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/