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| A Christmas tree stands in the middle of the town |
Aguadulce, the capital city of the District of Agudulce, is a bustling town in the Cocle Province of Panama. Aguadulce's population is a little less than 20,000 people. It is about 190 Kms from Panama City and about 40 minute drive from Penonome where our mission team members are staying.
One of the church members named S. who lives in Aguadulce with her family, makes that long drive to the Penonome church weekly and faithfully to attend the Sunday Service.
She is one of the many people who have expereinced God's love and the transformation in their lives.
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| A church in Aguadulce |
S. is a creative business woman working hard to run and maintain the family's small business. She and her husband opened a supermarket in this little town.
Unfortunately, the husband is a free spirit who shows little interest in helping with the family run store nor sharing the responsibilities of raising a family.
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| A place where people can rest right in the centro area of Aguadulce |
Gambling, drugs and drinking are issues that hurt many people and families in small towns.
S.'s husband has been dealing with some of these issues while neglecting his family responsibilities but enjoying the fruits of his wife's hard work.
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| The business district of Aguadulce |
Many of S.'s friends advised S. to divorce him in order to prevent him from his reckless ways. But S. persisted in staying togther in this unhappy one-sided marraige.
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| The shopping district in Aguadulce |
However, S. was suffering and very miserable when we saw her two years ago during our short term mission trip. One of our STM members, Lillian, a very qualified counselor provided a lot of counseling and worked with the couple during our 2011 Panama short term mission trip.
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| We visited a supermarket in town |
From then on, S. received a lot of support from the various members of our team.
This time when we visited her again, she looked much happier and confident of herself. On our second day of our trip in Panama, her store was broken into and much cash and valulabe items were stolen.
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| S.'s husband is starting to help out more in the family store |
She applies the Christian principles she has learned in her business practise. Her focus now is sharing the gospel, sharing the good news with other people and helping other families in need.
S. is a blessing to Aguadulce, a great example of a transformed life by Jesus!
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| We visited S. and her family in Aguadulce |
Praise God! S. called us and informed us that her husband is starting to come around. After Pastor Monica talked to him on Sunday, he went to the store, stayed there to help out and even remained late enough to close the store.
It rarely happened in the past but it did this time!
We have been praying and crying out to God with tears for S.'s husband everyday during our trip here. We pray that God's spirit will change him and he will eventually comes around and appreciate how lucky he is to have such a good wife and family!
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| We visited other families in town |
We also visited another family in Agudulce at their store. The owner is confined in a wheel chair due to an accident happened a few years ago. S. often visits these residents in need comforting and encouraging families members in need or touched by tragic events.
After taking us to visit a couple of other families, S. invited us to her home and laid out a feast to welcome us. I could not imagine the efforts she spent on preparing the dinner after a long day at work. A very hospitable host!
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| S. prepared a feast to welcome us after a long day at work! |
She is an angel and a blessing to the people of Agudulce!
R.T.
Aguadulce, Panama
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