"Bienvenido a Panamá!" ... "Welcome to Panamá!" ...three words I was so happy to hear! Well, here we are, the 2017 J103 mission team, finally in Panamá.
We departed from Chattanooga, TN and headed straight to Atlanta. There are nine of us this year. Everyone's really just now getting to know one another, which is always fun! After a two hour delay, we were finally able to take off. There was an problem with the right engine, but maintenance was eventually able to get the issue resolved. We arrived safely in Panamá around 1:30 AM, so as you can imagine, we headed straight to bed in order to be ready for the next morning.
Our first day was spent at an international church called Crossroads Bible Church. We worshipped and prayed with them. Their message was about Tithes and Offerings. Interestingly enough, they referenced the church in America and tossed out some alarming statistics about giving. Even more heartbreaking is to see how much less is given in churches such as this one in Panamá.
In the afternoon our team had the privilege of visiting the village of Gamboa. After a short boat ride, These people live in huts and have limited resources and electricity. Last year, our team was able to install lighting in their main pavilion, so it was great to visit them again and see how they still use those lights! This year, our team was able to worship with the kids, share testimonies and even spend time painting faces, coloring, blowing bubbles and distributing hygiene items!
We can't wait to experience more of what God has for our team and how we can make a lasting impact that we can see for years to come and in eternity!
Written by Fatima