Saturday, September 19, 2009

Panama Trek Wrap Up 2009

This years Panama Trek was a real blessing on many levels. Here are the high lights from this years trip:

Week One: 5 of the 7 of us arrived on Saturday around noon. We were met at the airport by the Cabezon's and stopped by a shopping mall for lunch and essentials (Panama telephone cards, etc.) then headed for the YWAM (Youth With A Mission) Base, located about 15 miles from Panama City. That evening we had an orientation time and learned more about the personal testimonies of Alex and Jennifer. Jennifer came to Panama over 10 years ago for a 6 month DTS (Discipleship Training School.) She fell in love with the people and the country of Panama and decided to make it her home. She has been on staff with YWAM ever since. About 7 years ago Alex Cabezon was also doing a DTS and one thing lead to another. A couple of years latter they got married and together they serve as YWAM missionaries to the indigenous peoples of Panama.

On Sunday our team helped out teaching a children's Sunday School class and Daniel sang the offertory in the service. Check out the video for more details.



On Monday our team went out to San Antonio, an indigenous village where Alex's mother lives. We worked that afternoon on the construction of her new village home. Monday afternoon Richard and Linda arrived and joined our team. That evening we got more orientation about the trip to Rio Hondo on Tuesday.

Tuesday we left before sunrise so we could meet the boat and use the tides to arrive at our destination during high tide. We traveled by van for about 2 hours then transfered our stuff to a 28 foot Panga Boat at the Port in Chepo. We then took the 3 hour trip down the Chepo River, out into the Pacific Ocean, and back up Rio Hondo to the village. Rio Hondo (Deep River) is a beautiful village located on a river. There are about 300 people who live there, most of them are indigenous Waunaan Indians. Alex, our leader, is also Waunaan, and he was especially eager to meet these people that he had heard were his relatives.



We stayed in the village for three days. During our time there we helped with a construction project, had two afternoon Bible Clubs with about 80 - 100 children from the village. As it turned out, most of the kids from the school came to the club where they heard stories about God, Creation, and Jesus. We even showed the Children's Version of the Jesus Film in Spanish. We also had sports activities where the village children whipped up on our team in soccer.

On two of the evenings we went to the church service and had the opportunity to share testimonies, do a drama, and even taught the people a new song. Check out the video for more details.



On Friday we returned by boat to Panama City. Saturday we had a break and did some sight-seeing. We visited the Panama Canal and toured the Colonial section of Panama City. Check out the Video for more details.



Week Two: Early Sunday morning our team and the Cabezons headed for the airport and the one hour flight to Bocas del Toro, island region to the North and West along the Caribbean Ocean. In Bocas, we met up the Kim and Dale Kapsar, who would be our host during this week of ministry with the Ngobe people, the largest indigenous people group in Panama. That afternoon we settled in and began to help the Kapsars who too had just arrived from the States a couple of days earlier.

On Monday we met with the teacher at one of the local schools to discuss the consturction project - building a restroom for the school. We also did some clean up and fixing up at the house and Dave worked on the Kapsar's boat, replacing some of the floor boards that had broken during their absence.

Tuesday was a day off, while we waited for materials and supplies to arrive. Part of the team went to Bocas del Toro town and the other went for a hike on Bastimentos. Wednesday morning we had the final meeting with teachers, parents, and political leaders and made final decisions and plans about how the project would be done. Wednesday afternoon we visited another village and school. Our wonderful Children's team, Richard, Linda and Lyndsey decided to have a Bible Club there upon the teacher's eager invitation. Check out the video for more details.



Thursday and Friday construction progressed at one school and "tree house" building at the Kapsar's while the children's team taught at the other school. Check out the video for more details.



Saturday we all headed back to Panama City in the early morning. That afternoon we did a little more touring in and around the city. That evening we had a great time going out to dinner with the Cabezons and several of the other YWAM staff with whom we had served during the previous week. Check out the video for more details.



I think the addition of our Children's Team was the high light of this years trip. It seemed that where ever we went, there were children eager to learn more about the Good News of Jesus and our Team was ready to fill that need.

If you would be interested in our new trip to Panama or Colombia in 2010, please get in touch with us. Contact Andrew Burnett, andrew@goodimpressions.us.

Sunday, September 6, 2009

MTI helps a Youth Watersports Camp

During the last weekend of August, our Director, Andrew Burnett took the family boat to participate with Hinson Church's "The Cove 2009". Every summer the Hinson youth head out to Eastern Oregon for a great time of water sports fun and discipleship. This year Mission Trek provided the gas for the Burnett's boat. Several of the 2009 Panama Trekkers were also part of the camp staff, including Andrew, Lyndsey Walker and Daniel Burnett. During one of the teaching times we were able to show one of the Panama Trek 2009 videos and later have the opportunity to share with many of the campers about the work of Mission Trek International in Latin America. Contact Andrew Burnett if you would like to have him share about the work of Mission Trek International, (503) 256-2043.