Panama!

Over the past few months, I've tried to answer the question "How was Panama?" or "how did your trip go?" and a variety of other questions. My answer has been of the form "Fantastically Amazing!"

Then the conversation ends there. Because, if I were to go on about everything that happened, the talk would have gone on for hours, as I recall every little detail of how I saw God work!

Yeah!!  Panama was actually that fantastic! =)


If you want to know more, read on, as I try to put into words how God actually blew my mind every day in the month of May! This will be done in a question and answer format:

How big was your team?
My team consisted of 24 students from across Canada. Some of us traveled together, finding other teammates in the airports (I couldn't find mine in the airport, so I met her in El Salvador), and finally we all met in Panama City, in the Hostel we were staying at. We also had 10 staff with us, some were on staff with Campus for Christ, others were students there as interns, but they were all staff in our eyes. Another important aspect to our team was also the Panamanian students and staff that are a part of Vida Estudiantil, the ministry we were partnering with. Together, the "Canamanians" worked to help students discover Jesus.

What did you do there?
While we were there, a majority of our time was spent on the University campuses. The team was split into 2 smaller teams, to go to two different universities. On my campus, we spent time in the Technological building and the English Department, roaming about seeing if the students wanted to talk with us. Many of the students we approached said yes, and from there, conversations and friendships were formed. The point of our conversations was to talk about God- telling the Panamanian students that there is more to life than good marks and making money, but entering into a growing and personal relationship with God. The students were very eager to enter into a relationship with their Creator.

Days that we were not on campus were spent fixing up the main office of the church and Vida Estudiantil- painting the walls, putting together new office furniture, washing the floors etc. etc. The rest of our down time was spent hanging out with our Panamanian friends, playing soccer, or seeing the must see sights of Panama like the canal and Old Panama City.

What is the biggest thing you learned there?
I learned a lot- a lot about God, about myself, and about the culture there. So, I'll share a little about all of those. First about the culture. Panamanians are very relational, and very polite. As Canadians, we could walk around and meet students who instantly became friends. Professors allowed us to come into their classes to give talks and also out of curiosity - why we were there and about Canada in general. One of our favourite sayings was "The Panamanian climate is warm, but the hearts of the people are even warmer".

About God, guys, I have to say that He is amazingly big (so glad I got a taste of his awesomeness). He was continually answering our prayers in ways that we could never have asked or imagined. Going into the project, we were asked to pray to see 60 people come to Christ (for me, that was a really huge number, but I still prayed and believed). Trust God to go above and beyond our expectations (He cannot be limited by numbers). We saw over 90 people come to Christ (including professors). My friend (to the left) and I prayed that a professor would let us give a class presentation, God answered.

About myself, I learned that I could dream big and live it all to God. I also realized that I couldn't control things that happen to me. I have never been one to see the upside in most situation, but through preparing for this project, being on project, I could actually be joyful in all situations (got commended with the 1 Thessalonians 5:16 NLT award). I realized that I needed people to help me get through life. There are so many things beyond my control, and by giving them to God, life becomes a lot more managable.

What are some of the highlights from your trip?
The whole month was incredible, but I think the best part was seeing God answer our prayers. Spending time on campus, making friends and sharing God's love with the students and kids in elementary schools. They were always ready/willing to chat- about God and things of a spiritual nature, studies or life in Canada. But also, some great times include hanging out with my team (and roommates), the crazy bus rides and playing soccer with the Panamanians.

There, you got it, a brief overview of Panama. (If you have any questions, shoot me an email at ib.jay@hotmail.com, and I will answer you as soon as I can).

The feeling of being back Home!

I'm home now!  After over a day of travel, I'm finally home!  The anticipation of being home (as I was in Panama for 10 extra days) that was building up inside me has finally been able to be released.  However, it's not like I had expected it to be.  Actually, I didn't know what to expect.  It's weird and I'm not exactly sure how to react.

I feel that I'm in a numb stage right now.

I shed a tear randomly, but never more than that. 

I'm so happy to be home and so excited about the future.  But there seems to be a little piece of me missing. 

I recall the laughs and jokes I shared with my friends I made there.  I imagine hugging/greeting them in the Panamanian way.  I see their faces as they are so involved in the English club sessions. Their enthusiasm written all over their faces as they take part in the plan exercises. In my head I hear their voices reciting the English words given, I hear the choir singing songs of praise to God. I see the faces of those who came to Christ, I recall how they smiled as if a weight was lifted off their shoulders. I think about how they are now.  Will they remember me always?  Will they miss me?  When will I see them again?  Or will I? 

I no longer have four other girls sharing a room with me or living in a house with 24 people (called Casa de Hostal, i think).  I can be alone. I'm home alone.  But it's strange and almost eerily uncomfortable.  I haven't had time by myself for the one and half months.  What do I do?!  Part of me is missing.  My team.  My team that has help build me up.  My roommates.  The my team that has been through everything with me for the last 1.5 months.  My team that has shared tears, laughs, pain, sickness, prayer and more.  My team that has become my family!

This transitioning into the next chapter of my life may be a little harder than I thought.  But I won't allow fear to set in.  I won't allow the devil to hinder me from ministering to my family, friends, and strangers here in Canada.  I won't let up on serving the Lord.  I won't forget all that has happened the last 1.5 months and I will apply all that I've learned.  This chapter might have just ended but a new one is beginning to unfold. 

I cannot do it alone.  I no longer have my teammates, but my Master hasn't left.  My Leader.  My Lover.  My Savior. My Healer.  My Redeemer.  My Everything.  My Jesus Christ is with me to lead me every step of the way.  He will hold my hand.  He will count my tears.  He knows my sorrow.  He knows the plans for my life.  He will direct me.  And I trust Him.  I trust Him completely.  He is all I want.  Jesus Christ is the only one that will lead me and guide me through every step of my life. 

2 Samuel 22

I went into this project with a question: "Do I see myself doing missionary work in the future?." I cannot give a definite answer but I can surely say that now, I feel called to go to  Central America on mission trips (if it's God's will). 

Segunda Semana en Panama (2nd week in Panama)

Como estas Amigos?

I can finally understand a little bit of spanish when the panamanians and I hold a conversation (with help from hand gestures and speaking slowly, haha). So basically, I can introduce myelf, ask some questions about life in Panama and in the university and  questions in getting to know the students better, and move on to sharing the gospel and I can use SOLARIUM in discussion (because no matter the country, race or language, the pictures can still be used)!

The first week is the period we call the romantic phase. So after that, I got into the routine of the day. A typical day: wake up around 7am, breakfast between 7.30am and 8.30am and during that time, observe your quiet time. Training each morning begins at 8.45 am for about an hour and then we divide into teams and head off to the university (either the National campus or the Engineering Campus). We are in school for about 5-6hours and then we head back to either the hostal or the church. And free time is between the hours of 9pm till whenever you are ready to go to bed.

It was an interesting week because I got to learn certain things about myself both spiritually and in my relationships with people. One major thing I discovered was that at a certain point I stopped depending on God to lead the conversations with the students and I decided to lead my conversation on my own will. I noticed it in one of my conversations when I told the student (for lack of a better word) harshly if he was going to answer our question or not because I ran out of patience. Looking back on it now, I realized what the bible passage in 1 Thes 5:17 was referring to (the verse talks about praying continually without ceasing). I found the student later on during the week to apologize for earlier and we continued on the four spiritual laws, and the incident was used as an analogy (about forgiveness). This project has been a real eye-opener for me, as it has shown me how broken my relationships with people are and how  I need to constantly rely on God for help (Matt 7:7).

On Friday, I was on the team to the elementary schools to show the Jesus Film. That day will count amongst my top 10 happiest days ever. The way the kids face lit up at the beginning of the movie, their reactions during the movie, their response at the end of the movie (during the talk). It reminded me of how Jesus said in Mark 10:13-16. We also had classroom talks with 2 skits. One of the skits was on "My heart":in one of the classes, a female kid stood up and said that her heart belongs to God -> the skit was about a girl who gave her heart to God, then a guy came asking for it and she rejected him twice (even after he did push-ups for her and showed her how strong he was), then when he gave her flowers, she gave her heart to him and immediately after that, he used the heart as a basketball and smashed it, she was left crying and God called her and asked for her heart again which he restored for her, she later one told the guy to give his heart to God. The other skit -> we acted like chickens, cars and christains, but just because we behave like them doesn't mean we are, and so we need Christ in us to live through us (I can't remember majority of the talk because it was in spanish).

Also, this week we were able to see about 9 students come to Christ. It has been amazing an amazing week (though I am just completing this blog in the 4th week). I was able to do follow-up with some students from the first week, got an opportunity to chat with two english professor and one of them agreed to let my friend, Alice, and I give a classroom discussion next week (3rd week in panama). Also one of the students I am doing follow up with is challenged to change the world. I have never seen someone so passionate about that as he is, He wants to start out with changing his hometown and the surrounding cities. His name is Sergio, fourth year english student. I am super excited to see how God is going to use him as a change. Last awesome news, some students are interested in Vida Estudantil (VE!).

Some prayer requests:
- Join us in giving thanks to God (Psalms 136)
- Pray for completion of the office project, it is halway done and we have one more friday to work on it
- Pray that for those interested students and others that God should let them know if that is what he is calling them for.
- Pray for health and safety
- Pray for students we will be doing follow-up with, also pray for our upcoming Story of the Soul event

Mucho graçias for your prayers and words of encouragement. Currently, we are in our fourth and final week with 3 more days left on campus (this is a late update).

In Christ:
IB :)


PS: I hope to keep update on week 3 and this week soon. Seguir orando por mi.

First Week In Panama! Talk about the God's Greatness!!

Hola Amigos!

Today was beautiful and it was so nice out. The sun shining, cool breeze, the beautiful sounds of car engines and horns, whistlers and .... (*stop day-dreaming Ib). But anyways, it was beautiful nonetheless! It has been an eventful and lovely week. I have been able to witness God's wonderful works in the lives of Panamanians students and the professors too. HE is definitely worthy of all praises. And for safety, He kept His word from Psalms 121:8, "the Lord will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore".

More on the Panama, I love the public transportation here. The buses named "Diablo Reyo" meaning Red Devil, are pimped be the bus owners/drivers, with paintings all over the body and about 50% of the dash window.  On the inside are rows of seats with an aisle for standing room (basically picture a typical yellow school bus, and then customize it!) And bus fare is only 25 cents, I couldn't believe it! But the bus is usually PACKED, and there is little to no standing room. I am excited that we get to use this mode of transportation as this will be the last year it will be used in Panama as they are gradually switching to metro buses (similar to the ones in Canada).

The cuisine as I mentioned in my last post, is Mmm-Tastic. Below is a picture of one of the meals I have eaten so far (arroz con pollo)!
Loads of rice, plantain and chicken... that's what we eat most of the time!

Now, good news!!! Join us and the angels in heaven as we rejoice for the lost 14 souls that gave their lives to Christ last week on the university campus (where my team is based). It was a wonderful week. The language barrier was little to no obstacle to our spreading of God´s love for our lifes. On the other campus, Universidad Technologique du Panama (otherwise known as U-T-P), the team was invited to talk to a class on an impromptu basis, because the students were interested in chatting with them and the professor was amazingly kind to let them talk. They presented the 4 spiritual laws, and another student in the class (a guy on fire for God), stood up after the talk to help the team in closing, which is basically, if you will like to invite God into your life, raise you hands. Over half the class welcomed Christ into their lives, including the professor!. That was amazing!

For Friday, we worked on the Vida Estudantil Office (vida estudantil = Campus for Christ) here in Panama. Repainting the walls, doing art work to decorate the office space in other to make it really comfortable and eye-catching so that people will be more interested working there. We are joining them in praying for 10 new staff to join the office and be involved with the Vida Estudantil on both campuses so that they will be able to train and recruit people to go to the nations to spread the word also. (Picture above represents the team that worked on painting the office).

On the weekend we visited the Panama Canal, one of the major tourist attractions here in Panama. It connects the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean sea. So a ship will be able to cross easily instead of going around for a longer while. Below is a picture of it.

"Canal de Panama" and it's locks were completed in 1914. According to the guide (or should I say the voice we heard over the speakers), for a ship to cross the lock, one of the marinas (or locks crew) will have to board the ship in other to carefully sail it through the really narrow locks, and also the ship must pay a toll fee (which is over $200,000). The lowest toll ever paid was 36cents by a guy who swam through the panama canal.

For this week, some of us will be going to elementary schools to show the Jesus film. I am super-excited for that, and I am praying it goes well according to plan (if it is God's will).

Some specific prayer points:
- Thank God for safety and for the new believers!
- Pray for safety and health (a few of us are feeling sick)
- Pray for the office project, that the materials needed will be provided and we will be able to finish it before we go back to Canada
- Pray for ENERGY and STRENGTH!!!!! (it can be a little tiring)
- Pray for the English Club that we are starting on the national campus to help the english students!
- Pray that God will put a desire in the hearts of 10 people to want to become staff at Vida Estudantil
- Thank God for safety for our team!! 

We are almost half-way through the project. I am super excited as I have been able to see God change the hearts of Panamanians and I cannot wait to see more of his wonderful plans come to accomplishment.

Hope your week has been going great! Thank you for your prayers! Hasta leugo Amigos! :)

Buenas Noches:

Ib :)

First Few Days in Panama!

Beunas!

Como estas? Espero que todos ustedes están haciendo el bien!
He estado haciendo el bien!

(How are you? I hope you all are doing well, I am doing great)..

I will love to connect more personally with you all, so if you could please send me an email or reply to this post with your email address, that will be great!

I arrived safely in Panama on Thursday after approx 8 hrs of traveling! I was able to find my other team mate at the El-Salvador lay-over, which was great! We arrived at our housing later that night were I met up with my other team members (we are about 20 students).

Orientation ended on Saturday. After that we explored the beautiful city of Panama and I have to say that their cuisine is awesome (almost like nigerian food).  The Sunday service was a blessing, I got to worship God in Spirit and in Spanish. The church is bilingual so, we (english speakers haha) could understand.

One of my major concerns is the language barrier but God has been able to still minister through us to the students on Campus - Universitie de Panama (the National Campus). Our main focus is the "Electronica e Informatica" and "Ingles" faculty (that is: the electronics and information and english faculties) and also on another campus for the engineers called "U-T-P" .

On Monday, we started our ministry on the National campus just in these two faculties and the other university. I am with the team on the National Campus. GOOD NEWS: yesterday, two students came to Christ. One from the National Campus and one from the U-T-P campus. God has been wonderful.

Here's the story about the girl from the National Campus:
The National campus team split into smaller groups of two's and three's and we were told to go out and speak to students. I was a little bit nervous for a couple of reasons, the first one being that it's just scary sharing my faith and the second reason being the language barrier and hoping that they do understand and don't get confused as we try to speak in Spanish (or as our team members that speak a little bit of spanish try to translate for them).
Two friends and I approached this female student (yet to get confirmation from her if I can use her name in the blog) and she was interested in spending a little bit of her time with us and she said she understood some english words but couldn't speak. She was interested in knowing about this personal relationship with God and how to go about it. So we shared a little booklet called "the four spiritual laws". After talking for about 2.5hours, she asked us this question "how can I be 100% sure that if I die, I will go to heaven?"- that was the highlight of my day!!! So we said a prayer with her (the prayer in the booklet) on receiving Jesus, which she happily did. So join us in praising God!! She wasn't even in the faculty we decided to focus on. She is in law and the law building was on the other side of the university, so it was God's will that she was hanging out in the Electronics and Information building! :)

I still hope to keep you all updated through this blog over the next month or over summer :)

Some specific Prayer Requests:
- Pray for those who just committed their lives to Christ
- Pray for the students at the university that God prepare their hearts
- Pray that the language barrier wouldn't be an obstacle in sharing about this precious gift God has given us
- Pray for strength and energy for my team
- Pray for Safety

Thank you all so much for your continued prayers.

Hasta Leugo Amigos!
Ib :)

PS: Pray that I continue to learn and comprehend spanish well.. porque hablas un poco espanol!

Prepping for Panama

Hey Friends!!

As most of you may know, I will be going to Panama this summer from May 5th to June 5th with Campus for Christ. Our vision is to meet and develop relationships with local students, share our faith with them, help organize bible studies, follow-up with new believers, and help out with local missionaries.

So... welcome to my prayer/updates/interesting pictures/everything Panama Blog! I will try my best to keep you updated through this website and occasionally by emails! Thank you so much for your support both financially and prayerfully! I am so excited to see God transform the lives of Panamanians and also how I will grow in my faith!!

I do hope you keep up with me through this blog. Please continue to keep my team and I in your prayers! Have a wonderful month of May!

Blessings:
Jumbo, Ib =)