Monthly Archives: July 2014

I’ve made it through 3 long, hot days of meetings in the city with the Wounaan and collaborating organizations. It was encouraging to witness the support and solidarity of these groups: Rainforest Foundation, Native Future, University of Georgia, myself representing MB Mission, and the church, but I won’t miss the heat and confinement of the city. I came home today hoping for a relaxing evening except for packing to leave tomorrow morning for the Membrillo river to visit 2 communities, but my neighbor showed up with his hand half disected from a chainsaw, so I’m at the health center now. Hopefully we’ll get home at a decent hour. Please pray for guidance and fruit for trip tomorrow as well as patience as I wait for Colleen and Kalea to join me in August.

Blessings

“Watch! I’m about to carry out something new!” “I provide water in the desert and streams in the wilderness to give drink to my people, my chosen ones.” Isaiah 43

The church camp in Yaviza has come alive. God is transforming not only people, but this place as well. And the current team from Canada has jumped in wholeheartedly, planting trees, teaching children in Club La Cima, shoveling muck, and getting us one step closer to having water 24/7! Carry on Grovians!

Two nights ago, we had a program for church. Not a lot of people, but amongst the few and faithful was, of course, Egidio Puchicama, laughing heartily at our puppet show. Afterwards we bid each other goodnight “nan mash oju” “see you tomorrow”. Egidio co-founded this community, Platanares, and was it’s chief for many years. I didn’t make the connection until tonight that I used to stay with the family of one of his 11 children while in Peace Corps. His character shines in his children that I know. So what do Egidio, a group of Canadians on a short-term mission trip, a Wounaan scholar/Bible translator, the national chief, and I have in common tonight ? We’re all in front of a huge gathering of Wounaan. We are singing to the guitar in a mix of languages and harmonies as Egidio lies in his wooden box surrounded by flowers. In an hour or so the morning light will break, and the younger men will dig Egidio’s grave. He will be carried across the river to his final resting place, the recently established cemetery, a forested hill that holds chief Alquilo who was murdered in 2012, and a child who lived just 2 days. Then we’ll get on a boat and head home. Sometimes we question the practicality of short-term missions. Perhaps rightfully so. Nonetheless, it has been heavy yet affirming to see how God has used a few young people from far away to accompany and comfort a grieving community. Thanks for your prayers for our team.

By Colleen

Alan left yesterday for Panamá. I am here with Kalea in SC.

I went to the specialist yesterday about my elevated pancreas levels. They repeated labs on my pancreas and liver levels. I had been treated the week previously for a bacterial infection found in the colon: campylobacter. The doctor said if the levels go down, the campylobacter could be responsible. Since the levels are going down, we are prayful and praising God for his healing and that they will continue to go back to normal.

Alan arrived back to our house today…reuniting with neighbors. Alan will be leaving the house in a couple of days to receive a wonderful group from Forest Grove Community Church from Saskatoon, Canada along with Einer and Girlesa Zuluaga. Please pray that God would use and guide each one of the team members, that the love of Jesus would shine out through their actions, that they will stay strong and healthy as they travel to the remote village of Platanares.

(To our dear friends in Panamá, we love you and miss you and hope to see you soon! ! Bendiciones! Love, Colleen and Kalea)