One of my first reactions of going to Panama was of pure excitement. It wasn’t due to seeing the Panama Canal or any particular history that is linked to it. Sadly to say it is because of an addiction I call…Prison Break.
I only saw this show a few times back home (with Juliet and Jason) but once on the Race, there are Seasons of so many shows being passed around. My first was to finish Bones (up to Season 2), Ugly Betty, and re watch Season 7 of The Gilmore Girls. Then… Seth and Aaron had bought Prison Break. I started watching Season 1 in Africa and couldn’t turn it off. Then Season 2 and parts of 3 passed by quickly. I just wrapped up the latest episode of 3 last week in Costa Rica.
The introduction to Panama comes in Season 3. I was exposed to tid bits of Panama City, and to some beautiful scenery of the Panama beaches. So, I was pretty siked about seeing the infamous country that Michael Schofield escapes to.
As of yet, (we arrived on Sunday) I haven’t seen anything that causes huge recollections from the show (I simple have forgotten) but I keep looking! However it still has been a great experience. And I have had a chance to see some beautiful and interesting parts of Panama, along with seeing the Panama Canal.
Panama is a country that the World Race hasn’t been before. Our September Squad is pioneering it. A group of four went ahead a couple of weeks ago to set up ministry contacts. Some have worked, others have fallen through, and new ones have popped up. But among all of it God has been in it.
Over the past few months we have had more freedom to ask the Lord for guidance on where to go and be led individually and by teams on where to do ministry. Our team, Ignite was drawn collectively toward a ministry in the city, even though many of them wanted to be in a more rural area, we didn’t have any particular contacts there.
The main ministry we wanted to work with fell through, so we got in contact with Carmen (who has been a reference to a lot of the ministries we are working with) and since midweek we have done tutoring at a local Christian school and today our team helped Carmen organize and clean her home before her family left on furlough to the states (I stayed back because I wasn’t feeling well). It was a true blessing to her.
In the meantime a contact from Seth’s father was introduced. It was a true answer to many of our desires. It is the opportunity to work with the Kuna tribe in the rural Northern part of Panama. They are the second smallest people group in the world.
So tomorrow we are off to work with this tribe. There is excitement of changing environments from the city (which I love) to the rural areas, which we haven’t (Ignite) really been in on the Race. I am in anticipation of how we can serve and uplift the pastor, church, and people of that area.
And….we have some amazing visitors who will trek with us on some of this journey. Aaron’s parents arrived on Wednesday.(Also his sister and brother in law…who joined us for a bit, but are also on a Holiday) They have been a tremendous blessing and have arrived with awesome goodies…Girl Scout cookies(yes! she found some),gum, granola bars, Cheez-its, Fig Newton’s, and so much more… it feels like Christmas is never ending(which I am ok with). I am excited to be doing ministry with them and getting more insight about Aaron(you never know when you may need blackmail material j/k ;0.)
The trip to Panama may be short (we are leaving on June 10th) but the journey is just beginning. I love thatI can never determine how God will work things out. If we seek, pray and listen, He always seems to provide ways for us even in the last hours.
Please lift us up in your prayers for safety, positive attitudes, Christ like eyes, servant hearts and spirits that are obedient and open to His leading.
Until then…hello and goodbye from Panama!
