World Race
Month 6
Panama City Part 2
As previously mentioned in Panama Part 1 we did not have any ministries nor hosts set up for team One Direction. When we arrived at a hostel in Panama City we had a team meeting regarding what to do next. Walk around and talk to people in the community was the consensus.
We noticed a large group of people congregating at a nearby park. They were singing and dancing and giving praise to the Lord. Many of us joined in singing and dancing with them.
After that ended they wanted to get to know each one of us. We told them we were missionaries and looking for places to serve. They gave us numerous recommendations to different churches and whom to contact. Iglesia de Fatima was the only one to be available for us to serve.
It was great that this was the only immediate ministry we found. If many opened their doors to us we would have to sit down, pray, and deliberate which is a yes and which are a no.
We would be serving in any way possible with the elderly. Iglesia de Fatima is huge! One wing is a 2 story retirement home. Another is a school, students ages starting at 4 and up to around 15.
We started serving there the very next day.
It was a good thing that only 1 was available for us to serve in at the time. There were not other ministries to compete with nor was there too much work in which our team would have to split up.
Although we did take a taxi there we ended up walking back. As usual, gringos in areas that are not “touristy” bring a lot of attention. People stop, stare, whistle at the girls, and some greet you politely as well.
Iglesia de Fatima is located in a barrio named Chorrillo. This is what you see when you walk through Chorrillo. Broken, falling a part, & old burned down houses fill this barrio.
We walked to Fatima Monday through Saturday. Many times even walking in the direction of Chorrillo people warned us not to go that way. People would even stop us at times to tell us how dangerous it is there. Then there were the Police that were at just about every corner (In Chorrillo) and had a department in the city as well. They proceeded to tell us the same thing. Asking us in Spanish “What are you doing here?””This is a very dangerous city you need to be very careful“
Cuidado! 
At times they would see us walking and follow us on bikes. Other times the police on the corner would radio in that we were walking through the city to inform the officers ahead to look out for us. These conversations with different officers day after day did slow us down a lot. But it was very courteous of them to care and to want to ensure our safety. Some afternoons they drove us home. We always welcomed those free rides home. Saved us from walking home in the hot and humid weather.
God really took care of us. Considering all the warnings and suggestions to not enter Chorrillo we kept on. We would not be deterred. Of course we were not foolish either. We did not walk with our phones in hand, nor walk through there at night.
Not one time did we encounter any danger.
Picture above is when we got a ride home from the Police.
Initially I did not know what to think of this new ministry of ours. I have never served at a retirement home. But I do know the elderly usually have great stories to share. They have seen and experienced so much in their lifetime. This I have learned with my friends grandparents as well as my own when I was child.
We arrived at church in the morning and greeted the elderly that were in the common area. Some listened to the radio, read magazines, did crossword puzzles, watched TV…etc But regardless of what they were doing they always took time to chat with us.
Most just wanted someone to spend time with since many of them felt alone without their families.
Last but not least part 3 of Panama + More videos and pictures to come …
John 14:27
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”
God bless,
RAF
