Day 301: We woke up early to finish packing, said goodbye to the boys, and boarded the bus for a 10 hr ride to Nicaragua. The other teams left the bus for their ministry sites in Nicaragua. Team Sound and Team 220 ended up at a mall singing karaoke before settling into our hotel for the night.
Day 302: Our bus to Costa Rica left at 5:30am. We arrived mid afternoon, but had a several hour layover before our overnight bus to Panama left at 11pm. We went in search of food and internet.
Day 303: Our bus dropped us off at the boarder at 4:30am, however, we had to wait until 6am for the boarder guards to arrive. Most of us fell asleep on the sidewalk. Four hours later, we finally made it through customs and met up with our contacts. They drove us two additional hours to our ministry location for the month. We were supposed to be living on the floor of the church, but at the last minute we were blessed with a house (beds, hot showers, and internet). Jesus loves us!
Day 304: We slept most of the morning and had our ministry/cultural orientation in the afternoon. In the evening we left for an all-night drive down to the Panama Canal. Unfortunately, we discovered maggie had lice shortly before getting in the van. We made her wear a bag on her head.
Day 305: HAPPY 4TH OF JULY! We spent the day in Panama City. We went to see the Panama Canal, old town, and went out to an island to watch the sunset. Throughout the day I performed lice checks. We finished off a night of no sleep and a full day of touring the city with a seven hour drive back to our ministry location through the night. Thank God for coffee and Red Bull.
Day 306: Today was our first official day of ministry in Panama, however, I stayed home and spent most of the day pulling lice eggs out of Maggie’s hair. In the evening we discovered that Kat and Britni also have lice. So far I appear to be clear, but I did a shampoo treatment to be safe. Several other people have also started taking preventative measures.
Day 307: Today we went an hour into the city to set up for a large youth event we are hosting tomorrow. We blew up over 300 balloons and decorated a large backdrop. In the evening we went to put on a program and serve dinner for the homeless population.
Day 308: In the morning we ministered to over 1,000 children and their parents. In the afternoon we went to a group home for teenagers to do ministry.
Day 309: We led the service at Casa De Luz (Lighthouse Ministries). Chrin and Brit led worship, we did cardboard testimonies, and Kat preached. After the service we spent time praying for people.
Day 310: Today was our day off. A lot of people went on a hike through the rainforest, but I sick and stayed home to rest. In the evening we discovered more lice, so we all put mayo in our hair and started wearing shower caps. Kip used it as an opportunity to be creative.
Day 311: I was sick and on strong pain meds, so I stayed home from ministry. I was in bed the entire day. The team went into the city and led ministry events in several schools.
Day 312: Today we stayed in our small mountain town and led two assemblies at one of the elementary schools.
Day 313: In the morning we went to visit a nursing home and in the afternoon we served at a youth detention center.
Day 314: We went into the city to do ministry at a men’s prison (I couldn’t take pictures inside). While we were there we met a 21-year-old American who was sentenced to 6 years in the prison for drug charges. In the evening we had dinner at the house of Roger’s cousin.
Day 315: We were free during the day and then at night we attended an all night prayer vigil. We look ridiculous wherever we go, because shower caps are a normal accessory now!
Day 316: We slept most of the day, trying to catch up on sleep from last night. In the evening we had dinner at a local missionary’s house and had salad for the first time on the entire race. Afterward we attended a city wide church service. More lice treatment happened before bed.
