We spent the day visiting some US expatriates who shared a lot about the various issues and complexities of living in Panama. All love it here despite the challenges. However, there is much change ahead for this small country. There is a large national election coming May 3rd and the candidates are on either side of the spectrum with respect to the US. I am glad that my citizenship is truly in heaven and I don’t have to fret about the many issues facing the world today.
You may notice that there are not a lot of pictures of us with the folks at church or of me teaching. We are being very careful with the way that we document our activities down here as many of the churches down here “make merchandise” of the people instead of truly working for them. Many of these “ministries” come out to do good works for a photo opportunity and nothing more. Therefore we are being careful to make sure the people understand that we are not interested in pictures but in helping to bring the Word to the them and their communities. The Gospel is here but most of the churches are corrupt and taking advantage of the people. A Lot of spiritual oppression and legalism in the evangelical church in and around Panama. Out towards the country there is much witchcraft, Santeria, idolistic catholicism and Mary worship. The little church we have been enjoying fellowship with is part of an association of independent, non-denominational, evangelical churches that believe that a healthy church is one that teaches the Word, prays and ministers out to both believers and non-believers alike.
The teaching of Galatians has been very well accepted and we got through chapters 3-4 tonight. I don’t think that they have been taught like this before but they are attentive, taking notes and responding to the message. This is saying a lot since they are all sitting outside in 70% humidity and 90 degree weather with all manner of creatures flying and crawling about. They are building a new church building which they have been working on for awhile and trust that they will finish in God’s timing (per their words).
Galatians 5-6 tomorrow - a perfect wrap up to a great time of fellowship. A call to the challenge of Christian living. Please continue to pray for us.
General Information, Panama Missions, Spanish
Yesterday was a long and fruitful day (literally - see below). After getting up early and taking a long walk on the beach (see our facebook and album pictures) we headed off to the town of Cerro Punto on the north side of Volcan Baru near the Costa Rican border. We stopped in David for an “American” meal of MacDonalds where the burgers were huge and the prices the same as in the US.
The drive up into the Volcan area is by far the most beautiful we have seen in Panama. The landscape is part jungle, part cloud forest and part high plains. The major product in the area is cattle but there is also an abundance of vegtable farms as well. In David where we are staying the priciple crops are wild rice and corn. We traveled up along a river past a hotel Kelley and I had stayed at over 15 years ago until we reached the Quetzal wildlife preserve. We took a hike up into the forest where the indians have planted crops on practically vertical slopes. after we returned we were not able to continue on the dirt road that links Volcan and Boquete because the road was closed due to landslides.
On the trip back we were able to stop and buy a bunch of beautiful mangos and pineapples as well as stop and sample some of the coffee and food of the region at a small roadside cafe. The drive back was uneventful and, again, very beautiful. Once back we took some time to go body surfing before heading back to the small church near Playa Barqueta in the small village of Pajo Blanco.
I was able to begin teaching through Galatians to a group of about 20-25 people and it was well received. My language skills are sufficient but can defiantely use some more practice. The Spirit is gracious and the messages have come off without me stumbling or looking for words. The idea is to teach through 2 chapters of Galatians a night before we leave. 1-2 are down and they invited me back to teach through 3-4. God willing we will have a great message tonight and be able to finish tomorrow.
General Information, Panama Missions, Spanish
Another wonderful day. We spend about three hours fellowshiping with the sweet sister that from the church I spoke at last night. It is a sad thing that there are so few doctrinally sound, Bible teaching churches in the country but at the same time it is a blessing to meet the rememant that God has in this place. We are working to see if there is an opportunity to come alongside their ministry, which reaches out to the indigenous and poor, to help them get built up in sound doctrine and continue in their love of the Bible and prayer. God willing we are going to head to Volcan Baru tomorrow to continue to seek the Lord’s will and after at 6pm we are headed back to the little church to begin a 3 day study through Galatians. Praise God from whome all blessing flow.
General Information, Panama Missions, Spanish
We had a great day yesterday in and around David. In the morning we headed up through David and into Boquete. We had a great time tooling around and got to see many of ther places we remember from when we used to come here 15 years ago. We met a very sweet brother named Humberto who the Lord had delivered from being a drunk. Even though he was destitute of worldly posessions he was genuinly blessed and we fellowshiped with him for the better part of an hour. His bible was a well read (barely usable) old gideons that we were able to replace for him.
After our trip to Boquete we headed down to David for lunch and had a great meal. I got a Panamanian cell phone - no fear of commitment here 
We hurried back to the hotel to get ready because we had driven by a small church about a mile from the hotel earlier this morning and asked when they were going to have service. Their service was at 6 (a little concern that it was an adventist place) and we made it in time to help them set up. The service was made up of about 15-20 women and children (only 1 man). Since it was hot they moved the chairs outside for the service. The service started with prayer, a girl got up and sang worship and then they announced the God had answered their prayers and brought them someone to teach them the Bible…
So, I got up and taught on John 15 and it was good. The men here are very simply absent, God is raising up women to fill the need since the men are not stepping up - praise God for the faithful! This sweet lady has a vision to build a Bible teaching, Christ centered church for her community.
Today I am going back to fellowship some more and ask if she would like to go through Galatians ove the next few days. Pray for these women, that God would establish them and mature them in the Word. Pray for us that we would be led by the Spirit over thr next few days
General Information, Panama Missions Panama Missions
Here we are. We arrived yesterday after an all night drive (5 1/2 hours) had breakfast with Pastor Bert and then dropped him off so he could take care of his business. We proceeded to drive pretty blindly around until we found the Las Olas hotel (very nice though a little costy for panama at 55 a night). We swam in the pool and let the kids decompress a little since it has been a bit of a frenetic and shocking few days.
James and I took a 3 hour drive around the outlying area of David and then cam back, had dinner and gor some very needed rest. We are off today to visit a few little churches and see who the Lord wants us to meet. It seems the women and children are very open but the men a bit hard to the message. I feel the Lord has a man he wants us to meet who is in need of encouragement in the Word. Seems a little nebulous but it is what the Lord has given me.
Keep praying for us.
General Information, Panama Missions