Joyful Journey

Walking along the ocean in old Panama We enjoyed our last breakfast at Casa Paraiso and then Bill and Judy drove us to the old part of Panama City.  We walked along the ocean, did a bit of shopping, enjoyed looking at the restored buildings, visited the catheral and then ate lunch. Apparently, they allow cats in cathedrals in Panama We were able to get through the security check in plenty of time and wait at the gate.  Unfortunately, it didn't take long before we learned that our flight was going to be delayed by an hour. Knowing that we didn't have much layover time, we were concerned about making our flight to RDU. After landing late, we sat on the plane waiting for an open gate.  Finally making it to a gate we stood, waiting to exit the plane when an announcement came on that we needed to be seated so that Border and Customs agents could board.  They did so and escorted a gentlemen off the plane, obviously in handcuffs, who was followed b...

It was hard to leave on Friday afternoon.   I know that usually a blog post about a day's adventure doesn't start toward the end of the day, but the realization that this was our last day working at Casa Providencia had been building all day.  Our time working had gone by quickly.  It had been so very encouraging these last two days to see some things, no matter how small in the scheme of what needed to be done, completed.  But then, that's not how the day began. View from the mountain top orphanage After morning devotions, the men headed out with Bill while Susan and I waited for Judy and Misty.  (I did not record who had shared each day, but I remember Barry sharing I think this day, and sharing again on prayer, but also on the fact that when we leave, we need to be prepared for "coming down" from the high of the trip.  We had no idea how soon we would be able to put this truth to the test). But the day didn't start at Casa Providencia for Susan a...

Bill arrived a bit later on Thursday morning, and then Yay!!  The rails getting primed he wanted to spend some time discussing options on the focus of our work for the remaining days.  We left, but thankfully, before we had gotten very far, got a call that Bill need to return to pick up the paychecks for the men working at Casa Providencia.  We joined the traffic heading into Panama City, so by the time we met Judy and got turned back around, and got to Casa Providencia, it was almost 11.  But it was important for the workers to receive their due. Susan and I got back to scraping the railings.  The men cleaned them off with paint thinner and then primed most of the railings. Power washing more of the thousands of roof tiles still to be installed Bob and Ty power washed some of the roof tiles.  The men also tied rebar in the windows where it had been damaged as they were doing demolition in order to prepare them to be repaired.  More chi...

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. 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....

The day began with a devotional, again from John Piper's Solid Joys , entitled Plan for Prayer . (Yep, another morning with a focus on prayer. We are listening, Lord) Therefore, my simple exhortation is this: Let us take time this very day to rethink our priorities and how prayer fits in. Make some new resolve. Try some new venture with God. Set a time. Set a place. Choose a portion of Scripture to guide you. Don’t be tyrannized by the press of busy days. We all need midcourse corrections. Make this a day of turning to prayer — for the glory of God and for the fullness of your joy. A beautiful example of our Creator God's creativity It was clear, if we had forgotten, that everything that we did this week (and every other week of our lives!) needed to be bathed all day, in prayer. Before leaving, we had a sighting of toucans.  (This photo is from later in the week, but from the same area, right outside the house we were staying in.) We serve a creator who has created s...

Casa Providencia Bob started our day with the daily devotional from John Piper, entitled Beware of Serving God . Who but God could have orchestrated that devotional?   We do not glorify God by providing his needs, but by praying that he would provide ours — and trusting him to answer. Again, the focus on prayer was being laid before us.   And the reminder that He is the one doing the work, not us.  What a great way to start our work week.  I found myself thinking over this frequently during the day.  Out the door by 8 (Thanks for breakfast, Jess!!) with packed lunches, we headed off for the first day of work.   Bill drove us across Panama (remember, this is the area of the canal, so it is the narrowest part of the country), going northwest to the city of Colon, where Casa Providencia is located.  (Take a minute a check out a google map of Panama.  If you search either Colon or Panama City, you will be able to check out our daily j...

Our wonderful accomodations Still a bit tired from our early morning flight the day before, we enjoyed a relaxing start to our week.  A true blessing of this trip is to have Jess, from Casa Paraiso, make breakfast for us each morning.  We have a kitchenette on our floor (We had the entire floor for just our team!) with a coffee pot and refrigerator, which was so very helpful. I read a blog post that morning on praying scripture as a way to reignite your prayer life that both challenged and encouraged me.  Little did I know at that point, but prayer would become a theme for our time in Panama. The church faces the canal We attended Gamboa Union Church, a body of believers made up of Panamaians, expats and indigenous people (Each week an announcement is made asking who can drive them back to the river so that they can get in their canoes and go home! Not something you're apt to hear in the US) We alternated singing in English and Spanish.  I was hoping ...

( I am sharing this post after our return, but wanted to document our time in Panama.  I kept a journal of our time there, but it wasn't possible to upload this to the blog while there. ) At the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal It is amazing how little space there is between the ship and the side of the canal After a short night and a broken suitcase requiring a quick change to a new one, we got to the aiport to find that Sam had come to see us off. What a sacrificial act on his part to make the trip to be at the airport at 4:45 a.m.! He helped us unload the medical bins that Cheryl had procured for us and blessed us by putting feet to his prayers for us.  We were saddened to not have Cheryl on the trip, but understood her need to minister to family.  Don was still sick, but we hope he will be able to join us later in the week.   Our little team of 8 is down to 6. Thankfully, two uneventful flights landed us and our luggage safely in Panama. Steppin...