The beginning.

There's only so much I can remember or tell you guys. So I'm going to start putting my journal up to show you from my eyes what all happened and to let you know a little more of what went on there, and my heart for what I did there. I'm honest in these entries. It was a hard trip, but God brought me through and got to see the amazing things God did and I got to be used to do so many awesome things for the Lord!


Day 1: Flying to Texas
Flew into Dallas today. I got to see some of my friends from my trip last year. It's finally hitting me that I'm actually going to Panama, for a month! I can't believe it, I'm so ready to go and do some awesome things in God's name!


Day 2: Texas Training
Training is rough. We have to rehearse our VBS over and over again. I think we worked on it for almost four hours. I'm learning lots of patience and trying to be friends with everyone. It's hard. We split up into teams today, all my friends are in the other teams so we'll be on different islands. But I know it's good to be out of my comfort zone. 


Day 3: Texas Training
Training is very boring, I'm so ready to actually be in Panama! The commissioning service was awesome, I can't wait to see all the crazy ways God is going to move on the trip. In a few hours I'll be on my way out of the country!


Day 4: Travel, Finally!
I probably slept 2 hours. We drove to the airport at 2 in the morning. I slept on the bus, but that was all I slept for the night, I was just too excited. We flew into Miami and had to run, like home alone, to our next gate to get on the plane to Panama. The plane ride to Panama was around 3 hours, it was really boring and we had to circle around the city for awhile because of thunderstorms. But then I was finally there! We hung out in the airport for a while and called home. Then we loaded a school bus with all our luggage and headed to our place in Panama City, it's called Campamento Monte Carmelo, it's BEAUTIFUL here, and I can't believe I'm actually in Panama. For supper, I had my first food in Panama, fried chicken and rice, it was amazing. The view from the camp is beautiful and we can look out while using the urinal, and taking a shower. I'm in my paradise, I haven't got to speak too much Spanish, but tonight we sang Hillsong United in Spanish and I knew almost all the words. 

                                      First meal in Panama. :)

The Time is Finally Here!

I am so close to leaving! I am so EXCITED! I leave for Global Expeditions headquarters in Tyler, Texas on Monday to have two days of training. After that I will be flying out to Panama City, Panama!! It is finally hitting me that I'm leaving the country for a month,I am so excited to see God work through my team and me and impact the people of Panama. 

Once in Panama, I will be staying for a night in Panama City at a camp with electricity and hot water. Then we'll head out for the Kuna Yala (San Blas Islands) about 3 hours away in a car to the boat docks, then an hour canoeish ride to the islands (they have motors). The islands do not have electricity and the only people who live there are the indigenous Kuna people. They are polytheistic, so one main goal is to show them of the one true God. The women there are very traditional, and most speak only their tribal language. The men and children speak Spanish, so I will get the opportunity to utilize my Spanish speaking skills and help translate! Also, if you were wondering, we do not speak Kuna, so we will speak Spanish to the children who will in turn translate to their mothers. My team and I will be assisting the people with their daily chores and work in the morning, such as getting fresh water, helping with women with the laundry, or helping cook or clean. Then in the afternoons we will be doing Vacation Bible School for the children. I will stay on the island for about two weeks then head back to Panama City for a break and a trip to a market! 

After getting a short break, we will head off to part of the Darien Jungle to a town there. We will be doing the same ministry there also. My team and I will be there for about two weeks also. Then we will head back to Panama City to tour the Panama Canal, and go canoeing in 'El Lago Gatún' Gatun Lake. Then I head back to Global Expeditions for the conclusion of my trip for debriefing and preparing to go back home!

I am so excited to go, but I am also very nervous! Your prayers would be so much appreciated, and my team and I could not make it without the support each and every one of you has given us. So thanks for supporting me this far! I'm very excited to see God moving in big ways in Panama this summer!

In Christ,

Chantry

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone! This has been an amazing year and it has really flown by! To all of you reading this I want to say thank you for all the support you have given me over the past year, it has meant so much to me! As you know, I will be going to Panama for a month this summer! I would not be able to do it without your amazing help! As of right now, I am well beyond expectations and have already raised $2,100! Wow, God will provide! He has done amazing things in my life already, and I can't wait to see what He has in store for me next year, and next summer as I embark to Panama. I hope you all have a very merry Christmas and remember that the true meaning for Christmas, is to celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ and to remember the sacrifice He made for us. Again, I want to thank anyone and everyone who has supported me in anyway this year. Also I want to ask again for your prayer support for my trip this summer, I am very nervous, but also ready to go! I thank God for already providing for over half of my trip already!! Have a Merry Christmas and a happy new year!
God bless,
Chantry. 

Well on my way...

I am so excited to go to Panama this summer! I've already seen God moving in AMAZING WAYS! This trip will not be possible though, without your support. 

First off, I want to thank everyone who was supported me already in any way, donating or through the power of prayer. It means so much, and I wouldn't be able to go if it wasn't for you. Once again, THANK YOU! 

I'm so excited to share the gospel with the people of the San Blas Islands and Darien Jungle in Panama. I will be there for a month, about a week and a half at each. 

I am asking for some help to make it there, first and foremost, I ask for your support in prayer. It is very essential, I am going out of the country for the first time, and I will be there for a month. I am very nervous, and your prayers are greatly appreciated. 

Also, you could support me by donating to me! My trip will be around $3,000 and I can't do it without your help! You could send a flat donation, or figure out others ways to support me. Such as setting up a can and putting change in it, or you could buy a bracelet from me, they are dark blue, and say share the love and are three dollars. You can look at my blog post about support on how to donate online. Any support is greatly appreciated! My goal by the end of the year is $2,000 and I am well on my way, but can't get there without your support! 

In Christ,

Chantry.

Brainstorm...

Just some ideas in how to support me for my trip to Panama this summer... 

1- The most important thing is your PRAYER SUPPORT!  I will be in Panama for a month, and I will need a lot of prayer! I'm really nervous and very very excited about my trip, so your thoughts and prayers make a world of difference!

2- Financial help. My trip will be around $3,000 or even more! I can not reach this alone, I'm giving up a lot to even go on this trip, for my birthday & Christmas, I only ask for money for my trip. And I spend a ton of time thinking about getting all my money in. Right now, I need to get in $200 more by the end of October, and my goal for the end of the year is $2000. Your help would be GREATLY APPRECIATED! 

First, you could make a flat donation. You could send money to me, or send it straight to the company. To do that, you go to www.globalexpeditions.com  then click on donate, and then click on search by missionary ID. My ID number is 2593060.This would help in amazing ways. Also all donations are tax deductible, and you can look at the website and find out some more information about it.  
Also, I just got my bracelets in. They are blue and say share the love. They are three dollars, so it's an easy way to help out and you also get something out of it! If you want one, just talk to me or shoot me an email. 

Another way to help, put out a can at your house or work and start putting change in it. Change adds up, and the little things do help! So save it for a month or more and send it on to me! I'm collecting change myself, and will take it to CFSB and get it all cashed and send it off for my trip!

3- Get the word out! I would love to talk to you more about it! Send me a message or talk to me about it sometime! I would love to tell you about how God is working in my life and how bad I want to go on this trip! 

Thank you so much for the prayers, and support! 

God bless,

Chantry Carroll. 

Beginnings.

So. This is my first blog. I just wanted to share some stuff with whoever reads this. This summer, I will be going on a mission trip for a MONTH, to the country of Panama. It is going to absolutely the time of my life. I'm really excited to see where God will lead me, and how He will use me. It's going to be great. I just wanted to start of kind of explaining my heart for the whole situation. This past summer, 2010, I went to Dallas, Texas on a two week mission trip and had the best time ever. On my trip, God really broke my heart. He gave me a heart for missions and I discovered how much I love dealing with children. I know that I am called to work with them, and  also one of my passions is the Spanish language. I absolutely love it. I'm a little obsessed, but it's okay. haha. Anyways, I really love Latin America and so I was thinking about what to do this summer, 2011, and I knew I had to go on a mission trip. I mean, it's not like I would be doing anything better. Mostly I would be sleeping at home, or at my dad's work watching Golden Girls reruns, but that's a different story. I really just want to go and be the hands and feet of God. As Christians we are called to share the gospel with everyone, not just people in our hometowns, but all over the world. (See Acts 1:8)
 So, I started praying on where God was leading me to go for next summer and I knew I should be somewhere where they spoke Spanish, and I knew I should be working with children. Putting my passions with my burdens. As this all came into play, I started really praying for direction on where to go from God. I looked on the Global Expeditions website (I went with them on Dallas Z 2010) and saw the Panama trips. I knew it was where I should go. I knew it was right. So here I am. Fifteen years old. Going out of the country for a month this summer. I'm not crazy. I'm doing what I know is right. I'm stepping out in my faith. One thing I have learned in all this process is how much you really need to rely and trust in God. Like my trip this summer will be over $3,000 and me myself can not raise that much money. That's why you have to trust and put all your faith in God, faith in Him isn't just 50 or even 99 percent. It's all or nothing. You have to believe. You have to be ready to give. So this summer, and in my daily life. I am going beyond myself. Essentially, beyond Chantry. That's all I have to say right now, more updates and just tid-bits of encouragement will come. :)


In Christ,
Chantry Carroll.