Saludos de Panama!
It is with great joy and excitement that we write and tell you about our new brother in Christ, Justo, who was baptized yesterday evening! Justo has been studying English and the book of Luke with Rachel for over two months now and decided that he wanted to obey the Word of God, to be baptized for the repentance of his sins and make a public statement that he is a believer in Christ, and to do it as Christ commanded in Matthew and Mark and as the apostles described in the book of Acts.
In the course of being here, we have been given the tremendous blessing of being able to share the Gospel with numerous children, adults, and families and to plant many seeds. We've seen that it's easy to try to look at "conversions" or "baptisms" in worldly sense, in a way of measurement that our American mindsets and ideas tell us that quantity should be used to evaluate the effectiveness of a ministry or a mission, but we've learned that can't forget that Christ Himself emphasized the importance of each and every soul that may come to know that Lord, "there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." (Luke 15:10) and even people who physically sat at the feet of our Lord Jesus still rejected him until their death. So, we ask, we beg, that you will fervently be praying for those who still need to embrace the gift of life (John 10:10 says that, "I [being Jesus] have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."), and lay their lives down before Jesus, that upon believing that He is the Son of God, our Messiah, and that He died for our sins, only to rise from the dead, thus conquering death and sin, on the third day to make a promise that we, who embrace Him, will one day rise again too, if will do as the apostle preached to those who believed the the authenticity and authority of Christ. And, that through faith, grace and baptism, we will be given His Spirit and therefore the the fruits of this Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. (Gal. 5:22) And also pray fervently for the people who need a rewakening of their souls and of their faith and love in the Lord.
Pray for Tania, one of Jami's readers, that she, after witnessing Justo's baptism yesterday, will make the same choice to follow her Creator, who knows her better than anyone else and wants to shower her in His love because He created her, and that she will come to know this peace that passes all understanding. Pray for Yaremis, another one of Jami's readers, who knows what she must do to be written in the book of life, but needs the courage to follow in the Lord's footsteps. Pray for Jami's reader Raul, who is young and full of life, and has a strong belief in God but who Satan blinds and keeps from seeing the need for something more. Pray for Hamminder, Rachel's reader who is Hindu, that she might discover the truth, the beauty, and the love, that is Jesus Christ. Please pray for Ulysses and Noris, the couple with whom we live, that they will seek Him and make Him their Lord and Master. Pray for Ida, for Dhayllis, for Javier, all individuals that we have attended family Bible studies with in their homes, and listen to Raul, the minister, share the importance of obeying the Gospel, people who also know what they must do, but for some reason are hesitant to do it. Pray for Isabel, who so many of you have already lifted up to our Father--she's someone that we can see a drastic change in in the short months that we have known her, and who we still pray that God's faithfulness will reign over, that one day she might come to live a life of service to Him. Please pray for Rachel's readers Dargelis and Lucille, young girls that have much to look forward to--we ask that your prayer for them be that they will come to look forward to a life of living for Him. Also, please remember to pray for the Christians that need encouragement, a renewal of their spirit, a deeper relationship with Christ, and that they will find the joy of their salvation.
If we thought months one, two, three, and four flew by, we are amazed at how fast our final month, month five, has come and is quickly going! We have less than two weeks left in Panama, and it's a bittersweet state to say the least. On one hand, we're excited to go home, have Sonic, Skyline, and GOOD Mexican food. We're ready to see our families, sleep in our own bed, and pet, cuddle, and coo our beloved pets. I think we're ready for an independence, a general knowledge of what's going on and ability to make decisions quickly, a sense of self-sufficiency that we haven't experienced overtly in Panama. But, on the other hand, our list of what we're going to miss is seemingly endless. Mango trees, Salsa music, walking as means of transportation, patacones (Which we will have to make for you if you have never had them!), reading, and over all more relaxed, take it as it comes atmosphere and culture--we apologize now for the untimeliness we have developed and that we're not sure we're going to want to have reenculturated (We're not even sure if that's a word, but hopefully, you get the idea) into us. Even though we're working and have a great task at hand, the "do it when I get to it" attitude definitely lends towards lower stress levels and more enjoyable, personable interactions. We're going to miss the church, the value that's placed on personally greeting each member of the assembly of God, greetings with a kiss into the air next to the cheek, and the giving of God's blessing on each and every individual. We're going to miss the precious brown eyes of the little children we've come to adore at the elementary school and who greet us each morning by saying "Guh mowrnin Teacher Wachel. Guh mowrnin Teacher Yami", which often, ,in the first and second grade classes, becomes "Good morning Teacher WRami." Too cute! We're going to miss our readers, who we have gotten to know so well over the last months, who's souls we have come to pray for so often and souls we've seen Christ fighting to win--readers, others we've studied with, and our families and friends at home in the US (Not just for the people here, but for our family and friends at home who are still resisiting an intimate, genuine, full relationship with the God of the universe who is calling their name!) will come to fully know the Lord). We're going to miss the crazy four year old we live with, who seems to have an endless supply of entertainment for us, our time with our dear friends here (Especially our other roommate Erica, who will be staying until December to continue teaching at the elementary school), and, of course, the beaches, the Causeway, and all of our other favorite Panama spots. But the time has come to head home, to what exactly, other than our family and friends, God only knows. So, we ask that you pray for us,too, and whatever God has next for us, and that we, like Paul, "...may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." (Acts 20:24) and that we will not forget in the last days that "...Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all..." (2 Cor.5:14), and that these responsibilities that we have as Christians, will not be left behind in Panama, but will be pursued, cared for, and shared with others the moment we step back into US soil.
And, so, here we are. Excited to see what's next, sad to say goodbye to what's already passed. Panama has been an adventure to say the least, from city to countryside, from being sick and at the hospital, to spending a Saturday on a nearly deserted island in the Caribbean with the Kuna Indians (of which we will attach some pictures), and so much more. God has blessed us richly, and I pray that He will bless you as well. He says that He will bless us more and more the more we use the things and serve Him with the things that He has already given us, and so I pray, that with the knowledge of Him that He has already given you, whether you grew up in the church or are learning of Him for the first time through these emails (Which if that is the case, then we ask for your forgiveness, because as Christians and workers of the Kingdom, we have done you and your Creator, our King, a great disservice, and we pray for an opportunity to share more of this unsurpassing love of Christ and peace that passes all understanding and hope for a life eternal free from pain, worry, and fear with you as soon as God allows-whether it be your initiating or the Lord's.), we pray that you will use this Knowledge of Him to share it with others and develop a richer faith for yourself in Him, and you will be speechless at the blessings that will pour forth into your lap. We love you all. Thanks for the prayers, the encouragement. We look forward to seeing you soon.
Love and a multitude of blessings from our Lord
Jami and Rachel
Monday, May 26
Saturday, May 3
Just to name a few...
Some interesting experiences here in Panama:
-Went spear fishing with Embera Indians
-Witnessed an active volcano
-Ziplined through the rainforest
-Swam in the Caribbean
-Watched Kuna children play with a dead chicken inside a hut where hammocks hung and a fire burned
-Danced under a house on stilts
-Snorkeled in the coral reef and touched a wild crab
-Seen a monkey, toucan, and iguana in its natural habitat
-Studied the bible with non-believers
-We drank the water… and paid for it…
-…Were attached to an IV in a hospital without electricity and running water and were administered drugs by a nurse without a bra
-Trekked through the Darien (and survived)…
-…Protected by armed Policemen against Columbian gorilla warefare fighters in the jungle
-Watched a movie under the stars on a hammock
-Celebrated New Years in a different country
-Crossed a river 7 times while leaving a small village in the mountains (on horseback!)
-Visited islands in the Pacific and Atlantic ocean
-Seen the Panama Canal
-Been to an all natural mud and hot springs spa in the mountains
-Swam under a mountain/jungle waterfall
-Fainted in front of a crowd
-Had an Embera child’s monkey on my shoulder
-Had a “riot day” off of school
-Spent an entire day riding bikes through the mountains
-Use an “outhouse” with a million cockroaches crawling all over the floor and walls (if that’s not bravery than I don’t know what is!!!)
-Spent nights listening to live Salsa music and feeling the breeze off the canal
-Spent weekends on the island of flowers
-Rode in a taxi with a man with a machete in the dashboard (ok, it was just a really large knife)
-Had an indigenous Indian woman put a homemade bracelet on my wrist
-Watched an entire movie in Spanish with no subtitles… and actually followed it!
-Took a dance class with a woman wearing spandex under her bathing suit
-Awaken by numerous teenagers staring at you while you slept
-Saw the ruins of old Caribbean Pirate defense weapons
-Stayed in a room with pads plastered on the wall as decor
-Fed gato solos with our bare hands
-Managed over 50 Spanish speaking children in VBS
-Went to the oldest church in the western hemisphere
-Ate at a restaurant with a tree growing through it
-Went on a Toucan hunt
-Slept in a room with no floors
-Ate rice pudding to celebrate a baby's first tooth
-Drank sugar water to cure mosquito bites
-Ate soup with bones and corn on the cob in it, while people watched you eat it.
-Helped build a foundation of a church
-Sang songs under the brilliant countryside stars for three hours straight
-Learned to make fried green bananas
-Went spear fishing with Embera Indians
-Witnessed an active volcano
-Ziplined through the rainforest
-Swam in the Caribbean
-Watched Kuna children play with a dead chicken inside a hut where hammocks hung and a fire burned
-Danced under a house on stilts
-Snorkeled in the coral reef and touched a wild crab
-Seen a monkey, toucan, and iguana in its natural habitat
-Studied the bible with non-believers
-We drank the water… and paid for it…
-…Were attached to an IV in a hospital without electricity and running water and were administered drugs by a nurse without a bra
-Trekked through the Darien (and survived)…
-…Protected by armed Policemen against Columbian gorilla warefare fighters in the jungle
-Watched a movie under the stars on a hammock
-Celebrated New Years in a different country
-Crossed a river 7 times while leaving a small village in the mountains (on horseback!)
-Visited islands in the Pacific and Atlantic ocean
-Seen the Panama Canal
-Been to an all natural mud and hot springs spa in the mountains
-Swam under a mountain/jungle waterfall
-Fainted in front of a crowd
-Had an Embera child’s monkey on my shoulder
-Had a “riot day” off of school
-Spent an entire day riding bikes through the mountains
-Use an “outhouse” with a million cockroaches crawling all over the floor and walls (if that’s not bravery than I don’t know what is!!!)
-Spent nights listening to live Salsa music and feeling the breeze off the canal
-Spent weekends on the island of flowers
-Rode in a taxi with a man with a machete in the dashboard (ok, it was just a really large knife)
-Had an indigenous Indian woman put a homemade bracelet on my wrist
-Watched an entire movie in Spanish with no subtitles… and actually followed it!
-Took a dance class with a woman wearing spandex under her bathing suit
-Awaken by numerous teenagers staring at you while you slept
-Saw the ruins of old Caribbean Pirate defense weapons
-Stayed in a room with pads plastered on the wall as decor
-Fed gato solos with our bare hands
-Managed over 50 Spanish speaking children in VBS
-Went to the oldest church in the western hemisphere
-Ate at a restaurant with a tree growing through it
-Went on a Toucan hunt
-Slept in a room with no floors
-Ate rice pudding to celebrate a baby's first tooth
-Drank sugar water to cure mosquito bites
-Ate soup with bones and corn on the cob in it, while people watched you eat it.
-Helped build a foundation of a church
-Sang songs under the brilliant countryside stars for three hours straight
-Learned to make fried green bananas
Thursday, May 1
I know these words are expressed a lot but the amount of growth, understanding, and great things that I am experiencing is unbelievable. The magnitude of it all is just too much to ignore. I am growing more and more anxious to go home and to see what all is in store for me in the future. However, I am also thankful for everyday that I am here because of the wisdom that I am learning. But as with any wisdom that one gains, there comes the realization of the great amount that is still waiting undiscovered.
The thing about all of this is that, for the very first time in my entire life, this unknown does not cause me to have any fear at all. A purpose is finally being understood… and with that comes a freedom. The more I come to see God and the more I let Him dwell in my heart and guide my daily walk, then a greater amount of peace comes over me. I am seeing more and more that it is not all about the tangible things. I am seeing that it is not all about the measurement of wealth and prosperity, popularity or intelligence, talents or charms (and you can name the rest). The more I see that it’s not even ALL about what you accomplish.
What it is all about is something bigger than ourselves. Something that was set into motion thousands of years ago and has been so brilliantly plotted out to cover over all the many people of all many cultures of all the days. We can have a glimpse of that through diving into the word but even then we cannot see it all, nor the motions that are playing out all around us even now. (Which I might add, shows the importance and reason for trying to discover it and why it is absurd to draw conclusions from our extremely cultural and personal bias mindsets).
Being here and being stripped of so much has been a great experience. I stand before my readers and the people I meet with feeling nothing more than how Paul did in his first letter to the Corinthians: "When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power" (2:1-5)
It has been an amazing journey of being stripped down and humbled, left to do nothing more than cling to the one person who was there all along just waiting for permission to step inside of me. And now comes the fun part of being able to start seeing life and all the joys in it as northing more than blessings and beauties. Not as burdens or as measurements to live up to. But as a daily walk and revealing of one more thing to enjoy with my time here. I am beginning to lose so much fear, headaches, loneliness, emptiness, stress, etc. Because here I am! And I am nothing more than “a mist that appears for a while and then vanishes” (James 3:14) How empowering! We were chosen and given a great gift. I am part of a story that is bigger than myself. Part of a body that needs me and my role to play! And I have someone who loves me and fights for me always. “Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21)
It is like a breath of fresh air. I have finally discovered the key to unlock the purpose of my life. And that is something that was promised to me a while ago.
"My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding,
and if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.
For the LORD gives wisdom,
and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He holds victory in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
for he guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones.
Then you will understand what is right and just
and fair—every good path.
For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
Discretion will protect you,
and understanding will guard you."
(Proverbs 2:1-11)
To end all of my rambling about discovery, I will leave one passage that sums up all that I am feeling. One that speaks so clearly to me at this time…
"Be happy, young man, while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment. So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for youth and vigor are meaningless." (Ecclesiastes 11:9-10)
The thing about all of this is that, for the very first time in my entire life, this unknown does not cause me to have any fear at all. A purpose is finally being understood… and with that comes a freedom. The more I come to see God and the more I let Him dwell in my heart and guide my daily walk, then a greater amount of peace comes over me. I am seeing more and more that it is not all about the tangible things. I am seeing that it is not all about the measurement of wealth and prosperity, popularity or intelligence, talents or charms (and you can name the rest). The more I see that it’s not even ALL about what you accomplish.
What it is all about is something bigger than ourselves. Something that was set into motion thousands of years ago and has been so brilliantly plotted out to cover over all the many people of all many cultures of all the days. We can have a glimpse of that through diving into the word but even then we cannot see it all, nor the motions that are playing out all around us even now. (Which I might add, shows the importance and reason for trying to discover it and why it is absurd to draw conclusions from our extremely cultural and personal bias mindsets).
Being here and being stripped of so much has been a great experience. I stand before my readers and the people I meet with feeling nothing more than how Paul did in his first letter to the Corinthians: "When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power" (2:1-5)
It has been an amazing journey of being stripped down and humbled, left to do nothing more than cling to the one person who was there all along just waiting for permission to step inside of me. And now comes the fun part of being able to start seeing life and all the joys in it as northing more than blessings and beauties. Not as burdens or as measurements to live up to. But as a daily walk and revealing of one more thing to enjoy with my time here. I am beginning to lose so much fear, headaches, loneliness, emptiness, stress, etc. Because here I am! And I am nothing more than “a mist that appears for a while and then vanishes” (James 3:14) How empowering! We were chosen and given a great gift. I am part of a story that is bigger than myself. Part of a body that needs me and my role to play! And I have someone who loves me and fights for me always. “Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21)
It is like a breath of fresh air. I have finally discovered the key to unlock the purpose of my life. And that is something that was promised to me a while ago.
"My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding,
and if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.
For the LORD gives wisdom,
and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He holds victory in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
for he guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones.
Then you will understand what is right and just
and fair—every good path.
For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
Discretion will protect you,
and understanding will guard you."
(Proverbs 2:1-11)
To end all of my rambling about discovery, I will leave one passage that sums up all that I am feeling. One that speaks so clearly to me at this time…
"Be happy, young man, while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment. So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for youth and vigor are meaningless." (Ecclesiastes 11:9-10)
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