Copy of email update

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