Panama Week

I was in Panama last week. No, not the Panama that is being introduced to Hurricane Isaac this week but the country of Panama. It was incredible as usual. Quick summary, then I want to share something specific.

6 plane rides

2- 4 bus/van rides per day (on one trip the brakes actually caught on fire, fuego)

2 – 3 hour boat rides (one of them in a rain storm)

One marriage/family conference taught

Mass wedding for 50 or so couples

Slept in an open air church on a 2’x12’ wooden board (I’m just glad I fit)

Baptized dozens of people

Preached Jesus in 4 prisons

1600 people heard the Gospel and conservatively, 660 of them made decisions to follow Christ

Over 80 bug/chigger/flea/or something bites on my body (my uncle had that on one leg below his knee)

            There is so much good stuff and tough stuff that happened that I could never finish it in a blog or a one time sitting. But there is something about mission work that has always caught my attention. And here we go:

            Imagine if you will, being in a foreign country with very little control of your surroundings, your circumstances, or your itinerary. You don’t speak the language and you don’t know where you are or how to get anywhere else. You are just there, doing what you are told to do. If you take missions the way we do them, that is the basics. God is in control and we are following what we think is His direction.

            It’s tough. No doubt. It’s one of the hardest things in the world to do. Just do as you’re told because you believe that you are in God’s perfect will, fulfilling a mission. What I experience here in the good ole US of A is nothing like what I experience there. The hotels we stay in are mostly clean, sometimes comfortable, sometimes have AC, and sometimes have hot water. But we stay, because we are there to do something for God. The vehicles we travel, for the most part, we sent there only after a company here used them till they couldn’t use them anymore. Some have AC but most don’t. The roads in Panama are awful. I couldn’t think of a better way to say it. If Kelcey’s Mini Cooper hit one it would disappear forever. The food. Haha, it was authentic Panamanian. Rice every meal. We had chicken, rabbit, and pig. That was it. There was no choice. Eat or be hungry. The boats we ride in are homemade dugout boats for the most part. The only cover is a tarp that has been tied on poles over part of it. This trip we did get a military boat to take us. It was 30 or so feet long and 10 feet wide. It had 4-200hp outboard engines but no cover. We rode in this boat for almost 3 hours each trip and the second trip was through a rain storm. 40-50 mph on the water in a rainstorm without cover… yeah, it was interesting.

            When we went to do prison ministry the guards let us in. They didn’t follow us or lead us in; they opened the door to the block and then closed it behind us. Us, prisoners, and the Holy Spirit just had church and many received Christ as Savior. It was different than most people think here in the States.

            In the village, that we took the long boat ride to, there were no hotels. No running water except the ocean. No electricity except from the small generator that we brought to run the sound equipment for the conference. No McDonald’s sweet tea (I know, it’s horrific). No television. No cell phones, wait, scratch that, no technology, period. None. To say it was horrible is a bit strong. In a way it’s peaceful. But I like to sleep on a mattress.

            Here is the interesting part. We made it. None of the people from our church complained. No one wanted to abandon ship. No one got snippy or crabby. We did what we went to do. After all, the comforts weren’t why we were there. The people were. We went to share Jesus and offer them an opportunity to be married because nobody goes there and they couldn’t be officially married. No one questioned a hotel. We did, mind you, question the van when it caught on fire as we came off the mountain but once the fire was out we all climbed back in and off we went until the flames started once more.

            Planes were late, buses were late, it rained at very inopportune times but the team stayed on course. We had to wait almost 4 hours outside in the heat on the last day before finally getting into the prison. 4 HOURS! No joke, it was the hottest day of the week. We stayed, waited, and when they finally said we could go, we went. Because that is what we were there to do.

            How? How can we, as spoiled as we are in this country, go and do such a thing in those conditions without complaining? It’s simple actually. And, it can be applied here at home. No, really, imagine your life without complaints. Here it comes. You ready?

            The reason no one complained is because we were on a mission. And we knew what our mission was and we trusted God to take care of His end of the trip if we took care of our end. Our end was to go, be supportive, be positive, and work, and preach. No need to complain if you believe that God is in control. Good or bad!

            I fail, but I try to apply that while I’m home also. I think I’m doing what God wants me to do so I try to just trust him. Doesn’t mean I don’t mess up but I try to keep life in perspective. If you have the ability to read this on some electronic device then you are better off than most of the world. I have really never known hunger. I have a car. Actually, my family has 4. Our house is nicer than anything I stayed in last week. My AC is better and my hot water tank is enormous.

            Our mission is somewhat similar. You don’t’ have to preach to share the Gospel. Wherever God has placed you today you can simply work, don’t complain, and enjoy the fact that God has included you in His plan. There is much less stress when you consider the world instead of just your coworker or neighbor.

            People asked why we go. We go for many reasons. The main reason is that Jesus needs to be preached. But there are fringe benefits also. I am a better minister when I go. I’m also a better person. My wife doesn’t like it when I’m gone but she likes me more after I have been.

            What’s your mission? When you discover you are on one I’ll let you in on a secret. When you are on a mission you will work harder, longer, complain less, and be more patient than at any other time in your life.

            Get on a mission where you are today. You don’t have to go to a third world country but, I won’t lie, it does help when you get home.

 

            Pastor Dad