A Whole New World

So I am now in Panama and we head out tomorrow. It was only a 4 hour flight from Atlanta Georgia to Panama City Panama. Panama City was so beautiful and modern, but ofcourse I only got a glimpse in the night. So we stayed overnight in Panama City and then we headed from Panama City to David on a little commuter plane. From David it was about an hour bus ride to arrive in Boquete Panama. It is beautiful here, up in the mountains. You wouldnt believe the way that people live down here. Sometimes there is no running water, dirt floors and tin and wood houses. We drove up to one house and the lady was washing her clothes on a concrete slab. Boquete is home to the Gyami Indians and they are a beautiful stoic people. There is a big distinction between the indigenous people and the latinos here much like the united states was in the 50's but worse. There are no indigenous shop owners or anything like that. They live in the mountains with 10 or 12 children and still having more. It is amazing how they make it, a family of 15 living in a little tin shack on $7.00 a week, but they do. Many kids go without food and know all too well what it is like to wake up hungry.

Last week, the night before the last group left, we had devotions. We watched the Passion of the Christ with Spanish subtitles, took communion and "ate". Before the night started, Tammy talked to us about the poverty here, how the kids don't know what it is like to have food.....so inorder to identify with them better, that we were only having a bowel of rice for dinner. She wanted us to know what it was like to wake up hungry. It was really challenging.

Many people say that we are so blessed in the United States because we have a lot of "things," but the most challenging thing that I have heard is "are they really blessings." I mean, what is a blessing from God? Is it money and wealth, fame and prestige? I think blessings of God are contentment, peace , joy, .......I don't really know. Is it all really a blessing, or a distraction? So that is something to think about.

The people are so beautiful to look at. They have the dark skin, dark eyes and dark hair, but they always wear naguas, a traditional dress tht comes to the floor and is tons of different colors. They are really beautiful. Tons can't read or write, and since Spanish is their second language, it is hard to communicate. They are more shy and researved, stoic people than what we are accustomed. Their faces never light up, they never smile, they don't show emotion.....it is like they are living lives of quiet desperation. What is there to smile about? Strangely, they can't see beyond that lifestyle. That is how they were born and that is how they exist. So many kids just laid in the dental chair and stared at the wall, not caring whether we filled a took or took one out. They aren't taught that hygene is important and how to take care of things. I never realized that that was alearned skill. Well I have learned tons here, I wonder how they could ever be reached for Jesus Christ. Some of them walk miles with 6 kids just to catch a bus to go to church or a culto, yet it is a struggle for some of us to roll out of bed and drive to church. Since they can't read or write, how can they study the Bible? If there is no one to teach them how can they learn? How can they spend time with God without the Bible? There has to be another way to reach them. Any how, it is really interesting here. The missionaries are spread so thin and their lives are poured out like drink offerings. I wonder how they do it. They are looking to start up a girls dorm and I have thought about coming down when I graduate to be the dorm mom. Alot of structure, discipleship , discipline and one on ones would be involved. They really need people who are passionate for these people adn discipleship. So I dont' know if that is what God has for me or what. It would be a lot of money, sacrifice and time and I don't want to leave my dad. So we will see. That is over a year from now. So we are headed out tomorrow. Until then.
Hasta luego
dusty