Question: How has the work been this week?
Elder Doxey: This week Elder Richins and I had to go to Panama to get food rations for the San Blas Zone.
[Note: Elder Doxey often says he has to “go to Panama” like it is a completely different country …which is kind of true b/c he is in the “Comarca of Guna Yala” which in this case is a native Kuna Indian reservation in the coastal San Blas area of Panama. In the USA we would refer to it as an Indian reservation like Navajo Nation, or Lakota Nation. Different rules apply.]
We spent about $700 USD for the whole zone, which should last us all for the next few months. We stayed the night at the APs place. We picked up two new Elders to bring them out to San Blas and headed out to the coast to Carti-Tupile. It was a very, very fast trip to Panama.
When we arrived in Carti-Tupile (the Hermanas area in San Blas), we dropped off their food, and wanted to get on with delivering the rest of the food to other islands in the zone, and of course getting the new Elders with their companions on their islands so they could work. But, the sea was way too rough to embark that day -- too risky and unsafe.
So, we were stranded in the Carti-Tupile area, and all four of us had to stay in the hammocks at the Carti-Tupile branch building for two nights. We had no change of clothes, nada! I did get the birthday package from you, so thanks for that. I really like the Book of Mormon with all the cousin’s favorite scriptures and quotes from church leaders. It was nice to have that while we were stranded.
When the sea finally calmed down enough, we got underway again in our panga. I got the biggest headache from those waves smashing us up and down! Everyone in the boat was super wet—totally soaked.
Finally we were able to pair up the new Elders with their companions, and then continue all the way down to our area, (Ustupu Island at the other end of the zone down the East coast of Panama).
Altogether, I unexpectedly had to wear the same clothes for six days. It was nice to be back in Ustupu at our hut, and doing actual missionary work again.
Question: Tell us about Ustupu island.
Elder Doxey: There is an airstrip. The population is larger. Some huts have electricity. The harbor is busy. We are busier.
Question: How is Elder Richins? Tell us about him.
Elder Doxey: He is a very good missionary. I’ve known him since the early days of the mission. He is from Henefer, Utah. His dad works at Hill AFB.
Question: Do you speak as much Dule Gaya on Ustupu island as you did in Irgandi?
Elder Doxey: We speak a lot more Spanish here. Ustupu is still part of Guna Yala; it is still heavily Kuna, but they’re slightly more like the Kunas you’d find in Panama. They prefer to speak Dule Gaya, but they also speak Spanish very well, instead of not at all, like those in Irgandi.
Question: What is on your mind as Zone Leader?
Elder Doxey: While in Panama, I had a good talk with the APs and President Garrett about the San Blas Zone. We talked about everything from health, to food, to recent baptisms, and the branches.
Question: What sort of leadership do you have in the Ustupu branch?
Elder Doxey: We have a branch president, and he has counselors. I don’t know much more than that.
Question: What is the name of the branch president?
Elder Doxey: No idea yet.
Question: How many are in the Ustupu branch?
Elder Doxey: No idea yet.
Question: Give us an at least 15 word description of the hut you live in.
Elder Doxey: It’s made of sticks.
Question: How is the work going?
Elder Doxey: Right now is not a great time to be out b/c everyone is celebrating the Kuna Revolution and Carnival.
Question: How would you describe the food situation of Kunas around you? Are they hunting and gathering all the time, or do they buy food from stores?
Elder Doxey: They buy it from stores. Not as much hunting and gathering.
Question: How are you cooking food in this area? Over a fire? On a small gas stove?
Elder Doxey: We have a stove, and often eat with church members.
Question: Do you have to ring a bell to get people to come to church?
Elder Doxey: No.
Gotta go.
Much love,
Elder Doxey
Elder Doxey: This week Elder Richins and I had to go to Panama to get food rations for the San Blas Zone.
[Note: Elder Doxey often says he has to “go to Panama” like it is a completely different country …which is kind of true b/c he is in the “Comarca of Guna Yala” which in this case is a native Kuna Indian reservation in the coastal San Blas area of Panama. In the USA we would refer to it as an Indian reservation like Navajo Nation, or Lakota Nation. Different rules apply.]
 |
| Beautiful Ustupo Island, Elder Doxey's New Area |
We spent about $700 USD for the whole zone, which should last us all for the next few months. We stayed the night at the APs place. We picked up two new Elders to bring them out to San Blas and headed out to the coast to Carti-Tupile. It was a very, very fast trip to Panama.
 |
| Elder Doxey's Food Delivery Route to Each Area in the San Blas Zone |
When we arrived in Carti-Tupile (the Hermanas area in San Blas), we dropped off their food, and wanted to get on with delivering the rest of the food to other islands in the zone, and of course getting the new Elders with their companions on their islands so they could work. But, the sea was way too rough to embark that day -- too risky and unsafe.
So, we were stranded in the Carti-Tupile area, and all four of us had to stay in the hammocks at the Carti-Tupile branch building for two nights. We had no change of clothes, nada! I did get the birthday package from you, so thanks for that. I really like the Book of Mormon with all the cousin’s favorite scriptures and quotes from church leaders. It was nice to have that while we were stranded.
 |
| 4 Elders Staying the Night in the Carti-Tupile Branch Building (family BofM b-day gift on the chair) |
When the sea finally calmed down enough, we got underway again in our panga. I got the biggest headache from those waves smashing us up and down! Everyone in the boat was super wet—totally soaked.
Finally we were able to pair up the new Elders with their companions, and then continue all the way down to our area, (Ustupu Island at the other end of the zone down the East coast of Panama).
Altogether, I unexpectedly had to wear the same clothes for six days. It was nice to be back in Ustupu at our hut, and doing actual missionary work again.
 |
| Ustupu from the air (Eric Lopez Photo) |
Question: Tell us about Ustupu island.
Elder Doxey: There is an airstrip. The population is larger. Some huts have electricity. The harbor is busy. We are busier.
 |
| Airstrip Near Ustupu Island |
Question: How is Elder Richins? Tell us about him.
Elder Doxey: He is a very good missionary. I’ve known him since the early days of the mission. He is from Henefer, Utah. His dad works at Hill AFB.
Question: Do you speak as much Dule Gaya on Ustupu island as you did in Irgandi?
Elder Doxey: We speak a lot more Spanish here. Ustupu is still part of Guna Yala; it is still heavily Kuna, but they’re slightly more like the Kunas you’d find in Panama. They prefer to speak Dule Gaya, but they also speak Spanish very well, instead of not at all, like those in Irgandi.
 |
| This One is Struggling |
Question: What is on your mind as Zone Leader?
Elder Doxey: While in Panama, I had a good talk with the APs and President Garrett about the San Blas Zone. We talked about everything from health, to food, to recent baptisms, and the branches.
Question: What sort of leadership do you have in the Ustupu branch?
Elder Doxey: We have a branch president, and he has counselors. I don’t know much more than that.
Question: What is the name of the branch president?
Elder Doxey: No idea yet.
 |
| Busy Ustupu Harbor |
Question: How many are in the Ustupu branch?
Elder Doxey: No idea yet.
Question: Give us an at least 15 word description of the hut you live in.
Elder Doxey: It’s made of sticks.
 |
| Metro Ustupu |
Question: How is the work going?
Elder Doxey: Right now is not a great time to be out b/c everyone is celebrating the Kuna Revolution and Carnival.
Question: How would you describe the food situation of Kunas around you? Are they hunting and gathering all the time, or do they buy food from stores?
Elder Doxey: They buy it from stores. Not as much hunting and gathering.
 |
| Celebrating 95 Years Since the Kuna Revolution from Panama |
Question: How are you cooking food in this area? Over a fire? On a small gas stove?
Elder Doxey: We have a stove, and often eat with church members.
Question: Do you have to ring a bell to get people to come to church?
Elder Doxey: No.
Gotta go.
Much love,
Elder Doxey
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