We have ARRIVED!

Hola from Panama City!!!
We arrived safely on Monday, Aug 18th at 1pm, after about 8 hours in the air. It felt so good to see some friends at the airport and to touch down on ground.

Right now we have a couple weeks of "settling in", where we need to find a couple of apartments to live in (one for the guys and one for the girls), get used to the climate, culture and our new city.

Just over a month until orientation time!! Thats pretty surreal.
I've been looking forward to the start of our STINT year since the fall, and it is coming up so very fast! Some days I am super pumped, and other days bring a bit of anxiousness and fear. But, in it all, God has everything looked after, and all I can do is trust in Him.
Ps. 56:3
"When I am afraid, I put my trust in you; In God whose word I praise..."

On the news front, we have a 6th team member! Juan was accepted to join our team.

Some EXCITING news!

I have some very exciting news to share!!!
Firstly, as of Tuesday, June 17th, my financial support goal was reached - I'm fully funded!!! Thank you, God!!
Secondly, we may have a 6th team member. My friend Juan from UBC, who just got back from the 6 week summer project to Panama, is applying to come on STINT with us.

I'm officially done!

Last Thursday was my Convocation ceremony from University.
<-- Here's me with my official BComm degree :)!

Last week I did some reflecting on the journey God has taken me on throughout these University years. He has indeed taught me so much: how to love unconditionally, to surrender to Him, to abide daily in His Holy Spirit and to have lots of fun. But, above all that, that He is such a good God, loves me so much, and has the best plan for me.

A couple verses I was reminded of were:

Jer 30:11-13 and

Rom 8:28

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose."

These verses pretty much sums up my entire time at University. I entered my first year with the goal of academic pursuit, so as to acquire a great career from my hard work. I never dreamed I would be sharing my faith with my fellow students, praying for my campus, and now going to Panama for a year! God does have big plans, and I am so thankful He let me in on them.

Happy Anniversary

Its hard to believe I first stepped foot on the Universidad de Panama campus exactly one year ago today. Monday, May 7th, 2007 was our first day ministering on campus (during Panama project 2007). The time has absolutely flown by, and as each present day comes to a close, I anticipate my return to Panama and all the incredible things God has stored in advance for us. I can't wait.

Our Team so far!

I just received news this morning that our team now has 5 members!!! We were at 4 for the longest time, comprised Raquel, Lindsey, myself and Derek. A bunch of us were praying for another guy to join us, and God has answered our prayers. Steve, who is currently down in Panama on STINT, is now going to join us for another year.

Here are a couple pics of our team members... Derek, myself and Raquel on the left (taken last summer on project); and Steve & Lindsey on the right (taken a couple weeks ago).

You Just Never Know....

When you listen to the Holy Spirit's prompts, crazy things result.

I've been in the process of raising support for my Panama STINT for a few weeks now, and it has been such an enjoyable process thus far. I've not only gotten to share some cool stories about the country and people there, but also have reconnected with a few friends from my earlier University years. One specific meeting was with my first year Bible Study leader. We had such a great time catching up, sharing about our respective travels, our churches and life in general. We stayed at the Tim Horton's for a good 2-3 hours!! As we were chatting outside, saying our "last words" before we parted directions, I felt the Holy Spirit prompting me to share with her exactly the impact she had on me during my first year in University. I did, and explained how she really showed me she cared by meeting up for coffee with me that one semester, and if she hadnt done that, I wouldnt be involved with Campus for Christ today. Her actions had a huge impact on my life, and I wouldnt be going to Panama today if she hadnt taken that hour out of her schedule to meet up with me.

Tonight I gave her a phone call, and she initally picked up with an excited tone of voice, but said "can I call you back!? I have some incredible, great news to share, and you're the result of all of it!" She called me back an hour or so later, and began to share her story. Apparently what I had said about her impact on me really resounded within her the day we met and as a result of that, she shared the story with her pastor. The pastor then who mentioned the name of a young girl in the youth group who was in need of a mentor. My friend felt led to meet up with the girl, and did so, just in time for my friend to help support her through a major life crisis. The girl was struggling, and ended up confiding in my friend, detailing her situation and how she wanted to go to the hospital before anything else happened. My friend took her to the hospital, and spent Thursday night and part of the weekend with her. The girl just got released from the hospital yesterday, and is alright. In short, the girl is alive today because of my friend's willingness to mentor her, which came out of my response to the Spirit's prompting to share my heart with my friend the day we met for coffee.

You just never know how God will use you or why he places promptings on your heart.
A young girl is alive today because of my obedience to His promptings. And, through this whole situation, my friend's walk with Jesus has deepened and taken on a whole new dimension. Wow.

Support raising is a ministry in itself.

Welcome

Welcome to my blog!! I will be using this site to keep you updated on my STINT to Panama. Please check back for updates, I will be posting more info soon....