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