God is moving...

There was an anonymous vote of wanting to stay longer in Errebache (the indigenous village we visited for 3 days). Upon arrival by boat, in a flooded river, to this small community nestled aside the jungle mountain, are the most amazing of people. My two favorites were a little girl, Elizabeth, 8 years old and Lisette, 20, sisters with amazing hearts. Elizabeth had a special gentleness about her, while the other children pushed their way around or her younger sibling nudged assertively, she quietly waited for my attention. Her compassion was overflowing and her laugh, you couldn't help but join her.

Lisette, the eldest of 5 children, expressing her sometime annoyance with being the oldest, talked about her daily life. She was shy about her future plans as she stated her contented heart with her life in the village. Lisette later expressed her dreams next year to attend a DTS with YWAM, possibly in Costa Rica.

You see, this village has dreams and visions of God's hand. A year ago, one family from this village came to YWAM Panama to do their DTS...now with 4 children, they broke the mold of their community and culture. Tulio is his name, in line for the chief after his dad, has a vision for the Embera people (and all indigenous tribes) to be a light to their nation and beyond. They have a house in their village, the beginnings of a YWAM base. The vision gives way to a training school for the Embera people and all indigenous people to come and build a firm foundation for their Christian walk. Tulio expressed his revelation that the devil has had a hold on indigenous people, sometimes using their culture as barriers. Tulio (the first Christian family of two in their village) has a vision to begin a tourist attraction, letting foreigners observe and learn about their culture, while sharing the gospel and God's love with these tourists. God is using the ones who are sometimes overlooked to bring Him glory. The tourist village will bring income to the Embera people while also giving them a chance to be a light to the ones that least expect it.

God's big picture is grand...He's doing this all over the world; He's using the ones who, in the past were a cause for missions, to be the missionaries now. We see it globally, God is working! Can you hear worship springing forth from the earth!! He's calling ones to Him!!

We rejoice in what God is doing in and through the Embera people...please pray that God would continue to reveal His plans for them. That they would be receptive to what He's speaking personally to each one.

**the picture is Tulio- pray for God's wisdom in putting feet to God's word

This week's adventures...

I know we just said hello but I have to ask for prayers. Tomorrow we will be working with a primary school, a ministry of YWAM Panama, doing different activities with the children and entertaining them with a skit or two. In the afternoon our team will leave for 2 days for Errebache, the village of the Embera indigenous people. One of the families on the base are from this village and he will bring us to home.

As we don't really know what to expect, we ask that you would pray for our team to be a light in this community, that our love for each other would speak to them and that we would be a practical help. Also, tomorrow marks one week till we leave Panama, pray that our hearts would stay focused on serving and our team relationships would stay strong...also for health. Two of the students and Omar haven't been feeling good.

Thank you all for being part of us in this time...we appreciate you all!

(*picture- Camela and her new glasses- this woman is breaking out!!)

Drama, drama, dramas...

hey everyone...

We are embarking on our home-stretch for sure...only 2 weeks till we're on Belizean soil again, a bittersweet feeling. On Friday we said goodbye to the Panama DTS; we've spent the past 2 weeks bonding with their team, ministering around the city. It feels quite lonely now with only 7, after getting the feel of 21 people on a regular basis.

The past week has been full of trips to area parks, school, a Baha'i temple, Hindu temple, evangelism teaching to a city church and one day of witnessing the celebration of "Negro Cristo," in Portobelo, Panama. Some pictures are to the right...the story is that in the last century this statue of a black Christ washed up on shore from a shipwreck. When they brought it to the town, it was the cause of miracles, some say a cure of a cholera outbreak. So, in tradition, this town where the statue "resides" is showcased every October 21st in the Catholic church, people come from all over Panama to see, pray to it, touch it, offer rosaries and pray with candles. The thing is some people worship the statue and not God...people walk from wherever they live in Panama to this town, crawling on their knees for the last part of the journey, some being burned with hot wax. Their belief, that we have to suffer with Black Christ. They negate the miracle Jesus did on the cross to give freedom to all those who believe in Him. The Bible says, "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23) And, "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." (Romans 8:1)

In this town, we split our team into groups, praying for the people, their values and initiating conversations to share the Truth with them. The sight of people crawling on their knees, having hot wax dripped on their backs while occasional whimpers of pain were heard was a harsh lie to face. If only they had known...that is our prayer for the future, that they would know the truth and the Truth shall set them free, John 8:32.

This is our hope for this time that we've been in Panama...that we would be lights into the darkness and a arrow pointing to the true source of hope in this sometimes dim world. Thank you to all for sharing this journey with us through prayers, support and encouragements...

The streets of the city...

Its been a packed week and we've seen really cool things happen in Panama. Have to share...yesterday three of the girls led two people to Christ in the park. They prayed with them to accept Jesus in their heart. It was beautiful and one of the girls, this was her first experience, what a beautiful thing!

We've hit the streets, mainly three specific areas in the city...prayer walked, evangelism with people in parks, performed our dramas and dances, shared testimonies, asking questions trying to find the thoughts people genuinely hold of God.

The past three nights we attended a lecture by a missionary that works in Muslim nations, he's focused on the passage in Luke 10, God speaking of a harvest. There is a harvest out there, people's hearts are ready to hear. Most of the time we need to go beyond the talk of going to church and even speaking, listening to God. This is a mask that most church-goers wear but going beyond. Asking them what they hear God say in a specific situation or how its determined if you go to heaven...the ground is less stable and they want to grab for anything. There's a harvest, people are just waiting to begin the journey.

My heart is encouraged and hopeful for what more lays in this city.

*One afternoon we were in this part of the city that the government is remodeling, its a lot architectural gems waiting to be uncovered and brought to this era. You can just imagine how this area use to look...the good news the government is revamping this area. The unfortunate news, people are being evicted from their homes, offering no compensation (some might be squatters, since the buildings are in rough conditions). So the city will face a population of homeless and more than likely not enough income to provide something for their selves. Pray that the government and social services would be moved to do something and respond on behalf of these people. This news kind of made the beautiful buildings lose their glam.

The students are doing well, really putting effort as outreach is beginning to wind down. I believe its been an encouragement to be with this other DTS, as they just begin their outreach part. Pray for continued unity for the team, protection as we go in the streets and open hearts, that we would reap the harvest that God has appointed.

Love you all!!

Panama!

Hey Everyone,

Sorry for the delayed update...we arrived in Panama City Thursday night, after almost 9 hours at the border. The bus took us to the Costa Rican border an hour earlier than it opened, so one hour there and then because of the computer system down at Panama immigration, it was another 8 hours to wait. Whew!! We made it and have never been so happy to get on a bus. Kind of comical too, after over 7 hours of waiting we decided to make sandwiches with our reliable peanut butter and jelly...just then the immigration officer tells us to take our bags off the bus to check them. The patience was pushed to the limits...lol!

Today we head into the city, we are working with the DTS here. We will be doing ministry in certain areas of the city for the next two weeks, on a 3 day schedule rotation, targeting one area for three days and then moving to another key position. We're collaborating with them, using the combination of the dramas and different people to present testimonies. We will be doing street evangelism, prayer walking in areas, speaking to people in small groups...its going to be a real taste of the city and her people.

Our group is doing very well, growing in a lot of places and being personally challenged. One student confessed that she has never been so close to God. She said that the phrase "intimate relationship" use to bother her but now she is able to understand, seeing God actually answer her questions and have a conversation with her. It's amazing to see this transformation in this time. (YEA God!! *that's for you Kristin)

Please pray that we will bond with the Panama DTS and walk in unity. Pray that hearts are truly touched by God in these next couple weeks, we want to see God do miracles in the lives of the people here and for Him to be REAL in their eyes.

Love, Belize DTS

Overcoming...

Holy man, God is good! HELLO...we survived NIKO and overcame the obstacles. We shared this experience with the DTS from San Jose, they are just beginning their outreach. It was such a precious time, seeing how the person can be stretched individually and seeing God's provision. Driving back from the jungle, one of the students was expressing his gratefulness for what we have. Just knowing that God's provision is in the details, not just in seeing things we want but also knowing that He first provides our needs. Often times we pray, "God please make this happen," but we prayed, "God, we need this to survive today." It was an amazing time and hearing God's voice in a new way. Our request- do a NIKO!!

We spent the day resting, getting some down time after jamming hard this past week. Some of the students have hit a time of really missing home. Pray God's comfort would be real in this time and weighing the importance of this season above the wish of the future. The words spoken over us at Jubilee Fellowship before we left, "a time of being especially sensitive to God's voice, that we would hear the land cry out what God is saying, that all our footsteps would be guided by the Holy Spirit," has come to life to me. We've been in various situations, just in small decisions, really being open to hear God's heart. He wants to be involved in every choice, every area that affects the students and more.

Its been a time of service and seeing our true selves- God are we pleasing you? We are blessed to be leading this team!