Last email in the mission...wow crazy right?

Photo of zone

Time for the good old bitter sweet. This week has been wonderful and awful. 

It's been wonderful because: 

-D. was finally able to be baptized for his uncle. 

-I got to do a temple session in the Indian dialect of Cuna. 

-I was able to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord for a week longer. 

-I went to Colon yesterday.

-I got to see the S. family, the C. family, and the P. family.

-In just a few short days I will be able to see all of my family and friends :) 

-The people here are showing me their love and support in so many different ways.

This week was awful because: 

-I have had to say goodbye to everyone here and I don't know when I will see them again. 

-I have been so busy trying to get so many things done that I haven't been able to sleep much. 

I feel happy...at peace...ready to go home. I feel sad to say goodbye to people that I love. I know that I was able to serve the Lord here in Panama...and now it's time to keep serving in my home. 

Bitter sweet. 

God knows and I know that it's time.

I love you all and will see you soon. 

P.S. In these coming two weeks there will be four baptisms from my area. I feel happy for them and I trust that God will take care of them. I have done the best I could to help them and now it's time for me to let them go. 

From the Mission President's Blog

At a Preparation Day Multi-Zone Soccer Tournament

I`m sorry but I really don't have much to say this week except that things are winding down. It's pretty crazy to think that I`ll be at home in just a matter of days. It feels really weird. BUT I know that it's time. I know that I've done my part. I know that I have had success. I know that I have changed lives. And that's what really matters right? 

Send my love to everyone. 

Love always, 

Sister Koehler

Recognize the couple I'm with? They are members from my very first area: Chitre. On Saturday, I went to the temple with my companion and D. to try to do some temple work with him and while we were there I ran into these wonderful people, the member that we lived with, and my old companion Hna M. It was like a gift from heaven to be able to see them. This couple told me that when I come back to visit Panama that I have a place to stay with them. What a wonderful gift from my Father.

That couple that I'm with are the mission nurses. They were happy to put a face with a name. We had been talking on the phone a lot when I had dengue. It was good to see them. The sister gave me a big hug and told me "We love you sister." What a sweet lady and a beautiful couple.

Yeah health wise the doctor says that I'm cured. I told him that I don't think I really had dengue and he was like, "What? No you definitely had dengue," and he explained to me that it was a classic case of dengue which means that it was a really moderate case. Health wise I'm fine now. I sneeze every once in a while but that's pretty normal haha. [Mom's note: When we called her a couple of weeks ago, she said she might have dengue fever, a sickness that comes from mosquitoes, but the area doctor didn't think her blood work looked that bad. We put her name in the temple. She put her own name in the Panama Temple. Missionaries receive miracle blessings. The gift of healing is real. Prayers are answered.]

I'm really looking forward to being able to see all of you again soon. 

We are working really great with the members. Unfortunately none of our investigators showed up to church on Sunday but even though they didn't show up I didn't feel discouraged. 

This Saturday the ward members celebrated Pioneer Day. It was really great to see everyone dressed up in the pioneer costumes. 

The reality that I'm going home soon is starting to really hit me. I have been trying to make a balance between being prepared to go home and focusing on the work. So far I think I've been able to do pretty well. 

I love you all.

Love always, 

Hermana Koehler

Yesterday we went to Cerro Azul for lunch with some members. They gave us a tour of their beautiful neighborhood. It was a gift from God to be in such a beautiful peaceful place. The photos are on my companion's camera so I will have to send them after she passes them to me.

I´ll send other photos from the first time D. entered the temple this Saturday.

I am really glad that I was able to talk to you guys this morning even though it was for a really hard reason [her cousin passed away]. It was nice to hear your voices. 

I am feeling lots of jumbled up feelings. I am really sad about Max but I know that God loves him and will take care of him. It's really hard to be far away from family for this but I am grateful to be in the mission and I am going to keep pushing forward. 

Thank you for sending happy pictures. M.'s email also helped me a lot. She is a really sweet girl. 

Send my love to the family. 

Love always, 

Hermana Koehler

At a 4th of July Party