Fo shizzle my nizzle used to drizzle down in Hungary-izzle.
David and Isac working on their tracing their hands.
Aron tracing his hand
2. I drove for the first time. It wasnt quite as harrowing as "normal" driving, seeing as how I, the coward that I am, volunteered to drive everyone home 3 blocks from a devotion. And not to mention, it was all on back road, where a whole three people drive. And it was at 10 at night, so, yeah, I am really cool. At least I can say I have driven...
3. My first piece of mail from home came. Well, I got a Volunteer LCMS CD, big whoop, that hardly counts (Stacy, its a great CD!). But my first PERSONAL mail came, today. It only took a short seven days to get here, no hardly the three weeks I was told it would take. Thanks Jen, you rock my face off! Today was my first day at the post office, and I actually had something! It made my day. I even took a picture of it to comemorate this feeling of unphatomable joy. Oh, tear :*)
The beloved first piece of mail. Yes, I have enough free time to photograph my mail.
4. My last entry already alludes to this, but I had my first taste of Twinings tea here in Panama the other night. Still living in the high of that moment.
5. My first confrontation with the cops. Thats right, real, big-gun toting cops. We got pulled over becuase, get this, we were driving too slow. Thats right. I dont think it is a good idea to be advertising that Panamanians should drive faster.
6. My first house visit. I traveled with Pastor Ruben, from Los Andes, Marc and Cheryl to do a house visit to a teacher who is very close to becoming involved in the church. One of the many things that God has shown his continous work through the people in Panama. More house visits are on the plate for the rest of the week.
7. First Concert/Recital. And wiat. Not just the first recital I attended here in Panama, but actually the first chello recital here in Panama, ever. My friend Joy takes lessons here in Panama and had her recital tonight. There have been three scheduled in the past, however, Panamanians cuaght drift of it and started protests each time they have been planned. No, not really, although all the others have been cancelled becuase of riots....coincidence, I think not. "NO MAS CHELO!"
Joy and her teacher, Susan Richter, in the Chello Recital.
Well, I could go on forever. These firsts have been a way that I have been blessed mightily by the Lord. My time in Panama has shown me the endless bounds of God's love, and how people from an entire different culture, who speak an entirely different language crave to know that Christ loves them just as much as I do. And I see affirmations of that love in the people's smiles, the children's laughs and the pastors sermons. Yes, there are things that are different, and things that have made me have many cultural "firsts", but it comes to this: We are children of God, working through the love of the Spirit, and we are all one the One who loved us enough to die for us, when we had abandoned, blasphemed and descrated Him. And the community doesnt stop here. I hear of prayers for me in a church in Madison, WI, a place I have no contact with, and I am reminded of the uniting power of God's love. And as I said in my Saturday when we were reviewing same and different, even though we are all different, there is something that makes us the same: That God loves each and everyone of us just as much as the other. Praise be to God!
Me Celebrating Yom Kippur at one of the few open locations in Panama City.
Happy Yom Kippur! Panamá has a large Jewish population, and more than half the stores celebrate their holidays, so I am ever reminded of our spritual ancestors here in Panama. I decided to repent today and ask forgiveness for my lack of bloggingness during the last week. In order to show my repentence, I have an extra special blog entry today. Hopefully they will have you letting out as much laughter as we tried to hold back when these events transpired.
Today, we went to see some of the sights in Panamá. The history of Panamá starts with Panamá La Vieja (The Old City), which was the first European settlement on the Pacific Ocean. Founded in 1520, Panamá City quickly became important as a trading route. It became the starting point of almost all Southern American Conquests, such as Pizzaro’s Conquest of Peru, and it is said that about 90% of the treasure from all the Spanish’s New South American Empire passed through Panama. This made it a very important city, and a very attractive target for pirate attacks. However, the Spanish built the city right up against the ocean, and they thought is defenses were impenetrable. Hardly did they expect someone to attack from land, (why this did not cross their mind seems like a very large, obvious omission, since they were literally depending on the defenses of one side of the city to carry them through an attack, and three sides of the city were left very highly vulnerable.) Well leave it to Captian Henry Morgan (yes, the pirate man with a brand of rum named after him, more commonly known as one the most feared pirates of all times, although he appears rather jovial on all his liquor jars, like a slim Santa with less manicured locks, and not quite as many teeth) to do exactly what no one was expecting. He marched on the city, from Colón and Portobelo, the most important cities on the Atlantic side of Panamá, and sacked Panamá in 1672. The city was completely ruined, not so much due to dear old Henry, but rather from the Spanish burning the city to make the inevitably ensuing ransacking less successful and swift. The city was left abandoned, and things in Panamá shifted to a new city, which was brilliantly named Panamá La Neuva (The New City).
Me in a ruined convent in Panama La Vieja
The Tower of the Main Cathedral in Panama La Vieja
Panamá La Nueva (although it is “new” it is still called the Casco Viejo, the Historic Part of town) was the seat of the French, when they had rights to build the canal. Therefore, it is very European and very Colonail. The buildings are beautiful, and there are many historic places, one being the Plaza de Francia (French Plaza), which juts into the bay of Panamá and provides great views of the city. We also saw the national theater, the Presidential Palace, a country club that citizens tore down with their bare hands to demonstrate their loathing for Norriega, the national Legislation building, and the Cathedrals of the Casco Viejo.
However, the best part of the day came when we were at lunch. To say the least, a peculiar man was sat at the table next to us. If his large bug-eye sunglasses weren’t enough to merit a quick “don’t make it obvious but check out this weird guy” look, his pet plastic giraffe was. Slung under his arm, like some kind of precious Paris Hilton poodle, was a plastic giraffe. At first I expected a kid to come running out the bathroom and say something redemptive to the situation, like “thanks for holding my giraffe weird sunglasses dude,” however, such would not happen. He proceeded to sit down, by himself (for obvious reasons). Sitting at the table by himself must have gotten lonely, because he sat his giraffe on the table and actually started petting it. At points, we thought we even heard conversations. Perhaps the giraffe was complaining that he did not get enough greens for his taste, or perhaps he couldn’t bend his neck down to reach the plate. After copious chatter and wonderful human to giraffe contemplation, the man paid his bill, picked up his precious cargo, gently tucked him under his arm, and left. Perhaps Geoffrey the Giraffe had to get back to ToysR’Us, having only an hour for lunch break. We finally had a chance to talk openly about the events that just passed before our eyes, discuss if in fact they were not a hallucination, and this was a restaurant, not an insane asylum, and laugh outloud everything we had been trying, not very successfully, to hold in.
Yes, he is staring lovingly into that plastic giraffe's eyes.
This past week has been a lot of meeting people, going out with friends, seeing the country, more orientation, driving around the city and getting to know Panamá a little better. I spent a lot of time driving around, especially downtown, and getting to know the street names. We took a friend downtown to apply for jobs, and that was good way for me to tour the city. I found out that a whole portion of the city is built on fill from the Canal. I also got to go out with friends to a new wine bar, as well as hanging out in our apartments watching movies.
This entire section of Panama City is built on fill from the canal. Safe, really.
New Wine Bar on the Cuaseway. From left, Joy, Kathia, Noriel, Me, Marc and Cheryl
I also went to some of the churches I will be teaching out with some of the missionaries. I went to Río Rita, which is a neat little town. I observed a confirmation class and a theological education by extension class there, lead by one of the career missionaries here, Marcos Kempff. I also went to Los Andes, where I helped out with an English bible study, and music practice for the worship team. I am starting to get a feel for some of the different churches, and will meet more with the pastors to see what things they look forward to in my English classes.
Jesus Divino Salvador, the church I will work at in Rio Rita
I am also starting to really fell the awkward moments of sticking out. Even though Panama is used to having foreigners around, it is still an amazing sight for them to see a gringo. Today at Panamá La Vieja, since it was a school day, there were more students on school trips than tourists and at one point, we over heard a group of them sheepishly heading over to us and whispering amongst themselves. “I want to talk to the gringos.” Also, the gas prices have sky rocketed here, since the government stopped subsidizing the cost of oil. This combined with the fact that George W Bush, his highness, has announced he will visit in November, have lead to “manifestations” in the streets this entire week. In fact, in order to avoid mass problems, the university was completely shut down during the past few days. What a great time to be a gringo driving a car in Panama! No really, it has been very peaceful protests that have only caused some traffic problems in certain areas. Still, pray for all people in the city to stay safe in this time.
Other than that, I am hanging out in Paradise! Things are really well here in Panama, and I am seeing God work in the small things. Panamanians speak really fast, and have a really distinct accent, yet I understand them and have communicated well everything I need. God has provided many people here who can help me with the problems I have, and a group of friends who are my co-workers and have been a blessing to me! He has also provided a ripe situation, as every where I go, I am asked when I am going to start English Classes. I pray for God to use me in these sitautions, to bless the people he puts in my life, and that through them he continues to show me the abundence of his grace.
Until next time, keep plugging…
p.s. stay tuned for nexts week episode, the slow, the fast and the uncoordinated...pictures from Salsa lessons...
The entrace to the Nispera Zoo in El Valle.
Our first stop was the local zoo. I was surpised that they actually had real animals, unlike most small town zoos in the States. However, dont ever let The Animal Protection Agency get a hold of this place. Nor do I think the Zoo Security Counsil should hear about it. As I headed through the zoo, all I could think about was getting the next episode of "When Animals Attack" on tape. Amidst the tension of the ever present danger of animals stampeding out of their ever so secure chain link fences, I made my first Panamanian friend. I call him Herbert the Monkey. Actually I think he was from Africa or Asia. And he was probably just using me for my waterbottle. Not to mention that he didnt really have the cognitive abilites to see that the waterbottle was not going to fit through his chickenwire cage, not matter how much he shook it. And, then there the fact that, well, he was a monkey. So nix that whole friend thing.
"Herbet The Monkey, you silly little guy. Stop Trying to take my waterbottle with your extremly plaible tail!"
Yes, that is an unfortified CHAIN LINK FENCE seperating me from that very large, very angry ostrich.
This toucan, unlike Herbert the Monkey, is actually a native to Panama.
We also got some really good views of El Valle from the main center part of the zoo. We ate a really appitizing lunch, and had time to shop before it absolutly poured rain for about 45 minutes(a common occurence here in Panama.)
View of El Valle from the Zoo. El Valle is IN a volcano, and the mountains in the back are the old crater of the volcano.
Then when we tried to get to the thermal springs. Arriving was no problem. However the local Bob Marley Bus (it actually had a doobie painted on the back) filled with chicitos and chicitas was parked, with all the little ones pouring out. Deciding we did not wish to trot around half naked in front of Carriben sun lovin' children gauking at our pasty white gringo bodies, we waited for the doobie bus to be loaded with all its awkward adolescent cargo. However, as I have found out, things do not happen quickly here in Latin America and the five minute wait time we were promised by a cheery gatekeeper soon turned into twenty minutes of us sitting in the car, watching every kid come and try to avoid the large puddle that at point had gathered at the entrance. Feed up, we finally went in, only to find out that they were closing the springs becuase of the rain. We made a promise to come back some other day.
So thats a typical day in the life of a missionary! Need a vacation that will sure provide some laughs and lots of time to update your blog? Be a missionary! You can sign up by contacting LCMS anytime. No, just kidding. I am fortunate to have this couple of weeks to just relax and get used to everything Panamanian. You should be thankful too, as I have plenty of time to spice up my blog entries with stories of drug decorated buses and ostriches on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
Seriously, I look forward to finding out more about the people I am now living among and how God can use me to fulfill some of their needs. I look forward also to seeing how God can teach me more about his abundent grace through the people he has provided around me!
Me with the skyline in the background; taken from the Panama Cuaseway.
The last couple of days have been really, really busy! I have been meeting people, figuring out my way around and seeing and tasting new things! Heres a quick summary of whats been going on!
Sunday brought Church at Balboa, the city where I live, and time to relax and unpack. I also went shopping, and let me tell you, dont plan on buying anything when there is a sale! They had a sale on meat, but there was no meat left to rebajar (put on sale)!
Yesterday picked up a bit, as I went with the music volunteer missionary with AMILPA to two different churches. We went to Rio Rita, a small village up in the mountians on the Atlantic Side, where Joy, the music missionary, gave lessons to some students from the Pastors house. I got to meet the pastor and his family, and as well as have an incredible Nicuarguagan breakfast. But wait, you think, arent you in Panama? Well, yes, but Pastor Pedro is from Nicuarguaga, so he treated us to homemade tortillas and beans and the best coffee I have ever had in my life. After Rio Rita, we headed even closer to the Atlantic, to Sabanitas, where Joy proceeded to give more music lessons and I helped out by playing piano for the large group session. I got to meet some students at this church, which is about 10 km from the Atlantic. So in one day I went from the Pacific Ocean (from which I live about 2 kms) to the Atlantic Ocean. Sabanitas is a larger town than Rio Rita, as it is closer to Colon, the largest city on the Atlantic Coast of Panama. We took some students to their houses after lesson, and then drove through the rainforest to get home. We drove past Madden Dam, where the keep the reserves for the canal, since the canal uses freshwater. We also drove past Chagres national Park, a tourist's rainforest paridise. The day ended with a trip to Panama Centro (Downtown Panama City), a traffice nightmare! We ate at a nice little itialian cafe called Pomodoro, and did some errands downtown.
Today brought some more time to relax and see part of the town. We went to the Cuaseway, a strecth of land that connects three islands and was built with all the dug-out dirt of the canal. They also continue to extend the cuaseway with all the dirt and sediment the drugde out of the canal. There were good views of the city from the Cuaseway. We saw the skyline, Ancon Hill, and the Bridge of the Americas. We went to a nice restaurant for lunch and I had a wonderful Sea Bass Salad with drink, appetizer and dessert for $5. Since the Smithsonian Marine Exhibt was not yet open when we got there, the fruit market was the next destination. It was a combination of smells that I have never quite experienced, the sweet pineapples, the not so sweet peppers and everyonce in a while a huge whiff of very overripe fruit (I dont think the would call it rotten since they are obviuosly after my balboas!) Then my favorite part of the day, nap time! Now its dinner time! Today we also meet Sally and Jerona, the secretarys and bookkeepers for the church here in Panama, and my land-lady, who got in a hilariouos phone battle over the phone with our phone company, who is charging us for using 40,000 minutes of call time when no one lived in this apartment!
View of the city from the Causeway, with the obligatory cargo boat waiting to get in the canal
"And now to Traffic: Traffic moving slowly on the Canal Corridor, backed up for miles; alternate routes advised. Try going around all of South America."
Not just random hills. The hill on the right is Ancon Hill, and the small hill in the middle is where my house is. If you blow up the Picture you can see Bridge of the Americas to the left, which crosses the Canal. You can see how close my apartment is to the canal.
Some of my observations thus far:
1. Humidity, humidity, humidity! This isnt so much an observation as a heavey hammer that hits you everytime you step out of an air conditioned room, but I havent seen a humidity report here, becuase I think it is a given that it is always at least 100 million percent. Well thats what you get for being right on the ocean and surrounded by jungles on all sides. Towel anyone?
2. People here have more time than money. Friends on the streets are more important than office memos and schedules. This means that when you plan to start at 10:00, you can show up at 11:30 and be on time. This also means that when people have you to their house, they pull out all the works, like Pastor Pedro.
Those are the main ones. I have been seeing so much that at this point I am just trying to take in as much as I can. I pray that God would bring to my attention things that would help me better understand the people I am serving and how to better have relationships with them. I also pray that God would use this time to mold me into someone who can share his truth and how it has impacted me with those around me.
For today, thats it. As I begin to understand what it means to be away from home and my culture, and what awaits for me, I think of the great things that God has in store for the people of Panama, for my friends and family, and myself:
I know the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD. They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope. Jer 29:11
Traditional Kuna Wear
Oh yeah, there was fireworks tonight, and I like to think that it is Panama's way of wecloming me!
Fireworks over the Bridge of the Americas, which I have to cross to get to Loma Cova.
