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There lived a poor woman with her young daughter and handicapped son in a makeshift shack in the yard of her adult, delinquent son.  One day,  the son ordered her to leave.  Carrying what wood she could,  the woman set out to try and find a dry place to spend the night with her children. She went to the church where,  despite her financial poverty,  she had been devoting 3 days per week to cook for the abandoned children of the community. At the same time,  a member of the community learned of her situation and felt moved to give her a plot of land on which to live. At the church lived a family that had left everything to care for and teach the same abandoned children.  They also had compassion on the woman and decided to build her a minimal structure to withstand the tropical rains on her little square of land. The same community member was moved by the efforts of the family to help the woman and decided to give them,  also,  land on which to build a home. Unfortunately,  when the first rains of the year saturated the land, the area they were given flooded,  and they realized that they could never build there. The poor woman,  in turned moved by the plight of this family that had sacrificed so much to help her decided, “Listen…  If you don’t mind being my neighbor,  we will divide my land,  and you can build your house here.” The next time they were gathered together at the church the pastor asked,  “Woman,  why are you so happy today?” To which she responded,  “Because now I have good neighbors.” Sorry I don’t have a picture of Robinson with Maura,  that many of you have met here in Yaviza.

It is unquestionable that United States and other wealthy nations have shown tremendous generosity through giving used and new clothing, amongst other things, to less developed nations. We can, however, question our discernment about which T-shirt would be most appropriate to give.

by Colleen

Kevin thrilled to swing on the new playground

I was greeted by many smiling faces as I returned to my English class last week. Prayers have been answered as the parents of the school have worked hard to remove all of the bats and clean and paint. Thanks to their hard work, our school is now cleaner and safer!

Some students create a historic building in Panama using beans.

Please pray that God would help us discern as we get ready to plan our months ahead visiting communities

Bendiciones!

It was a challenging but rewarding visit to two communities on the Membrillo River in the Emberá-Wounaan comarca, Sinaí and Mach Pöbor. After rebuilding the pump, installing the new controller, and waiting for the sun to shine (on the solar panels) we were able to pump water. Yeah! This is a big first step in getting the system operational. Unfortunately, the well design that worked so good in Villa Caleta will not likely work here because of the geology. So we’ll be back to the design table to see how to deal with this powerful river.

Mach Pöbor has become quite the community in its two short years of existence. Having relocated to higher ground following the flood of 2010, they have received few of the promises from the government, and have built a tremendous amount of infrastructure with their own sweat and resources. But they still lack a water system, so we’ve taken the first steps in designing a system. Fortunately, they have a nearby stream, so we won’t have to battle with the main river there.

Colleen and Kalea arrive in 2 hours, and I will make a big stride against the nemesis of loneliness after a long month of working without them.

Blessings and Health,
Alan

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)

You can cruise through a lifetime in North America without every encountering any situation to really put into context one recurring theme in the Bible, demon possession. Having now spent a few years out of the country, I still fall into this category; and my western, diagnostic, pragmatic, objective, background easily explains away any less-than-normal happenings. So I was a bit taken back when our training with the relatively conservative Mennonite mission included a straight-forward “how-to” crash course on this topic. But it resonated with me when the exercise (or exorcism) was compared to cleaning a toilet… “It´s not something you talk about, you just do it and move on.” Nonetheless, I don´t see any other way to share this particular praise report and give glory to God without including certain facts. No matter how I view it, possession is a perceived reality for many people in the world, especially where animism and spiritism have a foothold or stronghold.

Fact: In May, leaders of a large indigenous community deep in Darién contacted the Iglesia Evangélica Unida (IEU) church leadership and requested help, citing that they had been unable to convene school properly for 3 months because a large part of the student population was being directly attacked by evil spirits.

Pastor Dalecio and Pastor Américo baptize

Fact: On the unsuccessful heels of two other religious groups, a leadership commission from the IEU traveled to the community and invested time meeting with local authorities, the families, and the children. They led studies and worship services and went from home to home.

Fact: 39 young people were baptized and school was brought back in session. The National Ministry of Education offered to fund a follow-up visit by the IEU which is scheduled for this week.

Hooray!

Well, I (Alan) travel back on Monday to Panama while Colleen and Kalea stay here in SC a little longer for some medical appointments. It has been a wonderful visit home sharing precious time with many of you.

with Hope,

los Fosters