This month we are staying in a place called Las Lajas, Panama. We arrived here on the 9th of December. My team and I are staying in a lovely beach house a 5-minute walk away from the ocean! Talk about luxurious World Race living!!
We are working with ICJesus Ministries this month. Our hosts Danny & Heather have been so welcoming to us. They are truly amazing people. Here is a link to their ministry website. I’ll include an excerpt from their website describing their ministry-
“A few examples of how ICJesus Ministries ministers to the people of Panama would be manual labor for pastors and families who are unable to do it themselves. We provide food and supplies for those who cannot afford it on their own to show them the love of Christ. We love on children and families by building relationships and being the Light of Jesus. We work closely with pastors in the indigenous tribes to support them in any way we can. Where we see a need or an opportunity to help, we do our best to fulfill it.”
- My team and I have been working closely with the indigenous tribes here that live on reservations up in the mountains. We drive about 20-30 minutes up into the mountains and spend time with the children there. We play games, play soccer, craft, color, teach English and sign language, basically just love these kids in any way that we can.
- We’ve also been teaching English and technology to a group of about 10 indigenous girls that live together in a rescue home near one of the churches we attend. These girls either have no parents or come from awful family backgrounds. Monday nights, we have an English class with them and Thursday nights, we have a technology class in English. They are so eager to learn. The fact that we can bless these girls with English and technology classes makes my heart so happy because these are two huge things that can put them above the playing field.
- Some other fun things we’ve been working on include creating a life-size nativity out of driftwood, coconuts, palm leaves, and other beach materials. Super fun!! We’ve also been helping construct benches for the church and painting. Lots of stuff to do here in Panama!
Heather has told us some awful stories of things that go on in these tribes. 99% of the women here have been assaulted. Our first day on the reservation, Heather pointed out a little girl, about 7 years old, looking after a young baby girl, a little under a year. The 7 year old girl was actually her aunt. Her older sister, an 11 year old girl had become pregnant after being assaulted by a man in the tribe. My heart broke, thinking of an 11 year old having to give birth, probably terrified with no idea of what’s going on. Sadly, her story is not rare as there are lots of very young mothers in these tribes.
Trafficking is also not uncommon here. Heather told us another story of how a father sold his young daughter for a case of beer. The disgusting thing is that assault goes on here with no intervention because the police are corrupt. Police do not involve themselves in “Indian affairs” and never come up to the reservations. These women and families are left to their own devices and face an endless amount of degradation.
Through everything, God has been so present. Please continue praying for our ministry work, the indigenous tribes, and the young girls we’ve been working with. Also, continue praying for fundraising! Myself, and two of my teammates, Lynden and Ashley, are still trying to meet fundraising goals as well. Please give their blogs a read and donate if you feel led! We know God is sovereign in this process. Don’t forget that I have a fundraising raffle 😉 (check out my Adopt-a-Box blog for details!) And if you have anything you need prayer for, please let me know! I would love to be praying for all my supporters’ needs.
Here are some pictures from Nicaragua. I don’t think I’ve posted a single one from Nicaragua yet, so I thought it would be nice for everyone to see my mug again! We went volcano sledding one weekend, hence the orange jumpsuits.
