Team F.L.A.M.E. plus our squad leader, Sam, traveled to the main island, Isla Colon, in Panama on the ninth of June. Our plan was to check out a nursing home on the island. BUT God had other plans for us that day. It took approximately five minutes for God to change our course.
On our boat ride over to the main island, we asked our boat driver if there were any churches that he was familiar with on the island. He then pointed us in the direction of a church, the church of Christ. Minus a few stops asking locals for directions, eventually we found it. We came upon a church that was a work in progress with tools and things covering the floor, but the floor was shiny and new making a huge contrast to the rest of the place that needed repair. They are currently in the middle of construction on the interior of the church.
And this was where we met our unsung hero!
It’s my pleasure to introduce you to Pastor Fernando Surgeon.
Pastor Fernando and his wife Lizbeth, who speaks English very well, are a beautiful example of how to serve the Lord with everything. They are currently in the midst of restoring their church, which also happens to be their home. They live in a room connected to the church. Good news is that the making of a house for them and their kids is in the works, then they will use the space they have been living in as a nursery or kid’s room.
A lot of work still needs to be done in the restoration process of their church, but with teams coming in to help them, then little by little and team by team, it will get finished.
There are also lots of opportunities to help out on the island as well, and the incredible thing is that Pastor Fernando is a great asset to connect future world racers to other ministries. He has felt called to be a pastor since he was 16 years old and is pursuing that dream with a passion. His heart is not just for his church, but also his community. After chatting with him about the work and his vision, we asked if he was familiar with any other places around the area. He then turned into our personal guide leading us first to a house that was in a very poor area, where he introduced us to a family, then took us to the nursing home to visit and chat with the elders there.
Pastor Fernando is a very welcoming and warm man whose heart beats for Jesus and His people. He is a man of many talents being a pastor, but also a lawyer, and construction worker for his church. He even paints. Really well. He does the artwork for the kids room in his church.
It was a pleasure to meet him and a great kindness for him to show us around the island while introducing us to ministries and people. Even though he was working on construction of his church, he took time out of his day to show us around and was happy to do it! We were so blessed by his generosity and willingness to help.
God had a plan for us that day to meet Pastor Fernando, and I am excited for how the Lord is going to work in the life of Pastor Fernando and his wife, in the church of Christ that he pastors, and also the congregation there. I am also excited for the future teams that will be able to serve Jesus by serving the Pastor and his church. Plus they will get the opportunity to stay on an island. That’s always a plus!
We thank Pastor Fernando so much for his dedication and obedience to Christ and the work he is doing to serve Jesus in his community.
