Panama 2017 (Day 2)
Although the team was all a bit tired, we were excited to begin our time and enjoyed a lovely buffet breakfast at the hotel and waited for Donny from Heart's Cry Children's Ministry to pick us up and take us to their office for a time of orientation. We were warmly welcomed by Misty, Ana and Peter. As Ana shared with us again the vision of Heart's Cry, we looked forward to assisting in a small way in helping Casa Providencia be able to open its doors to the special needs orphans of Panama. They began the orientation we needed before we could visit one of the 53 orphanges in Panama that afternoon. We were briefed on how to interact with the children there.
We had hoped to attend Gambo church again, but the roads there were under construction and so it wasn't practical to try to attend. Instead we visited Crossroads Bible Church and were greatly blessed. We enjoyed singing in English and Spanish. (So glad they had the words displayed via a projection system!!)
And wouldn't you know, after we sat down a young gal sat down next to our team and we learned that she lived in Apex and was in Panama for a couple months to see if this was where the Lord might desire for her to minister.
We stayed for a fund raising lunch that they were having for a team that was going to minister to youth in Cuba. Having an aunt and uncle who were missionaries in Cuba prior to Castro, I was so grateful to be a part, in a very small way, to encourage the young believers in that country to follow hard after the Lord.
We then met up with Matt and his daughter, Rosie, at a grocery store to purchase some formula and toddler books to take to the orphanage. Before we set off, we stopped by a coffee shop so that Matt could help prepare us more for what we saw. If you know Bob and me, you know we enjoy a good espresso (I know, understatement!) We enjoyed our first Panamanian espresso that afternoon.
Setting off for the orphange, we drove through some very run down sections of Panama City, but once inside the gates, found a lush, beautiful grounds.
No photos were allowed and we honored that. But the sights we saw will forever be engraved on our hearts and minds. The child with a swelling of his head, so severe, that he needed to remain in a horizontal position. A child with a heart-shaped head, whose eyes that were not in their normal positions. Many children with severe cerebal palsy. The 29-year-old "boy" who weighed less than 25 lbs.
We had been encouraged to gently touch arms, shoulders and heads. We were encouraged to look in their eyes and speak in either Spanish or English to them, as well as sing to them. We were able to push some of them outside in wheelchairs to provide a change of environment. I know my heart was breaking, as was each member of our team. These children were being lovingly cared for in a clean environment, but the staff was small and the individual attention was limited. There were no therapy rooms to help them strength what muscles they did have. There were no hydrotherapy baths to help relax the tensed muscles. Casa Providencia will offer the therapy these children so greatly need.
Matt brought his guitar in after awhile and the children loved as he played and we all sang to them. The joy on their faces was unmistakable. later, I spent some time reading books to various of the children. I was grateful, that I have had enough Spanish, that I could read a children's book!! And they clearly were enjoying the attention that each member of the team was giving them.
What I found most interesting is that Mike shared as he was there, that he thought back to the sermon the week before by Dr. Burgraff. He had shared with us that the passage of scripture where we read "Jesus wept," really has the idea of Christ being angered by what He saw when Lazarus has died. The idea being "It didn't have to be this way." This was what the fall had brought on mankind and it truly didn't have to be this way. Both Mike and I had the same thought while at the orphanage. This suffering is the result of the fall and of the entrance of sin into the world.
My prayer is that the children who come to Casa Providencia, will not only receive the best treatment that is possible, but that they will know the deep, infinite, matchless love that the Savior has for each of them. May our time in Panama hasten that into a reality.
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| Our team |
And wouldn't you know, after we sat down a young gal sat down next to our team and we learned that she lived in Apex and was in Panama for a couple months to see if this was where the Lord might desire for her to minister.
We stayed for a fund raising lunch that they were having for a team that was going to minister to youth in Cuba. Having an aunt and uncle who were missionaries in Cuba prior to Castro, I was so grateful to be a part, in a very small way, to encourage the young believers in that country to follow hard after the Lord.
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| Panamanian espresso |
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| Matt & Rosie |
No photos were allowed and we honored that. But the sights we saw will forever be engraved on our hearts and minds. The child with a swelling of his head, so severe, that he needed to remain in a horizontal position. A child with a heart-shaped head, whose eyes that were not in their normal positions. Many children with severe cerebal palsy. The 29-year-old "boy" who weighed less than 25 lbs.
We had been encouraged to gently touch arms, shoulders and heads. We were encouraged to look in their eyes and speak in either Spanish or English to them, as well as sing to them. We were able to push some of them outside in wheelchairs to provide a change of environment. I know my heart was breaking, as was each member of our team. These children were being lovingly cared for in a clean environment, but the staff was small and the individual attention was limited. There were no therapy rooms to help them strength what muscles they did have. There were no hydrotherapy baths to help relax the tensed muscles. Casa Providencia will offer the therapy these children so greatly need.
Matt brought his guitar in after awhile and the children loved as he played and we all sang to them. The joy on their faces was unmistakable. later, I spent some time reading books to various of the children. I was grateful, that I have had enough Spanish, that I could read a children's book!! And they clearly were enjoying the attention that each member of the team was giving them.
What I found most interesting is that Mike shared as he was there, that he thought back to the sermon the week before by Dr. Burgraff. He had shared with us that the passage of scripture where we read "Jesus wept," really has the idea of Christ being angered by what He saw when Lazarus has died. The idea being "It didn't have to be this way." This was what the fall had brought on mankind and it truly didn't have to be this way. Both Mike and I had the same thought while at the orphanage. This suffering is the result of the fall and of the entrance of sin into the world.
My prayer is that the children who come to Casa Providencia, will not only receive the best treatment that is possible, but that they will know the deep, infinite, matchless love that the Savior has for each of them. May our time in Panama hasten that into a reality.
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