refreshing!

nothing tastier than drinking coconut milk right out of a coconut

Meeting and Service in Almirante

We have been going over on Monday and Tuesday to help out the english group in Almirante (on the mainland across from the island). I did the meeting Monday night. The sisters haven't been able to have the week day meeting because there is no brother to care for the group right now. Since it was School Review and there were no student parts, I did the whole meeting. From opening song till closing song I literally never left the stage. It was a cool experience. And these dear faithful sisters have really appreciated the help.

ducklings

This picture was posted for a certain someone.......you know who you are, James

Service in Almirante

We went in service with Tyler and Becky Bargas. They are from Oregon and came down for a few weeks to help out this small english group of 8 publishers. The other sister you see in the picture with us is Aida Chevez. She is the sister taking the lead with this group since there is no brother. Very faithful hard working sister. The Bargas stayed with her while they were here. Tyler is an Elder and Becky is a pioneer. They have two children at home Nathan (21) is who a pioneer and MS and Emily (19) who is a pioneer. We enjoyed the time we got to spend with them.

We got to transport some literature over to Bocas, nothing covert, but it was still fun to help out.

This house is completely out in the water. I am still surprised how some live out here.

Carcassonne

Some back home will know that name. Turns out to be a popular game down here.

Extreme fishing

At least you have a spotter for the fish

Cottrell cat

Reese looking pretty styling in my shades

Some snorkeling and also a visit to Starfish beach

it's easy to figure out where that name comes from, big starfish everywhere

While we were snorkeling we saw pufferfish, squid and a seahorse. Very cool!

Conch

Reese found me a real life conch. What is conch? Wikipedia says: "is a common name which is applied to a number of different species of medium-sized to large sea snails or their shells, generally those which are large and have a high spire and a siphonal canal" You probably recognize them as the shells that people put to their ear to hear the ocean or the ones used in the movies by the island people as a trumpet. At any rate it was cool to see the real deal.

Cottrells took us on their boat

Meet Steve (Cottrell dad) probably first picture of him we have because he was out of town for a while trying to care for a bad back. And no he isn't peeing.

Wesley is ready for some beach football

gave the talk in Changuinola and Almirante

we got to meet the Spanish CO and his wife, their apartment is connected to KH in Changuinola

Josh and Lisa Randall are need-greaters in the Changuinola English group, they have one servant (Josh) and one elder

KH in Changuinola and that is about all we had in attendance, too.

It was a busy weekend. I gave the talk in Bocas Saturday at 9:30am. Then we grabbed the first water taxi over to Almirante on Sunday at 9:00am and then a 45 min. bus ride to Changuinola, gave the talk at 11:30am, got some lunch and then 45 min. back to Almirante to give the talk at 4:00pm and left right after meeting to catch the last water taxi at 6pm back to Bocas. These brothers stay busy.

another service day on Bastimentos

Wes and I waiting for a bible study

these are the water taxis that take you around between the main island (isla colon) the smaller islands.

Cottrell family had us over

for food
and games - it was a lot more fun than Wes makes it look
and maybe hide and seek? I'm not quite sure what Reese is up to

are you sure this is a shortcut

nothing like a stroll through the local cemetary to brighten your day

Sunday is beach day, or at least it can be :)

after a little football on the beach.....
....you gotta get thoroughly rensed off
and then more football

Playa Bluff

these towers were on the beach we visited, Playa Bluff, Columbia uses the beach and those towers for a show like survivor. They were about 20 feet up!

day at the beach

think there is a wave coming
yep definitely a wave coming
oh great now my hair is wet!

Connor's bible study

This is Garby his family owns a restaurant right on the beach, we just walked in and he studied right there
It's really cool how many people here know where their Bibles and bible teach books are and they just go grab them and study right then and there and if they don't have time they tell you to come back later and mean it!

gotta love the view

first time in service on the main island, Isla Colon

umbrellas are used for rain and sun here
Jody Paul and her husband Jaimie are here from Pennsylvania for two months
this is Jaimie

more from Bastimentos

how would you like this to be your Bible study location
riding the water taxi over to Bastimentos, cost 1 dollar each way

Bastimentos

this is another island that they go witnessing on every thursday (the island where the KH is is called isla colon) they have lots of studies on this island
the Hotel owner's wife studies so they use this place as their lunch break