Middle School Outreach

 *Pictures taken by CCA Middle School student :)

Four Blocks Away

Just 4 blocks away

Tucked into the Los Rios neighborhood

A walkable distance

At the top of a steep hill

Hogar Divino Niño

An orphanage

Full of rambunctious kids

All under the age of five

 

The Giving Tree

CCA students

Took turns visiting

Bringing books to read with their little buddies

Performing skits about Bible stories

About God being our Father and Provider

And Jesus being our Peace and Answer

Jeanine

Was greeted first

By a tiny girl in pigtails

Who wrapped her arms around Jeanine’s legs

Looked up with wide eyes

And said, “You’re mine!”

The 8^th graders performed their read aloud skits

Sweat ran down their faces

But they did not complain

The laughter from the children was enough

 

A group of 7^th grade girls

Sang songs to the 2 & 3 year olds

Played with their hair

And gave them hug after hug

The orphans kept calling us

“Mami” and “Papi”

Desperate for affection

For strong arms to pick them up and hold them close

Kneeling down next to them

It was difficult to hold back tears

As we said, as we were told

“Llámenos tías y tíos”

“Call us aunt and uncle instead”

 

Juanes read

To a boy named Miguel

As an older brother and friend

While Johnny quietly interacted

With Efrain, who sat in a high chair with a glazed look

The only 6 year old in the home

Goodbyes were bittersweet

For we knew we were not far

Only four blocks away

Eventually we had to walk away

Back to school

The weight of an orphan’s cry now real to us

 

Some students grieved

Others were impassioned

Burdened by the injustice

The question of “Why?”

These orphans are precious, lovely children of God

And we will not forget.

Since I arrived in Panama, it has been on my heart to start a Community Outreach Program with the middle school students at CCA. This year, it’s finally become a reality! We’ve been introducing this concept of being a “light in your own backyard” by visiting a local orphanage once a month and helping start a literacy program there.

Both 7^th and 8^th grade groups that have gone so far have done a fantastic job! The way they loved through their encouraging words, actions, and attitude astounds me as only the love of Christ can. It is highly impressive to watch them use their bilingual abilities and unique talent for drama for God’s glory and showing love to His precious ones.

Pray that the CCA Middle Schoolers would not lose sight of this deep love of Christ and that, as they mature and grow, it would compel them to serve others.

Manejando en Panama (Driving In Panama)

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For those who don’t live in Panama, here’s a snapshot of driving here:

My Panamanian friend and I were scheduled to meet at 4p at Multiplaza Mall. Normally, this would only take 15-20 minutes to get there from Clayton. Tonight, it took about an hour and a half.

Leaving the apartment, I thought to myself, “It’s Sunday. The Cinta Costera will be calm, and we’ll be able to zip through, up the ramp to Via Israel and directly into the Multiplaza Mall parking lot.” The decisions you make about which direction to go determines your fate when it comes to traffic in Panama.

Unbeknownst to me, the city had actually completely shut off the Cinta Costera for an event. I found myself about to enter a line of traffic which did not seem to be moving, so I zipped out of there, thinking, okay, we’ll cut through to Casco Viejo and then find our way.

Casco Viejo was equally jammed with cars; people also looking for a cut-through. We wound our way through the narrow streets and admired the French-style buildings, passing the Presidential Palace and ruins of the city center.

Casco Viejo ruins

We finally emerged from the traffic jam, only to learn that the way we wanted to go was blocked as well. In fact, we learned, the entire stretch of the Cinta Costera had been blocked off. Ugh. There goes plan B. We talked with the police woman there, who very patiently explained to us that we just needed to follow Avenida B, until it turned into Avenida Central, then Via Espana, then turn onto Via Brasil, and that would lead us to the mall.

Cinta Costera/Avenida Balboa aerial view

Following a train of cars, we executed plan C. I recognized generally where we were, and that we were paralleling the Cinta Costera (turning onto Av. Mexico), but where was it that I needed to turn next? We ended up going in a square several times, where I kept missing Calle 50, and frustratingly ending up in the traffic jam once again. I called my Panamanian friend to explain the situation, and she tried to help us find an alternative route.

My friend was extremely gracious, and told me she didn’t mind waiting; she’d get some shopping done while she was at the mall. Whew! I felt awful about having her wait around, but now, we could really focus on finding a way out of this mess.

Praying the entire time, we drove down Calle 50. I racked my brain to remember clearly. I’m pretty sure this connects to the mall; please Lord Jesus, direct us. I had maps in the car, just in case, but this had already been an ordeal. It should have been only a 20 min trip max.

Praise the Lord! We came to a familiar round-a-bout (sidenote: most drivers here don’t know how to yield or stay in their lane), and I was able to navigate us safely to the Multiplaza parking lot and finally reunite with my friend.

Not to mention that, later, our car battery died, because in the frenzy, I had left the car lights on. Or that we almost got lost in the mall AFTER paying the parking fee. God provided a nice gentleman and his elderly grandmother to help jump the car, as well as a kind security guard on a bicycle to fix our ticket stub so it wouldn’t expire. AND..Avenida Balboa (the Cinta going the other way) was OPEN on the way home, so we made it safely back to the apartment in 20 minutes without any hassle. PTL!!

All this goes to say that:

1) Prayer for driving/traffic/etc. in Panama is MUCH appreciated.

2) Knowing alternative routes and back roads is a good idea.

3) Patience and wisdom go hand-in-hand.

When we got home, my roommate and I just had to laugh at how stressful/crazy that whole situation had been, and how, by the grace of God, we made it home in one piece. She joked with me: “Well, thanks for the extensive tour of Panama City!”

And that it was.

A verse for driving in Panama (uphold me and direct me, Lord):

Isaiah 41:10

So do not fear for I am with you. Do not be dismayed for I am the Lord your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Portobelo Poetry

What an incredibly blessed day! 

Izzy, Brennan, Chris, Emily, Matt, Blakely, Ana G., John, Esther, and I all took a day trip out to Portobelo--on the Caribbean side of Panama!
(pictures courtesy of Emily, Brennan, Esther)

Here's a poem of sorts to sum up the experience:

10 people

2 cars

No traffic 

Sunshine

Spanish fort

Caribbean Sea

Tough hike

Teamwork seen

Log crossed

Tower climb

Timer shot

Group smile

Isla Grande

Boat cruise

$2.50 fee

Clear blues

Stuff safe

Lobster crawl

Limonada

Maggi wins all

Bating time

By the dock

Swim again

Skipping rocks

Helicopter

Boat arrives

Gatorade

Short drive

Corredor Norte

Saw a sign

Clayton this way

What a find!

Home again

Sunburnt face

Wash off the sand

But not the memories

of that place.

Coima Snacks

Wednesday night, driving home from Crossfire youth group at church, a policeman stopped my car at the entrance to Clayton/Ciudad de Saber. Usually, I roll down the window, say, "Soy residente" (I'm a resident.) and drive on through.

This time, however, was different.

The police officer peered through the driver's side window and asked for my license and cedula (Visa/ID card). A typical question, so I handed them over. As soon as I saw his skeptical look, I remembered that I had recently gotten a renewed cedula, and so my license had expired just a few days before. I got a sinking feeling in my stomach, as the policeman paid close attention and pointed out this not-quite-so-minor detail. I apologized, explaining I was planning on renewing the license the same week (which I would have made true on that promise). But the policeman wanted something else.

He had me pull over the car to the side of the road. Fortunately, there were several people passing through the area, and I had two friends in the car with me. The policeman and I began a long discussion over the license. He used all sorts of threats: the ticket will cost a lot of money; we might have to tow your car; you're not allowed to drive anymore, etc. I cheerfully responded with "Sure, I broke the law, so I'll pay the ticket." He even had the machine in his hand, but still he wouldn't print it.

Finally, I was asked to step out of the car, and he laid down additional excuses to get me to bribe him out of getting a ticket. But I stood my ground and was honest, having had a similar experience in the past and knowing that I didn't want to encourage the corruption or dishonesty of the local police force. I explained that we had just made a quick trip and were coming back from worshipping God at church. At this, the policeman looked kind of startled, and a change came over his face. "Pues, no voy a escribir este tiquete." (well fine, I won't write the ticket).

Shocked, I responded with a sincere, "Gracias!" I thought the process was over, and my friend could drive us all home, since his license had not expired yet under the tourist visa rules. But no.. the policeman would not let it rest.

"Cafe?" he asked.
I thought the question strange, but, again this isn't the first time this has happened.
"No pienso que tengo cafe en mi carro. Voy a chequiar"
 So I rushed back to the car and asked my friends if they had any snacks or anything at all to give the policeman so he would finally let us go. The only thing I could remember having in my car was a box full of unfrozen otter pops popsicles that I was going to freeze for my Bible study small group. Not a great gift at all.

But praise the Lord! A student at Crossfire, earlier in the night, gave a bar of chocolate to my friend, and my friend sacrificially and willingly gave that up. I handed the chocolate bar to the police officer, quickly muttered another "Gracias," and my friend quickly changed to the driver's seat and drove us all home. Whew!

I know my friends in the car were all praying, and specifically that people in the Chico church were praying for safety in the car and in Panama. Wow--your prayers make a HUGE difference! Thank you for being obedient when God asks you to pray or puts me specifically in your heart or on your mind!

The funniest thing about this story though is that the next day at school I was telling the story to some of the Panamanian teachers. And they started laughing and laughing when I got to the part about the "cafe." It was then that they explained that "Cafe?" really means "Bribe?," in Panama. Turns out, the policeman didn't really want literal coffee. They thought it was hilarious that I innocently told him I didn't have any coffee in my car.

Of course, I wasn't going to bribe him, but they advised that I actually keep "bribe" snacks in the car to give police officers who are just bored or looking for something extra. Wow! I learn new things about Panama all the time. Continue to pray for safety and a good sense of humor, as well as grace with police officers. Although-yesterday I went and renewed my license without any hassle or fines, and it's good for 2 more years. So next time I go through the police stop, I'm going to show him my new license and have a packet of coffee for him, just in case.

New Sister Blog

I've had it in my heart for a year now to start a blog specifically for young Christian girls who want to grow deeper in their walk with God. It's finally up and running with a few posts; mainly one on the "Testimonies and Truth" page inspired by a conference/workshop I attended this weekend all about reaching Muslims for Christ in Panama.

Here is the link: http://goodgirlsgospel.weebly.com/

La Biblia/Bab-Dummad-Garda-Islidikid

Walking into Crossroads Bible Church this morning, we were greeted by banners reading:

"Isaias 40:8:

Gaganmala baisur-dinguddaed, dutumala, baisur-dinguddamogad. Ar anmar-Bab-Dummad-Gayaburbadi, degisadegu maiguad berguosulid.

La hierba se seca y las flores se marchitan, pero la palabra de nuestro Dios permanece para siempre.

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”

The Bible verse in three languages (Kuna, Spanish, and English), with the first of these languages (Kuna) being one of the primary indigenous groups in Panama.

This morning, a whole chorus of Kuna people took the stage and led us in worship to the Lord of all Creation. Women of all ages, decked out in specially woven mola costume (with an embroidered Bible on them), sang with complete joy and honor to Jesus. The older women used bright red scarves to cover their heads, and you could tell the multicolored beads that wrapped around their legs had been there since these women were just young girls. The men stood proud in suits, rounding out the chorus with tenors and baritones.

A Kuna man with a wooden flute began a melody that evoked strong emotion in me: "How Great Thou Art." I watched in amazement. Here I was, living and teaching in Panama, at just the moment that my Kuna brothers and sisters in Christ were about to receive the entire Bible in their very own language!

Can you imagine? Do you remember the first Bible that was ever yours?

I sat there cradling my own copy of the Bible in English, and thought back to the dozen or more copies of the Bible we had had in our home growing up: Bible for Kids, Bible for Teens, NIV, NLT, NRSV, Devotional Bible, and the list goes on. From an early age, I read and heard Scripture, and it affected me in a powerful way. What a privilege!

As I grew, and went beyond merely memorizing parts of Scripture to earn prizes in Sunday School, I began to see that, yes, this book did have relevance to my life. My parents, as well as youth leaders and wise mentors, guided me in understanding how the Holy Spirit speaks through Scripture and helped me see the larger historical/cultural context in which God inspired these authors.

In middle school, I began to carry a pocket-sized Bible in my backpack to school. When I was discouraged, feeling overwhelmed, or lonely, I'd find a quiet corner and pull out my Bible, finding just the answer I needed and God's peace.

Later, that same year, I was talking to my grandma on the phone, and she challenged me to read through the entire Bible. I was never one to be disciplined, but, thanks to the One Year Bible plan, the accountability of my parents, and my best friend who had done it before, I was able to finish the year and reading the entire Bible at the same time. It was a perspective-shifting experience, seeing how everything pointed toward Christ and learning that God uses messy people in His Plan.

That year, at Christmas, I read the Luke passages about the birth of Christ and new meaning resonated for me. My parents always saved the best and most special Christmas gifts for last, and, as I sat there on the couch, bouncing my knees in anticipation, my parents placed a rectangular-shaped package on my lap.

"A book?" I asked eagerly, trying to predict what was beneath the shiny wrapping paper.
My dad sat down beside me, "Not just any book."
My curiosity could not be held back any longer, and I tore into the paper.

My eyes widened as I lifted out a light pink Bible with silver gilded pages. I looked for a verse, taking my time, listening as the edges shimmered by from Genesis to Matthew, and I smoothed open the crisp new pages.

Sure enough, it was as I had hoped! The words of Jesus were in red print. All important, everlasting words, true for today and tomorrow. And these words were written for us!

The best part was to come, however, because in my excitement, I had overlooked an important detail about the Bible. My mom reached over to point it out, "Notice anything else?"

I couldn't believe it! My full name was engraved on the cover: Laura Catherine Diaz. The Bible was mine! It had my name on it! I gave a grateful hug to my parents, and we carried on with lunch as a family and other normal Christmas traditions.

Since then, that light pink Bible has been marked up, highlighted, and used as a "filing cabinet" for sermon notes and youth group handouts. It has traveled to Costa Rica, Israel, and several countries in Western Europe. It made the journey with me when my family moved from Wheaton, Illinois to Chico, California and caught all my tears and the brunt of my heartache. I wrestled with it and poured through its pages looking for explanations for situations I couldn't explain, and why on earth I should trust God. I found encouragement in the stories of the people that God used "despite" their failings, and found peace and reassurance in the words of Jesus to the people the world rejected.

It is within the Bible's pages that I met God as my Abba Father, shared meals with Jesus, and felt the guidance and joy of the Holy Spirit.

Over and over again, I can testify to the Bible's transformative power in my life. My pink Bible now sits on a shelf in my old bedroom, falling apart at the seams, but full of evidence of how God made me a part of His story.

Before I left for Panama, my Dad gave me an in-depth Study Bible (with history notes and everything!). Inside the cover of the Bible, the original owner had written: "On loan, from God."

What powerful words! The fact that the God of the universe loved us so much not only did He send His Son to die in our place, but also compile this 66-book long love letter to us, sustain its translation and authenticity throughout the centuries, all in order to communicate all about His character and plan for us when we choose to follow Him.

As of today, September 21, 2014, the Kuna people group of Panama have the privilege of getting to know God's story for the first time in their language. My prayer is that the Kuna people would see their place in that Story and be delivered from fear, knowing that God did not abandon His Creation, but yet came to redeem it. 

Gloria a Dios!

Cambios (changes)

8/21/14

We have almost made it through our first full week of school!

Thank you for all your many prayers: for new teachers, for students and all the transitions and changes that a new year brings!

Story #1

Today a funny thing happened. During first period, I had my laptop connected to the ceiling projector, like normal, and I was instructing the World History students about Hammurabi’s Code. In the middle of the lesson, the projector started emitting a high pitch vibrating sound. At first, I thought it was the construction going on outside and told my students to ignore it and focus on the textbook. But a few paragraphs later, I realized that the sound was persisting and seemed to be coming from the projector.

I had the students read silently while I climbed onto a chair to investigate. I turned off the projector, thinking maybe it had overheated and told the student underneath the projector that they could move to another less precarious spot in the room. But the sound persisted, even after turning the projector off! My high school study hall students in the back of the room advised that I completely unplug and disconnect the projector. And, finally, the noise stopped.

Meanwhile, I'm racking my brain for how to adapt the lesson from my well-planned Powerpoint, complete with video and application questions; would we end up silent reading the rest of the period? Fortunately, I share a classroom with fellow veteran teacher, Jim Almack, who, overhearing the struggle with the projector, graciously went and found another projector to use for the day. Phew! I am grateful for amazing colleagues that help another teacher out!

Story #2

Today was also a day of changes. Because of the growing amount of 6^th graders and fire safety codes, I switched two of my smaller classes into the mobiles. But, after today I have a new empathy for the teachers who teach out there all the time and dream about the day CCA constructs a permanent building just for Middle School.

Realizations about teaching in the mobiles:

1^st: Every word that you say echoes.

(We had to be really intentional about raising hands, even in the smaller classes.)

2^nd: The bathroom and locker are suddenly far away.

(These privileges become increasingly precious, and I’m less likely to let them leave class, which I guess is an advantage for the teacher.)

3^rd: Storms. It’s Panama’s rainy season, and boy did a storm unleash itself this afternoon during 6^th period. The rain drummed on the roof, and the thunder shook the floor. The wind blew all sorts of debris across the gymnasium floor outside my window, and the entire sky looked scarred and angry. I was happy to be inside, but it made it super hard to hear anything going on in class. So my smaller class (that just so happens to be all girls), huddled together around my laptop to watch the video clip I had about Hammurabi.

Let’s just say this whole “class in the mobiles” plan is going to bring us closer together! (haha)

My next class was almost wading through the puddles outside, so I thanked them for “swimming to class” on time. Only in Panama!

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We’d love your prayer this school year!

1) Praise for successful Open House Night this week and first full week of school!

Pray for continued encouragement, strength and wellness for new teachers especially. We have a joyful and resilient teaching staff this year, and I’m grateful to be surrounded by uplifting friends and adventurous souls that desperately love the Lord and love these students.

2) Pray for 6^th graders as they continue to adjust well to Middle School life and patience for their teachers as we guide and coach them toward being successful.

3) Pray for Crossfire and the new youth pastor (and good friend of mine), Jorge. Wisdom as we begin the year and invest in these students’ spiritual life and discipling them. We meet Saturday night to pray and plan for the year.

4) Pray for the CCA students and families to come to know Christ for the first time or learn this year what God’s love for them means and what difference this makes in their life.

This past Wednesday, a bunch of the seniors shared their testimonies and laid out the Gospel in a really powerful way. I just remember sitting there and thinking, “Wow! Those are our students!” Pray that the Lord continues to lay these words heavy on the CCA students’ hearts, either for them to have that same boldness to share the Gospel or for them, in their hearts, realize the gravity of what Jesus did for them.

As we remember our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world, we are grateful for the privilege of worshipping the Lord freely, yet also hold them dearly in our own prayers.

This verse was shared in devotions the other day and I’ve seen it apply over and over to the situations at hand. May it encourage you as well:

Judges 6:12

¹² The angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon and said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior!”

The LORD goes on to reassure a desperate and fearful Gideon that He is sending him and is indeed with him. And when the LORD is on your side, you know the battle is already won. We can look to Him as our champion and redeemer of even the bleakest situations.

Later, King Jehosophat and the people of Judah gather together to seek counsel from the Lord. This year, I am holding onto Jehosophat’s honest prayer:

2 Chronicles 20: 12b

“We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”

Blessings and may you always seek Him first,

Laura