Well, we are halfway through our ninth month on the World Race. As some of you may already know our ninth month was suppose to be in Nicaragua. Due to the unrest, though, the borders were closed and we were re-routed to Panama. As of now our last three months on the Race will be spent between Panama and Costa Rica.
We are currently partnered with a YWAM base in the Chiriqui providence of Panama. We kicked off this month by meeting an incredible and hilarious woman of God named Debbie. Praise the Lord Most High cause she is our host for the month! I know that I can speak on behalf of our whole team when I say WE LOVE HER.
We spent our first day together road tripping up some pretty terrifying mountain roads in order to reach a mountain top village- home to one of Panama’s indigenous tribes. (Debbie’s driving skills are of the Lord). If you have ever seen Lucille Ball’s and Desi Arnaz’s movie The Long, Long Trailer then you can imagine what I’m talking about here. One powerful little van, ten humans, and a whole lot of luggage, and the good Lord’s saving grace. We made it. We spent the next three nights and days in a metal building smack dab in the midst of the Lord’s marvelous creation.
The tribe inhabiting this beautiful area are called the Ngäbe. Over the past several years, this once rather unwelcoming tribe has come to know the name of Jesus. Now they are, generally, a welcoming people. (Isn’t it incredible to actually see the life changing effects of meeting our Father?) We spent some time walking up and down the steep roads talking with and praying over families. (Steep mountain roads, y’all. Someone’s phone estimated that we climbed the equivalent of forty stories. FORTY STORIES.) No regrets. It was worth it!
Since making it back down the mountain we’ve settled into YWAM’s base where our ministry greatly varies. Here’s a list of what we’ve done so far and are currently doing:
-Teaching English and Bible classes; and one period/personal hygiene/sex education class.
-Community outreach- playing with kiddos (basketball and the story of Joseph). Who wouldn’t want to hang out with us?
-Intercession and prayer walks
-Baking brownies and cards for the neighbors
-Keeping Debbie sane….or driving her insane (I can never remember) Hehe
-Helping out around the base where we can
-On Tuesday (the 19th) we will be taking a trip with Debbie for a couple nights to prepare a place for a YWAM discipleship training school to stay while they do their outreach.
