A comarca is a region in which indigenous people possess and live in demarcated areas of land. The Ngäbe-Buglé Comarca is located in the western region of Panama, in the mountains. There are roughly 200,000 people who speak Ngäbere. Its a place characterized as having steep slopes, mountainous terrain, and poor soil content making farming difficult. It is a region where 92% of the people live in extreme poverty- the average annual income is $429, and they live on less than $2 per day.
But, the Ngäbe-Buglé Comarca in Panama is a very special place. A place I imagine God painting this for us to be in awe of His beauty. A place that He wants us to take a step back and just be blown away that He created this for us, to sweep us off our feet. To romance us.
Its wild, its peaceful, and its remote. But for Pastor Onesimo and his family, its home. He hikes 40 minutes up the mountainous terrain to get there. To his 5 small children and very pregnant wife. He hikes 40 minutes down the mountain to get to any other civilization. To get to church. To get food for his family to survive. To get medical care. 40 minutes, on foot. Through the mountains. Everyday.
Day one of ministry we were able to experience a glimpse into what those 40 minutes looked like. Except it was more like 90 minutes. All 12 of us hiked the mountain to get to Pastor Onesimo’s home. To the untrained, that was a tough hike! It was steep, sweaty, and especially slippery when the downpour started. But it was beautiful. The view was incredible. Vibrant greens with rolling hills. An occasional river or two that we hiked through. Fresh air and fresh laughter.
But imagine doing this on a day to day basis. Not only that, but imagine doing this hike after you just fell off a roof- like Pastor Onesimo, one month prior to our arrival. He was unable to move. Imagine falling and being over a 40 minute hike away from any medical attention. He had to be carried down the mountain in a hammock. He was admitted to the hospital immediately. With internal bleeding and little movement in his legs, there was talk of him not being able to walk again. But 3 days later, he was released. 3 days might not sound like a long time, but for this region, it is. His body was filled with pain from his head to his feet, but he could walk!
When we met Pastor Onesimo, it was evident how present and persistent his pain was, everywhere. I felt a tapping from the Lord to tell Heather, one of our hosts for the month, of my background in physical therapy. Feeling nervous, and after a few minutes of hesitation, and not knowing if it would be beneficial or not, I let her know.
Suddenly, I was doing therapy with a man from the Comarca on the top of a mountain. With a tarp (that covered the dirt floors of his home) as a mat table, with my backpack as a pillow, with a bucket as a stool, and with God by my side. I’ve never felt more alive and felt more comfort in the purpose of my life- serving God and serving others.
In the Comarca, if you are hurt or injured, it doesn’t only affect you, but it affects your family. If he can’t go down the mountain to get the 25lb bag of rice for his family, who can? His 9 month pregnant wife? His 5 year old son?
In the Comarca, after taking care of your family needs and job, there isn’t room let alone access to go see a physical therapist. Its basically unheard of. Like many other remote places around the world, medical attention in general isn’t easily accessible or an option.
Before leaving for the race, I was asked multiple times if I was going to be doing therapy at all. And every time, I answered No. This was a a year to teach vacation bible school and English classes, not teach proper body mechanics. It was a a year to love and work with orphans and women and children who are trapped in prostitution, not work with muscles. It was a mission trip to share the gospel to the nations, not share exercises.
But I was wrong. Serving God doesn’t have to be limited – it doesn’t have to be constrained. This is a mission trip to the Nations, but loving people through Christ is boundless.
“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of The Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.” Colossians 3:17
I’ve recently received an update for how Pastor Onesimo is doing- and its great! He is able to come down the mountain to San Felix and work in the church almost every day. He still has pain, but its much improved. His wife also gave birth to a baby boy, Onesimo Jr. Please pray for him and his family’s health, and that his pain will completely subside.
