One more post about Panama this one had to be posted all on its own.
So on this day April 3rd we were going to ministry except this time we drove further than we normally do. I was sitting in the back of the truck with Emalea and Alyssa. I remember being frustrated about something and just being in one of my mini moods and just processing with God some of what I was feeling. Then I remember “Dad” saying that for our last day of ministry we would be doing something different. So now my mood has changed and I am filled with curiosity.
So we get there the truck stops and we are wondering if this was a true stop or if we are to wait to go further. Padre says “Come mis ninas”. I am at the front of the line and I asked Padre “What are we doing today?” He says “It’s a secret mission”. So we continue walking and I am working to make sure I avoid walking the various poop piles.
We stop and gather and look around to take in the beauty of what we see. We see the 80-acre farm that we have labored at over the past 3 weeks. We have moved coffee plants, picked peppers, packaged coffee, laughed, screamed from being on the back of the truck. This farm that was our constant place of ministry was displayed so beautifully to us today.
As we stand there padre says this “Work is important but this is more important. Today we are going to pray for the mission”. I reply by saying “I’m gonna cry, I can’t”
See I knew that this day was different and when he uttered those words I knew that this family and country that I had fallen in love with was only going to go deeper in my heart and I didn’t think that was possible.
Padre then begins telling us the vision for this piece of land we are standing on. He tells us that the vision is to build a 3 story house for missionaries to come and stay. From that spot you can see the 80 acre farm as well as Rio Sereno and Costa Rica. You wake up and see God’s beauty and you can pray over the farm, Panama, and Costa Rica.
He then instructs us to pray. I take a seat in the grass and its everything to keep the tears back so I give in and they flow freely. Then I hear padre praying out loud in spanish for his family, the farm, and then all 6 six of the missionaries who were with him this month “Mis Ninas”. This causes the tears to flow at a rushing speed. I then pray out loud for this beautiful family my family the Callbero’s, Panama, and the farm. Which then makes the tears flow even more.
I stop praying and just sit I look at each one of my teammates and just wonder and hope that they are changed by this moment. I look at padre and want to give him a hug and just thank him for being the best host and representation of God. However, I can’t move…I am frozen!! Then Padre gets up and does the unexpected he walks over kneels down and gives me the biggest hug. I lose it and uncontrollable tears begin to fall. He prays over me and in that instant I feel the love of Father God. I felt like he was reminding me that when you can’t I will. When you will not I will. God meets us where we are and does it without hesitation. I felt like padre was heaven sent and that I got the amazing opportunity to be apart of the family.
Panama will forever be in my heart. I will never be able to put into words the healing that came from being in this country. Panama was an unexpected miracle that I did not know I needed.
