Directions.

As you all know, I made a decision this summer. It may possibly have been the best decision of my life. I decided to stay in Panama, to continue God's work there, and show unconditional love to the people there. God completely beautifully wrecked my life. He has shown me how important missions are, but more importantly how important HE is and following His will is. He has put a burden on my heart to work with youth and children, and also to speak Spanish, translating and ministering to others through Spanish. It has opened up so many doors, I made so many amazing relationships and got to have amazing ministry because I actually understood what they were saying and was able to communicate back! I know God has called me to work with people who speak Spanish.

 To stay here and disobey God -- I can't afford to take the consequence. I would rather go and obey God, than to stay here and know I disobeyed.
--Amanda Berry Smith

I know God has placed on my heart to go on missions, in fact, we are all called to missions. There is so much hurting in need all over the world and we are CALLED as Christians to show others the hope found in knowing Christ Jesus.

So I'm thinking of where to go on my mission trip next summer, and I really come up blank. I wanted to choose somewhere that I knew would be a great trip to do amazing ministry and see God move in many ways. I even thought about going to a country that did not speak Spanish, but God has definitely shown me that right now I need to minister to a Spanish speaking population. I looked at all the options for Latin America and where to go, where God is ultimately calling. And there were so many options, so many amazing trips, but one stood out, and one actually worked. 

Next summer, God is calling me to go to Peru for a month. 

Yes, it's a very big decision. And I have prayed a lot about it. I can't see myself not going, I know that I am called to go. If it is God's will, it's His bill, and I'm trusting the finances completely and totally to Him.

My trip is also going to be around $3,000 , which I am not taking lightly. I do not go out and waste money, and for Christmas and my birthday, I will be only asking for money to fund my trip. I say this not to brag, but to show you I am dedicated to the cause. Only if you feel led, should you donate money to me. If you would like to donate, you can go to www.globalexpedtions.com and clicking donate. You will have to enter my ID number which is 2593060.

In conclusion, I ask for you support in prayers. Prayer is not optional in mission trips, but ESSENTIAL. I ask that you pray for me as I plan my upcoming trip and grow in God's word. I also ask that you pray for the people I will encounter in Peru, that they would welcome the word of God with open arms, and that life-changing experiences happen. 

If you found a cure for cancer, wouldn't it be inconceivable to hide it from the rest of mankind? How much more inconceivable is it to keep silent the cure from the eternal wages of death.
--Dave Davidson

Falling for Panama.

These were my last few days ministering to the people of my first island in the San Blas, Nargana. 
God really blessed me with amazing leaders of the church who continued to bless us throughout my stay in Nargana. I was so encouraged by the church there and how they are following God with everything they have. 


Day 11: Thursday, June 23
We went in the morning to the sister island, Corazon de Jesus. The people there are less receptive, so it was hard. We got weeds out around a lady's house and then we helped a man pick up parts of his roof that had fallen off the night before, it was good but we didn't get to talk to them much so it wasn't what I expected. VBS we did at Corzaon too, so we got to see some new faces. We did another service tonight that Josh led, there was a bunch of people there. I think most of them are more lukewarm if they're Christian at all. Tomorrow's the last day, I don't want to leave these kids but I'm exhausted. 


Day 12: Friday, June 24
Last day with the kids, I knew it was going to be hard to do. We knew we had to give it all we got. We went hut to hut and some of the kids in my group wouldn't talk, Ed, our PD [Project Director] had a chat with them and they really stepped out and shared. I translated everyday for my ministry group when we went [hut to hut.] Then our last VBS, it was probably our best VBS of the whole week, but we should have been this way everyday. We got ready for our last church service, we did a human video to Everlasting, it was awesome! Maristel spoke and the message was amazing. People started coming up and we got to pray for all these teens, it's so cool that there were so many teenagers wanting a deeper relationship with God. Then came goodbyes, they were hard, everyone said goodbye and I'll miss you. Everyone was crying and hugging, it was so hard to know we might never see them again. The peacher gave the guys all molas, he said they were going to sell them to us, but we were such a blessing in being there. I couldn't believe we were leaving the next day. But God is good and I will never forget those children. Elliel, Elieflet, and Abias, the youth ministers Leroy and Javier, and Pastor Eli. 

With my little buddy, Abias. 

Christ wants not nibblers of the possible, 

but grabbers of the impossible.

-C.T. Studd

Love One Another.

I'm so thankful to modern technology that I can easily share with you about my amazing mission trip to Panama, and possibly future trips! So blessed and amazed at everything God did in Panama. 
I've learned so much on my trip. This part of my trip, I realized how important it is to love everyone, to bring glory to the Father. 


Day 8: Monday
Another day of VBS. The kids are so sweet! Before VBS we cleaned out a room in the school, so we got to invite them to VBS. Then we did hut to hut ministry, it was hard. The first family we prayed for had a son that couldn't move much or talk because he had been in a fire, he was only 13 years old. It was hard, I started crying while we were praying. We were really doing God's work. We got to pray over a blind lady and an old man also, which was good. It's crazy because this place is so beautiful but the people are so poor. Another funny thing, we saw some little kids playing Mario on a [Nintendo] DS! We had couch time and Maristel our TL [Team Leader] spoke, it was amazing! The guys went exploring and it was awesome, we got to go across the bridge to Corazon de Jesus [ Heart of Jesus ], the little island on the other side of the bridge. We saw Javier, a youth leader at the church and he gave us a tour and we got to talk to him. We were amazed by how nice and genuine the people here are. It's amazing. I found my little amigo here, Elliel, he's 10, every time he sees me he says 'Chancho' [My Spanish Name] and gives me a big hug. He's the pastors son, he's so sweet! We got to go to their youth service and it was so cool! I got to pray for a guy and it was great! 


Day 9: Tuesday 
Today was great, but hard at the same time. In hut to hut, we helped clean a house, washed dishes, and helped cook. It was really fun to minister through that. We went to other people's houses and prayed for their sickness. I'm getting really exhausted and it's hard to stay hyper for the kids in VBS. At night we watched the sunset on the bridge and prayed for the other teams. 

Praying for the other teams on the bridge. 

Day 10: Wednesday
Pushing through everything and knowing God will help me through. We got to help build a house today, it took us about 45 minutes to nail one board, and we helped pick up trash too. Then we prayed and the man started crying. Then we helped build a fence, and I got to use a machete, it was fun. VBS was fun and most of the kids are great. I don't want to leave! Tonight Josh spoke at the church and Maristel translated for him, it was really good! Then we had another couch time, I think every time we do have it, we grow closer as a group. 

God never intended for us to be mere recipients of His love;

He calls us to share it with others.

-George Foster

Can you taste it?

This part of my journal is the last day in our base camp in close to Panama City and then the first few days on my island in the San Blas Islands. My island is the main island, Nargana.
This part of the trip was truly relying on God in every aspect, and getting my first true view of Panama and how amazing my trip was. 


Day 5:
Another day in Panama City. It's so beautiful here, we leave early tomorrow, I'm so ready to finally be there! We've had to pack up our supplies we need for our part on the islands and practice our VBS a little more. 


Day 6: Travel to Islands
Woke up at 3AM, I think we left around 4ish. We had a three hour bus ride through the beautiful Panamanian countryside. We saw lots of mountains, it was amazing. Then we made it to our port and began our long wait for our boats. We got to get snacks from a real snack shop, it was cool. 
But our boats weren't there, and then some were but not ours. Then one group that had already left came back because their motor died. So we waited around for about three hours, then finally got on our boat, we didn't leave for a good thirty minutes because they wanted our whole group to leave at the same time. Then we were off, starting the longest hour of my life. 
The waves were fun to go over but I was sitting in the back and on the side, thus all the water splashed from the boat came directly to my mouth and eyes. I kept my eyes closed for 3/4ths of the ride and we finally made it to the island where we made a quick stop at. Once I rinsed the salt water out of my eyes I finally got to see the beauty of the San Blas Islands. They're little pieces of paradise. Then we got into a larger boat that we didn't get soaking wet in. We got to look at all the beautiful places for about an hour long boat ride. Then we got tot the first island to drop off the other group, and my island is about five minutes away. We were finally here! It was weird, the people live in shacks and are very poor but they have electricity. My island is the biggest inhabited one. It's called Nargana. 
We got to the church, it's baptist! We got to play with all the kids and they're SO sweet! I got to speak Spanish to them, it was fun. Our supplies got shipped to another island so the locals lent us hammocks for the night. It finally hit me I was in Panama, it's so beautiful. the first words I said when I stepped off the boat were, I think I'm falling in love. 


Day 7: Sunday
Our first day of ministry was great! We did VBS in the church that morning, it went really well. I got to translate which was awesome and the kds are so fun to play with! It's great, I'm finally doing ministry and it feels so right. After VBs, we ate lentils, ha! We all were laughing and making a good situation out of a possibly bad one. We all kept yelling, "Can you taste it?!" [Referring to being salt to the world and also staying strong even through eating lentils.] It was great, then we got to go to a jail an dminister to eh guys there. I was the translator for my group and it was pretty fun. We all told our testimonies to them, and we could tell that some of them were impacted. It was really a great experience. Then at night we had couch time, wehre someone shares their testimony with the team, Josh our TL [Team Leader, each team has one guy and one girl TL, they are over 21 and are the leaders of the groups] went it was great! 

This was the first view of my island, Nargana.