It is extremely hard to concentrate right now because the guy using the computer next to me is rapping to Youtube...extremely loudly. But I`ll try to be able to write well all the same.

This week has been a little better than last week. Sunday I felt rejuvenated and ever since then I've been doing a lot better. Sunday was super spiritual. The Saturday night before I was able to receive some advice and love from my fellow missionaries and friends. I know now that I can choose to be happy and help my companion. I know that God puts everything in our life for a reason. I am learning so much here and I am so grateful for that. The mission isn't all red roses but it's definitely worth it. Well I guess you could say that it's like a bouquet of roses....beautiful and with some thorns. 

So I have some exciting news! Elder Amado, the Seventy for all of Central America...check that because I'm not exactly sure...[The church website says he's a counselor in the presidency of the Central America area] but I know that he`s a member of the Seventy...well he`s coming here to Panama, and specifically here to David! Well he`s not just coming here, he`s going to all different parts of Panama, but still really super exciting. We`ve been preparing for him for the last two weeks. We`re pretty sure that he`s going to put all the rebelious missionaries into place. I am really looking forward to being able to learn more. The conference is the 28th and it starts at 9 and ends at 4...and we have to get there thirty minutes early..or earlier. We have received really specific instructions from the President for what we need to do to prepare for his visit. We've had homework I guess you could say. I`ve been working hard to be able to complete it. I really want to be prepared for this visit. In the email from the President today he told us that President Amado wants to greet every one of us...and that when we greet him give him a firm handshake and look him in the eye so that we can see who he is and he can see who we are. I think that's extremely intimidating. I've always thought that if I had the opportunity to personally talk with the prophet I would  be scared out of my mind...super intimidating. I`m guessing that I will be able to have a similar experience this Friday. I`m super excited and super nervous. I like the importance that he`s putting on meeting every single one of us. This Friday should be really interesting. 

Okay now a quick update on this week: 

Monday: We had our normal family home evening with Ana Maria. She is like our big sister. She is so knowledgeable and she has so much experience. She is also really down to earth. I absolutely love her. I'm going to give her my memory journal to write in it tonight. I'm not sure when she`ll be able to get it back to me but hopefully before this Friday so that my mission leader and bishop can write in it too. 

Tuesday: This was a communication day with my companion. 

Wednesday: Our progressing investigator had his interview. We talked about the temple and work for the dead. Everything went really well. 

Thursday: I went to the hospital. The mission nurse was probably happy that I finally decided to go to the doctor. So I have to take medicine for something in the water and for parasites. Looks like Grandma and Grandpa knew what they were talking about.. I have been feeling a lot better but the medicine is making me really thirsty and it's giving me headaches....but that could also be the Panamanian summer weather. In the evening we had our regular group night activity and it was packed! Wow it was so wonderful to see so many people come. 

Friday: In the morning my companion saw F. smoking...which was a really hard blow. So we had to talk to him. He decided that he doesn't want to wait to get baptized and that he wanted to talk to the bishop..and then in the evening he told us that he had to go somewhere...and he was angry. I had never seen him upset before. 

Saturday: In the evening we attended the baptism of Dora, who is an investigator of the other sisters in our ward. Unfortunately we got there late because my companion had an emergency and then we had a lesson with an investigator that we've been visiting for a while. The appointment didn't go well...and we missed the ordinance, but we were able to be there to help clean up afterwards and to congratulate Dora. In the evening I had a bit of a breakdown...but some missionaries were inspired and called me and were able to help me see things the way I needed to. It was really a manifestation to me that God loves me and wants me to be happy. He has given me so many trials this change and he hasn't given me exactly what I needed to do...but in the end he gave me this night where I was able to feel his mercy and understanding. I really learned what it is that I need to do..which is try to help my companion, but not beat myself up when she uses her agency...and to love myself and be happy. So that's what I've decided to do. 

Sunday: It was excellent. In the afternoon a high priest member took us and some members to visit a less active recent convert family. They were upset with me for not visiting them for so long. And I'm pretty sure that they`re still upset with me...but even though that happened I was able to smile and show them my love. We`re going to have a family home evening with them tomorrow. 

I haven`t been able to do everything that I've felt like I needed to do...but through the scriptures and revelation I've learned for myself that God is not displeased with everything that I've done on my journey here in Panama.

I know that God lives and loves me and everyone. I know that things happen for a reason. 

And I know that in the end everything will be okay. Everything. 

Lots of love, 

Hermana Koehler

I haven`t taken any photos this week..so I just took one in the internet. There's a mirror right next to me so that's how it was able to work out. The guy that was rapping next to me has left. 

Photos from February 17th

There was a ward activity for valentines day! Hense the hearts and balloons and such. Some investigators showed up! Woohoo church activities!!

In your email you talked about love. Mom thank you for loving me unconditionally. I remember when I was younger and I would ask if you would still love me if I failed my school exam...it's such a silly thing to ask...but at the same time it's something really special and important to know that your mom loves you unconditionally. It's really sad, but there's some kids that don't have that in their homes. I'm grateful to have been born to parents as loving, kind, and all around amazing as you two. 

This week has been really hard...we haven´t been able to work like normal. This transfer has been really emotionally trying. Sometimes I struggle with knowing whether or not the lack of success is my fault, but when I think about the good things that have happened it makes me know that we really have seen success. I really am trying to be the best that I possibly can. It's just hard to go for so long without seeing progression with our numbers. But the mission really isn't all about numbers it's about people and helping them even when it's your companion that needs help. 

I am coming close to the year mark. It's really crazy. I´m almost two thirds of the way through this crazy adventure. I feel like I have really grown so far. I know that I still have so much to learn, but I'm grateful for what I've already experienced. 

I´m starting to wonder about what I´ll do with my future-- if I´ll finish getting my elementary education degree or if I'll choose another major; If I'll extend my mission and then apply to another school or just start working. It's hard to know what's around the corner but it seems like my best option for my personal life would be continuing with BYUI. It really makes the most sense, but I´m definitely aware that there are many other options that I could choose. I'm starting to become unsure if I want to be an elementary school teacher...but I'm not really sure what else I would do. I feel like maybe I've lost my chances as far as music goes and I'm not sure if I would continue with that. I enjoy reading and writing but I don't have a real passion for that. Really I have no idea what career choice to choose. Knowing me what do you think would suit me just right? 

So now for a brief update on this week... 

Monday the zone had an activity where they went to see a waterfall and gardens..from what I understand. We didn't go because we were worried about my companion's health. Also the bishop told her that she can't leave the house until Wednesday.

Tuesday we had divisions with the Zellas aka hermana leaders. I worked in my area with one of them while the other stayed in the house with my companion. It was really hard because the whole time I was thinking and worrying about my companion...really hard. 

Wednesday we went to the bishop's house. I taught his daughter piano lessons. After that we went tracting in part of our area. We found two potential families that we could teach. We´ll see what comes from that. 

Thursday a member (our lunch Mom) helped us learn more about the members and how to find them and who lives in Doleguita. We found a less active member. We got to know our area more. We had a group night in the church in the evening. 

Friday my companion was struggling and we stayed in the house until 5:30 when we went to have a meeting with our mission leader and the bishop and the other hermanas in the ward. 

Saturday my companion was having issues again. We didn't leave the house until 4:30 when we went to talk to the bishop and he was able to help us out. After talking to him there was the valentine's activity. 

Sunday F. came to church, his baptism was announced. We had another meeting with the bishop and our mission leader so we were at the church until 4:30. Then we went to have linner with a member. After that we went back to the house to do weekly planning. 

Monday, today, on the way to the store we passed F. He was smoking. That was pretty hard and I felt like I hit a brick wall. I'm not really sure what we can do. He's progressing but he keeps having these fall backs. I really love him and want to be able to help him but I'm not sure what else we can do for him.

Another crazy week here in Panama. 

I'm feeling happy and hopeful. 

In two weeks we have transfers so we´ll see what happens. There's a good chance that I´ll be sent to another area with a new companion since I've been here in Doleguita for so long. 

I sent letters today so people keep a look out! haha 

Lots of love, 

Hermana Hannah Koehler

Pictures from February 10th

[From Editor Mom: We just got home from vacation. I couldn't post pictures Hannah sent on Monday until now.]

Wow so I officially have ten minutes to write this letter so I'm definitely  going to speed type...we´´ll see how much I´ll be able to get in here. 

So this week has been absolutely insane. We spent two days in and out of the hospital...don't freak out don't freak out! Everyone's fine. My companion has a kidney infection. So it's been a really crazy process and I'm definitely learning about what it means to take care of someone. It was a really interesting process because for a long time they had no idea what it is that she has. It started...I think it was on Wednesday. A good time after lunch she started to feel some severe pain in her lower right stomach area...abdominal area...well not really exactly sure where but more or less where the gall bladder is...so originally they thought that she has gallstones...but a quick expensive ultrasound helped us know that she doesn't have gallstones. Then they thought that she has something called gastritis...which turns out that she does have that...but she also has a kidney infection. So shes been on bed rest for the past week and she has to take it easy until Wednesday and there's a good chance that we won't be able to work  normally for the next two weeks. So I've been playing nurse as my companion had to take five medications every day...some of which were every 8 hours and others every 12 hours. We've narrowed down the pills a bit but she still has quite a few meds to take. 

Its been an interesting experience that's for sure. I'd say that its helping me prepare for a future family. I really care about this girl...I say girl but shes 26 haha. She's a really special wonderful person and I'm really learning a lot. 

My health is pretty good so far. I've just been pretty tired. We've been having to get up at 5:30 for some of her pills and my earplugs broke so I've been having a really hard time sleeping again. I'm not really sure when I'll be able to buy earplugs again or where I´ll be able to get them but we´ll see. 

Our progressing investigator is struggling again but we´re hoping to get an interview with him and the bishop this Tuesday...speaking of which we have to talk to him about that. 

So yeah...things have been pretty crazy here but Im definitely learning a lot. 

I'm working on bettering my prayers, my relationship with God, and my relationships with others. I really want to gain a greater love for all of the above. 

Other notes...I might start teaching English lessons, the bishop gave us four families to visit every week, and I´ll be teaching a piano class on Wednesday. 

Living and loving life here in Doleguita, David, Chiriqui, Panama...who really know where I am...or where Im from haha. The people here have decided that I'm from England because I was born there...but I'm pretty sure I'm not going to start saying that I'm from England...oh my life is so confusing. 

I love all of  you! 

Mom and Dad have fun this week! I'm super excited for you guys and looking forward to the photos. 

Lots of love, 

Hermana Koehler

Please Pray for Hannah

I'm sorry that I don't really have anything that you can put on the blog this week...but next week I should be able to send pictures!! 

This week has been really hard and discouraging. We've had all kinds of sicknesses this week to the point where we weren't able to really work for four days. I was supposed to go to the doctor today to get a stool test to see what's going on with my stomach since I've been having episodes of severe pain and [diarrhea]...not really sure how to spell that sorry...but I'm pretty sure that we´re not going to have time today. 

I also found out that it's true that the water here can be questionable sometimes...so maybe I will have to take that parasite medicine that Grandma has when I get back. I'm going to try to get one of those water bottles that the mission has. I really don't want any more stomach problems. 

We have a progressing investigator! I think that I've already talked about him. He came to church on Sunday and he has an interview with the bishop tomorrow. 

This week...because of the sickness...I have had moments of frustration. It's so hard to not be able to really work. But I'm learning and growing and developing into the woman that I know God wants me to be. 

I love you.

Love, 

Your Daughter aka Hna Koehler