Hello again!
Well, I've been trying to upload pictures for you all to see for the past half an hour. But it looks like the internet here doesn't like uploading pics :(.
I'll keep trying, but we will DEFINITELY be able to have pictures up tomorrow night, at Casa Paraiso.
Again, love to you all back home!
- Heather
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
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
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
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Panama 2010 - Day 6
Hello everyone!
I'm writing from an internet cafe here in Santa Catalina. I don't have a lot of time to update, but I wanted to let you know that we are all still safe and doing very well.
Santa Catalina is gorgeous. Yesterday was our first full day here, and we are staying until Wednesday when we drive back to Casa Paraiso.
So far we have painted the inside of the local church, started construction on a porch for a man who goes to that same church, have played at the beach with some local kids, and have prayed for a few local families. We also played a giant game of soccer yesterday with some of the older kids.
Everyone is doing well. The place we are staying at now has a beautiful view of the ocean, and there are a few hammocks in front of our rooms for us to hang out in.
Just picture a very small town in the jungle by the sea, with lots of heat, rain storms, and hammocks, and that's where we are at! I'm hoping to update again before we lead Santa Catalina. Please pray for Jesus to use our presence here as a light to the people. And pray for the church service tonight, saturday, that our children's program would be fun and effective, and that God's love would be shown through us to the children!
Love to you all,
Heather
I'm writing from an internet cafe here in Santa Catalina. I don't have a lot of time to update, but I wanted to let you know that we are all still safe and doing very well.
Santa Catalina is gorgeous. Yesterday was our first full day here, and we are staying until Wednesday when we drive back to Casa Paraiso.
So far we have painted the inside of the local church, started construction on a porch for a man who goes to that same church, have played at the beach with some local kids, and have prayed for a few local families. We also played a giant game of soccer yesterday with some of the older kids.
Everyone is doing well. The place we are staying at now has a beautiful view of the ocean, and there are a few hammocks in front of our rooms for us to hang out in.
Just picture a very small town in the jungle by the sea, with lots of heat, rain storms, and hammocks, and that's where we are at! I'm hoping to update again before we lead Santa Catalina. Please pray for Jesus to use our presence here as a light to the people. And pray for the church service tonight, saturday, that our children's program would be fun and effective, and that God's love would be shown through us to the children!
Love to you all,
Heather
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Panama 2010 - Day 4
Good morning!!
Today we are traveling to Santa Catalina, and since we don't know about the internet access over there, I thought you all would enjoy a morning blog update!
The drive today is 6 hours long. We have vans with air conditioning (Praise Jeeeesus!) so we should be pretty comfortable. We'll stop for lunch on the way.
Here are some continued pictures from yesterday at the orphanage and of Casa Paraiso this morning!
Love to all of you,
Heather
Today we are traveling to Santa Catalina, and since we don't know about the internet access over there, I thought you all would enjoy a morning blog update!
The drive today is 6 hours long. We have vans with air conditioning (Praise Jeeeesus!) so we should be pretty comfortable. We'll stop for lunch on the way.
Once we get there we'll be there for at least 6 days. Then we'll be coming back to Casa Paraiso.
Love to all of you,
Heather
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