Peacocks in Panamá?

So, the last few days I have really missed home.  I've missed friends, family and especially the community that I came out of in Atlanta.  I am so grateful because I know that my community back home (and in Florida) loves me and prays for me regularly.  I know that because I occasionally get an encouraging email or have the chance to talk via Skype or even the phone.   I also know that there are people here who love me and pray for me and are encouraged by me.

Sometimes though, I just miss home.

This is my commandment.  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or discouraged.  For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.  Joshua 1:8

Ministry here is flourishing.  I have on average about 45 kids coming to Saturday's kids club even though we took a 2 week break for Holy Week and my trip to Panamá.  The relationships that I am building with families around Quisqueya are growing.  I am starting to see more how I fit and people are gaining confidence in my abilities to help.  I see kids reading more confidently and teachers taking an interest in truly teaching them to read.  I see the amount of sponsors growing and the amount of letters written to children growing as well.  I continue to be broken by the amount of people who have no job, have a hard time feeding their families and are sick with no little to go to the hospital.  And, my mind is always going towards how I can help in a deeper way without hurting.

Live in a way that pleases Him, and love Him and serve Him with all your heart and soul.  Deuteronomy 10:12

Additionally, I had the opportunity to travel to Panamá on a mission trip with a group of missionaries and church members last week and accompany two SCORE missionaries in their ministry.  The theme for my group's teaching was I Lift My Eyes Up based on Psalm 121.  We stole an idea used from a group that was here a few months ago and used peacock feathers that magically balance on your hands as long as you are looking at the top.  If you drop your eyes, the feather falls.  The feathers were a perfect demonstration of what happens when we take our eyes off of Christ.  Our ministry was  concentrated mostly in the east of Panamá, leading Bible studies, teaching VBS, doing light construction (well, the guys did that), and talking to Panamanian people about Christ.  The Lord truly blessed the week, as we were encouraged ourselves to have pure hearts, keep our eyes on the Lord and stay strong in our every day lives.

And in spite of all of those blessings, I came back home and found myself missing the people who've known me for a long time and the "normality" of home.  I know that it is just the devil trying to creep in on my confidence, on my enjoyment and on my focus on Him which truthfully has been better than in any other time in my life.

My grace is all that you need.  My power works best in weakness.  So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.  2 Corinthians 12:9-10

And the other night just when I wondered if what I was doing here was making a difference and after having spent a lot of time praying, a sweet mom, María, came and shared a testimony with me.  She shared that just before I went to Panama she had been praying with Mirqueya about needing a miracle.  That day she and her two boys hadn't eaten at all.  She was hungry.  They were hungry.  Then she saw me and I (unknowingly) asked if she and her boys wanted to stay for dinner.  I had so much food and didn't know why I had made so much.  And two weeks later, I found out why.  The Lord knows our needs and He will fill them!  Additionally, Maria could have told me that story two weeks ago, but the fact that she waited and the Lord led her to tell me when I was down is no coincidence.

I praise Him for the good stuff, and I praise Him for the hard stuff and I will forever lift my eyes!!

Prayer Requests:

• For the Lord's wisdom in how to help families earn money.  I have some ideas that could really help the community long-term that aren't really developed yet. 
• For the five little girls who are still at home.  Pray for their continued safety, their mom's health, and the process that is happening right now for them to be in a safe place.
• For Yumercy, one of the Emanuel House special needs kids who is in the hospital.  She has been recently diagnosed with an aggressive cancer.  Pray for peace and strength for both her, her mom, her grandmother and her two older brothers.
• For continued uplifting and God-focused community and friendships here.
• For rest.  It seems I get sick every 3 months.  That God would give me strength to get over this illness.

The group that I traveled with was made of missionaries, interns and church members that live here in the D.R.  We represented the U.S., Bermuda, Argentina, and Uruguay.  I learned a lot not only about Panamanian culture but about other cultures as well.

The second day we visited a school and taught VBS to kids and challenged adolescents
to follow Christ.  Notice the kids trying to balance the feathers.

The first day after leading a woman's Bible study, we went to a church and led VBS.
Afterwards, I got to play "school" with some girls.  I was a student of course.

Trying to balance feathers.  Hand flat and eyes always looking up.  It's not easy...
and sometimes there are distractions.

Praising Him!

The third, we visited a community that lived on an island about a half
hour from the city.  This is a typical house.  This was my favorite spot of the week.

To get to the island, we had to take a boat.  The people traveled on these and rowed themselves over. 

The people put on these traditional clothes and danced for the tourists. 

More traditional dance.

First encounters.  This little girl was so sweet and a bit shy. 

 In honor of the guys doing construction on the island, we wore bandanas.

Kids in their homes.

Here's a closer look.

Throughout the week we had the opportunity to lead Bible studies in Panama City and in two small communities.
We led a Bible study for these girls focusing on Jesus stories from the Bible and keeping your
eyes on the Lord.  I got to share my testimony on day four.

I read from Psalm 121.

The last afternoon we visited the Panama Canal and got to go shopping in Panama City.  It's a lot like the US.  Big malls, lots of people, and a variety of races living in one place.