We arrived at 3:30 am. at the bus station in Panama City. The problem was we were supposed to arrive at 5 am. So, we waited at the bus station to be picked up by our host for about an hour. In that time, we got to explore the bus terminal to find the bathroom a.k.a. another time “Donde esta el baño?” has come in handy in my lifetime. Soon, we were picked up and headed to our hostel, Hostal Christiano, which is our home for the next month.
Upon arriving we were shown our room. It is tight living spaces this month but we are making it work and I don’t feel too overwhelmed by how close we all are. There are 8 of us living in a room with 3 bunk beds, meaning 4 of us share beds. Luckily, my team loves me enough to know that I not only want but truly need a single bed, and gave me that gift. Our bathroom is inside the closet which makes it feel like a secret passage, which makes it cool and I’m okay with it. We have a sweet patio, perfect for quiet time and blog writing. We even have our own real Christmas tree which makes the whole room smell like Christmas.
Our first taste of ministry here was going to a prayer meeting with our host Shibu and his family. We got the privilege of joining this community in their first time taking communion. I know at home it seems that communion is something that can become ritualistic. You stand up, take the bread and juice, and sit back down. Another thing checked off your list for the day. So, being able to be a part of a communion in a community where it isn’t ritualistic, where it’s fresh and new, was such a blessing. Shibu was so excited to be able to take communion with his community for the very first time. His excitement was contagious. By the time we were at the meeting, I was pumped about taking communion too.
The meeting opened with singing songs in Hindi with a tambourine! Then my team was asked to help lead worship and sing a few songs. After worship, came a time of prayer requests and praise reports. As a community, they are very intentional in praying for one another and coming alongside each other in their lives. It was really cool to see how they love one another so well. Up next was communion, but first Shibu wanted to teach his community exactly what communion was and what it meant.
Shibu is a teacher. He teaches classes on the Bible at a local high school. Therefore, making sure the people of his community understand the Bible is super important to him. The Hindu religion says that all gods are okay. Many Hindus would like to just add Jesus to the list of gods they already have. Shibu knows that it is very important that they understand that there is only one God. That the idols and images they pray to are false. He is very intentional when it comes to explaining that to people. So, it’s no surprise to me the amount of care he took in teaching his community what communion was and what it stands for. He made sure to explain it well, and offer the invitation to join in the taking of communion. He also made it very clear that it was not required and that they had the freedom to decide to not take it too. I appreciated how much care he showed for the souls in his community by teaching them and giving them the space to choose. He really wants people to understand their religion and the reason behind what they are doing. He made sure to create the space to make that happen.
As we sat for a moment and prayed about taking communion, the Lord spoke newness into communion for me. He gave me a new revelation in what it means to receive that piece of the body which was broken for me. You see, the part of the body which was broken for me was an active, working part. It was important. It was needed, and he gave it to me. It wasn’t insignificant. His body was broken into pieces and I was given my piece. Now, that in and of itself isn’t all that revolutionary. I’ve known that part for years. The part that I saw in a new light this time was that He gave me the part of the body that I am supposed to be. He broke his body into pieces and gave me my very own piece to now go and preform the functions of. He didn’t break his body to leave a hole in it. He broke it so that we could all take a piece and become the body. The piece he gave to you is different than the one I received. If I don’t actively do the work of the piece I was given, the body is lacking. If you don’t perform your part, the body is lacking. It has a hole in it.
Last month in Nicaragua, I felt very much like an outsider of the body of Christ. I was a part of a community that is striving after God and I felt like the puzzle piece that didn’t fit. I felt very alone and isolated. I didn’t know how to be the part of the body that I was supposed to be. I gave up trying. The revelation I received that night at communion showed me that, though I still may not know how to perform the functions of my piece perfectly, it is not an option to stop trying. To think of all that Jesus went through to give me that piece makes me desire to try as many times as it takes to figure out how to be that part.
They told us during training that we would have to say “yes” to the race over and over again. They didn’t lie. I’ve had to keep recommitting to this more times than I’d like to admit, but the grace I receive each time is absolutely incredible. My team continues to welcome me back in with open arms, and the Father always reaffirms his love for me.
This may have been long winded, but Panama is teaching me so much. I cannot wait to see what else it has in store for us this month. Pray that we can break down walls here. Pray that the fear that lives in this culture is vanquished. Pray that they are able to see something different in us and find a curiosity about Christ. Pray for our host as he tries to bring together a community here. Pray for Panama.
