I found internet!

It seems anymore, when I sit down to share my thoughts on paper, writer’s block is inevitable.  Although, this time, it might be because I’ve just done so much since I last posted an entry here.  (Whoops!) 

I arrived in El Valle, the town where I’m spending the majority of my three weeks in Panamá.  It is an eclectic, decently-sized community which sits in the crater of a volcano a few hours outside of Panama City.  In hindsight, it makes perfect sense that internet here would be incredibly limited.  So, that’s why I will not be updating this blog as frequently as expected.  But fear not, you should hear from me every couple of days. 

This Sunday I experienced perhaps the simplest, most intimate Sunday morning “church service” one has ever seen.  The church meets under a pavilion in the Carters’ backyard, and this week, we chose to sit in a circle, like a family around the dinner table. 

Since then, we visited a 19-year old girl, raising a one-year, three-month old baby, as her 25-year old husband dies of kidney failure.  She showed us her home (a concrete room) and the family’s entire property.  Yesterday, we had a bible study with a Chinese Panamanian woman, married to a verbally-abusive man.  She told us all about being sold into marriage and of her one-year old child, being raised in China with the baby’s grandmother. 

Lisa told me that someone once said to her, “People won’t care what you know until they know that you care.” 

Once one knows truth, he has an incredible responsibility to share it.  But he cannot do that until he has an audience.  Today, I went on a hike with a bunch of teenage boys.  We simply spent six hours together hiking and swimming (and judging by the humidity and elevation, I’d say we did about 45 U.S. miles). 

I have a lot I want to say to those boys, but nothing can be said until they know that I care about them.  There is much to be done here in Panamá, and it all flows from spreading the love of Christ here.  As always, thanks for the prayers and encouragement!  Tonight, we’re having a bible study, and the next few days involve a lot of traveling.  Until then, take comfort in the fact that the Lord is working here, and the church is more than healthy!