A Full Heart

My heart is full.

I've been back in Panama for about two weeks, and we are only three days into school starting. And already I'm in love again.

Seeing the students' faces, receiving hugs from my sweet 7th grade girls, and praying together as a staff the morning of the first day back, set the tone for the quarter and reminded me why I find so much joy in this unique community.

Since then, there have been many opportunities where, as staff, have gotten together and encouraged one another, whether through somewhat spontaneous communal dinners or gathering together to play volleyball in the park. The new teachers, Erica and Grant, are adapting well to Panama life and are already hitting their stride an building solid relationships with their classes. Not only are we there for each other {John has lent out his car; I translated at the veterinarian's office for Emily; we lend each other cleaning supplies and do airport runs}, but we highly enjoy being with each other. Game nights where we laugh hysterically and share stories long into the night are some of my favorite times, and, since we live close to each other, we'll hang out on the balcony or the back porch and enjoy this gorgeous dry season in Panama. Often, we'll send out the memo that we're going for a run, and others will join in. We've joked that we've started a Clayton Running Team. So motivating and fun!

Today has been one such glorious, hilarious, joy-filled day.
For one, it was a Wednesday, and Wednesday's are my favorite, because they're half days and there's chapel on those days. Here are some other memorable moments:

Hilarious moments:

• Making up funny cheers and joking with fellow teachers at a student's basketball game
• When rows of elementary kids are laughing hysterically at a KidPresident video, it is the cutest thing
• When on an assignment that asked students to name "1 Christian site mentioned in the video [about Holy Sites in Jerusalem]," a student wrote the name of the website where the video was from.
• Having my 8th graders in one section guess who in the other section wrote which assignment, just by reading the assignments aloud. I got to impersonate them a little bit, and usually they were able to guess who the writer of the assignment was right away. Hilarous.
• When the school received a notice that quite possibly the electricity in our whole sector of the neighborhood might go out at 9a or 11:30a and that the school day would be cut even shorter and parents would come pick up the kids. Gotta love Panama and unexpected surprises like this. It turns out, fortunately, that we made it to the end of the day with electricity intact, but it was a fun twist to wait to see if anything did happen. Still crossing our fingers for another Panamanian "snow day."

Glorious moments:

• During staff devotions this morning, Allison shared pictures of the Andromeda galaxy and verses about how God knows each star by name. Not only that, He knows how many hairs are on our head. We are not insignificant. We have an all powerful, perfect creator God who reaches through space and time and LOVES us. This message resonated in my heart all day. I just desperately want all the students at CCA to be able to grasp this. Wow!
• The chapel worship team ROCKING the music through harmonies and interspersing rounds and rap (I have to say I think I like their version of "This Little Light of Mine" and "So Good to Me" better than the originals. They are soo talented!)
• Singing worship songs alongside the entire school body: what a privilege!!
• Praying for Jerusalem with my 6th graders
• Discussing Judaism, Islam and other world religions with my 6th graders and having them be fascinated and curious at the same time, wanting to know more about what people believe. This is so close to my heart, because my desire is to give my students such a foundation and understanding for other cultures, that they love them in a way that allows them to speak the truth about Jesus to people they meet, in a way that speaks directly into that person's worldview.
•  My mind being rocked again during professional development, where we've been going through the Truth Project series. Topic of the day: the relationship between God, the King (government) and the citizens. Whew! Lots to contemplate and process and so many tie-ins to what I'm teaching right now!

Joy-Filled:

• Throwing "cebollitas" (poppers) and setting off a row of firecrackers outside as part of a student's World History project on the Chinese achievement of gunpowder. What a blast! (pun intended)
• Getting to cheer on a former student at his basketball game on his birthday (so proud!!)
• The fact that Izzy cooked me dinner and Esther came over to share in the surprise
• The fact that Esther and I were laughing so hard that Brennan came downstairs to find out what were were laughing about
• Having had the chance to plan ahead, so I can enjoy a relaxing night and blog about my beautiful and blessed life in Panama

Thanks everybody for all the prayers for CCA and what God is doing here.
God is faithful and He will do it!

Back to Panama and Answered Prayer

Dear church family,
Thank you for praying!
I arrived safely into Panama yesterday night, and all luggage made it without a problem as well.
Praise the Lord!

Thank you also for praying for my 10 year old car.
This morning I went out to run some errands and was doing a once over of the car. To my dismay, one of the tires had overinflated and burst because of the heat and humidity.

It looked like it was okay to drive the very short distance to the tire store, and my neighbor friend, John, agreed to drive with me to the shop. I was so grateful and glad he had offered to come with, especially when the tire popped and he ended up needing to replace it with the spare. There was barely a shoulder, so I stood on the side of the road between him and fast approaching cars, motioning cars to move to the far lane. Praise The Lord for His sovereign protection and for providing John to help!

We were finally able to get to the tire shop, and he negotiated for me to get the right tire size.
So incredibly thankful! 1) that I was able to get new tires, 2) for john's availability and willingness to help.

Thank you all for your prayers!
Continue to pray that God would sustain my car (and tires!) and for protection driving around Panama City.

-Laura

2014: Year in Review

Happy New Year! 
Looking back over the year it's amazing to contemplate God's faithfulness and how He continues to work in Panama. Thank you friends for all your prayer and support this year; God has answered and provided in amazing ways!

Click on the link below to view the PDF:

Laura's 2014 Newsletter

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.