allow me to talk to him. for 15 minutes i told him about my
conversion to the church, and bore witness of the divine appointments
Heavenly Father has set up for me. i bore my testimony of the
truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and the power of prayer. i invited
him to read the Book of Mormon and pray to know if it was true.
Hermana Belnap and I will be sitting down with him to teach him a few
lessons before we leave the CCM. i am so grateful to my all knowing
God for giving me that opportunity to talk to Alex. he is a little
hesitant, but every time we talk to him now he gets a huge smile on
his face and says "thank you". i do not have words to express how
happy i am! keep Alex in your prayers as he prays and ponders the
things we teach him!
well, just 1.5 more weeks till my big 21! i am getting really excited!
i already have the day planned out with my district-- i requested we
only sing christmas hymns that day, and we bought chocolate at walmart
today, and then i get to teach sunday school! i am THUPER excited!
man, God has blessed me! and i hope each one of you can feel His love
for you! it is amazing how much His hand is in our lives.
i love you all so much! my favorite hymn in spanish right now is
"Israel, Israel God is Calling". maybe see if the Mormon Tab Choir has
a version. it is beautiful! until next week! - Hermana Bond