Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Merry Christmas!!! Its hard to believe another Christmas has already come and gone. This was definitely a unique Christmas and one that was very special.
Our celebrations started on the 24th (as thats when most Panamanians celebrate Christmas) and continued on through the 25th....straight.
Starting on the 24th, our team went out for Dim Sum (one of my favorite types of food!) for brunch, and then at night had the chance to attend a beautiful Christmas Eve service, where we sang some carols and heard the Christmas story. Then, our team headed over to the National Director's house, for some more celebrations, games, fellowship and food. It was fun, and became an even bigger party when the clock struck 12, as fireworks were going off non-stop. The games continued on, and we got home at 3am. Wow.
On the 25th, we celebrated Canadian Christmas. We all slept in a bit, had a yummy breakfast prepared by Lindsey, opened presents in the afternoon and then enjoyed a delicious turkey dinner made by Lindsey & Steve. I really enjoyed the time we got to spend as a STINT team family. Each of us also got to talk with our families in Canada, too, which made the day even greater. We eventually crashed into bed at about midnight, after a tranquil yet very memorable day.
It was such a privilege to be able to focus on and celebrate our Saviour's birth together as a team, and thats what the day really felt like... praying to thank Him for gifts we had received, the reading of the Christmas story and the real sense of love for eachother throughout the day. I am so thankful for all of these things. It was a Christmas to remember and treasure. In some ways I felt like Mary, when the Bible says she "treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." (Luke 2:19). God has blessed us so much, and allowed us to have such an incredible Christmas.

On another note, tomorrow we are officially on VACATION!!!! WHOOO! My parents and sister have come down to visit from Canada, and we'll be doing some touring around the city until Jan 4th. And then, for a week, we are going to Cuba to meet up with my brother, his wife & her sister. I am looking forward to the time spent with my family & all the fun that will ensue.
So, as such, I wont be online much in the next couple weeks....so, until January, have a very Happy New Year 2009!!!!

The past few weeks...definitely encouraging

If I had to sum up the past couple weeks in one word, it would be encouraging. I've felt so blessed and inspired by the various people we've met up with and things we've done.

Here's a re-cap of whats gone on:

Dec 6-12: Arrival of 5 Canadians for a Shepherding trip!! Steve & Robyn Strongitharm and their two boys, as well as Jessica Fauvelle (she was on STINT down here last year) came down to visit us. The purpose of their trip was to see how we & the ministry were doing and to encourage us with the Word. It was so great to meet all of them, and I was simply encouraged by their presence.

For a few days, starting on the 9th, we all went to El Valle (the interior of Panama) for a mini retreat. While we were there, Steve Strongitharm led a few sessions on John 13 - 15, and what the Lord had laid on his heart out of those chapters. It was some great stuff!!

One session was on John 13:34-John 14:14, about having an eternal perspective. He talked about how our view of eternity changes 3 things:

1. Our view of trials - we have control over how we respond to these; without an eternal perspective we can become bitter

2. Our view on posessions - See Matt 6:19-21

3. Our view on the unsaved - verses 27-31...do we really believe that those who aren't saved will spend eternity separated from God?

Jesus was also our ultimate example of living in light of eternity, as He knew where He was going once He left the earth.

Steve also shared with us how students from his campus in Ontario are praying for Panama and for our team...that was so cool to find out and reminded me how we are one large family of God. It was cool to hear how people we dont even know are supporting us in prayer!

While we were out in El Valle, we also got to open some gifts Jessica brought us from Canada, visited the Santa Clara beach for a day, and hiked the "Sleeping Indian" mountain. It was such a refreshing and encouraging 4 day retreat, spiritually and physically.

Jess brought our team Christmas hats and advent calendars!

The view from the top of the Sleeping Indian hike

Sat, Dec 13 - STINT team + Jessica ROAD TRIP!!! We drove up to the Caribbean Coast, to see some historical sites and more of the beautiful country of Panama. Our first stop was at Fuerte San Lorenzo, a spanish fort from the 1600's. The second stop on our trip was a small town called Nombre de Dios. This town was a trade terminal across the Isthmus in the 1500's. There wasnt much to see here, but the black & white pebbled beach was serene. The third and last stop was at Portobelo, where we visited two separate forts. The first fort was Fuerte Santiago, and the second one was Fuerte San Jeronimo. Fuerte Santiago was built in 1739 and Fuerte San Jeronimo was the largest fortress ever built to protect the bay.

During the drive, I was in awe of how big our God really is and how He has created so many things. I also felt really blessed to be able to be living here in Panama and to be visiting such breath taking sites with great friends.
Looking out from Fuerte San Lorenzo

Steve in the middle of Fuerte San Jeronimo

M, Dec 15- W, Dec 17 - Vision trip to Santiago. We all jumped on a bus to head to a town 3 hours away, Santiago. We went to go visit the Vida Estudiantil crew out there, specifically to join them for their Christmas party, host a training session and hang out with some of the involved students. Its cool, because this ministry has really flourished and grown over the past while. Our Canadian summer projects have sent teams to Santiago for 3 years now, and its been neat to see the resulting fruit (involved students and changed lives) of the investment there. Throughout our visit, we were really able to see how God has been at work in the hearts and lives of students there...and thus felt super encouraged!!

We arrived there late Monday afternoon, just in time to eat a late lunch and head to the Christmas party that was being held on campus. Once I got there, I couldnt help but sense how the VE group there felt like like a big family. One could definitely feel the love in the room, and how they deeply cared for eachother. It was also really encouraging to see how many committed students came out, and how some new ones were there too! One girl, Cielo became a Christian this May, as a result of some Canadian students sharing with her on campus. About a month & a half ago, she led another friend to Christ and invited her out to come to VE. And then at the Christmas party, Cielo's friend also invited her cousin to come out!!! Whoa! It was neat to see spiritual multiplication in action.

It was also fun to meet up with Duby (on staff), Joanna and Marquis, three of our Dominican Republic team members!!!

Thurs, Dec 18 - VE Christmas Party in Panama City! It was a fun evening of great food, close friends, lots of laughter, games and celebrating the Christmas season. Making gingerbread houses in teams proved interesting, and the testimony time was also inspirational. Two students, Kiki and Ana both shared how they entered University feeling very alone and how through being involved in VE have not only grown in their faith but have made some solid friendships.

There were students there who had been involved in VE for a little while, and also some new faces. One new face was a guy named Samuel, who studies at the Technologica University, and whom Derek saw come to Christ this past semester. It was cool to see him come out and meet some of the other students who are also passionate about growing more in their faith.

The VE group at the Christmas Party

Looking back and forward....

This week we finished working on the campus for the semester. The last day of classes was today, and the students have their final exams for the next two weeks. This week was definitely different, as we helped host a professors luncheon on Wednesday, and also had a Vida Estudiantil planning meeting for next year this morning. Its wierd to think that this semester is wrapping up, and the 2008 year is coming to a close.

Looking back on this past week, for our last sharing time on campus, Juan Carlos and I ended up talking with a guy named Luis Alberto. After asking him a couple questions, we transitioned into sharing the 4 Laws booklet with him. We proceeded through the first truth (God loves you and has a marvelous plan for your life), and into the second point (Man is sinful, and is separated from God, which is why he cant know or experience God's love or plan in life). As we read through the associated Bible verses, about how the wages of sin is death, and how we're all sinners, the expression on Luis' face fell. He read over the pages again, his face looking like he was in total despair. I will never forget the look of utter hopelessness on his face, as it was a strong reminder of how destitute and desperate we are without God. The reality of that point really struck me. As we continued to talk, it was absolutely incredible to be able to share with him that there is a solution to this separation, and a magificent hope. That he doesn't have to be lost in this life, but can find fulfilment. And that the ultimate hope is found in Jesus Christ and His death on the cross. God devised a way for us to know Him personally, and to save us from hopelessness: the ultimate expression of His love for us!!!

Looking forward, the next couple weeks are gonna fly by! Here is a glimpse of some of the things we're gonna be doing:
--Dec 6-12 is the Shepherding visit, where 3 Canadian staff are coming down to visit us. They're coming to see how our STINT team is doing, to give us some training and to take us on a refreshment retreat. It should be a good time!
--Trip to Santiago - We're gonna have the opportunity to visit the Vida Estudiantil crew in Santiago, to give them some training and join them for their Christmas party!!
--Dec 18th is the VE Christmas party (here in Panama City)
--Meetings to review & evaluate the past semester
--and of course, CHRISTMAS on the 25! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS!!!
Needless to say, we're going to be busy.