Panama Day 8

Hello everyone!

        Sorry we haven't been able to update in a couple days. We have all been busy serving growing, being challenged, and having some of the best times of our lives! (Seriously, no exaggeration)

        As you all have probably heard, Julie Elliott is ok. She is out of the hospital and staying back at Casa Paraiso with Patti Graffe and Greg Rurik. She is in good hands, and we're all very excited to see her again tomorrow.

       I know you all are eager to read some stories and see some pictures, so here is Adam's update from yesterday (we weren't able to get online yesterday).

      In God's grace, peace and love,

             Heather



Since we last updated, much has happened!


Yesterday, July Fourth (yes we did hear a few fireworks), was a long twenty four hours. We awoke to a constant rain. However, it soon cleared and we walked to La Playa (The Beach) to catch our boat rides to a remote island 30min away where we would attend a church service and play with the children. The trip there was simply beautiful, and fun too. The ocean swells were huge and the boats were only large enough to fit a dozen of us!

Once on the island, we sang songs with the kids at church, played soccer (Raleigh took down their best player!), made bracelets and balloon animals too. The testimonies of Hunter and Ally were a real treat to hear. I had not previously known their stories and the kids really enjoyed them as well. I cannot even begin to describe how impoverished the village was. The paths were red mud, the huts were smaller than my bedroom at home, and their community bathroom…. well that was an experience of its own.

Led by Sarah Brooks, many of us prayed for a girl our age with a birth defect that made it so her feet were backwards and an elder lady who was having financial troubles. Both were extremely accepting of our prayers. Unseen by the woman, Jim slipped a $20 bill to Trevor to give to the woman saying it was ‘from a friend’. I can’t imagine that she has ever held that much money in her hand at once, ever. They both said (through our translators Danny and Carmen) that they felt real blessed.

It had began raining while we were on the island and we feared we’d have to stay the night if we waited any longer to leave. So we departed. The boat ride returning to Santa Catalina was utter chaos, but so much fun! The rain pelted on our faces, and the swells got larger and larger. We could hardly see where we were heading half the time. We sang children songs and danced (secretly we were all praying for God to get us to the other side alive). :D

As you’ll hear, we sent Julie to the hospital today fearing that her appendix may burst. When we heard this, we broke into constant prayer. It was great to see a group of teenagers praying to God for a girl they love so much. She was in God’s hands.

Last night we had pizza for dinner! We were driven there in a real cattle car! Boy that was a blast. They have potholes here the size of the Grand Canyon!

We ended the day with worship that really got me to connect with God. We praised God for a good two hours and even then I wanted to continue!

God is great, I am confident that he will care for Julie Elliot.

- Adam Caswell