Well I come to you with a heavy heart. We are leaving tomorrow, and our hearts are heavy because of the relationships we have made in a very short time. God has done such an amazing work here in Panama. The road was paved long before we arrived. I truly do not want to leave. The Lord has His hand all over the people here in Panama. What a blessing Pastor Bert and his wife have been. Calvary Chapel Panama is doing such amazing things. It's too much for an e-mail. John 7:37: "On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.'" The spirit of God is moving in a mighty way. I would really encourage you to lift up our up coming trip back here in September in prayer, if you think God is calling you to come. It will be more than what I can put into words. I will close with this: Last year I spoke at our church when I got back from the tornadoes in Joplin. I stood in front of all three services and said I would not be going on any overseas mission trips, because I felt the need was too great in our own country for ministry. It is, but as I sit here in Panama, the Lord has showed me that you have to be willing to do whatever the Lord calls you to do. I told the Lord several years ago that I would pick up my cross and follow Him. He has called me on it. In Christ, Craig
We had another long but amazing day. We started off by going to meet up with a friend of Pastor Bert. Pastor Bert is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Panama, who we are staying with. We went to his friends house to pick him up on our way to go see some people that are part of a remote tribe here in the jungles of Panama. We got there and had a great time of fellowship. They were all believers in Christ. It was such a great experience for us to see how trusting and faithful they are to the Lord. I was so humbled by their out-poring of love towards us. Too much to put into words. This trip today was not on the calendar. We got what we needed yesterday for our upcoming missions trip in the fall. God has opened so many doors down here that there are too many to mention in this e-mail. Besides the doors opened down here, my heart is really just been flooded with love by Pastor Bert and the people of Panama. I am sad that we are coming home Thursday, but excited to come back in the fall. I would encourage you to start praying about our second trip back here. It will be incredible. In Christ, Craig
We are blessed by our pastor host. Had a great day visiting Fire Department and sharing the Lord. Tuesday we will be with indigenous people here in Panama. Thanks for your prayers!
I have been trying to give you daily updates, today is the first day I was able to get a signal to get out. The first day was a long one but we got here safely. Our first day out was yesterday. The first fire station we came to was a single engine that had four members. The whole company came to Christ. We then went over to head quarters and met with the fire chief and his staff. They can't wait for us to come back and do the training. It looks like September will be the month. Got to go we are going to minister to a tribe in the jungle. Send you a update later when we get back. God bless you, Craig
The Panama team have finished their second full day. Yesterday they were with firefighters and Panama City top fire chiefs. Today (Tuesday) they visited tribal people in the jungle. John said they were all precious believers, who came to Jesus fifty years ago when New Tribes came to Panama on a ship. John's uncle Gordon was first officer for New Tribes in Panama about that time. Enjoy the pictures which I will send one by one. Most of them will not have captions but I'll try to fill in where I know the facts.
4 firefighters received Jesus yesterday.
We presume Fire Dept. Heads.
Jungle home.
Could be a Bible on the right shelf.
Coloring on face from a fruit for a special celebration ...that lasts for a week.
More coloring from fruit.
Team with fearless missionaries ……who minister to indigenous tribes in jungles of Panama.
We are blessed by our pastor host. Had a great day visiting Fire Department and sharing the Lord. Tuesday we will be with indigenous people here in Panama. Thanks for your prayers!