Surf's Up for the Concrete Farmers (goodbye Panama!)

An everlasting stream, Your river carries us home. Let it flow. 

The Zoo has returned to its native soil. 

We arrived back at Messiah this evening following an airborne day that began at 4:30 AM (thank you God for safe travels throughout the trip!) This crew is returning in an exhausted but encouraged state. We adopted a rigorous schedule over the last week, but God provided strength throughout, drawing us close to Him and to each other over the course of every new journey Panama had to offer. And our final two days (Sunday and Monday) provided some of the best adventures of the trip!

Sunday

Our Sunday began with the much anticipated trip to Arraijain, a community close to Paraiso where God has been working through Rio Missions. Last year's team got the chance to visit and told us it was one of the highlights of their trip. It turned out to be one of ours too, as we got the chance to spend the whole morning and afternoon in Arraijan. In the morning we worshipped with the congregation and a powerful (and unexpected) blessing from the speaker. We also attempted to communicate in love with the crazy bridge monkey.  Well.. at least some of us did.

Worshipping with our friends in Arraijain

The afternoon involved putting the final touches on an incredible bridge project that fellow MC student Danger Russ undertook this summer.  For our part of the project the Zoo became Concrete Farmers. We transported material, mixed, then poured concrete into two large slabs on each end of the bridge (they'll serve as small ramps). It was a tiring and total team effort, and we are all very excited that we got the chance to pour a little extra love into the work God has been doing in Arraijain. 

That time Josh became a Man.

The end result!

 Post-concrete we headed to a national park for our final adventure of the day: the jungle run / jog / walk. We trekked through the rainforest to a beautiful waterfall, which we climbed (and fell down).

 Great way to end the day! 

Monday

Monday  = last day = off day = beach day. But this was no ordinary beach day. Today we learned how to surf courtesy of our host and experienced surfer Dan Cotton. Monday was also a day to big chill, reflect on the trip, and watch Double D capture the 1st Annual Panama Zoo Invitational Pong Ping Tournament. (And climb Mount Risk). We closed our day by gathering in the Casa Paraiso living room for one last time of group devotions.

The view from Mt. Risk (Paraiso is in the foreground, Panama City in the far background)

It is evident that God has stirred hearts on this team.  As much as we have fallen in love with Panama, this group of MC students and leaders is pumped to get back on campus.  We're eager to share what God has done, and continue serving him among our peers and in the Harrisburg area.  This trip has centered upon bringing water to the people of Panama, both clean water.. and Living Water.  God's river is carrying us home now, but that doesn't mean the water is going to stop flowing. 

Our incredible leaders!

Thank you for your prayers and support over the course of this week!  We ask you all to keep both us and Panama on your hearts, as God continues to raise up a generation who takes risks for Him, who loves to live for His plans in total faith.  

Much love and God bless!

The Panama Zoo 

Mud, Sweat, and Tears (For the Pioneers)

2 days left.  Whoah.
The further we get in this trip, the faster the days seem to fly.
We're all hoping the next 48 hours crawl by.
But before we get ahead of ourselves..
Here's a Saturday recap.

Heading out! David, our team leader from Score International, is on the left

Today we traveled to another pair of villages, one in the morning and one in the late afternoon.  Each village experience - we've visited 5 now - has been unique. The personalities, the setting, and the activities have changed every time.  But one thing sticks from location to location: a welcoming spirit.  Our new friends greet us with joy every time.  They show us around and make us feel welcome. They love conversation (as slow as it can be) and forgive us when we struggle with our Spanish.  We came down to Panama to share Christ's love and have received a steady dose of love ourselves.  Saturday was no exception.

Today started with a boat ride.  The river trip was a quick but entertaining experience for us, and it concluded with a landing at our smallest village yet.  Within minutes things got muddy (dirt was not an option today, it was an accessory).

Readers, there's nothing quite as challenging as Mud Pit Soccer. Especially for those who don't play soccer much..aka the entire Zoo. There's also nothing that makes you laugh quite as much. And there's nothing that makes you yell quite as much (PASARLO). MPS made for quite a memorable morning. That, and the fact that several of our guys tried to take on spicy peppers. Tears were shed. A truly gorgeous moment for pioneers everywhere.

Jay Pops post-MPS. Giddy for the jersey exchange.

The afternoon took us away from the water and back to an urban village. We joined up with a larger group of middle school / high school guys and played... you guessed it.. more MPS. Same crazy sport. Completely different location. We also spent time making balloon animals (props Tina) and bracelets.  A time of sharing testimonies brought a significant close to our rewarding day.

MPS, it's been real.

2 days now, and we ask you to be intentional in praying for this country, that God's love will continue to strike hearts in and around Panama City.

Much love and God Bless,

The Panama Zoo


Today's Testimonies:

Joe - James 1:5-8
Mal - 2nd Corinthians 12:

It Rains, He Reigns, and We Jump off Cliffs

Two days without a post means the Zoo has some catching up to do. Let's get to it. Double Time.

Canal Chillin'

Thursday

We kind of knew it was a matter of "when" not "if". It is rainy season after all, and although we dodged several small storms our first couple days, we ran into our first Panamanian downpour on Thursday afternoon. The result: A cancelled softball clinic at one of the country's three (yes.. three) universities.  Were we looking forward to the clinic and the chance to interact with kids our age? You bet. Did God still provide us with a unique chance to outreach and serve?  You bet.

The Zoo and CCA ladies

After touring the Panama Canal in the morning, we watched as the sky opened up big time. But the afternoon was still in God's hands, and He directed us to the courts. We split up (ladies and gents) and scrimmaged the boys and girls basketball teams of Crossroads Christian Academy (CCA), a local private school (our host Dan works at the school and provided the connection). The absence of a language barrier allowed for several great off-court conversations and times of encouragement with CCA.  There was also some fairly intense basketball. The Zoo is always down for hoops, and we're thankful that God provided us with a special ministry opportunity in the process.

Thursday night was another highlight for the team.  We broke out our instruments (a guitar, a bucket, and a Pringles can filled with beads....) as Nate lead worship at home. Anyone listening to us would have quickly realized that God made us all athletes for a reason.  But God also made us to worship Him, and that we did, off-key and unashamed.  Our last song was a moment we will not soon forget.  We all reminded ourselves we can't sing, but we've also been reminded that He reigns, even on days when it rains.

Friday

We've spent a lot of time on this trip bonding with our sweet darling Melanie. She's quite the van (quality transportation for days). Melanie has taken us everywhere, and today she went on her longest trip yet, a 1.5 hour drive south towards the Columbian border.

F

The Zoo arrived in a thatched-roof village situated alongside a beautiful lake.  After not getting a chance to be with kids on Thursday, today was the exact opposite. We immersed ourselves in a morning and afternoon of whiffleball, duck duck goose, extreme shoulder riding jousting, American football, coloring pages, gift-giving, picture-taking, nail-painting, talking, and laughing. And Futbol. Lots and lots of futbol, with kids that are scary good for their age. Size can be deceiving.

We also spent time giving an important water filter demonstration to village adults.  In addition to handing out 15 filter kits today, the love of Christ passed through the village. God continues to refresh  the people of Panama with both clean water and Living Water.

Translator Antonio and Sawyer rep Nate the Great lead the filter demonstration

Experiencing clean water

Our afternoon ended with cliff jumps into the lake.  Pure awesome. We'll just leave it at that and let the picture do the talking.

Each day we have come home around 6 feeling absolutely exhausted. Every night, however, God has been rejuvenating us through our devotionals.  Tonight our hosts Dan and Jess Cotton shared what it has been like to walk not by sight, but in total faith, in the years following their graduation from Messiah. The ensuing conversation was uplifting for this group of 14.  We may be wearing out physically, but God has been strengthening us spiritually. . . that alone has us feeling quite excited for the upcoming weekend (it's gonna be a busy one.. stay tuned).

 Continue to lift up Panama in the name of the Lord, and pray for us as we go on ministering in the villages outside the city this weekend. Thank you for your prayers! He Reigns.

Much love and God bless,

The Panama Zoo

"Brave like puppy, strong like bull"

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Many, Many More Shoulders

As the rain and snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth; It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.  - Isaiah 55:10-11

Today started like Tuesday, but it ended in a much different fashion.  
We shipped out early for the Panama Christian Academy (PCA), where we spent our morning as temporary gym class instructors. Basketball, soccer, and volleyball were the subjects of choice. Our students, like yesterday, ranged from the ages of 8-16.  And, like yesterday, their energy was off the charts, though we matched them step for step (we faced a bigger test later in the day).

Many of them also greeted us with excellent English, a stark contradiction to our sketchy Spanish (We're getting better! And Mal you're an exception). Sharing testimonies was again the capstone of the morning. Josh spoke to three different groups of 20+ kids, highlighting the fact that we can still set an example even at a younger age. 

After 4 hours at PCA, we voyaged back to Casa Paraiso for a short break. Power naps crucial. Especially considering our next adventure.  

At 2:30, we traveled to the village of Booyala, a much different setting then what we had been accustomed to thus far. Booyala is rural but well populated.  We rolled up to the village church and were immediately greeted by a host of smiling faces. The next three hours were dedicated to presenting villagers with Sawyer water filters (as well as demonstrating how to properly use them), giving away donations from home (coloring pages, bouncy balls, and nail polish may be popular, but Free Bird bracelets are the hands down favorite), and playing. 

No, not just playing. PLAYING. The Booyala kids are experts at running, jumping, climbing, and basically providing us with the best workout ever. And that's saying a lot coming from 14 current and former athletes. We may be active, but our new friends were a pack of Panamanian energizer bunnies. 

And let us not forget the shoulders on this team. Many a shoulder was sacrificed on this day. May these shoulders heal quickly, because they will most definitely be put to use again in the near future (shoulder rides are all the rage in Panama). 

Day 2 came to a close with devotions, led by expert storyteller and leader Jay Pops. We discussed trusting God with not only large requests, but also in the small things of life that we often shrug off. 
Continue to keep out team in your prayers.  Pray for energy (we may not need it now, but we'll need it soon). Please lift up the nation of Panama as well, as God's Spirit continues to spread, achieving the purposes for which He has sent us! 

Today's Testimony:

Josh - 1st Timothy 4:12

Much love and God Bless, 

The Panama Zoo

P.S. Shoutout to Ricky.. and Steve Jobs. 

The Zoo has Landed

Open your eyes Team Panama. It's go time. 

After touching down in Panama City at 10 o'clock Monday night, we arrived at our base in Paraiso for a late night orientation to our home away from home.  The orientation clued us in to our new surroundings (Swim in the nearby canal? No. Become friends with the majestic local street dogs? Maybe. Expect exciting and eye-opening experiences every day? Absolutely) and was followed by a quick night’s rest, and an early rise to kick off the first day of ministry. 

News flash: Panama has gigantic spiders.  And bad traffic. These two things we found out Tuesday morning, but neither the spiders nor the traffic could prevent us from reaching our first destination on the outskirts of Panama City: Santo Christobol School. 

At Santo Christobol we jumped right into things, leading Basketball clinics with three different groups of students.  We taught, laughed, and played alongside kids in fourth grade all the way through high school.  Although the ages varied, the three groups of students had one main similarity: they love to have fun. Coincidentally, this team loves to have fun too.  It made for the perfect pairing.  

The morning and early afternoon included many special moments at Santo Christobol.  We were blessed by the way the students listened attentively to our basketball instructions and the testimony given by Maria.  Hugs were on no short supply when saying goodbye, as our friends at Santo Christobol helped us get the trip off to an awesome start. 

From Santo Christobel, we traveled to Pandesportes in downtown Panama, where we trained and played volleyball against a team of 14-16 year olds. We have to admit that none of us have ever played competitive volleyball, but that didn't prevent us from taking on the challenge (...one we lost every time). Though our volleyball "skills" need some work, we had an great time learning from our talented opponents, and also sharing the love of Christ with them through Jake's testimony. 

It should also be noted that the Zoo definitely rocked the purple shirts.  

Tuesday ended with a time of team worship and devotion back at the house, a refreshing end to a long day. Pray for us as we continue to grow closer as a team, that we will go forth in the peace and strength of the Lord. He is capable of so much more than we can imagine! 

*With each blog post, we would like to include Scripture from the team testimonies shared that day* 

Jake - Ephesians 5:11-14; Psalm 25:8

Maria - Isaiah 41:10