More Laborers

Quiet time reading, Mon Feb 16: Ps 9, Matt 9, 2 Kings 6-8
Journal entry:
Matt 9:36-37 -" When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.' "

I remember reading this passage on that Monday, and praying both for my heart (for an increase in compassion for others who are lost), and also for others, that they would be sent out into the harvest fields.

Then, last Tuesday, at staff meeting, we got to hear from three different people, two from South America and one Panamanian about joining to work the harvest fields. Marquis is a student who was involved with the Vida Estudiantil ministry in Santiago, and just accepted the offer to do a one year internship on campus there (kind of like what I'm doing here, but within his own country). He is finishing off his university thesis until August, then will support raise for a couple months, and hopefully be on campus by late this year. It was pretty exciting hearing how God had impacted his life through Vida Estudiantil and how he wants to not only serve God this year, but also the rest of his life. Another man, Edgar, also shared how he is considering joining Leadership Impact group here in Panama. He shared with us during the meeting how he and his family were in the US, but then lost everything. They only had their suitcases and a few things when they came down here, and now he wants to serve God with his whole heart. And, thirdly, there was Patricia. She is a geology prof at the Universidad Tecnologica who is considering joining staff with Campus Crusade too (unfortunately, I didnt catch much of her testimony...my spanish translation was too slow, haha).
I left the meeting feeling very encouraged that God is indeed at work, and IS raising people up to work in his harvest fields...especially the harvest fields here in Panama. There is such a great need, both here and around the world!!!

"Jesus said to them, 'My Father is ALWAYS at his work to this very day, and I too am working." John 5:17
"Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together." Psalm 34:3

'I' is for Idalisis and Incredible

This week has looked a little different than all the other ones. The university semester is on a short break, and regular classes begin again on Mar 23 (UTP) and Mar 30 (Univ de Panama). So, we've been doing a variety of Canadian summer project and frosh preparations, and our monthly day alone with God. Here's some highlights from the week, from Monday & Wednesday:

Monday - Juan Carlos, Derek, Raquel and I left the city to visit the Vida Estudiantil crew in Santiago. We went to do some initial Canadian project preparations with the staff member there, Duby, and also to pray over the campus.
While we were waiting on campus that night for students to come to a prayer walk around the campus, a girl walked up to us. I immediately recognized her, although she was new to the VE movement out there. IDALISIS!!! Wow. Lindsey, Raquel and I had initially talked with her, and her two friends on the Univ de Panama campus in Panama City while we were evangelizing (see Oct 21st blog post). And since then, she moved to Santiago, and is neighbours with one of the VE students, Cielo, who invited her out to VE. Idalisis decided to further check out VE, and is now actively involved. It was incredible to watch her face and hear her words as she told Raquel and I how she has grown in her walk with the Lord since October. She said she feels a lot more peaceful and has changed much since the fall. She definitely had changed since October, as I could visibly see that peace and change, in her mannerisms and overall outlook even as we talked. Praise God who orchestrated our initial meeting in Oct and used that short conversation to transform Idalisis' life!!!

Wednesday - Today was our Day Alone with God (DAWG). Once a month we get a day to spend solely with God, doing such things as reading and meditating on the Word, praying, reading Christian books, etc. This day is pretty vital, as its so important to refresh oneself in the Lord, especially as we're always ministering to others and pouring ourselves out into them.
I started reading 2 Thess that day. 2 Thess 1:8-10 really stuck out:
"He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you."
This scripture passage left me with a bitter-sweet taste in my mouth. My heart felt so heavy for those who don't know Him. Imagine that: being subject to eternal destruction and separation from God. There cant be anything worse than that - being punished with destruction and apart from everything that is good, that is God. This is a motivation in itself for the urgency of sharing the Gospel!!! On the other hand, my heart was hopeful and excited, as I thought about what it would be like to marvel at God. Thats what we get to do, friends! I'd encourage you to meditate upon that a bit this next upcoming week. That day is gonna be incredible!

You Just Never Know

God never ceases to amaze and surprise me. I just never know what He's gonna do next, what He will teach me or how exactly He is gonna work. And, I like that.
Like on Tuesday, Mar 3. Steve, Juan Carlos and I set out to take pictures of the campus and some students for a STINT video to be sent to Canada. We ended up meeting up with one of Steve's disciples, Joel, and took some pictures with him and two of his friends. This photo-shoot evolved into a gospel presentation, and both Abdiel and Karleen, two law students at the Universidad de Panama, accepted Jesus as their Saviour.
And today. I hung out with my friend Brooke, and we toured Casco Viejo (old quarter of Panama City, that has amazing architecture). We ended up talking with a lady named Mary Jo, walked amongst the buildings with her and conversed over some delicious gelato. Brooke and I were able to be a blessing to her, share our faith in a very relational way and talk about spiritual things in a laid back manner. Neither of us expected to meet her and be able to be such a tangible representation of Jesus and His love to her.

" ...keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy." 1 Pet 3:25 Message
You just never know, so be ready.

A little Kuna village called Icandi...part 2 of 2

For the rest of our days, our team split into three groups, each one with a Kuna translator and went to meet some families to help them with their household chores. On Monday, Derek and I went with Pastor Lino, and met 2 different families. We got to serve them practically, sweeping their dirt floors, helping gather firewood, rock babies to sleep in hammocks, grind corn and carry plantains to the hut. My favourite thing I got to do help a mom out by rocking a precious little baby girl to sleep in a hammock. She looked so peaceful as we both swung together.

Derek and I carrying plantains...they were surprisingly heavy!!

On Tuesday, Steve, Raquel and I went out with Pastor Artemio to simply talk with the families, learning about their lives, sharing ours and engaging in some spiritual conversations. I was impacted by the second house we visited, and the comment the lady made to us. We were talking and somehow the topic of travelling came up. We shared that we were from Canada, she said she didn’t want to travel to Panama City, and then she said that we must have a lot of money as we are able to travel. The first thought in my head was ‘well, actually, we don’t,’, and I immediately shared my opinion with Steve. He responded back with, ‘well, we kinda do.’ That really got me thinking, as the perspective totally depends on who your comparison audience is. Compared to the typical Canadian white collar worker, we as missionaries don’t make a lot of money. But, compared to the many people here in Panama and especially in the Kuna village where living is very primitive, we have so much. Wow. As that continued to circulate in my head, the Spirit led me to this verse:
“...from everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Luke 12:48b
I have been given much, and as a result have a lot of responsibility. And, with the amount I’ve been entrusted, much will be expected of me. I pray that God would give me wisdom and knowledge to use and invest all he has given and entrusted me, time, talent and treasure wise.

On Tuesday night, we also got to present the Magdalena film, which is similar to the Jesus film, but from a woman’s perspective. About 175 men, women and children came out, and our team also got to do some dramas, as well as share our testimonies. Pastor Lino gave a gospel message at the end of the film as well.

Derek sharing his testimony (3 way translation style: english --> spanish--> kuna) before the Magdalena film.

Showing the Magdalena film

It was cool to see how God used our simple presence in the village. The pastors had been talking with the Silahs (men) in charge of the village in regards to building a church. Two months ago these discussions had begun, and then a month ago the Silahs had said no. However, with our visit, the Silahs saw a demonstration of the commitment of support to the village, and how the missionaries are dedicated to serving the Icandi people. And, in the Silah council meeting they had on Tuesday night, they said yes to the church again and the construction date was bumped up to start Mar 15!

Walking through the village with the kids

Overall, I pray that our presence and ministry in the village would somehow bring the Kuna people there a step closer to knowing Jesus as their saviour. They are a people whobelieve in God, but not in Jesus, thinking salvation is based on works only. Please pray for spiritual transformation in this village, that their spiritual eyes would be opened, the church construction and for the weekly visits the Pastors make.

Bye, Icandi!!! The view of the village as we left on Wednesday afternoon.

To see more pictures, click this link: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=221939&id=618945586&l=800c9