Panama + America = Panamerica
Panama country number 7 in a life changing/ molding trip of a life time.
We arrived in the Canal Zone town of Gamboa on a bus that was paid for by a man from Belgium who heard about us from Pastor Bill (our host) and decided with out meeting us he would like to sponsor all the transport we needed while in Panama. What a blessing!
Pastor Bill was waiting for us with his wife Anne and faithful Carmelita (their Maltese poodle), with open arms and huge smiles.
The Canal zone ( 5 miles inland on either side of the Panama canal) was previously occupied by the Canal company (An American Company), there was also a large American army base in Panama. The people that worked for the canal company and lived in the canal zone are know as Zonians and they needed a passport to enter these areas. America has definitely left it's mark in Panama. The Panama city skyline has many buildings resembling famous American buildings and every corner has a McDonalds or Taco Bell and although Panama has it's own currency they use US Dollars (not because their currency is so weak, like we are used to with Zimbabwe, but because it is equal to the US dollar).
Driving to the super market with Debbie, who proudly calls herself a Zonian I got to see Panama through her eyes, comparing it to how it was when she was growing up, while the Americans occupied the Canal zone. She showed us the army base, GI quarters, Colonels row, fire station, eating halls now all occupied by local businesses or Panamanians. She spoke of how is was in the good old days with pristine lawns, well managed suburbs separate for the "workers" from Caribbean islands and the Managers from the states ect. What an interesting experience.
We went to the super market and I was shocked, with our $1USD per person per day budget in my pocket I once again started stressing "we are not going to have enough!" I was quickly reminded by a team mate the number one rule of food team - GOD WILL PROVIDE! That He did!
I was unexpectedly confronted with the contrast between 1st world and 3rd world living. Until Panama we have not really been confronted by this. We have been to 3rd world countries and cities where we buy food from local markets, Chinese stores and luxuries are not available. But now there they were for the first time lining the shelves, whatever you could possibly want or need, available 24hrs a day. As a team obviously our budget limited us but personally I could choose, do I continue simple living or indulge in the luxuries I have not seen for so long which I had discovered you actually can live very happily without. A phrase that has stuck with me is "decisions are powerful among choices."
Back in Gamboa Pastor Bill had a wonderfully full program for us. He was anticipating our visit and what God could do through us for so long he was bursting to fit as many things in as possible. He recognized that each of us had several people praying for us (THAT IS YOU!) and that all those prayers combined was a powerful force. Pastor Bill was so encouraging and after each activity he poured out praise on us telling us how well we did, how proud of us he was, what miracles had just happened and how powerfully God had just moved through us. He had that expectation and God faithfully fulfilled it. It shows how powerful Godly expectations can be.
We did evangelism, prayer walks, prison ministry, radio programs, shared testimonies in church, visited an Indian village, went to monkey island. To Pastor Bill everything was ministry, handing out tracts (pamphlets), praying for the boat driver, singing for the Indian village and praying for people as we felt prompted. Pastor Bill showed us what it looks like to walk in obedience to the Holy Spirit and carry God's presence wherever you go.
In the prison we got to pray for General Noriega who is one of the most hated men in Panama. He was a military dictator between 1983-1989. He was captured, detained and removed from power during the invasion of Panama by the United States. In 1989 he was trialed for drug trafficking, money laundering and murder. Through Pastor Bill's relationship with the prison and ministry there God has moved powerfully in his life and showered him with mercy and grace. He is now a Child of God and we had the privilege of visiting him and praying with him. WOW what a testimony of the gracious God we serve!
YWAM - Youth With a Mission Panama City base was our second ministry point.
We arrived right on time to help them move from their old base to their new base in a hotel in El Dorado city center. There is absolutely no way they would have been able to move out in time if God had not sent us there at that time! I was so proud of our team work, especially the guys who were so excited to be doing physical labor. Their famous line was " give me something heavy!". YWAM could not help but accept us as family packing all their things in boxes and helping them unpack it again.
We were the first team to stay in the rooms and got to pray over all the floors in the hotel which they one day hope to occupy. I was so inspired by the vision, big and impossible dreams that the leaders of YWAM Panama city have. Dreams where God has to come through and show His might power, favor, faithfulness and provision otherwise they will not happen. I was inspired to see what God can do through people who are willing and believe God at His word.
Through all of this we had a pastoral visit from Mike and Kayln from Global Challenge. We each had the opportunity to have individual sessions to process and get great wisdom, insight and encouragement from them. This was a great time for me to "Zoom out" and see the roller coaster of a trip we have been on so far this year.
Overall I saw that God was showing me His Glory. Through each person I met I could clearly see the goodness of God. The power of a changed life. A lifetime of obedience and trust in God. The lives that sing praise to God, that testify of Him. To make sure the dreams I have are big enough for God to fit in to, to see Him move. To be willing for God to move through me in mighty and powerful ways. THERE IS SO MUCH MORE!!!