Joyful Journey

April is a month when I tend to think of my mom more than any other month of the year.  Anyone who knew her, knew she loved April Fools' Day.  Last Sunday would have been her 85th birthday and she went to be with the Lord in April, 13 years ago now. I have other friends who have lost their moms in April.  One a year ago and one just a few days ago. As I grieve with them, I am grateful that they, like me, will with time be able to miss their mom, but be able to mainly reflect on the benefits she brought in their lives, rather than mainly grieve their loss. I know because we all had moms who poured greatly into our lives.  We each had mothers who put their faith and trust in the Lord and so we know that they are simply waiting to welcome us home. And I know, because with time, although I still miss her greatly, it is now with joy that I think on who she was instead of grieve over my loss. Oh, it took me a (suprising) number of years before I stopped picking up t...

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...