Service in Bastimentos

Thursday was my first day going to Bastimentos, another island off of Bocas and in our territory.  Raymond spoke of going here previously, but it was my first time.  We had a nice time there...lots of English speakers and plenty of Rasta too.  Our plan was to meet the service group at the island and just take a water taxi from out dock to the island, but that was going to be expensive.  We ended up taking our small taxi to another dock then taking a larger boat to that island.  It was a CRAZY ride. I had never taken air before on a boat and when it hit down again...quite jarring.

My family sat in the park waiting for the others.  Raymond struck up a conversation with a water taxi captain.  It was a nice chat and we learned alot about how all the boats work.  When the group got there, we split up...many already have studies and plans to work with someone--they were off.  The remainders had a small portion of a territory we were to work.  We did it in like 20 minutes, then it was back to the park to informal until lunch (there were no other territory maps for the island in our midst).  I had a nice morning with another sister who is visiting from Baltimore.  She and her husband plan on moving here for good in September.  We were able to chat with a lady about her family and share a scripture with her.  I will probably go back to chat with her next week and place some literature.  While I was doing this, Raymond was searching for his RV with Ty.  Across the street, a family had some little baby chicks...Ty's highlight for the day so far...he got to hold a chick! 

Back at the park, we watched as some military type marines guys unloaded lots of equipment.  They had machine guns and all sorts of stuff...Ty was blown away that we would talk to "an Army guy with a gun."  Raymond had spoken briefly to one of the men and found out they were marines that traveled all up and down the coast watching out for what we assume to be is drug smuggling activity.  There isn't  a real danger here of problems, but the traffic can flow through the waters off the coast of Panama.  Raymond went on a call and the marine sort of kept unloading and watching us all.  Finally, I realized that he might not really speak English well and remember that he hadn't been told why we were sitting there watching them unload.  I was brave and attempted to talk with him in Spanish...he really appreciated it and took the Good News Brochure from me...I highlighted lesson 8 about why is there so much suffering...IN SPANISH!!  (Ruthie you'd be proud).  After that the guys got back from their call and were all standing around.  Raymond said the marine must have been really impressed because instead of going to stand with his peers, he came and stood with our brothers!  Then it was time for lunch!

We headed out to a small place on the end of a pier behind their living quarters and had rice and chicken.  It wasn't bad, but after we ate, the brother that lives in front of us got the kids excited because he found a fishing line at the end of the dock.  They used our scraps and fished.  A small parrot fish was caught!

We released him too:)  Then is was back to more service.   Some went home, some went on studies, the rest of us tried a couple of calls.  I finished the day going on half of one study and on another with a sister.  One study is from Poland and comes to meeting and the other makes amazing coconut loaves (johnny cakes).  They are so good and I can't wait to order some next week...they are fabulous with jam on them for breakfast.  Both studies went well, the Polish lady is more progressed then the other, but everyone is at their own place.   I got home around 6:30pm.  Quite a day and very happy!

I look forward to more service on the islands.  Bastimentos has lots of potential!