Greetings in Jesus from Panamá!

Allow me to open with what we shared this week with our volunteer team:

I share with you a brief testimony from last Sunday: Josué (who used to live at the same orphanage, and was one of the first kids we mentored there, with his siblings) was talking with a teenage boy during small group time and they answered the questions I gave them about changes in life and how it affects us. The teen admitted that he never had a childhood and was sad about it. Nevertheless, he recognized that Jesus was still with him. I congratulated him for being so honest and mature to recognize and share his deep feelings and not hide them.

I encourage you that God is doing something good in the lives of children and adolescents in the center. Thanks to all those who supported us last Sunday to carry out this beautiful work of the Lord.

This edition truly can be called a prayer letter. We join with the rest of the world to pray for the peace of Israel (Psalm 122:6). We invite you to pray with us for peace in Panamá as well.

This past Monday 23 October mostly peaceful protests and street closures broke out across the nation in opposition to the government granting an extension of a copper mining concession. The public is upset that the country is not getting full benefit from the deal and they accuse leaders of corruption. Tens of thousands have joined in peaceful marches.

We are safe, not in harm’s way. Only effect we’ve felt is extra heavy traffic most afternoons, diminished supplies of groceries and gas. And out of an abundance of caution for our volunteer teams, the most disappointing thing for us is that we felt compelled to postpone two special activities at the orphanage originally scheduled for this weekend. Saturday (today) a young adult life group of about 25 were going to celebrate an early Christmas-type worship service and party with games and food. The second was our regularly scheduled Sunday afternoon Bible clubs.

Lord willing, and through the prayers of many, we believe peace and justice will return to the streets of Panamá soon. And we will be returning to regularly scheduled ministry activities.

Now, I intentionally left out any pictures or links of the protests in this report. I would rather highlight what our Panamanian Assemblies of God church family is doing in response: Interceding for our Nation, on the basis of Psalm 127:1 (see below).

I realize that most of us grew tired of ZOOM meetings during the pandemic. On this occasion, however, I was grateful to be able to join with my brothers and sisters at the throne of heaven all together online, even though the road closures prevented an in-person prayer meeting.

I know I say it continually, but this month it feels more poignant: It truly is by your prayers and finance that we are able to do what we report in these e-Mailers. Thank you!

Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain.

Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.

Psalm 127:1 (NIV)