Tuesday

Today was a good day.  Spent the morning at Curundu Academy.  The teens helped out at the VBS again.  I was also healthy enough to watch and take pictures.  The building is incredibly noisy and chaotic and hot and humid, so it's incredibly draining.  But the teens have been sticking it out, working and hanging out with kids.  I've been really proud of them. 

Since today was a half day at the school, we then spent the afternoon at the Amador Causeway, a small strip of road connecting a few islands adjacent to the entrance to the canal.  We had some fun on some little rickshaw bikes and got to be tourists for the afternoon.  It was a nice break from all the noise, although still very hot and humid.  Tonight we'll walk down from the base and eat dinner at a local grill place.  The team is getting a little sick of rice at every meal, though Alex says he's used to it cause that's all dad serves at home. 

Everyone is doing well.  I'm feeling healthier by the day.  We appreciate your prayers so keep them coming until we make it home safe and sound. 

Enjoy the pics!

Monday

Today was our first day at the Juntos Podemos (all together) center in Curundu.  We got there late because it was raining so hard the roads were flooding.  We also had a minor problem with the car, as it mysteriously slipped out of gear and wouldn't go anywhere.  Thankfully we were able to put it in four wheel drive and that got us where we needed to go.  Dan then switched it out with another vehicle.  By the time we got to the center, the kids were already in their classrooms, so the teens helped set up chairs and tables.  There is a team there from Iowa doing a VBS, so our team jumped right in and helped out with that.  They also helped serve lunch to the kids and then packed little gift baggies for a special celebration day tomorrow.  After that, some other volunteers showed up teaching dance and drumming to the older kids.  Our group split up and helped out with that.  We then finished the day by doing a light clean up and setting the chairs up for tomorrow.  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to participate in much of this as I was feeling very wiped out.  I'm feeling better now, and I hope it was just the exhaustion from the trip catching up to me.  Hopefully I'll be up to full strength tomorrow.  The good news with this is that I made Jenny drive us home today.  She had to remember how to drive stick and got to test out her Panamanian driving skills.  For her the trip has been all about taking her out of her comfort zone and stretching her faith.  She's doing great!

Now we're back at base taking some time to rest, do some personal devos, and hang out.  We'll have a meeting tonight and discuss the learning and processing that's been going on.  Tomorrow we'll be back at Curundu doing much of the same thing.  The kids there have a half-day so we'll have to find something else to do in the afternoon. 

Everyone is doing well and working hard. 

Juntos Podemos Curundu

Dance Team

Drum Team

Sunday

I made it safe to Panama.  It was a pretty intense spiritual battle, but God came through and I'm happy to be here.  I'm super exhausted so hopefully I'll get a good night's sleep tonight and make a quick recovery. 

It's fun watching the team here.  They have their own rhythm and routines at the base, singing Disney songs while they do dishes and sweep up the kitchen (yes, parents, your kids are doing chores cheerfully!).  They also have their own language, inside jokes, nicknames, etc.  These are things I expected to be part of from the beginning, but it warms my heart to see the kind of unity and cohesion we've been praying for.

Tomorrow we start an intense four days of ministry at the school in the Curundu slums.  The teens are super excited.  I've warned them we might face some awkwardness the first day as we figure out how to plug into the classrooms. 

Please continue to be in prayer for us.  I'm feeling a little weak after that long day's travel.  Emily has been having a little big of a weak stomach.  We need lots of covering to keep working hard as this week is going to be much more tireing.  

Saturday

I (Andrew) woke up feeling great.  Went for a long walk/jog and still felt very good.  So, unless God has any more unexpected surprises for us, I'll finally be boarding a plane tonight to join the team.  Please pray for continued strength, health, and safe travels.

As for the team, I heard from Jenny this morning that they were headed up to Capira to visit a new partner village for Rio Missions Panama (our hosts).  Not sure what they'll be doing other than visiting and getting to check out one of the "mountainous" regions of Panama.  The elevation in these areas isn't that high, but it is significantly cooler and less humid...usually.  I know Dan said he is excited he gets to do this, as it's a village he's been needing to get to for a while.  All in all he expressed that the change in schedule has been very helpful to his mission as the team has helped him accomplish many projects he had previously been unable to get to.  He said the teens have done everything asked of them with a great attitude.  He told them he just wanted them to "do life" with him this week, which means they've gotten to experience first-hand what it's like to serve as a missionary in Panama.  It's not as glamorous as digging a well or building a house, but it's the day to day reality of work and ministry in Panama which is just what I wanted for them.  I'm sure they'll have lots of interesting stories and observations to share.

Seeing as I'll be travelling for the next twelve to twenty-four hours, I probably won't have a new update for the blog until maybe late Sunday night.  I'm also unsure of the wi-fi at the base so I probably won't be able to post as frequently as I have been.  I'll do my best. 

Either way, keep praying for us and especially for my travels tonight.  I leave at 10:20 p.m., go through Miami, and am supposed to arrive at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.

A couple pics from earlier in the week

Friday's Surf Competition

Emily catching her first wave

Kyla gets caught in the whitewash

Alex dropping in

Like a boss!

Today the team took a break and went to the beach, stopping along the way at the famous Quesos Chela to grab some empenadas and fresh mozzarella balls.  Jenny said they all wore sunscreen, but they all got a little pink anyway--being closer to the equator has a way of always surprising people from the north.  Apparently--based on the above pictures--Lizzy won the surf contest.  Still everyone had a great time.  In Jenny's words, "I think we all needed this." 

Meanwhile back at home, I was hanging ten at the doctor's office.  Nothing new to report.  I'm feeling stronger every day, and if this continues tomorrow I hope to board a plane to finally rejoin the team.  I'm praying and asking the Lord for guidance and healing.  Your prayers are also much appreciated!

Thursday

Just got off the phone with Jenny.  She says the team is doing great!  They had to change plans again as the weather has been really rainy (when it rains it really pours, and the mountain roads are mostly dirt so it isn't always safe).  So instead of going to Bajo Grande, they visited Curundu Academy today, met the directora just to get acquainted and prepare for next week's ministry.  They also visited a Salvation Army church and helped clean and paint an area that will be used for children's ministry. 

I also learned that yesterday's visit was to an Indian village close by.  They sat in the pastor's hut and got a quick glimpse of indigenous life in Panama.  Many of the local tribes were displaced when work began on the Panama Canal back in the day, and today they live mostly on reservation land living off of subsistence farming and catering to tourists.   

There's something in the works for later today, though Jenny isn't sure what that is, and the plan tomorrow is to go to a village in the mountains that is closer by with more secure roads.  They will most likely spend the night there then go to the beach on Saturday.  But as we've seen so far, plans always change.  Being a missionary is all about being flexible and just going with the flow--especially in Panama.

Keep praying for me.  I head to my primary care doctor tomorrow to do a follow-up check up.  I am feeling significantly better today so hopefully that continues.  My hope is to be cleared to travel on Saturday, and then get to Panama by Sunday.  God is good!