Mountain of God

Panama from the mountain top!

Third day has a beautiful song called The Mountain of God. If you have never heard it before, may I suggest hitting up itunes and splurging for it...or grab their whole cd next time your at the music store. But moving on and getting to my point, read these lyrics. I saw these lyrics come to life yesterday. The song is about getting through hards times, and though yesterday was not a hard day at all, this song came to life!



Even though the journey’s long
And I know the road is hard
Well, the One who’s gone before me
He will help me carry on
After all that I’ve been through
Now I realize the truth
That I must go through the valley
To stand upon the mountain of God



As I travel on the road
That You have lead me down
You are here with me
Yes, You are here with me
I have need for nothing more
Oh, now that I have found
That You are here with me
Yes, You are here with me



Let me explain, we went hiking yesterday. Panama City has a beautiful rain forest in the centre of the city. The hike took about an hour traveling uphill through the most beautiful greenery you could ever imagine! Such beautiful plants, interesting flowers, everything you would expect a rain forest to be and more! As we hiked to the top, all I could think was wow, wow, WOW!




From the top of the hill you can see all of Panama City, the view is like nothing I have ever seen before! And God met me there. He said "Sarah, I want you to see this, understand this, to really appreciate the beauty of the view from the top you have to experience the bottom from time to time, but I created both just let me show you, and there is beauty in both, just let me show you, and I am there in both just let me show you ."




God is so good to me, it was such a treat to see the beauty he has created here in Panama, my first thought from the top of the hill was "wow, He's bragging a little...this is perfection!" Created just to show us that if He wanted to, He is more than capable of perfection. My second thought, "I wish I could share this experience!" I can't adaquetly describe to you the view, the beauty, and the vastness of what we were able to enjoy. The pictures don't do it justice.

The team after making it to the top...hot, sweaty, ready for more!

(L-R) Me, Lindsey, Jessica, Jon

(In Front) Tricia & Steve

So it wasn't a hard hike, or a long one...not a real trial by any means, but the contrast between between the top and the bottom was so extreme. And just like the lyrics in the song, He was there with me, and is here with me.

Lindsey and I on the way back down...we found a crazy leaf!

News things to get used to...

So as one often does when in a new place, they compare the old to the new. I have been trying to do that, I don't want to make Canada and home an unrealistic fantasy land, but that being said there are some things that I just can't help but compare!!

To start, the weather and how people deal with it. At home, everyone goes inside to escape the cold and to warm up. This in Panama is not the case, here people go inside to cool down and escape the heat. A second observation we've made is steam. My friend and teammate Tricia had an ice cream yesterday and we notice one very bizarre occurrence, her ice cream steamed! At home hot things steam, here the cold things do!

In serious though, the biggest adjustment that I have had to get used to is the racism. In some ways I am glad that I am experiencing it, in others it is just plain horrible I hate being judged by the color of my skin. Just walking down the street and people honk their horns, roll down their windows and yell racist remarks at you. "Gringo, gringo, gringo", it is disgusting. Panamanians generally don't like Americans as a rule, and in some ways it is understandable...they have quite the history. But no one wants to hear that I am Canadian...not American.

On the upside of things, those you love you, love you a lot and would do anything for you. And I have met some wonderful people even only after being here a week have made some great friends. I have also found a wonderful church to worship at here, it is very mission centered, and I have felt right at home there. The message is preached in English, and those who only speak spanish listen to it on headphones via a translator who sits at the back. The worship is very moving, sung in both english and spanish. I am hopefully going to be joining a small group and they also as a church have wednesday night soccer, I am looking forward to going to that each week. I am so glad I brought my gear with me from Canada.

my love to all,

Sarah

Aug-Sept Update...

Hola from Panama! It is so good to be back. We arrived just a week ago after exhausted after19 long hours of travel, but our excitement was all that was needed to keep us going.
We’ve had such busy days since arriving. Settling into a new country is proving to be a much longer and challenging process than we anticipated. The language barrier is definitely a challenge for us daily; I am finding this especially challenging and frustrating at times as I currently have next to no Spanish. The people are so gracious and are helping me out so much, each day I am doing a little more with out the help of someone to translate for me.
Finding and securing apartments has been no easy task either. Preference is given to Panamanians over foreigners and much more documentation and requirements exist for us. We have managed to secure one apartment for the girls, and we are still looking for one for the boys to move into. I am looking forward to moving into the apartment this weekend and making it a home away from home.
We went to campus for the first time yesterday, it was wonderful. Attending the weekly meeting of the Campus for Christ ministry was such an encouraging time. About twenty students were there, and about half of them first years. I can’t wait to be on campus full time, working with these students and others.
The Panamanian staff of C4C organized a Jericho prayer walk for the week and have been walking around the perimeter of the campus once each day, while praying. On Sunday the walk will be completed by walking around the campus seven times. Because classes start at 7:00am, the prayer walks are at 6:00am so students can join us, this makes for very early rises in the morning!!
God is moving here in Panama, I feel so blessed to be able to see so vividly and clearly the hand of our Lord at work. Thank you so much for your prayers and kind words of support. They mean more to me than I can properly express. God Bless you.

Love,
Sarah

A Couple Prayer Requests…

-for my Spanish, that I would be able to overcome the challenges of learning this new language so that I can share the Gospel to the Panamanians in their native language
-for an apartment for Steve and Jon
-for my homesickness, I feel a great peace about being here finally, but deeply miss home, family and friends
-that the remainder of my financial support would come in so that I am able to stay for the duration of our ministry

Late Update...

Hola, / Hello,
¿Como estas? / How are you?

I am so exited to be writing this to you! Our Panamanian adventure is finally beginning. In just over a week I will be no longer in Canada and in Panama City, Panama. The summer until this point has been a whirlwind. Tramping between Truro and Halifax, Nova Scotia and Sackville and Fredericton, New Brunswick, spending time with family and friends before leaving the country. I have been so blessed by so many people as I have had opportunity to share with so many the way that God has been working in my life, thank you so much for being a part of it.

The next couple of weeks are going to be crazy to say the least, On Monday I will be travelling to Guelph, Ontario for training and orientation. It promises to be an exciting week as international teams going to North Africa and East Asia will also be there. It will be the first time our team is together in the same place. It will be nice to finally meet the rest of the Panama team face to face.

The day that makes us all a little extra jittery is following Friday, August 17th. That is the big day we step onto the plane and fly off to Panama! It still feels very surreal to think that is only one week from now.

Before sharing a couple prayer requests with you, I would like to introduce you to the rest of the team. There are six of us. Steve, from British Columbia, has just graduated from University of British Columbia with a degree in agriculture and Commerce. Moving eastward, Lindsay from Alberta. Lindsay has also just graduated with a degree in sciences. Jessica is from Saskatchewan, and graduated last year with a degree in studio art from the University of Saskatchewan. Jon is from Columbia, though he now calls Ontario home, he has just graduated with a degree in International Development Studies from York University. And Finally Tricia, also from Ontario, Tricia has just completed her 2nd year at McMaster University she is currently studying Fine Art. I am really looking forward to serving along side each of these wonderful people. Each is passionate for the Lord and equally as passionate to take His message to the People of Panama. I am so blessed to have them as team members.

As I look forward into the next few weeks and months I would like to share few praise and prayer requests right away.
- Please praise God that we are sending a team, but pray for our financial support as three team members (myself included) are still trusting God to provide us with the entire financial amount we need.
- Please pray for safe travel, we are going to be in transit quite a bit over the next couple weeks. Also for our travel visas, there was some issue with them, so please pray they come through so we can leave for Panama on time.
- Please pray for our team, though the next couple weeks will be exciting, they will also be stressful as we transition and settle into life in Panama. Please pray for unity within our team, and that we would continue to loo to God as our source of strength and comfort.

May God continue to bless you.