What is one thing you do that brings you joy? It’s easy to list things that you like, but having something that is so life-giving and joy-igniting is rare nowadays in America. People do things because they “have to” or because they want to accomplish something or because they have nothing better to do. And that’s the mindset that I realized I had fallen into. I allowed the things that once brought me pure joy to be twisted to the point of causing stress, drama, and frustration. Like, how stupid is that??? It’s all a matter of the mindset I choose to claim, and I’ve spent so long telling myself I have no other option. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in Panama is that joy cannot be stolen. It’s so much more than simply happiness that comes and goes. The only way you can lose joy is if you relinquish it.
This month in Panama we encountered so many people who had every reason to be burdened by their circumstances:
We regularly visited kids at Fanlyc, a home for kids with cancer and their parents to stay at while they receive treatments. Instead of depressed kids bound to wheelchairs and hospital beds, we found energetic kids eager to play with us, whether that meant bowling or coloring pictures.
We got the chance to go to the local nursing home, where the only people there tend to be those with no family or have been abandoned by their family. Instead of bitter old people, I found sweet Eva, who let me paint her nails while she was patient enough to take the time to get to know me, even with my limited Spanish vocabulary.
We spent time at SOS orphanage, a home for a wide range of kids, many of whom have parents in jail. Instead of lonely kids stripped of all hope, we found kids who craved love so much they created their own community and invited us into it.
We distributed free Bibles to those without access to one. Instead of people refusing it and pushing us away, we met Cristina, a woman who was going through a difficult time and cried tears of joy because she had been praying for a new Bible for months.
THEY CHOSE JOY! 🙂
Heck, if people who truly have every reason to live in a state of sadness and hopelessness can hold tightly to their joy in the big things, why can’t I in the little things? Reading. I pretty much haven’t read for fun since middle school. I always told myself I couldn’t because I didn’t have time or needed to read for my classes instead. I read two and a half books this month and rediscovered joy in reading! Hiking. I spent so long equating a great hike as one with the perfect weather or the perfect view and hiking for the sake of checking off another ADK high peak. I hiked Volcán Barú, which had absolutely no view on the top, and I rediscovered the joy in hiking by being able to connect with nature! I could go on, but I won’t. Because this applies to absolutely everything.
God has taught me that joy isn’t limited by our circumstances. We have the freedom to choose it through thick and thin. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to partner with YWAM (Youth with a Mission) this month, because their organization just radiates pure joy through love that transcends cultural barriers. This goodbye was a hard one. Panama will always have a piece of my heart.
I am extremely thankful to have been a part of the work that is being done in this country. Thank you so much to all of my supporters who have taken me this far! I am grateful to only be $4,910 away from being fully funded as I am about to leave Central America and head to Africa! If you feel led to donate, you can do so by clicking the orange button at the top of the page. My deadline to be fully funded is September 30th, but it would be amazing to be fully funded before that! Thank you for following along on this journey! I can’t wait to tell you more about it!
-Catherine Choquette <3
P.S. Sorry I couldn’t post many pictures from ministry this month due to privacy reasons, but here’s a few that I can post!
Our YWAM fam we got to do life with!
Painting a local mechanic shop!
Praying for people we got to give Bibles to!
The kids we got to play with at a local feeding program!
A JOYful painting hanging on the porch at Fanlyc!
