Well, I’m here in Ukupseni (Playon Chico) Island and it has been great. It is very different from Irgandi in many ways.
Julia: What is Ukupseni like?
Elder Doxey: First it is A TON bigger and there are a lot more people. Here on the island there are like 5 churches, but there are also restaurants (called “Fondas”) that serve cake and ice cream, people selling Molas to all the tourists, people have smartphones. It is a lot like the city, but on a touristy island.
There is a little island pretty close that is technically called Yandup Island, but everyone here calls it “The Hotel.”
Yandup Island is technically in our area, but is where all the tourists stay. It is very nice. I think that I sent a picture. There are 12 tricked out “huts” on it so tourists can feel like they are staying in a "real" hut. The crazy thing is that from our half-wall in our hut I can look across the water to those pristine, luxury huts!
One funny thing is I literally found Ben Call’s copy of Preach My Gospel here in the Ukupseni branch building. Ha Ha! It’s pretty amazing to be in the exact same place he was. This branch building is super, super nice. They have fans, electricity whenever you want it, water. It’s amazing.
Julia: What is the best thing about this last week?
Elder Doxey: Finding new good people to teach, teaching lessons.
Julia: Who are you teaching?
Elder Doxey: This week we have been finding lots of new people. We are up to 10 new people, which is pretty good for being on an island. It’s about how many we would find in a week in the city. Compared to the work in Irgandi, 10 new people to teach is good because there we would find only one or two the whole week, simply because most of the pueblo are already church members.
Another really awesome thing here on Ukupseni is that we have been showing the new Christmas video “The Christ Child” and holding family home evenings any day of the week. I sent like three or four pictures of that. That video helps us create a really good chance to let people know what Christmas is really about and help then feel the Spirit. It is also it is a good way to find new people and for members to feel like they can invite friends that are not members.
Julia: Do you have Church members you can work with?
Elder Doxey: In terms of Church attendance, this week we had 25. We’ve got a lot of work to do. The branch is just not as big as it was in Irgandi, where we had 63 last week, and 75 the week before. President Garrett said “Elder Doxey, you left Irgandi a lot stronger than when you found it” so that’s encouraging. I honestly think that San Blas is past the point of baptizing hundreds a month though. Now we are focusing on activating all the recent converts and members. So our goal this month is 8 bautismos and 125 for the mission.
Julia: Do you have any investigators that are progressing?
Elder Doxey: Honestly, we don’t have that many right now, because we’re just trying to get momentum with a teaching group. So, we’re in finding mode. But, we’re teaching a lot of course; the challenge is they’re not progressing because they are a little lazy, or lack an understanding of why they should care. This is pretty common in the San Blas / Guna Yala Comarca (Kuna Reservation)…it takes a lot of teaching to help them progress.
Julia: Tell us more about Elder Moss. What is his first name? How long has he been out?
Elder Doxey: I don’t know his first name yet, that’s not something we use really. Elder Moss is great. He is the District Leader, from Texas (near the border of Mexico), about 6’ 4”, played football and soccer in high school, plans to go to BYU when he gets home, a very hard worker, obedient, and GREAT with the Kunas.
Julia: Do you have any visits you are particularly looking forward to this week?
Elder Doxey: This week is a short week because we have to go to Panama City on Thursday for a Christmas meeting on Friday, and then we will travel home to Ukupseni on Saturday. We’re pretty excited for it because we NEVER see anyone else in the San Blas Zone. Our Zone Leader lives on Ustupu Island and we never see him because it is one hour away by boat. So, going to Panama City and just seeing non-island civilization will be exciting!
Julia: Where do you stay when you go to Panama City?
Elder Doxey: The Assistants live in a home that the Church has owned for about 30 years. We stay there. It has space for about 20 Elders to stay there on air mattresses. It will be weird to sleep on a mattress after sleeping in a hammock for 5 months. We are even getting “Light the World” t-shirts. Should be awesome.
Julia: Do you ever get a chance to read email from other missionaries around the world?
Elder Doxey: I get it in my inbox, but there is no time to read it. So, I just focus on missionary email from cousins that are out…Zack, Max, Tom, Thys, Brynn and others.
Julia: Do Church members feed you on Ukupseni?
Elder Doxey: Not yet. We cook all of our meals in our hut, on a gas stove. We eat a lot of canned chicken, noodles, pancakes, protein bars. Sometimes we really want to go to a Fonda (restaurant) but it is really expensive, like $3 a meal. Right now I am eating fake Oreos.
Julia: Tell us more about the Branch President you have on Ukupseni.
Elder Doxey: His name is Lucio, and his whole family is active. He owns a little store here on the island, and provides Ritz crackers for the sacrament services. From this branch there is an Elder serving in Guatemala; his mom is a recent convert and his dad is not a Church member but has come twice. They also have a daughter who is getting ready to serve a mission.
Julia: Tell us about the youth in the Branch
Elder Doxey: There are less than 10 youth that come. It is mostly adults and many little kids. One thing we are doing to try to invite more youth to come is to set up a Church movie on a stage near the outdoor basketball court. We did this once, but nobody came. I think nobody came because we do not have a bell to ring like we did in Irgandi.
About that “bell” …it is actually not a forged brass bell like you would imagine. It is actually an old heavy, hollow scuba tank that has had the bottom cut off and you just go hit it with a rock. I would make one, but there are no old scuba tanks just sitting around. I don’t really want to make one anyway because the Baptist Church already has one and that sound means go to the Baptist Church! Maybe I should get a big conch shell!
Julia: Are people kind to you?
Elder Doxey: Yes, the active church members are. There is definitely not as many people drinking Chicha Fuerte here…that make people pretty crazy and mean. People drink real alcohol and beer here instead of Chicha Fuerte. The funny thing is that on Irgandi, people are only allowed to drink the traditional Chicha Fuerte drink, and traditional smoking at certain times...it is not all the time like alcohol drunk here. Another interesting thing is that they once set up a jail here on Ukupseni, but they ended up making more than half of it into a bar. The bar has four locks on the door, but the jail only has one lock on the door. When you do get thrown in the jail, it is only for three days (probably to sober up) and then you’re out.
Julia: Do they have a Sila Chief on Ukupseni like they do on Irgandi?
Elder Doxey: Yes, and he has control over everything, just like Irgandi. That said, there are not as many people wearing the ceremonial Kuna clothing and beads on their legs like Irgandi, but they do sell it all like crazy…especially Molas. That is good income source for them.
Julia: Any plumbing in your hut?
Elder Doxey: No. Nobody outside the tourist area has a bathroom in their hut. At our hut, we share a “bathroom” arrangement with about five families. From our hut, we walk out 20 feet to bathe at a 50 gallon bucket that is there. Then, you go 20 more feet down the beach where we have our school chair (with a big hole in the middle) over the ocean. Sirve bien.
Julia: What is your biggest challenge?
Elder Doxey: Well, I have to go wash my clothes right now. Maybe that is a challenge. It takes two hours washing them by hand in a 5 gallon bucket and hanging them out to dry (they never really dry though because it is so humid). We have to get them really clean this week so we can go to Panama City and not look terrible.
Julia: What should we be praying for?
Elder Doxey: People who are willing to listen. Safe travel to the city. People who are ready to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and make commitments.
Overall it was a great week.
Much love,
Elder Doxey
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| Ukupseni Island is also Known as "Playon Chico". Ben Call (Elder Doxey's cousin) served on that same island! |
Julia: What is Ukupseni like?
Elder Doxey: First it is A TON bigger and there are a lot more people. Here on the island there are like 5 churches, but there are also restaurants (called “Fondas”) that serve cake and ice cream, people selling Molas to all the tourists, people have smartphones. It is a lot like the city, but on a touristy island.
There is a little island pretty close that is technically called Yandup Island, but everyone here calls it “The Hotel.”
Yandup Island is technically in our area, but is where all the tourists stay. It is very nice. I think that I sent a picture. There are 12 tricked out “huts” on it so tourists can feel like they are staying in a "real" hut. The crazy thing is that from our half-wall in our hut I can look across the water to those pristine, luxury huts!
 |
| Touristy Yandup Island, aka "The Hotel" |
 |
| Accomodations on Yandup ... not realistic for anyone but tourists |
 |
| "The Hotel" |
Julia: What is the best thing about this last week?
Elder Doxey: Finding new good people to teach, teaching lessons.
Julia: Who are you teaching?
Elder Doxey: This week we have been finding lots of new people. We are up to 10 new people, which is pretty good for being on an island. It’s about how many we would find in a week in the city. Compared to the work in Irgandi, 10 new people to teach is good because there we would find only one or two the whole week, simply because most of the pueblo are already church members.
Another really awesome thing here on Ukupseni is that we have been showing the new Christmas video “The Christ Child” and holding family home evenings any day of the week. I sent like three or four pictures of that. That video helps us create a really good chance to let people know what Christmas is really about and help then feel the Spirit. It is also it is a good way to find new people and for members to feel like they can invite friends that are not members.
Julia: Do you have Church members you can work with?
Elder Doxey: In terms of Church attendance, this week we had 25. We’ve got a lot of work to do. The branch is just not as big as it was in Irgandi, where we had 63 last week, and 75 the week before. President Garrett said “Elder Doxey, you left Irgandi a lot stronger than when you found it” so that’s encouraging. I honestly think that San Blas is past the point of baptizing hundreds a month though. Now we are focusing on activating all the recent converts and members. So our goal this month is 8 bautismos and 125 for the mission.
 |
| Making Molas (Google Images) |
Julia: Do you have any investigators that are progressing?
Elder Doxey: Honestly, we don’t have that many right now, because we’re just trying to get momentum with a teaching group. So, we’re in finding mode. But, we’re teaching a lot of course; the challenge is they’re not progressing because they are a little lazy, or lack an understanding of why they should care. This is pretty common in the San Blas / Guna Yala Comarca (Kuna Reservation)…it takes a lot of teaching to help them progress.
Julia: Tell us more about Elder Moss. What is his first name? How long has he been out?
Elder Doxey: I don’t know his first name yet, that’s not something we use really. Elder Moss is great. He is the District Leader, from Texas (near the border of Mexico), about 6’ 4”, played football and soccer in high school, plans to go to BYU when he gets home, a very hard worker, obedient, and GREAT with the Kunas.
Julia: Do you have any visits you are particularly looking forward to this week?
Elder Doxey: This week is a short week because we have to go to Panama City on Thursday for a Christmas meeting on Friday, and then we will travel home to Ukupseni on Saturday. We’re pretty excited for it because we NEVER see anyone else in the San Blas Zone. Our Zone Leader lives on Ustupu Island and we never see him because it is one hour away by boat. So, going to Panama City and just seeing non-island civilization will be exciting!
Julia: Where do you stay when you go to Panama City?
Elder Doxey: The Assistants live in a home that the Church has owned for about 30 years. We stay there. It has space for about 20 Elders to stay there on air mattresses. It will be weird to sleep on a mattress after sleeping in a hammock for 5 months. We are even getting “Light the World” t-shirts. Should be awesome.
Julia: Do you ever get a chance to read email from other missionaries around the world?
Elder Doxey: I get it in my inbox, but there is no time to read it. So, I just focus on missionary email from cousins that are out…Zack, Max, Tom, Thys, Brynn and others.
Julia: Do Church members feed you on Ukupseni?
Elder Doxey: Not yet. We cook all of our meals in our hut, on a gas stove. We eat a lot of canned chicken, noodles, pancakes, protein bars. Sometimes we really want to go to a Fonda (restaurant) but it is really expensive, like $3 a meal. Right now I am eating fake Oreos.
 |
| Typical Cook Stove Missionaries Use |
Julia: Tell us more about the Branch President you have on Ukupseni.
Elder Doxey: His name is Lucio, and his whole family is active. He owns a little store here on the island, and provides Ritz crackers for the sacrament services. From this branch there is an Elder serving in Guatemala; his mom is a recent convert and his dad is not a Church member but has come twice. They also have a daughter who is getting ready to serve a mission.
 |
| Store on Ukupseni (Google Images) |
Julia: Tell us about the youth in the Branch
Elder Doxey: There are less than 10 youth that come. It is mostly adults and many little kids. One thing we are doing to try to invite more youth to come is to set up a Church movie on a stage near the outdoor basketball court. We did this once, but nobody came. I think nobody came because we do not have a bell to ring like we did in Irgandi.
About that “bell” …it is actually not a forged brass bell like you would imagine. It is actually an old heavy, hollow scuba tank that has had the bottom cut off and you just go hit it with a rock. I would make one, but there are no old scuba tanks just sitting around. I don’t really want to make one anyway because the Baptist Church already has one and that sound means go to the Baptist Church! Maybe I should get a big conch shell!
 |
| A "Bell" Made from an Air Tank |
Julia: Are people kind to you?
Elder Doxey: Yes, the active church members are. There is definitely not as many people drinking Chicha Fuerte here…that make people pretty crazy and mean. People drink real alcohol and beer here instead of Chicha Fuerte. The funny thing is that on Irgandi, people are only allowed to drink the traditional Chicha Fuerte drink, and traditional smoking at certain times...it is not all the time like alcohol drunk here. Another interesting thing is that they once set up a jail here on Ukupseni, but they ended up making more than half of it into a bar. The bar has four locks on the door, but the jail only has one lock on the door. When you do get thrown in the jail, it is only for three days (probably to sober up) and then you’re out.
 |
| Ukupseni Island (Playon Chico) |
Julia: Do they have a Sila Chief on Ukupseni like they do on Irgandi?
Elder Doxey: Yes, and he has control over everything, just like Irgandi. That said, there are not as many people wearing the ceremonial Kuna clothing and beads on their legs like Irgandi, but they do sell it all like crazy…especially Molas. That is good income source for them.
Julia: Any plumbing in your hut?
Elder Doxey: No. Nobody outside the tourist area has a bathroom in their hut. At our hut, we share a “bathroom” arrangement with about five families. From our hut, we walk out 20 feet to bathe at a 50 gallon bucket that is there. Then, you go 20 more feet down the beach where we have our school chair (with a big hole in the middle) over the ocean. Sirve bien.
 |
| Our Deluxe Latrine |
Julia: What is your biggest challenge?
Elder Doxey: Well, I have to go wash my clothes right now. Maybe that is a challenge. It takes two hours washing them by hand in a 5 gallon bucket and hanging them out to dry (they never really dry though because it is so humid). We have to get them really clean this week so we can go to Panama City and not look terrible.
Julia: What should we be praying for?
Elder Doxey: People who are willing to listen. Safe travel to the city. People who are ready to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and make commitments.
Overall it was a great week.
Much love,
Elder Doxey
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