More Pics from Kaiser/MLK Day -- Habitat Build

A few more pics of the great work that happened locally earlier this week. Thanks to Susan Brown for these photos.

A Message From Sheila Smith . . .

My Life in Panama

Our adventure in Panama began the first night with an unplanned tour of Panama. Apparantely, Walter had never been to one of the host homes and after driving for what seemed like days and three phone calls to the host family we arrived at our first drop off point. Walter, Wayne & I then proceeded to our host family but first made a much needed food run at 12:30am for Wayne & Walter. The trip continued with Walter driving down a one way street, into oncoming traffic all the while thinking the other fellow was on the wrong side as Wayne and I protested, "Walter, this is a one way street and you're on the wrong side." I thought I was going home to Jesus and I had not even seen Panama yet.

The work here is amazing...bible studies, English lessons, construction, cooking, eating, laughing. Rut is my driver and personal shopper and each day we do our grocery shopping...Rut can stretch a dollar a mile. Gertrue, having recovered from a very bad couple of days is a great asset for me in the my kitchen...yes, it's my kitchen...it's off limits to Dolores. My new friend is the large electric skillet that Mike found for me. We have had fried potatoes and fried spaghetti. Ernie is working a tight ship with the work crew. A few nights ago, after Wayne sat down with a plate of food, Ernie let the crew know the work was not done for the evening...it's so pathetic to see my husband walk away from a plate of food...he's wasting away to nothing. Lynn has been a hoot. He is a work mule like Ernie and Wayne and loves to slop wet cement on anyone within a 10 foot radious.

And right now, as I type this message, I hold a beautiful 2 month sleeping baby...is God good or what!? I praise Him for this opportunity, for the beauty of this country, for the cooler than normal weather, for the people so kind you feel like you've known them forever and for this team of family and my DP family back home.

A Message from Talyor . . .

As adults we all go through the mixed emotions of watching our children head off to college or move some distance away. I think the four teachers (workers) have very similar feelings today as it is the last day we spend with our students (readers).We haven’t had the years to bond with them, however, a mere ten days has been enough to make it tough to say goodbye. I believe the feelings are mutual by listening to some our readers as they express the same. We hope the friendships we have started will yield the fruit we hoped for when this endeavor started.

here is a message from one of Taylor's students



Hello

Yes I am. Thank for the time you and Taylor spent teaching me. I really apreciate the biblie and everthing you share with me to contribute God s will.
i would like to help others like you, I really think that God has a plan in our life



Bless

Maritza

Divine Appointments . . . by Mike Crowley

We are continuing to meet with our different students each day. With each new lesson from the Word of God our exploration goes a little deeper into matters of faith. We have a large white board where we keep track of all of our appointments for each teacher and reader. We have begun calling this schedule board our “Divine Appointments.” It has become so clear to us that God is moving in incredible ways here in Panama. It is obvious that He has been preparing us to share His Word and preparing others to receive. For example, Taylor’s 10am reader named Itza told her today how she came to read with us. Itza told us that she has never read or even picked up the paper her entire life. Yet for “some reason” she picked up the paper a few weeks ago the day that Walter placed an ad in it for the LST program. She signed up with some reservations. She went on to tell Taylor that she had recently paid $1400 for an English course only the have the instructor disappear after only three lessons with everyone’s money. No wonder Edwin was so skeptical at first! Terry is reading with Maritza. Maritza told us that she came to read the Bible with us because she believes she is “supposed to be here.”
Today I had the blessing to read a passage from Luke with Edwin. As we were discussing the four different kinds of soil in Luke 8:4-15, he read the question in our material that asks, “Did you find youself in this story?” He said he did, that he was the rocky soil. He continued to say that he has let too many things distract him from Jesus. After a thrilling, deep conversation in a blend of his broken English and my pathetic Spanish, he asked me about opportunities to continue his reading. As I talked about Walter following up with him, he told me that while he has been enjoying reading English, talking about Jesus has meant even more to him! Can you believe it? This was our greatest skeptic, not only is he now our greatest recruiter, he is quickly becoming the greatest prospect!! What else can I say…… ??