Misión Panamá Ciudad de Panamá
Free resources about the Panama Panama City Mission:
Aquí están algunos recursos gratuitos sobre la Misión Panamá Ciudad de Panamá:
- Mission address and phone number
- Mission map
- Video interviews with returned missionaries
- Missionary blogs
- Facebook groups
- LDS Mission t-shirts and gifts
- List of past mission presidents
- Cultural articles written by returned missionaries
- Survey with RMs
Panama City Mission Address
Here’s a recent address for the Panama City Mission. We try to keep this information up to date, but it’s a good idea to check the address with several sources, including your mission packet or the mission office.
Panama Panama City Mission
AP 0834-02798
Panama
Provincia de Panamá
Panama
Panama
Phone Number: 507-213-3180
Mission President: President William F. Current
Mission President: President William F. Current
Panama Panama City Mission Map
Here’s a link to the mission map for the Panama City Mission (LDS). To access the official, up-to-date LDS.org map for the Panama City Mission:
Videos with Panama City RMs
Here are in-depth YouTube video interviews with returned missionaries from the Panama City Mission. We interview hundreds of returned missionaries each year, so check back regularly to see new RM interviews.
LDS-Friendly Videos about Panama
Here are LDS-friendly educational videos about Panama. We scoured YouTube to find the best quality videos about Panama, that are free from inappropriate music, immodesty and profanity.
Panama City Missionary Blogs
Here’s a list of LDS missionary blogs for the Panama City Mission. This list includes the missionary’s name, URL and when their blog was updated.
Panama City Mission Groups
Here are Panama City Mission Groups- for LDS missionary moms, returned missionaries, mission presidents and other alumni of the Panama City Mission.
- Panama, Panama City Mission Facebook Group (335 members)
- Panama, Panama City Mission 2013 Facebook Group (30 members)
- Panama City Mission Moms and Friends (LDS) Group (5 members)
- Panama City Mission Reunion President Seegmiller Group (1 member)
Panama City Mission T-Shirts
Here are T-shirts for the Panama Panama City Mission!
Shirt designs include Panama City Mission logo/emblem shirts and Called to Serve shirts. The shirts make great gifts for pre-missionaries, returned missionaries and missionaries currently serving. LDS Mission shirts come in all sizes: Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large, up to 4XL. The mission designs are printed on white shirts and are shipped to you.
*Simply click on a shirt design to view the details and submit an order. The designs on mission t-shirts may also be printed on other LDS mission gifts, including: Panama City missionary aprons, Christmas stockings, ties, pillow cases, teddy bears and Christmas ornaments.
*Click here to browse Panama City Mission gifts
Panama City Mission Presidents
Here’s a list of current and past Mission Presidents of the Panama City Mission.
- 2016-2019, William F. Current
- 2013-2016, Curtis F. Carmack
- 2010-2013, Carl L. Ward
- 2007-2010, Manuel Madrigal
- 2004-2007, Robert M. Duffin
- 2001-2004, Hugo Boren
- 1998-2001, Duane B. Williams
- 1995-1998, William E. Seegmiller
- 1992-1995, Jose Galvez
- 1989-1992, Pedro Abularach
- 1985-1988, Mervyn B. Arnold
- 1983-1985, R. Kay Holmstead
- 1980-1983, James L. Shurtleff
Panama LDS Statistics (2015)
- Church Membership: 51,102
- Missions: 1
- Temples: 1
- Congregations: 71
- Family History Centers: 0
Helpful Articles about Panama
Panama City Missionary Survey
Here are survey responses from Panama City RMs, to give you a snapshot into what it’s like to live in the mission.
*Click here to take a survey to help pre-missionaries going to your mission.
When did you serve?
- December 2013-June 2015 (Sarah)
- 1999-2001 (David)
- October 2013-October 2015 (Rook)
- 1993-1995 (Trevon)
- 1999-2001 (Jamie)
- 1999-2001 (Adam)
- 1996-1998 (Spencer)
Which areas did you serve in?
What were some favorite foods?
- Rice, lentils, and chicken! With fried plantains. (Sarah)
- Get used to eating A LOT of rice (you can expect rice for lunch and dinner). Some of my favorites were: Arroz con guandu (rice with guandu), Duro de maracuya (passion fruit Popsicle) Duro de Tampico (Orange Tampico Popsicle). (David)
- Arroz con pollo which is a popular celebration dish…it usually has rice , pieces of chicken and vegetables. I loved tejadas which are sliced ripened plantains and then simmered. (Rook)
- Guanabana, Tuli masi, Maracua Curasado, Bread Pudding. (Trevon)
- Plátanos, Sancocho, lentils. (Jamie)
- Nance, Pipa, Mangoes, Checheme. (Adam)
- Arroz con pollo. (Spencer)
What was a funny experience?
- Being chased by dogs all the time! (Sarah)
- There are some truly INSANE insects in Panama. I once saw a cat eating what I thought was a rat, until an insect leg popped out of it–it was a giant grasshopper (like four inches long)! (David)
- To many to even list. (Rook)
- My companion and I were helping a family cut down a jungle area in Bocas del Toro and he took a step into a jungle puddle and went in over his head. When I tried to go help him out, I also fell into the water. We both walked back when we were done with brown shirts. (Trevon)
- I was in a trio in Panama City with two blonde sisters and I am a red head. We would literally stop traffic, because we were a rarity. The called us “foolas”, which probably meant white girls…? They were constantly yelling to us that we were beautiful and were proposing marriage. If you are fair skinned with light hair, get ready for it… (Jamie)
- In David I lived in a house with a guard goose. It was very good at it’s job, though unlike a dog it never learned who was supposed to live there. There were many funny experiences trying to get into our house without getting attacked. (Adam)
- Getting attacked by a lizard in the shower. (Spencer)
What was a crazy experience?
- I ate puma (the giant mountain cat) on the Islands of San Blas! (Sarah)
- My companion and I were hit by a rogue wave traveling between villages in the San Blas islands, capsizing our boat in open sea (about 1/4 mile from land). We were in a large cayuco (hallowed out tree canoe…this one was about four feet wide). My companion was thrown some 10 feet from the boat, the driver of the boat, and myself were able to stay inboard. We saved the motor and swam the cayuco and motor to shore (so much for not swimming on your mission). Once ashore, we were able to unswamp the boat, and paddle back to our home island. (David)
- My boat capsized in the ocean while heading to a zone conference in Narganá. It’s out in San Blas. We were saved after 4 1/2 hours by Colombians and Kuna Indians. (Rook)
- I could not find a home in the Jungle where we were supposed to teach, but I found a hidden trail that led us to two men planting Marijuana. I walked right up and asked the first man for directions. The second man, with the machine gun, saw his buddy talking to a white man in a white shirt and tie, wearing sunglasses. Assumed the worst and ran off into the jungle. (Trevon)
- In my first area, a man came up to my companion. I thought maybe he wanted a Book of Mormon, but it turned out he told my companion he had a gun and told her to give him all of our money. She explained that we were missionaries and we didn’t have any. He then told her to hand over our watches, so we did and he left us alone. (Jamie)
- In one area we lived, our apartment was part of a house where the branch met and another family lived on the other side. The house had a termite problem and one day the four year old of the family wanted to say Hi and he punched a hole through the termite infested front door. We didn’t feel super safe after that. (Adam)
- Attacked by a drunkard while walking down the street. (Spencer)
What was a spiritual experience?
- Every day, teaching the investigators and seeing their change of heart! ((Sarah)
- My companion in the Mission Training Center felt he was struggling with Spanish, so he decided to fast. I fasted with him. He was humbled and astounded that someone would fast for him. He said he could only picture the Savior doing something that selfless for him. I was humbled at his words of gratitude. We both studied harder, and learned Spanish with greater ease after that. (David)
- Just growing to understand the love that our Savior has for each and every one of us and that He truly lives. (Rook)
- Bringing the Gospel to a special family whose parents were about to separate, but after our message, they resolved their differences and the entire family was baptized. (Trevon)
- President Hinckley spoke there towards the end of my mission- the Spirit was so strong. It confirmed my testimony that he was a prophet of God. I also was able to see many of the people I had taught from other areas during that meeting and it felt like heaven. (Jamie)
- There are many. Once, as my companion and I were headed home for the night we both received the impression to take a different way home even though it would mean that we would be late, and was an extra mile of walking. We listened to that prompting and took the long way home. Nothing happened to us, but it was a huge testimony builder that the Lord takes care of His servants. (Adam)
- Too many to single out one. (Spencer)
What are some interesting facts about the Panama City Mission?
- It was the first mission in the world with more sisters than elders. Also, a general authority, in a big conference in Panama, once said that by the year 2050, 85% of Panama would be members of the church. (Sarah)
- You can drink the water in Panama (except in Bocas Del Toro and San Blas). Panama’s official currency is the balboa, which is pegged at 1:1 with the USD. Stores will take dollars/balboas interchangeably. You will likely get combinations of both back as change. Coinage is also similar to the United States Dollar: cent, nickel, dime, quarter, half, and coin balboas. (David)
- It was really HOT…you never got use to the heat…you only got use to sweating all the time, hahaha. Public transportation is awesome if you take Diablo Rojos. (Rook)
- Panama uses American Money, the buses are awesome and are privately owned. Panamanian Spanish has no accent and is spoken very quickly. (Trevon)
- The mission takes in Panama and the San Blas Islands. Panama is made up of many different kinds of people (Panamanians, Indians, Chinese, Africans and Europeans). It is a very beautiful country. It rains a lot. People like to sleep when it rains. For transportation you either walk, take a taxi or ride the bus. The buses are old school buses painted in crazy colors or patterns and they play loud music (lots of rap and Panamanian music- people singing with accordion music). The first few times you ride a bus, you will likely fear for your life. (Jamie)
- Canal Zone used to be part of the United States. The water system was set up by the USA. Panama Canal is worth visiting. (Adam)
- You get to see one of the engineering marvels in the history of the world. The Panama Canal. (Spencer)
What was the weather like?
- Rainy for half of the year, and not rainy the other half of the year. Humid year round, and always HOT. (Sarah)
- Panama has three seasons: hot rainy and humid, hot rainier and more humid, and sunny and humid. Hot rainy and humid lasts from about March/April – August/September. Hot rainier and more humid lasts from August/September-December/January. Sunny and humid lasts from about December/January – March/April If you are in Colon, it will be so humid your clothes may grow mold–especially things made out of leather, like shoes, belts, etc. (David)
- Rainy for an hour then the sun would come out and cook everyone haha. (Rook)
- Other than rainy season, the weather is great. It is very humid though so if you come from a dry climate, you will get the itchies every morning and evening. (Starts at your ankles, feels like mosquito bite itch moving up your body). (Trevon)
- Hot, humid and rainy. (Jamie)
- Sunny and hot, rainy, then sunny and hot again. And that’s in the same day. (Adam)
- Hot and humid. (Spencer)
Any things you really like about the area/people?
- EVERYTHING. They are so accepting of missionaries and listening to the message of the restoration! (Sarah)
- The people in Panama are AWESOME! There are several Columbus-era landmarks in Panama, like Portobelo (Colon), Panam Viejo, Fuerte San Lorenzo. Try to get out there and see the country while you are there. If you are extremely fortunate, you may get to serve in San Blas (Kuna Yala), an archipelago of 300+ small coral atolls, populated by the Kuna Indians. You will get to learn the Kuna dialect, and be able to serve the most humble and wonderful people you will ever know. (David)
- I loved every area. You learned something different about yourself and about the people. If I could give any advice, I would say serve the people. Find ways to do service. (Rook)
- Every place was great. (Trevon)
- They are warm, friendly, caring and loving. (Jamie)
- They are very humble and loving. Many of them live very hard lives, and love with a strong power. (Adam)
- Very loving, and giving people. They would starve to feed the missionaries. (Spencer)
Any packing/clothing advice?
- Crocs for shoes. Don’t bring two big suitcases and one carry on….just bring two big ones. You transfer to areas by yourself (without a companion) and it’s really hard to carry THREE suitcases by yourself. (Sarah
- Bring several good shoes–shoes with actual rubber outsoles (that don’t mark when you try to scuff them). Shoes that scuff will not be strong enough to stand up to the use you will put them through (you will probably we walking three-to-five miles per day; sometimes in very hilly, rugged areas. Doc Martens or shoes with Vibram brand soles will work great. You will not need a suit coat while in country (the Mission Training Center may or may not require you to wear a suit coat at the Mission Training Center). Bring short-sleeve white shirts. I bought Stafford shirts (10 of them) and they lasted my whole mission. Synthetic materials will outlast cotton and natural fibers due to the high humidity. Buy pants, socks, and garments made from nylon, or other synthetics. Don’t bother bringing a coat/raincoat or galoshes (my mission letter recommended galoshes–don’t bother). It actually gets hotter when it rains, and you will soak yourself with sweat if your clothing can’t breathe. Bring a good anti-fungal for your feet, or get one from the mission home. Take good care of your feet! Bring a pair of flip-flops for the dorm-type showers in the Mission Training Center to avoid spreading/contracting athlete’s foot. My mission letter recommended having enough clothing to go a week and without being able to do laundry. (David)
- Poly blend, Leather inner soled shoes are best – Redwing Postman lasted my entire mission (with 3 sets of outer soles) Military jungle boots with “Panama Tread” were the best boots. They shine nicely and you can push the mud out of the tread easily with a stick. (Trevon)
- Sisters- take sturdy sandals. You will need several pairs. (You will put a lot of miles on them!) (Jamie)
- Cotton/poly is your best option. Make sure to have clothes that are absorbent, you are going to be wet most of the time. Pack nine shirts, one per day and two to wear while the others are drying, it could take two days for them to dry after you wash them. (Adam)
- Short sleeved shirts. Dockers were great, any light material for slacks. (Spencer)
What blessings did you receive from serving a mission?
- Studying at Brigham Young University, I found my eternal companion. I strengthened my testimony beyond that which I could have ever imagined. I am close with the Lord and love Him with all that I am. (Sarah)
- About a year prior to my mission, my leg and foot were injured in a rock fall (a large boulder rolled onto my leg, breaking my foot, spraining my ankle, and scraping a lot of skin off my shin and ankles. My mission papers mentioned I would be walking very far every day. I was concerned that my leg and ankle may not be able to withstand the rigors of walking so far without reinjuring myself. When I was still injured, my Dad gave me a priesthood blessing that I would be made whole. During my entire mission, my leg and ankle were great. It’s now been 17 years since my injury, and I have yet to so much as twist that ankle. Truly, our Heavenly Father is a God of miracles, and as Nephi noted, “the Lord will prepare a way for [us] to accomplish the things he commands [us].” Have faith, and doubt not. (David)
- Gave me a direction in life that many don’t receive if you don’t serve a mission. It made me realize how blessed I really am. (Rook)
- Overcoming the challenges of my mission helped me become successful in all aspects of my life. Learning a second and 3rd language, learning new cultures… too many blessings to name. (Trevon)
- I learned that when you are doing the Lord’s work and have faith, He will honestly provide a way for you to accomplish all things. I learned to trust in Him. I learned more about His love for all mankind and it strengthened my testimony and my character. (Jamie)
- A better relationship with my Heavenly Father. I learned how to better repent and use the Lord’s Atonement in all aspects of my life. I learned how to better resolve problems with people, especially companions, it’s not like you can leave them. (Adam)
- A love of another culture and people. Stronger testimony, and a love for the gospel. Willingness to serve where needed. Family members were baptized, and reactivated. (Spencer)
What are some skills you gained?
- Patience, being able to eat ANYTHING, learning how to communicate and be more outgoing, and learning how to effectively study my scriptures. (Sarah)
- LEARN SPANISH–like REALLY learn Spanish. I’ve had so many jobs where I edged out people more qualified than myself based on being able to speak Spanish (even if it wasn’t listed as a job requirement). I learned patience and humility on my mission. Humility in being among the truly great people of Panama, and helping them in their trials. I also learned patience serving the Kuna people, who are sometimes so childlike it can be frustrating. (David)
- Spanish and kindness. (Rook)
- Commitment Pattern – Use it to effectively communicate with your companion, your investigators, your boss, your employees, your wife, your children, etc… Como Hablar Espanol. I learned to sleep in a hammock, I was doing hammock camping after my mission before it was popular. (Trevon)
- Spanish, organization, leadership, studying, communication. (Jamie)
- How to work, how to study the scriptures, how to deal with many different kinds of people, how to make and keep goals, how to pray harder. (Adam)
- Learning a second language. Lifetime friends, and experiences. Stronger work ethic. Goal setting, and planning. (Spencer)
What do you wish you knew/did at the beginning of your mission?
- Oh man, I wish I would have had more patience with my trainer. I didn’t understand why she was working me so hard. Once I really got the hang of things, is when I realized that my trainer was awesome and really pushed me to learn and grow. (Sarah)
- Wish I had brought a Leatherman or Swiss Army pocket knife. There were so many times one of those would have come in handy. I also wish I had actually studied Spanish in high school, rather than slough through it. (David)
- Just be yourself with the people and truly love them. (Rook)
- I wish I had brought better backpacks – Get the Guatemala Packs or a good Jansport and only expect it to last 1 year. I wish I had started with jungle boots, instead of the leather ones I brought. (Trevon)
- I wish I knew that things would be hard, but they would get easier and that it would be worth it. I wish I wouldn’t have worried about my Spanish so much. (Jamie)
- I wish I knew that hard days don’t last. Sometimes it is easy to get focused on the failures and get hyper-focused on the day-to-day. I wish I had understood that God’s timing is the most important and that our efforts are only a small part of the preparation people receive. (Adam)
- I wish I knew how hard you need to work. (Spencer)
Any advice/testimony for pre-missionaries going to Panama?
- Don’t stress out about living situations or things you aren’t sure about. Panama is an amazing country. It’s really not dangerous, and the living conditions aren’t bad at all. (Sarah)
- I hear a lot of people talking about how they gained their testimonies on their missions. DON’T be one of those people. Challenge yourself, and gain a testimony prior to leaving on a mission. You will be a much better missionary if you know for yourself the truthfulness of the gospel. (David)
- Just don’t ever give up on yourself or the people and keep pushing along when you encounter hard times. It’s not the easiest two years but they are wonderful. (Rook)
- It will be hard: the language, the climate, the culture, etc. You will feel like Everyone is watching you and you Always have to be Superman. You have a companion for a reason, talk to him, ask for help. I was a new Zone Leader with a Junior Companion straight from the Mission Training Center and everything I tried to do was not working. When something fell through, my companion would turn to me and say “What Now?” until I did not know what to do, so finally I asked him what he thought we should do. He had great ideas. I could not see what we needed to do because of the burden on my shoulders, but he could. USE YOUR COMPANION. (Trevon)
- It’s the best mission in the world! Love the people, your companions, and the Lord. Work hard, give all that you can and it will be the best years of your life and the Lord will bless you more than you can comprehend. (Jamie)
- Prepare to meet a wonderful, humble group of people. Also know that if you work your hardest you will be blessed with a successful mission, even if you never see a single baptism. Finally, whenever your efforts bring the Spirit, you have not wasted your time. (Adam)
- Don’t be afraid to act. Opening your mouth and speaking the truth is the best thing you can do. (Spencer)
What was a funny language mistake?
- Once in the Mission Training Center, our branch president was announcing who was going to speak and he said “Vamos a escuchar a una hermana más, Hermana Monson.” Which means, we’re going to hear one more sister, Sister Monson. But my last name is Moss. So when I heard the word “más” I thought he was saying that I had to speak. So I got straight up and went to the pulpit and spoke for 5 minutes. Everyone was laughing at me, and I didn’t understand why until they explained it to me after it happened. OOPS! (Sarah)
- My first week in my mission, I was at a corner store buying something for breakfast. When I walked up to the counter, the girl said to me “Ya?” I replied back “Ya? Ya what? I’m just trying to pay for my food.” Confused, she said with emphasis: “YA” Now I was totally confused. What was I agreeing to by saying ya? Did I just walk in half-way through her conversation? My companion, seeing my confusion, reminded me “ya” is Spanish for “ready?” She was asking if I was done shopping, and was ready to pay. (David)
- First thanksgiving, I was asking for a cuchilla but I stuttered and said “Pasame la Cucaracha”. Instead of pass me the knife I said – pass me the cockroach. (Trevon)
- My companion knew of the common mistake of saying “embarazada” when you are embarrassed, which means to be pregnant. The correct thing to say is “tengo pena,” which is to say “I have shame.” However, once when he was talking to some kids he instead said “tengo pene,” which is to say that he told the entire group that he had a male part. I still laugh about that one. (Adam)
- When I was two weeks into my mission I told a member I was embarazada which means pregnant but I thought it meant embarrassed. (Spencer)