OFF WITH A BANG

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray, seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
– 2 Chronicles 7:14

It’s back to school and we’re back on campus!
(R-L: Steve, Trish, Jess, Jon, Lindsey, & Sarah)

6 Crazy Canadians
1 week
1 table
4 new Bible studies
Countless Bibles, Pamphlets, CDs, Explanations of Vida Estudiantil
1 NEW SISTER IN CHRIST!!!

Please stop whatever you are doing and take a moment to
Praise our Lord.
Praise Him! Praise Him! Praise Him!

To you, my family in Christ and partners in the Gospel; may God bless you. In your faithfulness to God, God has remained faithful once again to us and has not overlooked your obedience to Him. He has heard your prayers from heaven. He is forgiving sins; he is healing the land…one soul at a time. There is victory in the Gospel!

We have started off the year with a bang! For one week we blitzed the campus at Universidad Interamericana, surveying students about the Gospel, handing out free Bibles, DVDs with testimonies, sharing about the vision of Vida Estudiantil, generating exposure within the student population and sharing the Gospel.

By God’s grace, He has used this ministry to bring one more student into a personal relationship with Him. This is exciting always, but especially this time as this is the first student to come to faith since we have started our ministry at Universidad Interamericana, only a few months ago. What a miracle, what a blessing!

I have been reminded recently of how often people labor for the Lord for their entire lives and never see the fruit of their Labor while they are here on Earth, and it is not until Heaven that they see the results. What a blessing you and I have to see the fruit of our ministry. God’s word is real, God’s word is true, God’s word has a promise; “the harvest is plentiful” (Matt 9:37). As I walk around the campus at Universidad Interamericana, I am constantly reminded of how many students have yet to be counted in that harvest. I am surrounded by people who are entering into a stage of their life where they will have great impact regardless of where they go. My heart breaks, what if the message doesn’t get there fast enough? How can it get there faster?

We have surveyed 75 women you have indicated interest in Bible studies, but there are many more who have indicated wanting to know how they can have a personal relationship with Jesus. Imagine if all 75 showed up to Bible study, imagine if all 75 started sharing Christ with their classmates, and then, just imagine how abundant the harvest would be then.

I can’t do this on my own. My team can’t do this as just the six of us. But it remains, “the harvest is plentiful, and the workers are few”. Each new sister in Christ, like our new sister last week is a miracle, but as important as each new life in Christ is, we have come to Panama not just for the harvest, but for the workers.

As I look forward into the second half of my time here in Panama, I am praying that your legacy would continue on. I am asking God to provide not just a bountiful harvest, but the workers also to continue what you have started. Apple trees grow fruit year after year regardless of if someone is there to pick them. The fruit gets picked or falls off the tree and rots away. I want to leave Panama knowing that the seeds planted by God, through our partnership will not rot away, that they will be harvested, that the work will continue. It is our time not in the fields, but spent with the workers, training them, that is ensuring that someone will be prepared for the harvest years from now.

So how does that happen? Where do we go from here? I have once again included my mid year praise report and prayer requests to this update, as the year is still young, and the requests still the same petitions to our Lord. I would like to contact you within the week to reconnect and to chat about how we can ensure that no harvest gets passed by, and that there will be workers for many years to come here in Panama. I look forward to chatting and connecting with you once again in the near future!

God bless you.

Love,
Sarah

Nick-Names

Since being in Panama I have acquired many nicknames. I have had nicknames growing up, but never have gained so many in such a short time. The names are as follows:

1) Canada - for obvious reasons, but the Panamanians have decided that no one else on the team is to be referred to as Canada, this is a reserved solely for me.

2) Fungus Feet - NOT, may I repeat NOT BECAUSE I HAVE FUNGUS!!! But because during cantata I gained some beautiful blisters on my feet. Fungus feet is much better alliteration than blister anything

3) Crazy Hair - I gained this one because of my uncontrollable red ringlets. I am quite possibly the only person in Panama with hair like this.

4) Papa Goose - My costume in Cantata was a dove. But my friends decided that it was more goose like than dove like. And why the papa part? I have no idea...

5) Cazadora - This quite simply is a translation of my last name. Hunter in Spanish is cazadora. I think it has a much softer less intrusive ring to it...sounds almost gentle!!

(Goose or dove? You decide!)

SO, those are the names I have gained thus far. I am pretty sure I will gain more in the future. My friends here have a wonderful habit of loving to continue adding to the list...

Like Nutcracker But Better...

What Christmas show could possibly top The Nutcracker? I think I have finially found one that does. Now, I am a die hard Nutcracker fan. I love it. Christmas means enjoying the Nutcracker in some form either dance live or on video or even just listening to the music and remembering the dances and steps. The Nutcracker is a classic Christmas story centered around believing that your dreams can come true. Christmas isn't Christmas without including the Nutcracker somehow but...I have just experienced something that blows Nutcracker right out of the water!

(Final rehearsal before moving to the theatre)

The show is called Noel. My church here in Panama, Crossroads Bible Church, in collaberation with some other churches in the city pulled their talents and gifts in the performing arts to put on a spectacular Christmas cantata. The show used naration, music, and dance to share the Gospel and use the medium of live theater to present it to the world. Performed in both English and Spanish the show carried a deeper message to the people of our city. In a place where English and Spanish often cause division, they were used together to demonstrate the unity that we have in Christ.

(Me with the other Canadian, an amazingly talented professional sax player from Montreal, Quebec.)

I spent almost 10 hours a day in the national theater of Panama. It was awesome. For the last few months I have been choreographing and rehearsing with a Christmas Cantata and Gospel presentation here in Panama City. It has been wonderful. After dislocating my knees I did not think that I would dance again ever and that God had closed the door on that part of my life forever. As I watched the dancers perform my

(Going over my steps with an other cast member) choreography and waited backstage for my number, I was totally overcome! This whole show was for Jesus. I danced for a really long time, and I can't say that before this, it was ever for Him. The final performance was amazing, the dancers (mostly youth) nailed their dances...I was so proud of them. But what made me the most proud and emotional was after the show. They presented me and the other choreographer with flowers, and began to chant our names..."Sarah, Yeal, Sarah, Yeal, Sarah, Yeal"...the chant morphed though, it became "Cristo, Cristo, Cristo, Cristo"! I was speechless. These teenagers got it. The show was not about any of us...it was about God. God gave us the gift of dance...we need to use it for Him.

It is funny to think that had I not dislocated my knees I would never have come to Panama. And if I had not returned to Panama I would not have started dancing again. I love dance so much, and in the past couple years had forgotten how special it is to me.


(Getting the position just right)
I have once again been bitten by the dancing bug, and am going to be taking a class with some of the dancers I met through this show beginning in January. I realize now, that dance needs to be in my life...I am not sure how I got by without it the last two years. It is exciting to be dancing again. I am working to get my strength back...needless to say, taking two years off doesn't help ones fitness level. I don't know why God has chosen this time to bring dance into my life again, but I am so glad He has. I am excited to think about how He might use it! God is (Post show hug with the girls I worked with the most) so good to me!

Thanks so much for your love and support. This has been an exciting adventure for me, I had to share it with you all!

(The final scene of the show, the curtain is about to close...Can you find me??)

For video of one of the dances go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHEU5e2xnk8&feature=related

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!!!!

IT SNOWED IN PANAMA YESTERDAY!!! My Church rented a snow maker, and a huge 18 wheeler filled with blocks of ice, and filled the parking lot with snow! It was crazy. The Panamanians were complaining about how cold it was, but I was playing in a t-shirt! Some of my friends from church, decided it would be fun to make the Canadian freeze, so they picked me up and held me in front of the hose that was shooting out snow. I had snow down my pants, in my pockets, down my shirt, in my ears and up my nose!!! It was crazy. I had so much fun! It was probably the last thing that I thought I would ever do in Panama! The rest of the team teased me a lot about intensity in the snow, apparently I got a little hard core! But I have no shame because it was a some of the best fun I have had in a long time! I guess I have been missing the snow a little more than I thought! Anyways, enjoy the pictures of me in my first and probably last Panamanian snow ball fight!!

Santiago

I have had a wonderfully awesome week in so many, many ways! This week has been one filled with adventure, relaxation, encouragement, and plain good old fashioned fun!

Our team has spent the last ten split in two groups of three. The western half of our team (Lindsey, Steve & Jess) headed of to David, while the eastern contingent (Jon, Tricia & I) went to Santiago. Our missions were to cast some vision to the students who are involved in Campus for Christ in those cities and to make some preparations for when a team of 50 plus Canadians come to Panama in May for six weeks. Lord willing we will send a team of students to each of these cities as well as with us in Panama City. It was so encouraging to be in Santiago and to see what God is doing in that city. The city itself reminded me of Fredericton New Brunswick. I definitely fell in love with it.

Because the students are currently in exams, there was a limit to what we could accomplish on campus, so with a little extra free time we had an great time slowing down the pace of our daily activities and really got to enjoy the time. We took some time to walk around the city to get to know it a little, enjoyed a fun little market where a lady offered me "papas bonitas" or beautiful potatoes, LOL. I decided not to indulge.

I am continually amazed and humbled by the people I am serving next to here in Panama, the people in Santiago just the same. What an amazing group of students and volunteers that God has working in that city. We shared with them what Campus for Christ has happening around the world, and challenged them to take hold of that vision and run with it on their campus. I hope and pray that this time in Santiago was as encouraging to them as it was to us. Please join me in praying that a team of students would be able to go help the ministry in that city in May, and that a STINT team might be present there next year.

Christmas Update

Merry Christmas…Feliz Navidad

I was in the mall this weekend and the loud speaker was playing “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas”, I had to laugh, because quite frankly, it looks nothings like Christmas to me at all! The absence of snow and the thirty degree weather make for a very non-Canadian like winter wonderland. The evergreen trees for sale on every corner (all imported from Nova Scotia by the way) are a constant reminder that Christmas is just around the corner! This year is going so fast. Thank you for allowing God to work through you to bless me. Your support, words of encouragement and prayers mean so much to me. Muchas gracias!

(The tag on the tree reads 'Nova Scotia Balsam Fir'!)

The semester is rapidly coming to a close, but I am anxiously anticipating the New Year. I am and will continue to focus all of my efforts at Universidad Interamericana. Since first becoming a presence on this campus, only a few weeks ago, God has answered our prayers by connecting us with a core group of students to work with. Tricia, Steve and I (Team Interamericana) are experiencing a very different type of ministry. A much harder climate spiritually, the students are slowly warming up to the three of us, and the rumors that have been spreading about why we are around are seemingly yesterday’s news. Amazingly we have already been able to challenge students into discipleship at Interamericana. One of these students is a girl named Laura, who has not only has accepted the challenge to one-on-one discipleship, but has stepped up to be the key student leader at her school. Laura is taking a big step of faith in this. Together Laura and I are going to be looking at the book of Ester, a beautiful lesson in overcoming your fears and stepping out in faith. Please pray for Laura as she is taking a very big, public stand for Jesus in a place where His name is used most commonly uttered in vain as profanity.

(Laura, Tricia, and I )

It was the university campuses in Panama City that I wanted to impact for Christ this year. God had other plans. We are currently working on fulfilling what God has planed in other cities around Panama and internationally in Dominican Republic, the first Panamanian ministry partnership! To continue my ministry here in Panama, and to aid in founding of the partnership with Dominican Republic, and to cover the costs of some Biblical training here in Panama and in Costa Rica I need to raise $10 000.00 to ensure that I am able to fulfill my calling to the ministry here. Would you please consider a special Christmas gift to help me reach my support goals? You and your family have already played such an important role in this ministry. It is such a blessing to know I am partnered with you taking the gospel around the world. Thank you once again for your encouragement and prayers.

Many blessings this Christmas,

Love, Sarah

I just went to go make tea but can't find the kettle. How do you loose a kettle??

Father, Son, & Holy Spirit y Dios

The rest of my team is off to Bajo Grande for the weekend, a small town in the mountains for a short-term missions trip with some students. I am left holding down the fort here in Panama City as my current physical condition isn't at a place where I can handle the conditions. So...it's me, myself & I along with 1 000 000 Panamanians for the weekend. But I have decided to forgo the Independence day celebrations that the rest of the city is partaking in to spend some quality time alone with God. And this is where my title comes in...

Father, Son, & Holy Spirit y Dios. A couple of weeks ago my team was jokingly discussing how Dios (God in Spanish) is the forth part of the trinity. Maybe not theologically correct, but there is an element of truth to the equation. There is a new side of God that I am experiencing for the first time here in Panama, Spanish God, Dios.

I think a lot of it is language, English is missing some words. Take the world 'love' for example. In English we say "I 'love' pizza" in the same breathe the we say "I 'love' my sister". Do we really feel the same way about pizza that we do our families? Spanish on the other hand has more than ten words for 'love'.

The same is true with God. El Senor, Dios, Padre, El Rey, our Lord, our God, our Father, our King. We came to Panama to show Panamanians how they can know God personally, but in doing this we're getting to know God personally in a whole new way. Being placed in a situation where you can solely depend on God you're given a unique opportunity to get to know God in a whole new way. It is really too bad that language stops us from experiencing all there is of God, or maybe more correctly being able to rely to others our exact experience.

While on STINT we are blessed with the opportunity to take one day a month as "a day alone with God". I look forward to these days, they are refreshing like nothing else. Its incredible, after a four day weekend interacting with few other than a couple of store clerks and a couple of phone calls home to friends and family, I crave nothing more than what I will experience on Wednesday, even after this weekend. I highly encourage you, if you don't take an entire day once a month or every six weeks for yourself and God, do it. He'll rock your world. I am not suggesting a day of solitude, though if that's what you need, go for it. I am suggesting a day free of distractions, a day completely free of responsibilities with school, or at the office, or whatever...clear the day and let God direct it. Maybe you'll be blessed by experiencing God in a whole new way, like I am experiencing Dios here in Panama.

DANCE, DANSE, DANZA, DANCE

To Dance - To move rhythmically usually to music, using prescribed or improvised steps and gestures, an artistic form of nonverbal communication.

For those of you who are unaware of my past, dancing took up most of it. I dedicated the majority of my time outside of school, and much time suppossed to be spent in school to dance, or something related. It became more than a passtime or hobby, it became a lifestyle. Blessed by the opportunity to study many forms of dance, ballet, jazz, tap, highland, modern, swing, folk, the list goes, has left me unable to decide my favorite! Fusion of multiple forms is probably where I find my passion lying.

Dance has been a creative outlet, a way to blow off steam, a way to connect, a way to disconnect. There are few feelings that come close to the feeling one gets after nailing a show infront of hundreds of people, or finially getting an excerise correct in class, watching students master something you've taught them. Dance never fails you...regardless of if its in your living room dancing for only you, or on stage for a packed house, the feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment is next to nothing!

Dance, however has not played a role in my life for almost two years now. A knee dislocation stopped my plans in dance right in their tracks. My body was unable to do what was required of it and I made the decision to stop dancing and study religion and psychology at SMU instead. My life the last couple years has looked completely different to those of the previous. But alas, I don't post just for nostalgic reasons...I post because once again I am back in the studio.

I forgot how much I loved to dance, and realised how much I missed it! I am currently working with a show that my church here in Panama is putting on for Christmas. I am told that thousands of people will watch the show live, not to mention the numbers that will see it on TV! I am so excited for it...though it is a very humbling experience...my body isn't what is was, so I'm now in the process of re-teaching myself everything I once new so I don't humiliate myself! But I love the challenge it provides and the opportunity to get to know an entire new group or Panamanians!!


"a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance" - Ecclesiastes 3:4

Prayer letter issues...

I love sharing about what God is doing here in Panama. I know I haven't blogged in a while, so evidence might lend you to assume other wise, but I am having some prayer letter frustrations!
1) My biggest frustration comes in deciding what to say. So much goes on, and so much is wonderful I hate narrowing it down to only a few stories. To solve the problem...resolution to blog more often!

2) I always send at least one of my emails out, placing everyone's addresses in the "To" category not the "BCC" option. I am sorry to those of you to whom this error applies. To solve the problem... I've just got to double check!

3) I also always send at least one of my emails without attaching the actual update letter. I also apologize to those of you who get two emails from me . To solve the problem...same as above, must get in a better habit of double checking before sending!

4) Formatting...Mine is really boring! And in my quest to format in a more interesting way, I always end up deleting most of what has been written...and not on purpose. To solve problem...take both Lindsey and Jon up on their offers of formatting lessons!

SO...those are my frustrations due to prayer letters. Really since this is probably my biggest frustration at this time I have no real reason to complain. Not a big deal...and I do love letting people know the awesome things God is doing here!

Stay tuned, resolution to blog more begins now!!

The Ants Go Marching Two By Two...

On a completely different note to my last post...


...Panama has lots and lots and lots of ants! Now, outside they are the most interesting little guys. They are so co-ordinated and co-operative, very impressive! But, from inside my bedroom they are not so impressive. SO I would gladly accept any suggestions at getting rid of ants! I have never seen so many in my life!!!

BIG PRAYER REQUEST

I have a very big and urgent prayer request that I would appreciate your prayers on very much. Panama has recently changed the regulations for visas to enter the country, and our team has not been granted long term visas. As of this moment we are only able to stay in the country until September 18th, exactly one month from our entry date. At this time we are planning on traveling the 32 hours to Costa Rica and back to re-enter the country on tourist visas. Tourist visas only last one month. To get a long term visa, a police back ground is necessary. I have not had one done before, and the time it takes to get one done internationally is 4 - 6 months. At this point, I don't have that time! Please pray for me and my team. Pray that the Panamanian authorities would grant us favor and allow us to stay in the country.
Thank you so very much.

God Bless,
Sarah

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.

Count Down Begins...

...So to be totally honest, I've been counting down to take off for Panama for quite some time now, but after saying some final good-byes to people at church, this Panamanian adventure is becoming more and more real. In three weeks from now, I will be packing my bags for the last time (probably getting Greg to zipper while I sit on them, trying to get them closed), trying for the life of me to remember what it is I have forgotten!

I went for a walk around Halifax this afternoon, I am really going to miss this city. Over the past three years that I have lived here God has taught me so much, about Himself and myself. I am a little scared to leave this place, something about shaking a comfort zone does that too you. I am entering terrain where I don't know east from west or up from down. I was thinking about places in particular that I am going to miss in Halifax, and why I will miss them. In the spirit of nostalgia, in special tribute to someone who has played such an important role in my life, building me up in my faith, and encouraging me to follow Christ's call on my life, I have come up with a list of my top five places I will miss in Halifax...

5) The Farmer's Market - Starting a Saturday of on the right note is never hard to do with a trip to the Farmer's Market. I love the whole atmosphere. And my I suggest spelt apple cinnamon rolls, a tasty treat found just inside the Hollis st entrance to the market. Coupled with an earl gray tea, and a leisurely walk down the waterfront and you are guaranteed a great day!

4) West End Baptist Church - my church, I love it, the people that is, though I think the building is incredible. I have made so many great friends and have many wonderful memories that have that place as the location. I have really been blessed by the love and support that I have received from so many people I have met there. Also being the location of my baptism, for these reasons it will always hold a special place in my heart.

3) Starbucks - Not just because of the coffee, but the quality times spent there with close friends dishing, discussing, debating, and dealing with all of life's possible ups and downs. Regardless if it was a large group of us or just two of us, I am so grateful for the tears, the laughs and everything in between that have been shared over many teas and coffees.

2) "The Office" aka Loyola Tim Horton's - No, not just a caffeine addict, but this coffee shop on the SMU campus holds a special place in my heart. On any given day, at any given hour it is more than likely that one will find at least one or two C4Cers hanging out, sharing their faith, praying together, or discipling someone. Many people have placed their faith in Christ for the first time in that place, and God has used that favorite SMU hangout to do some awesome things.

1) Point Pleasant Park - One of this cities most perfect places. Perfect for quiet times with God. Perfect for shooting C4C project videos. Perfect for taking a nice walk and sharing a heart to heart with someone. Perfect for running, especially in the early morning. Perfect for reading a good book. Perfect for marveling at the wondrous creation of God's hand, the park always makes me stand in awe of our Lord. Somewhere between the peacefulness, the business, the vastness, the simplicity, and the intricacy of it all, God always amazes me, always makes me want to draw closer to Him when I'm in the park. It is incredible the perspective that one can gain and can desire to gain more of from one little place.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, He has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from beginning to end.
-Ecclesiastes 3:11

So at "T minus 3 weeks" I'm sitting in my living room in awe of the beauty which God has created in so many areas, and finding myself strangely contented not knowing about tomorrow and what it will bring, but finding comfort in the fact that God does.

Wedding Bells Are Ringing

I just arrived home from a wonderful weekend in Fredericton with Greg for the wonderful celebration and joining together in marriage of Miss Jenny Thompson and Mr Ryan Drost. It was beautiful. Jenny looked stunning and Ryan also looked handsome. It was a perfect day, and the rain stopped at the correct times. I had the honour/responsibility of getting the groomsmen to all of their obligations on time, such as pictures before, the church, pictures after, and reception. Hanging out with them all day was memorable to say the least, but I would do it again in a heart beat. It was great getting to hang out with Greg's parents and friends from home again, they are all really great people. We also went to Greg's church this morning, it was really nice, I really liked it their. There was an awesome speaker who preached a great salvation message. All in all, a great weekend with some awesome memories for all who were involved!

Leaving on a jet plane...

I love airports, normally they one of my favorite places to be there is something exciting and adventurous about them, but after spending some time in a couple this weekend a few new realities about airports have dawned on me. One, airports can be really lonely places if you have no idea when you will return and see people again. And two, airports can be really lonely places when there is no one there to greet you when you arrive.

Lessons


So it's been a while, and even a while since Gilberto mentioned to me that maybe I should post again. So here is anything but what I've been up too (really it's quite boring it has mostly been exams and papers and all things related), sort of...a few lessons I'm learning.

1) Grace...very important, and if grace is given to me I have to give it. And since that is the case, I've got no excuse not to give second chances, God gives them to me every day and third, forth, fifth, and sixth chances for that matter.

2) Honesty...never a bad thing. It can cut like a knife and sting like crazy, but it's always better to know the truth. Always. (This is not always the easiest to see at the beginning, over time it becomes easier to see the upside to harsh honesty)

3) Time heals all wounds. Life never gets easy (where would the fun be in easy), but time will make the rough stuff better. A good nights sleep does wonders.

4) Friends are amazing and NEVER over rated. True friends are hard to come by, so when you find them, make sure you are everything to them that they are to you. Who fits into this description may change over time, but they are always needed. The person who says they can do it alone isn't telling the truth. *side note...if you fit into this category for me, I am ever so grateful!

5) Walking - seriously under rated. Walks clear the mind, calm the heart, and settle the spirit. Let alone the fact the positive physical effects of a good walk, but the emotional side effects are enough to make you not want that bus pass and to leave the car at home! *side note again...I doubt I will give up the pass (LOL)