We only saw one ball of fur....

01/04/2014 It's Saturday morning and I woke up to the most beautiful scene, well worth the 6:30am wake up! Costa Rica is just so beautiful and so peaceful (well at least where we are!) It's much cooler here than in Panama because of the elevation....I guess we are slowly getting our bodies used to what we have to look forward to when we fly in tomorrow. ;) This morning we are headed to Poas Volcano! It's so beautiful there and I pray we get to see it clearly! Yesterday we stopped at the beach for lunch. The water was nice and it was really warm. We had plans to go to the Sloth Sanctuary, actually this was our highlight of our tour days. The trip fell through :( and many of us were sad! We were hoping to hold a sloth or at least paint it's toenails! :) definitely on the list for next year....WE WILL DO IT!!!!!! We ended up at the platter place for dinner last evening. It was very yummy and nice to sit and have a meal together. After the volcano we are headed to a cafe to purchase coffee and see the plantations along the mountains. Then it's off to Morovia for shopping!! Birds, here we come!!! Our tradition of Pizza Hut is this evening...whose birthday will it be???? ;) I can't believe this trip has almost come to an end! Next time my plan is two weeks....we never seem to have enough time and we always leave wanting more! Please pray for our returning....we are concerned that we won't make it into Chicago and if we do, we will be stuck there. Lots of prayers are appreciated!!

Never ride in a car with strangers does not apply in Changuinola....

01/03/14 You'll notice that the date on the previous post is completely wrong! You can tell that 1. I'm really tired and 2. Changing years always confuses me!! I apologize for the delay on posts! We have been so busy, busier than most trips I've taken!! I've literally had an hour each day to get ready and maybe sit for 15 minutes before we are on to the next task! Not a complaint, because it's very hard to complain when you are witnessing people come to Christ, but it's just been a long week!! We completed our week of work! I was so excited about all the work we accomplished! The added stairs were completed and we left Cielo to finish the railing. Three rooms were painted inside for their classrooms that they use for a school during the week! On Thursday afternoon I was volunteered (thanks Kerri!) at 3pm to paint flowers on the wall!! Took me a few hours, but they were completed! I wish I had more time to paint more murals! Maybe next time! Many worked on the wrought iron that needed to be painted and the new added kitchen wall was finished as well! We are excited to see the kitchen be completed as with some money that was donated, a refrigerator, stove, and microwave was purchased!!! Wednesday evening a few went to canvas the area where a new church plant is beginning! Our group headed there to show the Jesus Film in the evening! What a night! Many people were waiting when we pulled in and you could just see the people walking toward the shelter from all directions! We began with our David and Goliath skit and by the time we began the film there were over 300 people there! Some sitting, some standing, some on bikes, others under umbrellas! It reminded me of the story of Zacchaeus....It didn't matter, He found a place where he could see Jesus! Afterwards there was a call to receive Christ and around 30 children and a few adults came forward!! We were so excited for the response! I look forward to when a team of people can go and build a structure for a church to meet in this new Finca and I hope I can be a part of it!! On Thursday evening we had a baptismal/farewell service in the Baptist church. It was a very nice service....Pastor David from El Silencio preached and Yanis led the music. Cabot even played the drums! Several were baptized. We had a time of fellowship afterwards and said "hasta luego" to many of those we've grown to love! Today we woke up and headed down to the church for our group photo and prayer time! Many of the church people met us there to pray with us. The church gave each of us a gift and it was a very special time as Pastor Nieves anointed each of our hands with oil. It was truly a blessing! Always sad to end our time in Changuinola. It usually goes too fast and we are always sad to leave them. Time does not stand still and we miss out on a lot when we head back home. I'm very blessed and I always want to spend just a little more time with the people.....continue to pray for Changuinola....

2014....a new year.....

12/01/2014 It's 2014!!!!!!!! Felix Años Nuevo!!!!!!!!! We rang in the new year....Panamanian style!!!!!! After working all day at the worksite, some of the team headed to Finca 11 and showed the Jesus Film. Finca 11 has a church....it's very neat, a sidewalk with homes on either side and you eventually run into the church, which is nestled among all of the homes. The church was filled with many children and some adults. Many came forward to accept Christ. It's always so exciting to see people come to know Him, even if you don't understand the language! God understands!! To celebrate New Year's, we had a church service with lots of music and Derl Keefer, from our group, preached the message. Afterwards we gathered outside, ate a meal together and shot off fireworks as the clock struck midnight! Even though many of us were very tired, it was an awesome time to celebrate with our family and friends here in Panama! Lots of work is getting done....the stairs will be framed up tomorrow and then walls being built inside are getting higher! A fresh coat of paint is being put on many walls in the classrooms....we can see progress for sure.... Continue to pray for our group! We have been blessed so far.....

A new start.....how will you begin?

12/31/2013 Today was an amazing day! A lot of work was completed today at the church including more work on the stairs, lots of painting, and more block laying. Along with all of the work, we are having fun on the worksite as well! :) It's New Year's Eve....the end of 2013, the beginning of 2014. What a way to begin a new year, but by serving! Personally, I have been thinking back on my 2013....what did I do? What are some highlights? What moments would I'd like to do over? This is the time to reflect, re access, and decide what your 2014 will look like. This doesn't mean stress or worry about it, but we can evaluate! What's great is that it's so exciting to know that we can walk into the new year with God. We don't have to enter it alone, we don't have to go through trials alone, and we don't have to celebrate alone! We have an amazing God who wants to walk with you. Maybe you don't have that, and maybe you are interested in knowing....this is your year!! 2014 could be the year that you give up all of the junk, drama, and worries....and start a fresh life with God! I pray each of us as we make our goals or resolutions for this coming year, adds to that list "Spending more time with God." We all could use a little more of that.....

Blessings at La Gloria....

12/30/2013 So I'm sitting here in the lobby of the Hotel waiting on our group to rise and shine. I'm listening to the Panamanian news blaring, because that's how they like all noise, music, tv....LOUD! Today is our first work day at the church. Yesterday was a very nice day. We went to the church service in the morning and had a great time of worship! Afterwards we had pizza :) and some of the group filled bags to take to La Gloria. We headed to La Gloria in the afternoon with Nina (Pastor Anhil's daughter). She's a very sweet young woman who knows English and has been a major help to our group! La Gloria was amazing as usual! When we arrived this time all of the children were sitting in the church (more like a blocked park shelter) and singing songs with Pastor Anhil. We were so amazed at even when we pulled out all of the goodies, the children were so quiet and stayed seated the entire time! They enjoyed our skits for them....David & Goliath and Zacchaeus. They were a lot of fun! We organized our gift bags and our flip flops this year so we could line the children up and pass the things out. Three years ago it seemed like we were just completely bombarded with children when we pulled out the flip flops, we didn't want that this year! It was awesome to hand this little boys and girls (and some older children), mostly with bare feet or very dirty flip flops, a new pair of flip flops that were their very own! What a blessing! If my count is correct, we handed out over 160 bags and even more flip flops!! We are so thankful, especially, for those of our friends who have taken part in this trip, not by coming, but by giving! Whether you gave flip flops, the many bags, or the toys....everything was donated and we appreciate everyone giving a little to make those amazing few hours possible! More coming....

The fear of the bridge does not run as deep anymore...

12/29/2013 It's Sunday morning and I'm awake for church. Quiet in my room, just a peaceful humming of the air conditioner. After last night's craziness next door, I'll take the air conditioner! Well we made it to Changuinola, Panama!! All of the flights were great, smoothest travel day we've ever had! Yesterday morning we left on our bus ride to Panama. It was a beautiful ride as always in the rain forest and along the beach. For those of you who've been to Panama, you know how fabulous (insert sarcasm) the walk across the bridge is. Broken pieces of wood, rusty metal, and semis trying to get around you as you trek across the bridge hoping to miss a hole and praying none of the moving boards pop up and hit you in the face! (You know, like in the old cartoons, I think it always happened to Tom in Tom & Jerry! Ha!) well........now they've built a new bridge alongside of the old bridge. Of course the new bridge is only for vehicles and we still have to continue to walk on the old bridge, but we don't have to contend with vehicles and semis anymore! :) it is the little things in life.... Last evening we had a great meal served to us by Yanis and the ladies of the church. We were able to see Pastor Nieves, the boys (oh my! They've grown!), Alicia, Dario, and Arcenio, among many others. It was a great reunion! Today we will be headed to church and then to La Gloria! We are all very excited for this trip! We love La Gloria and then people we get to see there! We are praying this year we have more than enough flip flops to pass out to the children of La Gloria. They said it has grown with over 100 children in the church, with I'm sure more coming out of the wood works when we arrive! They also said that the local church has worked on their building as well, so we can't wait to see all of the changes made! Our schedule this week is very busy. We are at the worksite Monday-Thursday, showing the Jesus Film Monday and Wednesday night, NYE Celebration on Wednesday, and hosting bible schools in between all of it! It's going to be a long, exhausting, but amazing week!! Please keep us in your prayers....we have already been blessed by everyone's prayers already....

In anticipation....

So just a quick post this evening as I finish up the packing and head to bed to endure a very long day of traveling! I can't believe in just a few short hours I will be getting on an airplane to embark on my 9th trip to Panama! I'm looking forward to this year's trip, just as every year! I anticipate a great group of people who come from all walks of life. I anticipate an exciting project, along with VBS, and showing the Jesus Film. I anticipate seeing the faces of some of the most amazing people we've been privileged to be able to call family. And I anticipate a time of renewal, refreshing, and a time of closeness with God. Every year is different, and every year we say it's the best! I can't wait to see what this year holds for us! Please pray for us if you will! Here is a list of the people in our group! Jeremy and Rebekah McLaughlin (WI) Cabot McLaughlin (WI) Rosie Stanchik (WI) Vikki King (WI) Lori Slaney (WI) Robert Slaney (WI) Derl and Karen Keefer (MI) Bryan and Sheila Baker (IL) Gabe and Kerri Manis (CO) Al Smith and Karen Wenger (IN) Karen Renner (IN) Jama Pyle (IN) Kristen Cook (IN) Jamie King (IN) Julia Sorrell (IN) Lois Pines (IN) Thank you for you prayers!! I will be posting as much as I can on this trip....keep looking out for it!