jonesjournal.org > TEAMS Page

I encourage anyone who is interested in bringing a team to Panamá to take a look at the FAQs below.
See common Spanish phrases, with recorded examples, along with humourous translation tips below.
If there is a question you would like answered, but don't see it there, please let me know.

I encourage team leaders to contact Assemblies of God World Missions, and especially the Short-Term Trips page.
Prior approval and insurance coverage are mandatory to receive US teams in country.
For youth pastors, visit the AG Ambassadors in Missions (AIM) site.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) for Teams ministering in Panamá

Click on any question in the following list to see the answer. If your question isn't answered here, please contact us.

• What languages do they speak in Panamá?
• What about translation?
• What are entry requirements for Panamá?
• What about crime safety?
• How is the food and water in Panamá?
• What about hotels?
• How much does transportation cost?
• What's the weather like?
• What is appropriate dress for different occasions?
• What about money, overall trip expenses?
• What about electrical power?
• What about: taxes, tipping, taxis, window-washers, beggars?
• What do you as a missionary want us as a team to know?

What languages do they speak in Panamá?     [TOP]

• Spanish (official) and English (14%)

What about translation?    [TOP]

Here are a few of my suggestions to make translation of testimonies, teaching and preaching more effective:

* Testimonies:

• Specific is better than general.
• Tell *your* story: personal is better than impersonal.
• Avoid reference to $$$, cars, houses, possessions. It's a distraction.
• Relationships, families, emotions are all common denominators you can use to effectively communicate across cultural and language barriers.

• Look at your audience, not at the interpreter.
• Use brief, declarative phrases: short and to the point is better.
• I can translate to English if the team will sit together off to one side or the back, as long as it doesn't disturb the service.

* Check out this humorous look at translation on a missions trip.

What are Immigration visa requirements to enter Panamá?     [TOP]

• With a valid US passport you are issued a tourist stamp in your passport for free as you go through Immigration processing at the Tocumen airport terminal in Panamá. The tourist visa is valid for 30 days and if you need to extend your stay for longer that can be arranged.
• For a series of pictures entering Panamá's Tocumen airport (from 2006), click on this photo album.

What about crime safety?     [TOP]

• common sense is your best protection, along with prayer
• always travel in a group (3 or more) and communicate where you're going to your leaders
• keep your passport and tourist card with you at all times, especially at night. One of our pastors was taking out his trash in front of his house, didn't have his ID and was jailed for the night.

How is the food and water in Panamá?     [TOP]

• water in the cities and villages is perfectly healthy to drink; in outlying areas you can bring bottled water or purify the water
• fish is common ("Panamá" is Kuna word for "abundance of fish"), chicken and rice most common meal
• please alert us to any severe food allergies beforehand

What about hotels?     [TOP]

• Panamá hotels offer whatever level of comfort you would like to pay for. Since rates change, please contact us directly if you need help securing lodging.

How much does transportation cost?     [TOP]

• rental vans: online reservation likely cheaper than what is available here in Panamá.
  
• if available, the Panamá Field has a missionary van reasonably priced daily rate, plus cost of diesel and includes vehicle insurance.

What's the weather like?     [TOP]

• yearly average 80+ degrees, 86% humidity--it gets hot!
• dry season ("summer") is December - April and rainy season is May - November
• plan for heat safety: drink plenty of water, rest in the shade or a/c when you need to. As a doctor friend told me, "If you're not going to the bathroom, you're not drinking enough water."

What is appropriate dress for different occasions?     [TOP]

• General rule of thumb: dress up more than you would in the US.
  • Panamanians wear high heels, dresses, suits and dress shoes when walking in the streets (where people can see them), and then change into more comfortable shoes and clothes at home, and sometimes at work.
  • Uniform suits for employees are common in most businesses.
• At Church:
  • Ladies: dresses or skirts covering knees, blouses with shoulders covered--no skinny straps; nylons welcome, though optional; if you cannot wear a dress for some reason, dress slacks are acceptable.
  • Men: dress slacks, collared shirts (not T-shirt type), ties welcome, but optional for group; preachers *must* wear ties, and a jacket is accepted, but gets very hot!
• At Construction site:
  • Ladies: jeans, pants, shorts to knees, T-shirts (no inappropriate slogans, ads etc.), no tank-tops, sandals or casual shoes.
  • Men: jeans, no shorts (sorry guys, women can show their legs, but we can't!), T-shirts (no inappropriate slogans, ads etc.), no tank-tops, any work boots, shoes.
• In town, Free time, Site-seeing, shopping:
  • Ladies: Shorts, T-shirts, shoes-sandals (see above comments re: all).
  • Men: Shorts (finally!), T-shirts, shoes-sandals (see above comments re: all).

What about money, overall trip expenses?     [TOP]

• Panamá currency is called the Balboa and it is equal to the US dollar. Paper bills are the same US paper bills. US coins are accepted here. Panamá coins are same size-shape, but have different inscriptions and are *not* accepted back in the US.
• you can bring $100s and $50s for City hotels and restaurants and sometimes gas stations, but in the interior, you need $20s (reason: a lot of counterfeit $100s and $50s in circulation)
• ATM machines are everywhere in the city and accept Plus and Star systems
• in the City most grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, and hotels accept US credit cards, but please note you will most likely pay an international fee of about 1%
• if I'll have to put down a hotel deposit for the team, which is fine, please just plan on writing me a check and I can deposit it to pay my VISA bill
• there's a $20/person Panamá airport exit tax that is included in your airline ticket. You do not have to pay it separately in the airport as in years past.
• Overal trip expenses for ground transportation, lodging, and food:
  • $50 per diem, "Roughing it": For teams that spend most nights camping out or sleeping at a church, eating typical Panamanian rice/beans/chicken, renting missionary field van
  • $75 per diem, "Motel Seis": For teams that lodge in modest but clean hotels, eat meals in restaurants and typical food, rent missionary field van
  • $100 per diem, "Latin luxury": For teams that lodge in nice hotels, eat all meals in restaurants, rent a Hummer! (nope: just wanted to see if you were paying attention)

What about electrical power?     [TOP]

• Panamá uses 110V electrical outlets like the US, so your appliances like hair dryers and CD players will work fine
• it would be wise to use surge supressors for important items since power spikes are common
• you may want to bring those little orange plug-in adapters to convert from three-prong power cord to two-prong outlets
• 220V power is usually available for welding machines, or heavy power tools on the job site

What about: taxes, tipping, taxis, window-washers, beggars?     [TOP]

• tourist-related industries typically charge 10% tourist tax
• additional 10-20% tip on meals is customary, but can be more if desired
• taxis are reasonably priced, reliable and safe in Panamá City
  
• at stop lights young men will wash your car windshield (whether it needs it or not) and expect a tip of $0.25 - $0.50. Wag your forefinger side-to-side to say "no." If that doesn't work, still smile :-) and bless them with a tip.
• beggars will also pass by at stop lights. Feel free to contribute or not. I try to give a small evangelistic tract with some change.

What do you as a missionary want us as a team to know most of all?     [TOP]

• remember a few key words:
  • "flexible" - the relationships & the event weigh more than the start or end time
  • "gentle" - with each other, with the Panamanian people, with the furniture & plumbing (it's not always made sturdy; eg: some youth tried washing their feet in a hotel sink--it came off the wall!)
  • "prayerful" - let everything you do in preparation and in country be filled with prayer
  • "attitude" - be a "loving learner" (my focus beginning from language school to the present). If you're saying "why don't they...", "they shouldn't...", "that's weird/strange...", then you're judging. You can't judge them and serve them at the same time. It's OK to say: "that's different" (because there will be a lot that's different to you) and try to learn.
• please channel all correspondence/communication through one person--either the leader or team member assigned by the leader
• Bring all of your ministry in Español! egs: solo/choir music trax, printed materials, puppet/drama skits, etc.
• In ministry we can project digital media or DVD films onto walls/screens indoor or outdoor (weather permitting); we have or can get audio player, mic and sound system
• it is assumed that the team will cover the missionary's expenses while traveling and ministering together
• please contact Assemblies of God World Missions (417-862-2781) for trip forms, info on travel insurance and helpful suggestions for short-term ministry teams

---

Spanish Phrases     [TOP]

The English translation is in the right column.

---

Tips for Translation     [TOP]

Hopefully the following will never happen to you when you come to minister with us here in Panamá. But it has happened to others...

I hope you enjoy this little skit. Feel free to use it for your team preparation.

My thanks to the Project Compassion Team for allowing me to use, and edit, this material they gave me.