Home Again

On Wednesday evening I arrived safely at home, thanks to so many people who helped us get from Panama City to Atlanta, then Atlanta to Washington Dulles, then to Richmond. We had no trouble in Atlanta getting through U.S. Customs, and found out later that 10,000 flights had been cancelled due to bad weather all over the states. I guess air traffic coming from the tropics was blessed by the absence of travelers from the rest of the country.

We were reminded that it is still winter here when we loaded into cars at Dulles. Lots of snow on the ground and 41 degrees with winds making it feel even colder. So much for the tropics and temperatures in the 80's!

Thanks to everyone who has followed this blog, wished me and others well, prayed and sustained us for the past 8 days. Words cannot express my appreciation for your support. I know that God wanted me to be on this trip, and He wanted me to tell you about Panama and His people there, to get you involved in this partnership, and for me to be changed forever from this experience! How great is that?

I have never been prouder to be a Baptist than I am right now. It is humbling to be a part of the early stages of this exciting Virginia/Panama partnership. It is an honor to get to know and work alongside some of the finest Virginia Baptists there are, from Pastors to Directors of Missions to lay missions committee members to members of the Virginia Baptist Mission Board and leaders in all capacities in the Baptist Church.

Dios Bendiga!

Panama Bob

Where we were in Panama

Gracias a Hermano Ulises (thanks, Brother Ulysses) for this map of where our team visited churches in the Chiriqui and Ngobe Bugle regions of Panama. If you look far back to the east you will see the Panama Canal, and to the right of that is the capital city of Panama (labeled Panama). If it is helpful, click on the map to get a fuller view.

Thanks for your prayers,

Panama Bob

Reunion at Hotel Riando

On Tuesday afternoon, all the teams reunited at the Hotel Riando near the airport in Panama City. We were joined by Brothers Abel and Francisco, and gave our reports on what our experience was like as we traveled in small teams to different parts of Panama. Fortunately for all of us, Jay Butcher was our traveling videographer and he captured most of the reports on film.

We all will provide written reports to Craig Waddell at VBMB, but unanimously experiences were humbling, awesome, and a testament to how great our God is and how powerful the Holy Spirit moves within His people.

Among the kinds of needs the Panamanians have were having folks come and do VBS, teach ESL, work alongside their teams to build "churches" (concrete slab with four support beams and a metal roof), horses so their pastors can ride out to the country and evangelize, discipleship training, leadership training, teachers of all kinds, and many others. They are also putting together a list of ways they can come to Virginia and help us. Here is a picture of Pastor Ulysses (on the left) at his church.

What a great experience this has been. On Wednesday we get up very early to get to the airport and begin our journey back to Virginia.

Buenos Noches!

Panama Bob

Monday Recap

On Monday morning we met with Pastors Teodoro and Ulysses to debrief and prioritize the needs in their region (Chiriqui). They asked John, Will and I how long we had been traveling around together doing this kind of work. When we told them we had just met, and only started to get to know each other a few days before they were very surprised. It made me think how far we have come as a team and how much we all loved working and getting to know the people of the western part of the country.

Their needs are so basic, like transportation and education, and yet they do so much with so little. It is humbling and embarrassing how strong their faith is compared to mine.

It is a good thing I came on this trip so I could experience this revival going on in God's people of Panama!

In the afternoon we took the 7-hour bus ride back to Panama City and checked in to a hotel on the grounds of the old U.S. military base. Here's a picture of my teammates John Miller (sitting) and Will Taton in front of the Allwood Inn.

hasta luego!

Panama Bob

Views in Panama

We have seen so much beauty here in Panama. I wanted to post some more pictures from the areas we have visited. This was the first rainbow I have seen since Pastor Craig gave his sermon on God's covenant and reminder to Himself. It looks like the church we are approaching is at the end of the rainbow!

Today my small team travels back to Panama City (7 hours bus ride) to re-group with the Va. Baptist delegation and tomorrow we report back to the Panama Baptist Convention what we have seen and how we have seen God working in the lives of churches and missions here in Panama.

Visit to Ngobe Bugle Tribe

Sunday afternoon we drove 2 hours from David to see the project sites that are part of the Ngobe Bugle tribe territory. They have outgrown their current church and need to expand. When we first arrived, the young boys were playing baseball.

While we were there they entertained us with

"How Great Thou Art" sung in their own language.

Here are some pictures from their land which may look primitive. I felt

like I was stuck in some land that time forgot.

Sunday Morning Worship

John Miller from Virginia preached at Pastor Ricardo's home just outside David, Panama. There were about 30 people in attendance this morning.

Sunday Morning in David, Panama

This morning my team will split up and go to worship in 3 different churches in the Chiriqui area. We will get a chance to speak during the worship service, and Will is going to be preaching at Pastor Teodoro's church this morning. It is exciting to see and hear what a revival is going on in Panama.

This afternoon we will venture even farther away to Bocas del Toro, on the other side of the volcanoes from here. There the partnership is providing horses and riding gear to the churches. We will also see areas where they wish to have churches built. The plans are already drawn up for a concrete slab foundation and steel roofing. They desire 7 churches to be built in the area. It is anticipated that seven workers can build a church in one week. What a blessing it will be if Virginia Baptists work side by side with Panama Baptists to get this done early in 2011.

hasta la vista,

Panama Bob

God At Work in Panama

Today, Saturday, we got an early start from the town of David (pronounced Dah-veed) and traveled far to see and hear firsthand of the church needs in the western part of Panama. Nearly all churches need some kind of discipleship training to grow their members into missional lay persons. Most churches have some kind of outreach, then once they obtain members it is difficult to keep them engaged and active.

We traveled from David to Boquete, Cerro Punta, and other parts of Chiriqui. There was lots of car riding to get us back and forth.

We met the pastors and some of their members at the churches and were touched by their desire to do God's work with very little in the way of materials. In all we visited six different churches in our 12 hour travel day.

Adios Panama Baptist Convention

On Friday morning we had to leave the Panama Baptist Convention before it ended in order to travel back to Panama City by bus (2 hours). Once in Panama City we took another bus 7 hours to the town of David, in the western part of the country. It was a very long day and we are ready to see the potential mission sites and hear how God is working in the remote areas of Panama.

Va. Baptists and Panama Baptists Partnering

Jerry Jones from the Virginia Baptist Mission Board briefly addressed the Panama convention on Wednesday evening. Hopefully I attached a video of Jerry's brief and inspiring comments and you can hear in English and Spanish. Jerry is wearing a shirt made by the Kuna people.

Peace and Grace.

Panama Bob

Baptist Leaders

Greetings from Panama! Here are some of the world's great evangelism leaders all in one place. It has been a pleasure to rub elbows (that is not a strange Panamanian custom) with Abel and Francisco (Vice President and President of the Panama Baptist Convention), along with Jerry, Daniel, and Dennis. We have made many new friends and soaked in all the warmth of this place.

Peace and love,

Panama Bob

Wednesday Night Service

What a joy it has been to be in the company of some of the world's finest Christians! On Wednesday we got to hear great music and singing, seeing amazing dancers performing, hear wonderful testimonies, and feel the presence of unity and love. I (hopefully) have attached a video of the dancers so you can have a taste of that experience.

We got reports of snow and cold weather on Wednesday in Virginia. The weather here? Upper 80's with lots of sun, unbelievable flowers and trees, with a nice tropical breeze off the ocean at night. Tough duty, but someone had to step up and take it on!

The Holy Spirit is moving in great ways here in Panama. What about where you are?

Blessings on you!

Welcome from the Panama Convention President

This morning we were warmly welcomed by Francisco Medina, President of the Panama Baptist Convention. His challenge to the Convention attendees will be to become more missional as individuals and to take back to their respective congregations a focus on looking outwards to the needs of their communities. Many congregations have been looking inward, by habit, and they seek a change.

We had lunch with some of the early Convention attendees, and I got to practice a little Spanish while trying to communicate with Panamanian brothers and sisters.

The Panama Convention leadership message was also that we should seek to glorify God will all the works of this new partnership.

Safe Arrival in Panama!

After a long day of travel, we are safe and sound in Panama. I have met so many wonderful people in the first day, and am looking forward to much more on Wednesday. I awoke this morning to sun rise over the Pacific Ocean. Amazing! The picture is out of our patio door, with the ocean in the background.

We drove over the Bridge of the Americas last night very late, and got to see our first glimpse of the Panama Canal.

Blessings on you today, I will write more later.

God is good, all the time!

The Lord's Prayer

"Padre nuestro que estas en el cielo, santificado sea tu nombre. Que venga tu reino, que se haga en la tierra lo que tu quieres, asi como se hace en el cielo. Danos el pan que necesitamos cada dia, y perdonanos el mal qu hemos hecho, como nosotros perdonamos a los que nos hacen mal. No nos dejes caer en tentacion, sino libranos del mal. Porque tuyo es el reino y el poder y el gloria por siempre. Amen."

Panama Trip Preparation

The Virginia Baptist partnership with the Panama Baptist Convention begins in 2011!

The Panama Baptist Convention is embarking with special emphasis on evangelism, unity, and leadership. Under these themes they will suggest projects that may include medical missions, outreach, construction and leadership training.

Representatives from Virginia will travel to Panama on January 25 to attend the Panama Baptist Convention. Dr. John Upton is scheduled to speak at the Convention.

I am humbled and honored to be part of the team from Virginia going on this trip. Our goal is to listen to what God is doing through our brothers and sisters in Panama and to exchange ideas for partnership projects. After the Convention, Virginia Baptists will travel in small groups with their Panama hosts to view, discuss, and consider possible missions opportunities in the different regions of Panama. Requests will be documented and sent to the Panama Baptist Convention for evaluation and prioritization. We are also there to build relationships, both at the Convention and in the different areas of the country.

One team has just returned from Panama where they conducted Vacation Bible School for approximately 150 young people. Impact! Panama will provide a weeklong mission opportunity for Virginians in the summer.

We will leave on January 25th and land in Panama City. The Convention is about 2 hours away from the city. We will return from Panama City to Dulles on Wednesday, Feb. 2nd (Groundhog Day in the U.S.).

It is my goal to update this blog as often as I am able. Please feel free to tell others about the blog, and offer any comments you would like to on the blog.

blessings on you,

hasta la vista,

Panama Bob

"Pero recibirán poder cuando el Espíritu Santo venga a sus vidas. Entonces hablarán de mí en la cuidad de Jerusalén, en los países de Judea y Samaria y hasta lo ultimo de la tierra." Hechos 1:8