I knew that taking a missions trip to a foreign country would be a complex, involved process of details...but come on! This is insane! I packed way too much stuff in a backpack that weighs over 40 pounds and there is a constant stream of trip details that must be dealt with on a daily basis. Who in their right mind would put themselves through this?

It may be insane, but is first and foremost incredibly awesome, that is, the God kind of awesome. We know that He has commissioned this trip and has the results in his hand. Just being a part of God's plan to reach the lost people in this part of the world is absolutely amazing. Yes, it is worth the insanity of details!

Dear Lord, guide our every word and our every action while on this short trip, prepare the people ahead of time that you would have us talk to, soften the hearts and clear the minds of the Guaymi Indians, change hearts and lives, both theirs and ours. I know this is your will. Amen.

 

Just 3 days now from leaving for Panama. This trip is WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY outside my comfort zone, as least as far as the physical/camping/outdoorsy aspect is concerned. But, I am living proof that God can take a person with little earthly talent, a man of questionably average looks and much below average height, and put that person in unbelievably extraordinary circumstances to serve Him. God searches our hearts constantly to see if He can use us in these types of circumstances. I am flooded with joy and as he has found me faithful enough to call me to this mission in Panama.

 

Here is the general Itinerary for our Panama missions trip (attached, see link below), coming up now in just a week!!!

Keep praying for us. I wnat deperately for lives (theirs and ours) to be changed by God while we are there and I know tha is what God wants too. Pray hard.

Itinerary Panama 2008.doc (27.5 KB)
 

I think I have an idea now of what I will be "preaching" on when in Panama in 4 weeks (can't believe it's that soon!). I was told to prepare at least 3 sermons or messages to deliver in the evenings. Here is what I am thinking as topics:

1. Incredible grace/a call to faith and repentance (evangelistic)
2. Being "broken" before God (growing as a Christian)
3. Becoming free to live the life God expects (growing as a Christian)
   

If I have time I might add an extra to keep just in case, probably about God using the trial of life to make us who He wants us to be.

I'm not a "preacher" and have no degree from seminary, so pray for the the right words and my nerves! Praise God for this opportunity. I know HE will change many lives in Panama through us.

 

Many months ago when faced with the opportunity to take a 1 week missions trip to Panama I was, admittedly, not all that excited. The church was heavy into our Mall Evangelism project and that was about all I could think about. However, after a bit of prayer I did realize that God was calling me to go to Panama.

Well, after a bit more prayer, after our Mall Evangelism closed out (very successfully I might add), and after a lot of thought, God completely changed my heart and my attitude about the trip. Once again, He has shown me that he is completely able and ready to use an average guy like myself to do amazing things **IF** I have the right attitude. In this case, simply seeking Him in prayer and thought fixed my attitude. I am extremely excited to tell the Panamanian people that Jesus Christ can change their life from the inside out and that they can know with certainty where they are headed after death.