Panama ~ Wednesday
We thought that Wednesday was going to be an easier day than our work days at Casa Providencia and in some ways it was. But it was a full day.
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| Ty bringing in some of our donation |
We started by driving to Colon to visit two different orphanages. The first one we delivered some food that they had indicated to Bill and Judy that they needed. We weren't able to tour the orphange or meet with any of the children, as this was an ophanage for older girls and they were all gone off to school that day.
We did laugh as they immediately asked if we wanted to take a photo. That must be the norm. Drop off food. Have your photo taken. It made me ponder if our giving is for our glory or for the glory of the Lord. It also prompted me to ponder anew the devotional Bob had shared on Monday, challenging us to beware of our serving God.
The second orphanage was specifically an orphanage for dying AIDS patients, as well as children who were HIV positive. (No photos were allowed here with children, for their protection.) We dropped off our bins of medical supplies that Cheryl had gotten and a dozen of Phillip's Love Bears for the children.
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| Bears and medical supplies |
Sister Martina took us on a tour of the house and explained the many aspects of their ministry, including a clinic that cares for many others who are HIV positive in the community. Many of the adults were not there, as they were away for the day to an area out in the country for a "retreat." The ones who were left didn't have the strength to sit or stand.
The children were all quite young and very energetic. (She mentioned the need for a trampoline to put in their small outside area, so that the children would have a place to spend their energy in positive ways. Any mother of energetic little ones can relate!!!) As part of the tour, she included their woodworker's shop (not a part of the normal tour, but as Bob and others expressed real admiration for the workmanship shown in the beds and storage areas built by this man, she decided to include it in our tour). She shared, with difficulty, that they always had a child-size and adult-size coffin ready, built by their woodworker.
I think because of our emphasis on prayer this week, I felt prompted to ask how we could pray for her (beyond the obvious needs of the orphanage and those who lived there). Her response was to ask for stamina to keep at the task given her and to be encouraged when she discouraged. Another one that I have felt prompted to add to my regular prayer list. My prayer is that she will daily see the Lord as her fortress and her strong tower.
Then we headed onto Casa Providencia and met up with Matt who wanted to take us on the next leg of our adventure. Because I often get motion sickness, I was put in the front seat. I'm not sure it was a blessing to clearly see what was coming (Tee hee. I'm not sure I could drive in this country!!)
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| Notice the difference in water levels |
We noticed an unusual vehicle parked nearby that had a Swiss flag on the door and a website indicating it was a Swiss website. On our way out, we actually meet the family and learned that they were in fact Swiss and were spending a year traveling from British Columbia to Argentina. They were halfway on their trip.
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| http://www.lilamaro.ch/ |
Matt then drove us out to a jetty on an old US army base. The view was spectacular, even through the rain. The 3 point turn on the jetty? Just another opportunity to pray....
We then headed through the jungle toward Fort San Lorenzo. Since childhood, we have sung that Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue, in 1492. But in 1502, during his final voyage, Columbus discovered the Chagres River. and by the mid-1500's, Spain had a rainy-season gold route over the isthmus of Panama. Gold attracted pirates and so to protect the Atlantic end of the trail,
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| Jungle fog |
As we drove toward the fort, Matt said that the area was full of howler monkeys. We stopped (in the rain) on one bridge when we heard them and saw a few in the trees. (Just ask any of us on the team. We would be glad to give our best howler monkey calls) As we parked to see the fort, the rain was letting up (Remember? Rainy season. Afternoon = rain) The first ones to the fort motioned us to quickly join them and we were rewarded with a view of one of the monkey's grooming himself on the property. He kept us entertained, even as he ate fruit from some of the area trees.
Because the rain was just letting up, there was the fog rising from the jungle. Beautiful sight! We spent some time just enjoying the views of the river emptying into the ocean.
We dropped Matt off at Casa Providencia and headed back to Panama City to visit the YWAM headquarters, have dinner there (authentic Venezualen meal), and be a part of their evening service which was hosting a Peruvian band. Dinner was chorizo sausage inside a cornmeal tortilla type dough, a few fried plantains, and a delicious salad made with red cabbage, tomatoes and cucumbers. (Judy, I need that salad recipe!!) Dessert was a sweet bread with jam (well, I'm guessing since I skipped it.) We ate dinner with those who were attending a discipleship training school, as well as some friends of Bill & Judy from Southbridge church in Raleigh, who had moved there to work with YWAM.
Between the dinner and the start of the evening session, we were taken to enjoy a rooftop view of the city of Panama. I am not sure what I was expecting when we flew into Panama, but Panama City is an impressive city full of skyscrapers.
The evening session included information on the vision that YWAM Panama has for reaching the people of Panama with the truth of the gospel, including involving area churches to reach every home with a copy of scripture and to challenge the churches to make one small area of Panama an area of focus on ministering to those who live there. Quite a God-sized vision!!
We then enjoyed a band who were the nephews of a Peruvian man who had moved to Panama a number of years ago as a missionary. I've included a snippet of their music for you to enjoy.
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