What´s in a gift?

(By Colleen)

Blessings and Greetings from South Carolina! We arrived back to the U.S. yesterday. We are thrilled to be able to share time with family this Christmas, and we are excited about the work ahead of us back in Panama!

the Platanares river is a great place to be in the hot afternoon

We have spent the last month busy traveling…we took a quick trip back to Platanares to visit with some folks from the MB office in Canada….

I felt so much love and so well received as this was my third trip back to this community. The Pastor´s wife specifically prepared arroz con coco (coconut rice) because she remembered how much I said I liked it the time before when I visited. She physically had to shred the coconut with a special grader that takes a lot of time and effort. I felt like she had just kissed me on the face! What a gift.

My Wounaan Sisters invited me to do a traditional dance!

Leaving, they insisted that we watch some of the younger girls do a traditional dance. Towards the end, some adults started to dance, and they insisted, and invited me to join them. I had never been invited to do so before by any of my indigenous friends, and felt privileged and loved. Another gift.

working together to make stepping stones from tile rubble with Osneider.

One of the biggest blessings for me was having our thirteen year old friend Osneider come live with us for a month. He comes from a large family, one of 10 siblings. He had to leave school for lack of money to help his father work, and he is very skilled and intelligent! He helped me with Spanish and his language, Woun Meu. I helped with math and English. He worked with Alan too, and learned some new skills, while also teaching Alan as well. The house really came to life with him around, and we laughed, sang and played a lot! We are praying about the possibility of him living with us for an extended period of time when we return, and would like for you to join us in praying about this decision. He helped my learn how to sing I have decided to follow Jesus in his language.

Recently before leaving Panama, I told Andrea that Osneider had helped me learn a song Woun Meu. She listened and helped me practice, and after many times singing it alone, she told me I should sing it by myself  in Church! I had never been invited to do so before. For me, it was another  gift.

I left Panama feeling so recharged and encouraged by many of my brothers and sisters in Christ, and am so on fire for what God has in store for the future. What is God calling you to gift this holiday season? We can express our love in so many different ways…

I read this poem in a devotional;

If God can hang the stars on high, 

Can paint the clouds that drift on by, 

Can send the sun across the sky, 

What can His power do through you? (Jones)

May you be filled with great love and joy this Christmas. May the Lord bless your soul, and bring you Peace as we celebrate and remember the birth of our King and Savior!

Love,

The Foster´s

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