A Blessing in Aguadulce, Panama

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.

A church in Aguadulce

S., has been praying earnestly for her husband for a drastic change so that he could be more involved in the lives, and care of the family and their business.

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.

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.



The business district of Aguadulce

He has broken S.'s heart many times by demanding and later squandering the family's savings.

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.

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.


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.



S.'s husband is starting to help out more in the family store

However, the way S. reacted to this loss clearly demonstrated that she no longer is concerned as much about material wealth as before.

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!

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!

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!

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

Getting to Know Our Neighbour in Penonome

It feels great to learn about the cultures of the country we are visiting.












In Penonome, Panama, I have learned many things about the way of life, how people live during our two week stay here.
We have also learned about the weather pattern in the tropics.

Since we arrived here, we have noticed  it usually starts with a nice bright sunny day around 5:30-6:00a.m.  Then comes the afternoon, it raines pretty well everyday here at around the same time: between 12:00p.m - 3:00pm, not drizzle, but pouring rain.

As I am learning more about Panama, I aslo feel more confident to start communcating with the local people with my very limited Spanish.



We have been staying at the church house and our backyard is back to back to our neighbour's.

Last time when I was here, I didn't communicate with them as I had littel knowledge of Spanish. Since I have learned some Spanish, this time I am making an effort to communicate with the local people

This monring the family with the kids were playing outside in their sun hat.

I took the opportuity, went out and introduced myself in Spanish.

The lady of the house's name is Cathy, her little daughter is called Stephine, the baby is Estella and the teenaged boy\s  name is Josie.

With the Spanish book in my hand, I tried my best to communicate with the church neighbour.  We wanted them  to know that we were friendly people and wanted to be their friends.

 I told them that we were from Canada and staying here for a little while. They were pleasantly surprised at my effort to converse with them.

At the end of our brief conversation, I gave the little girl a small toy ball with the Maple Leaf on it and shared some treats with the family. The little one smiled at me and she and her mother looked very happy.

I think I have started to make some friends in Penonome, Panama! I do hope that I would get to know them better once when my Spanish improves!

R.T.
Penonome, Panama

Teaching a Multi Age & Multi Level Sunday School Class

Displaying kids\ work encourage them to do well

When our STM team was here two years ago, there were mostly new believers at the newly established church. Our team members took over many of the programs and Sunday Service during our 2 week visit here. However, I have noticed that this time, only Pastor Monica was involved in both of the Sunday Services while the local church members took up the various tasks of conducting a Sunday workshop such as assuming the role of the chair, the song leader, the AV person, the greeters and the kids' Sunday School teacher.

Setting up a number of activity stations prior to students arriving

The Sunday Service and the children's program went really well as we invited one of the members,  S.M., a teacher candidate working to obtain his professional credential in Penonome to do the teaching part of the Sunday School. 

At first, S.M. was a little nervous saying that he had no experience in teaching kids and that he was not sure what  Sunday School lesson he should deliver.  I encouraged him and gave him some suggestions and asked him to come earlier on Sunday so that we could go over some teaching strategies and preparation for the program.

More challenging activity for older children

Teaching a Sunday School class is not an easy task as this is usually a class comprised of students of mutli ages, mutli levels and diverse learning abilities.

However, the key is in preparation and providing a variety of learning activities that interest the students. S.M. was as good as his words and came real early so that we could walk through the prepared activities and demonstrated to him how to use the teaching material for this two hour Sunday School class. The key points of teaching a multi age and multi level class are:

Simple activity such as colouring for younger children

1. Be prepared and know your students - have everything you need ready and set up everything prior student arrival. Once when students arrive, there is no time to get or look for anything.

2. Be positive and welcoming to the students - We put put the students\ work from last week and praised the students of their good work upon arrival. These kids wanted to do more work as they were inspired by other kids' work hanging for display.

Make sure every child has something that captures their interest

3. Student Safety - is of most paramount importance. Once when students are here, close and careful supervision is needed to ensure student safety. Therefore everything must be ready and do not leave kids to look for anything.

4. Set up a number of Activity Stations throughout the room - Students can be occupied by being engaged in interesting activities. We set up the following stations:

Logo is a popular activity among children

Construction Station - wood building blocks, wooden puzzles
Lego Station
Drawing and Colouring Station
Reading Station
Puzzle Station
Games Station
Trampoline Station

As children arrived, the teachers were there to welcome the kids and direct each to choose an activity they liked to participate in and play at that station.

After a few minutes, they could rotate to another station. This set up worked out well and all the children were actively engaged and we made sure they did not get into any trouble.

The I led the singing in Spanish with the aid of Google search for Spanish bible songs. There were 15 children aged 2 1/2 to 14 years old. Everyone participated well in the singing time.

Grouping the children by age/ ability & assign tasks accordingly

S.M. took over the bible story time and he did a very good job telling the story of David and Goliath. All the kids listened to him attentively as he was speaking in Spanish, the language of instruction in schools in Panama. There was no screaming or running around by the kids. They all stayed in their seats and behaved themselves well.

Praise God! He has raised a good Christian teacher for the community and S.M. will definitely be an excellent Sunday School teacher for the church in Penonome!

R.T.
Penonome, Panama

Simple Games for Parents and Children to Have Fun Together!

We ran two Family Night events for the congregation at the Penonome Church. Parents and kids alike had a lot of fun playing these easy games.

One of the very popular games was Bingo. We called out the numbers in both Spanish and English so that we could learn from each other.

We also play other games that required no special equipment and could be played anywhere!

This was what we did for the Family Night Group Games:

1. Paper/Scissors/ Stone - Instead of playing this game the traditional way, this game is great for the whole family, both for the young and old and with some physical movements.

When the IT shouts out Paper, everyone crosses his/her hands and legs to act like scissors to cut the paper
When the IT shouts out Scissors, everyone squats down and holds his/ her body tight like a stone to crush the scissors
When the IT shouts out Stone, everyone stands and spread his/ her hands out to be a piece of paper to cover the Stone.

The person who can't do the action properly will be out. The game continues until one person is left to be the winner.

2. Do the Opposite of What I Say

e.g. When the IT points and say "Up", everyone points to the opposite direction. The person does not do the opposite, he/she will be out.

3. Freeze - The whole group stands at the other end of the room trying to advance to the opposite of the wall. The IT is facing the target wall. People will be walking, running to the target wall. When IT calls freeze, everyone needs to stop and freeze i.e. cannot move. The person who cannot stop in time or moves will be out.

4. Tableau - very similar to the Freeze game. When music is play, everyone dances or moves . As soon as music stops, everyone freezes and holds his/ her post and be still like a statue

5. Big Winds Blow - Everyone sits in a circle. The IT starts the game by saying:

" The Big Winds Blow, blowing people wearing red."
Everyone wearing red has to get up and move to a seat opposite from him/her. The IT will try to get a seat. The person who does not have a seat will be IT.
The IT will then continue the game by making up another sentence such as:

" The Big winds blow, blowing those with a nose.|" Then everyone moves and the game repeats
itself.

Enjoy these games with your family/ church groups etc!

R.T.
Penonome, Panama

Sampling the Local Dishes in Some Beautiful Penonome Restaurants, Panama

One of the best part of visiting a foreign country is meeting with the local people/residents and learning about their daily lives.

My husband and I could have joined any tour groups in our travels and go for sight seeing locally. However, we prefer to learn about the cultures and lives through real personal interactions with the local people.

The short term mission team has been very frugal, cooking and eating all our meals at the church house since our arrival in Panama. This afternoon, we wanted to try some local dishes so we could learn about the local cuisine of Panama.

Lily, again, volunteered graciously to be our guide and took us to a place where we could sample some Panamanian dishes.

She took us to the Icacos Restaurant, a place on the outskirt of Penonome, about a 10-15 minute drive from town.

The Icacos Restaurant. Penonome, Panama

It is a spacious and nice restaurant located in a natural setting.

.

Since we got to the restaurant after the normal lunch hour, we were the only patrons there.

The setting was calm and relaxing and the waiting staff was very courteous and patient with us.

The price of food was very reasonable in North American standard though it might have been a little pricey for the average local people. Each dish was around U.S. $ 8.00 - $15.00.  

We could usually find fresh seafood dishes offered in local restaurants and in family meals where we were invited to part take with local families.  

 We enjoyed the opportunity of trying some local dishes and tasting food of another culture.

A grand entrance greets guests to the restaurant

Enjoying some delicious local food!

English was  not spoken at this restaurant. I was glad that I could order some food and drinks for myself with my very limited Spanish! Not bad for a person who could hardly speak a word two years ago.

Another very nice restaurant we went to in Penonome was the Gastronomia Restaurante ,  a spacious and elegant restaurant decorated with an equestrian theme.

There were many unique and beautiful sculptures placed throughout the entire property of the restaurant.










 We went there in the evening after waiting for our friends to close up their store.

Equestrian themed decorations and furniture abound at the restaurant

Many small dining room setting for small private dinners

The dining rooms were beautifully decorated with many private areas for small group dinner gatherings. I could not remember the names of the dishes ordered by our friends. 

Many Panamanian dishes contain a lot of seafood and they were fresh and delicious! The best we have ever tasted.








W're grateful that we had the opportunity to share some nice time with our friends in Penonome, Panama and tasted some great local food at a splendid restaurant!

R.T.
Penonome, Panama

Comforting the Family Members of a Murdered Victim in Juan Diaz, Panama

Nov. 19, 2013

Lily C. called Pastor Monica a couple days ago and informed us yet of another tragic inciden  that happened to another small business owner in a small town,Juan Diaz, nearby.

 The L. family owned a convenience type of store, but was robbed at gun point recentlt. The owner of the store was tragically murdered in this robbery. The family members are going through a very difficult time right now. The owner's wife was so trumatized by witnessing this cold blood murder in their store that she has not been able to speak or show any emotions since it happened.

Her relatives learned about the Penonome church and called up Mr.and Mrs. L. for help. This couple from PCCC church went to visit the family right away with Lily and her husband.

The four of us, Pastor Monica, Helena, Lily and I went today to visit this family. I heard of murdered cases from TV, news and newspaper reports etc, but have never dealt with victims of crimes such as murder before.

I would not know what to say or do for victims of such violent crime. I was nervous and told Pastor Monica about this.

She said to me, " You don't need to say a lot. Just be there, lend your support and listen to the victim's family."


We drove to this seemingly quiet little village.

When we got to the store, we saw a police car with its logo, same as our police's logo in Toronto

" To Protect and Serve" in Spanish painted on one side of its vehicle parked in front of the store.

There were two armed police officers standing by one side of the store while some people were milling outside.










Customers, most of whom children and teenagers were standing in front of the store buying candies, snacks through the slots of a locked gate.

The store essentially was in a lockdown mode trying to protect itself from being robbed again.

We went in and met with the widow, Mrs. L. and her two teenaaged children, A., 19 and S., 17.

The widow received us and it was the sister in law who greeted us and welcome us into their home. Pastor Monica held the widow's hand and started comforting her using words from the bible while Lily and I sat and observed , dare not utter a word.

The pain and suffering were fresh and evident on the widow and the families' faces. While other family members spoke to us, the mother was numb, emotionless. While Pastor Monica tenderly comforting and encouraging her to move forward in life using words from the bible, Mrs. L. sat there completely still, not a response or word coming out from her.

We all felt her intense pain. Pastor Monica kept holding Mrs. L's hand and spoke with her for more than an hour while Helena went and talked to the two teens. Lily and I sat quietly praying and supporting this family. Finally, Pastor Monica opened her bible and asked for permission to share a scripture passage with Mrs. L. She nodded her head. Pastor Monica read out Psalm 23 to Mrs. L. and proceded to explain what it meant.

" The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He leads me rest down to rest....Even though I walked through the valley of death, I will not be afraid, for your rod and your staff comfort me..."

As soon as Mrs. L heard the explanantion of this particular passage about the Shepherd's protection, her face started to show some emotion and from that point on, she became less stiff. God's word is powerful and is healing to the wounded!

After Pastor Monica comforted the monther with Psalm 23, both Lily and I shared God's work in our lives. Helena joined us with the two children. This was the first time we heard Lily telling her story and it was moving indeed. She talked about her fears and worries about her children and the constant worry about the family's business in Penonome before she believed in Jesus. Now she and her husband have real peace in their hearts after trusting God with their worries.

Mrs. L. listened to Lily's testimony with great interest as Lily is one of the local residents and shares similar background and concerns with her. We sang hymes together and spent some time praying for Mrs.L and her family. This was the first time I saw the daughter and Mrs. L. cried since we came into the house. From what I observed, everyone was trying to be strong for each other and this time they had an opportunity to cry together as a family, an essential part of the grieving process.

After visiting this family for almost three hours, we hugged and said good bye and encouraged them to be at church this Sunday so that they can start worshipping God and building a network of support in the family of God.

It was a very touching visit and my first encounter with the victims of a very violent crime.
We will keep praying and supportinng this family.

R.T.
Juan Diaz, Panama