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| Elder Gutke & Elder Doxey with a Kuna Family |
Question: Did you get our letter this week?
Elder Doxey: Yes. I don’t spend computer time reading them. It is much faster to just take a picture of them and read it later on my camera.
Question: In the letter I detail some things about Aurelio Munoz, who lives 20 miles south of you in Ailigandi, which is probably part of the Ustupo area. Aurelio Munoz is Grandpa Call’s friend, a church member with some younger family members. Aurelio was once a Saila Chief. We think he’s still in Ailigandi. He might be a super good connection to other Sailas in San Blas. He and his wife and kids are members. Are there missionaries in Aligandi? We are wondering if you, or your ZLs ever make it there.
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| Aurelio & Benilda Munoz (1973) from Elder Doxey's Grandpa Call |
Elder Doxey: I don’t know, I will read the letter and research it when I have time. I’m on it. If I remember right, we do not have a branch there, but there is an Evangelical Church. We’re not allowed to go out of our area whenever we want. I would have to work with the Elders in Ustupo.
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| A bit of correspondence between Aurelio Munoz & Elder Doxey's Grandpa Call (1977 to 2010) |
Question: Your photo of the Vienna Sausages looks amazing! What a great way to cook those! Now I know why Grandpa Call loved Vienna Sausages so much.
Elder Doxey: Nice! I’m glad you could see that. Love those. That said, I guess it is all relative. For New Years the Kunas shot FOUR wild boars (with shotguns that look like they are from the 1950s) to feed everyone.
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| Rotating the Vienna Sausage Steaks |
Question: Please tell me they hauled this boar out of the forest on a long stick, upside down.
Elder Doxey: I’m sure they did. Last week I thought it was three, but it is actually four. There are 250 people in our village, so that should feed everyone. The Kunas sure are excited when they get to eat wild boar.
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| "I think we are going to need a bigger pot for this one." |
Question: Is that a full-size wheelbarrow they’re cooking him in? If so, that’s a decent sized boar. I have to say, I see they used a double half hitch made of jungle vines (rather than rope) on those hooves. Impressive. Was that after he was dead, or before?
Elder Doxey: Yes, the jungle vines instead of rope are very earth friendly. People in the Bay Area wouldn’t even have a problem with it. Ha Ha. He was tied up like that after he was dead. That is just part of the process of preparing them to be transported out of the jungle and back to our village.
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| The big fella, in a wheelbarrow...note the use of jungle vines rather than rope |
Question: What changes do you notice now that you are Branch President?
Elder Doxey: Well, this week a less active member named Isaac came back to church, and even paid a full tithe. Isaac is 21 years old, has three kids, owns the biggest shop here in Irgandi (smaller than a Chino store), works a lot and never likes to wear shoes. He is exactly 5’4” and has dark black hair.
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| A dad teaching his kids how to gut out a boar |
Question: Who is the "most musical" in your branch? What makes them "the most musical"? Do you sing with people in your visits?
Elder Doxey: We are the only people on the island that can actually keep a beat. Does that explain it? Ha ha. No, people love to sing, because that is what they do in their congreso (town council with the Saila Chiefs) every day. We also have hymns in Dule Gaya so that helps. They love to pray and sing.
Question: How’s your companion? What are his strengths? How long has he been in the mission?
Elder Doxey: Elder Gutke has been in the mission for 8 months. He is excellent and hard working. He has picked up Dule Gaya very fast—probably knows as much as I do already.
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| Elder Gutke and Elder Doxey with a Great Kuna Family |
Question: How many people were at church yesterday?
Elder Doxey: We had 67 people in church. Now that we have people coming to church, we need to work on deepening conversion. We have a spread sheet list of all the members, and need to invite them to come to church. Sometimes we show Book of Mormon videos in Church.
Question: How are you going about the process of deepening conversion? Would it make a difference if you showed them the picture of Aurelio Munoz, or shared your testimony with them?
Elder Doxey: Maybe. There is a lot of work to be done. Often when you are trying to talk to them, they are working…always working on something, normally making Molas to sell, Ha Ha. I don’t ask them for much because usually it’s all they can do to survive. I just expect that they show up for church. “Wichuli anai” (which means be a friend).
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| Wild Boar Mola |
Question: If they keep showing up, that’s huge progress from last fall!!! And, if they come and take the sacrament and feel the spirit that’s awesome! Who speaks in church? How long do you meet?
Elder Doxey: We are the only ones that ever speak. We speak in Dule Gaya. Church is less than an hour. “Eye anai an wisi pukidada” (which means ‘I know a lot of Dule Gaya’)
Question: Has it always been that way? Has anyone ever given a talk?
Elder Doxey: Right now there are two people that are willing to give a talk. All the others who would normally speak are in Panama City right now.
Love you all! Nadie gwenatgan an a bege pukidada!
Elder Doxey
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