Panama Day 6 "Headed Home"

Today we said our goodbyes, packed our bags, and headed home from Panama. Thank you Ride Nature and all of the wonderful people we met. We will miss you! It was a great trip

Panama Day 5 "Casa Providencia"

Hello everyone. Today was a full work day at Casa Providencia in a nearby town. This place is going to be something wonderful. It will be a special needs orphanage when it is finished and there is not another one in all of Panama. Right now most special needs orphans are just placed in regular orphanages where they don't get much attention. They suffer and are often treated cruelly. We worked to move roof tiles from one building to the orphanage work site and then pressure washed them to clean them. The head of Casa Providencia said it was a huge blessing to have our team there to help. The team surpassed expectations once again with their hard work and great attitudes. After hearing the vision and the need we wonder if there is more in NCA's future with this special place. I have placed a link to their website on this blog to the right. There is obviously much more to this story. Our ride back to Panama City was the Panama Canal Railroad. What a blast we had on the train, with soda, snacks and views of the Canal and rainforest, we felt like kings-and smelled like bums after our day's work. Those poor people on the train. HaHa. Please pray as we travel back to Naples tomorrow (all clean hopefully). God is a good God and we are so blessed!

Matt from Casa Providencia sharing his vision for the orphanage.

Loading roof tiles on the trailer

Skyler and Jessica carefully lowering the buckets of tile from the 4th floor

Soccer game at Casa Providencia

Panama Day 4 "Experiencing Panama"

Today was a really cool day. We had the opportunity to travel to the other side of Panama and take small boats to a beach where we could enjoy a couple hours swimming and snorkeling on a reef right off shore. It was incredibly beautiful and totally unspoiled by any development. After returning back to the mission base and showers we headed out to an historic district near downtown Panama for sightseeing and souvenir shopping. It was really interesting to see that side of the city and shop at the open air market. Dinner was in that area at a nice restaurant. We all had a good time and are looking forward to our last full day tomorrow. Keep us in your prayers.

Panama Day 3 "Work Day"

Wow! We worked hard today. A large group of us went to the Buringa neighborhood where a church and community center is being built. We moved building materials like bricks and bags of rock down a hill, across a creek, and up the other bank to where the church is going to be built. There is no road into that area. You would be so proud of our NCA students and parents, they were hard workers. Some of the girls got to make crafts with the kids that showed up to watch. Another group of our team stayed to work at the skate park for a large skate competition they were having. We all went back in the evening to watch the purpose film with some of the skaters and hang out. God is good!

Panama Day 2 "Curundu VBS"

What a great day we had today. We started early (6am) this morning as we headed to the inner city neighborhood of Curundu  to help with a VBS. There had to be at least 100 kids! Today was a water themed day and we had various tasks from doing skits and puppets for the kids to doing crafts and assisting with various water themed stations. Our students and parents were marvelous! Doing whatever was asked and really loving on the kids. After lunch at the mission base we walked to the skate park to clean-up and paint in preparation for the skate competition tomorrow. Skaters will be coming from all over Panama for this, and Lord willing, we will have a chance to do a drama. Please pray for open hearts to the Gospel.

Panama Day 1 "Travel"

We have arrived safely in Panama City and are settling in to our wonderful mission base literally a stones throw from the Panama Canal. It is beautiful! Our travel was as smooth as it could possibly be. Thank you so much for all of your prayers. One funny story to pass on. Dalton somehow got through customs with a full bottle of water while Joshua got a complete "pat-down" for a small tissue in his pocket. Go figure. We have a big day tomorrow working at a VBS in a nearby neighborhood and then work projects at the Canal skate park. Continue to keep us in your prayers.

Unloading the bus- notice where the luggage is

Orientation at Casa Paraiso with Ride Nature staff

It is Tuesday afternoon and my room is being taken over with bags of skate boards, puppets, craft supplies, etc.  Thursday is coming and we are all getting excited. We can't wait to see what God will do in Panama. All is in his hands and for Him!
         " Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!" Ephesians 3:20-21