I got stopped by the police

My excitement started out on Sunday as I was walking to meet Izenith at the church in Balboa. As I was walking I got stopped by a police man. At least this was a traffic policeman and not one of the policmen who ride around on motorcycles with machine and shot guns. I'm not going to lie, I might have been a little frightened if it were one of those guys. At first I didn't really understand what the policeman was asking since my Spanish is limited and he didn't speak English. But then I heard the word "esposo." I started laughing because I knew exactly where this conversation was heading. He wanted to know if I had a husband. Is this quality police work in Panama or what? "No esposo," I replied, "pero tengo un novio." (No husband, but I have a boyfriend). Apparently since Jon is in the states, it doesn't really matter if I have a boyfriend here because the policeman continued to ask me questions...including where I lived and what my telephone number is. So I politely pointed in the direction of my house and told him that I didn't have a phone. So it was a little white lie, but it's not like I could understand him if he called anyways. The policeman continued to ask me questions and I think he was asking me out on a date! Ha...he didn't seem too find this conversation as funny as I did as I continued to laugh. But each time I tried to leave, explaining that I was meeting a friend at the church...he continued to ask me questions. After about 15 minutes I finally just had to walk away. So the day continued and it was a lot of fun as Izenith came with us to the church in Sora (a small city in the mountains). The church was celebrating its 5th year anniversary with a special service, games, food, fellowship, and a latin dance show. It was really neat to see a little boy get baptized in Sora on Sunday and another one the night before in Loma Cova. One of the games in Sora was called "greased pole." On top of this 25ft greasy pole was a flag. Using teamwork, the crazy boys were finally able to get the flag by standing 5 or so people high on shoulders. But there was a game that made me almost cry..."catch the greasy pig." It sounds like it would be fun...but it was pure torture for the pig. The whipped the pig and choked it so that it would be harder to catch. But all that torture didn't matter since a boy caught it within 3 seconds. All I have to say is, "GRRRR!!!" After a long day, we drove back and Izenith invited us in her house (after a detour in a random city). She lives in a pretty rough neighborhood where I'm told is very dangerous at night. But it was so fun to meet her family and I was able to have a good time seeing pictures and playing with her nephew. Other News:

• I got a new guitar! I was told that the last time this Mexican band, Mana, was in Panama, they played with my guitar. Well, I had no clue who Mana was, but Ruthie (who was with me) seemed very excited about it. I later looked up the band and it looks like they were a popular band in the 80's.
• In the past week I was able to spend 8-10 hours of my life with three computer guys who were trying to hook up my wireless router. As of last night, it works on my computer, but no one else's. So they will be back tomorrow. I didn't think a router was such a complicated issue. However, one of the guys, Luis (I think that's his name), said he'll start coming to my English classes.
• No salsa dancing this week. (Tear) The missionaries got together last night at Jaime and Thomas's house and Anselma cooked for us.
• I found out why many people have crazy names here that begin with "us." On the birth certificate, many mothers will just copy down a name they see on a cargo ship passing through. It may say "U.S. Navy." Therefore, the name of the child is "Usnavy." Of course it's pronounced different in Spanish.
• I can watch Prison Break online!!!! I've known this for quite a few weeks, but it still excited me everyweek.
• Since I had my letters stamped and ready to be mailed 3 weeks ago at the airport, just to find out I can't mail them...they will finally get to the U.S on Friday as I am sending them with Jon (our Latin American business manager who has been here for the last few days) and he will mail them from St. Louis.
• I'm hopefully getting a dog soon! I really want a cockapoo.
• The mission has a P.O. Box in Miami. It's cheaper and faster to mail stuff. Here's the address: Asociacion Misionera Luterana de Panama, Kristy Lorfeld, PTY 6813, 1601 NW 97th Ave.P.O. Box 025207 Miami, FL 33102-5207 USA