semana 2 de la cruzada; week 2 of the outreach

Del 28 de octubre al 2 de Noviembre

Hemos completado la segunda semana de nuestra Cruzada misionera en Panamá, y la bondad de Dios ha sido grande y maravillosa en la vida de cada uno de nosotros, y por esa razón, nos gustaría compartir con ustedes las actividades que se llevaron a cabo durante esta semana.

Salimos de la base de la ciudad de Panamá el día lunes 28, y viajamos a otra área de Panamá, conocida como Chiriquí.  Fue una aventura y emocionante haber viajado en bus durante ocho horas a pesar de que el primer bus donde viajamos tuvo desperfectos mecánicos, pero gracias a Dios, llegó  un mejor bus y pudimos llegar a nuestro destino.

El día martes 29, en la mañana estuvimos realizando diferentes proyectos y trabajos en la base de Chiriquí, limpiando, pintando, cocinando y otras actividades más.  En la tarde, tuvimos la bendición de visitar un Centro de Rehabilitación de menores Arturo Miro.  Fue impactante haber compartido con varios niños y adolescentes entre 8 y 17 años.  El equipo misionero compartió testimonios, cantos, dramas, juegos dinámicos y los niños se divirtieron mucho y tuvieron esa pasión de saber de Jesús y se involucraron participando en los dramas y juegos.

El día miércoles 30, después de un desayuno delicioso, viajamos nuevamente a una aldea misionera indígena llamada Tugri, en la cual el pastor encargado de la base nos recibió muy bien y nos contó sobre la visión que tiene de construir y poner una EDE indígena en Tugri.  Tuvimos una gran experiencia al haber compartido la cultura de las personas y disfrutar de un lugar precioso y fresco.  Fue divertido haber experimentado un ambiente totalmente diferente a la que estamos acostumbrados, porque en Tugri, la gente no cuenta con energía eléctrica, el sanitario y la ducha están al aire libre, sin camas, fue bonito haber experimentado dormir en el suelo y cocinar al aire libre.

El jueves 31, por la mañana se realizaron diferentes actividades, un grupo de estudiantes estuvo escarbando un hoyo de tres metros para que la familia en Tugri tuviera un lugar donde depositar la basura.  El segundo grupo estuvo visitando a varias familias, se oró por el terreno donde se construirá la escuela de JUCUM.  En la noche se llevó a cabo un servicio con las personas indígenas y los estudiantes presentaron un drama que impacto a los hermanos que asistieron al servicio.

El 1 de noviembre, se visitó la escuela indígena en Tugri, y el equipo presento diferentes dramas, testimonios, cantos y juegos involucrando a los niños en las diferentes actividades.  Después de la participación, viajamos de regreso a la base de Chiriquí, y gracias a Dios llegamos bendecidos, alegres e impactados con la nueva experiencia que Dios nos permitió tener, pero sobre todo, felices por la bondad y las fuerzas que Dios nos dio para compartir el evangelio con las personas que no conocían a Jesús.

Hoy, 2 de noviembre, formamos parte de un servicio especial en la Iglesia Asamblea de Dios, Boquete, en la que se habló el tema de Misiones, a comprometerse con el Señor y estar dispuestos a escuchar el llamado de Dios.   Participamos, presentando dramas, testimonios y experiencias sobre la Misión, y los hermanos se maravillaron al saber lo que Dios está haciendo en nuestras vidas y lo que ellos pueden hacer también para servirle a Dios.

Oramos para que Dios nos siga usando de una manera sobrenatural para continuar expandiendo el evangelio a aquellas personas que necesitan y desean conocer a Dios como su único Salvador.   

por Emma

Week Two

 This week started off with an 8 hour bus ride to our next location in Panama. The ride went smooth until the last 20 minutes when the bus broke down. Our group has had problems with transportation, but all in all we always get to where we need to be.

On Tuesday we had the privilege of doing a program at a boys home. The boys seemed to enjoy it as did the students.

Wednesday the team embarked on an adventure to the mountains. The beauty of God’s creation will never cease to amaze me. It was amazing. While we were there, we met Pastor Rafael and his family. God gave him a vision 7 years ago to go into missions and since then he has seen roughly 40 people come to know Christ. Pastor Rafael is in the process of building a YWAM base in the mountains to reach the indigenous people there.

As a team we able to come along side Pastor Rafael and partner with someone of the ministries that is doing. Thursday we split the team up, and half went on a prayer walk while the others stayed behind and dug a hole for the family and then the teams switched. The prayer walk was had an impact on a lot of the students lives. We entered into the homes of people and prayed for them, four people that day came to know Christ. Which is a powerful thing because the religion that is there has a such a stronghold on the people that creates a fear within them to join any different belief. That evening the team led the church service as the Pastor’s house. Ashley, one of the students had the opportunity to preach. Friday we did a program for the kids at a school, it was quite a struggle for the team as they faced some cultural differences. Although the kids weren’t as responsive as we are used to, the kids had a wonderful time playing and watching the dramas we had for them.

Today [Saturday], the students are preparing a presentation on missions and how missions have affected them thus far.  by Anna

DTS OUTREACH TO PANAMA: Week One

All the DTS students are alive and well. It was quite a trip to arrive to Panama. There were problems with the tickets, then problems with the plane but all in all, we arrived safe and sound.

To start off our stay in this new country, we went to church on Sunday, and Renzo share his testimony, it was quite amazing. It is always good to hear others testimonies and see the response.

We didn't start going out and doing ministry until Wednesday; Wednesday we had the privilege to go to two different schools. The first school was a ministry for the Chinese, there is a high population of Chinese people in Panama. The Chinese school affected a lot of the students. The highlight of that ministry was when a guy from the other DTS was preaching and afterwards he had the kids raised their
hands to accept Christ and the response was amazing.  In the afternoon we went another school that is a ministry of the base, the kids had so much energy!

Thursday we were very blessed to go minster to a male prison, this too  was one that affected a lot of the team. we performed some of dramas and had a time of worship, the men were completely enthralled in the moment. It was a really enjoyable experience to reach out to those who do not have access to the outside world.

Friday was another  day full of impact , we went to a neighborhood that wasn't the safest, in fact it is known for crimes due to gangs and prostitution. It was such an honor to be able to go there and see the kids react to what we had for them. The joy of the Lord is in every environment.  After we finished the with the kids we went on a prayer walk around this neighborhood. It is very different then most prayer walks because we had to escorted by the police for safety reason.  God really blessed our time on the walk.
That evening some of us went to a skate park to minister to the guys there.
Like none of us can skate board or at least not that well, but it didn't matter because God used us in a powerful way, one of the students was able to sit down and evangelize to two of the guys there, using the tracts that were given to us. It was just so cool to see their reaction.
Another student was given the opportunity to pray another of the guys there and the guy's friend. Many seeds were planted that night.

On Saturday, we as a whole group went and toured the Panama Canal, it was such a beautiful sight, we were able to watch a short documentary on whole it was built and go through a four level museum.

I  think I can speak for everyone on this team and say God did a lot this week and changed lives of not only others but ourselves as well. 

EDE CRUZADA A PANAMA SEMANA 1

Fase de la Cruzada en Panamá

Octubre 19 al 26

Estamos muy agradecidos con el Señor por su gran cuidado y protección sobre todos los estudiantes de la EDE de JUCUM, Antigua 2013.   Después de haber tenido un largo y divertido viaje de Guatemala a Panamá el 19 de octubre, finalmente llegamos a Panamá con alegría y dándole gracias a Dios por su cuidado y dirección de nuestro viaje.

Nuestro ministerio dio inicio el primer domingo en la iglesia en Gamboa, en la cual Renzo Lopez compartió su testimonio

 y  lo que Dios está haciendo ahora en la vida de Renzo en YWAM.  El día miércoles, la EDE de Antigua, juntamente con la EDE de Panamá, estuvieron ministrando juntos en la Escuela Cristiana de Panamá dirigido por Chinos, se hicieron varias presentaciones como, dramas, testimonios, cantos, y compartiendo con los niños, pero lo impactante fue que después del mensaje compartido por uno de los alumnos de la EDE Panamá, varios niños aceptaron a Jesús como su único Salvador.   Asimismo, se visitó una Academia Cristiana Doulos, una escuela apoyada por YWAM Panamá.  En esta escuela, también los niños se gozaron con los dramas, cantos, testimonios e historias bíblicas que compartieron ambos equipos, pero sobre todo, el propósito fue mostrarles el amor de Dios y compartir la palabra de Dios a los niños.

Otro ministerio impactante que se llevó a cabo en Panamá el día jueves por la mañana, fue haber visitado una de las cárceles de Panamá.  Mientras se desarrollaban las actividades en la cárcel, los presos que asistieron a la actividad programada por los estudiantes de YWAM, mostraron el impacto de las diferentes presentaciones que se hicieron.   El jueves por la tarde, se visitó un orfanato de niñas entre 8 y 14 años, de igual forma mostraron mucha alegría y deseo de escuchar la palabra de Dios.  Las mujeres de la EDE, tuvieron el privilegio de compartir con las niñas y ellas quedaron muy agradecidas e impresionadas por la palabra de Dios compartida con ellas.   El día viernes,  se visitó una escuelita en Curundú, en la que se hicieron presentaciones para niños, como cantos, dramas con la participación de los niños, cantos, juegos y testimonio.  Luego se hizo una caminata de oración en el área de Curundú, fue necesaria la compañía de la policía por seguridad del grupo ya que esa área es una zona peligrosa, pero Dios es grande porque cuido de todo el grupo que estuvo orando por el lugar y por las personas que viven en esa área roja.  Confiamos y creemos que Dios hará su obra en ese lugar.     Por la noche, el grupo de estudiantes fue a un parque de patinaje en el que se tuvo la oportunidad de hablar con algunos de ellos de la palabra de Dios y animarles  a permanecer en los caminos de Dios.

Después de haber tenido una semana bendecida y larga, tuvimos la oportunidad de ir a conocer el Canal de Panamá y la importancia que tiene por las embarcaciones que entran y salen a diario.

Estamos ansiosos de lo que Dios seguirá haciendo durante las próximas semanas de Cruzada, y pedimos sus oraciones por todo nuestro equipo, para que Dios nos siga usando y se alcancen más almas para su reino.  

October update

October Update

Our DTS class is now on outreach in Panama.  We are working with YWAM in Chilibre for a week and them move on to another YWAM base in Quirique, close to the Costa Rica border.  We have been ministering in schools, churches, orphanages, prison and will be doing some open air presentation.  We also will be visiting some indigenous groups and will be working with YWAM as well as a church in the area.  After our ministry in Panama we will be going to Costa Rica to work with YWAM San Jose and YWAM Heredia for 3 weeks.  We will be partnering with them in the ministries they conduct in their areas.  Our final destination will be Yulmacap, Guatemala, where we will spend a week ministering to all age groups.  This is the area in which several have a rare form of cancer caused by ultraviolet light.  A previous DTS group went to this area 2 years ago and we have great ministry experiences.
Our next DTS will begin on February 16, 2014.  We already have students enrolled and are looking forward to the 5 months working with them.  We have not determined our outreach location but are looking at staying in Belize, Southern Mexico and Guatemala.  Our present plans for the July DTS is to return to India for our outreach.
Our base staff is growing and we are looking to buy land and possible building a structure that will house DTS students and have a classroom along with a larger dining area. Please pray for us as we seek the Lord's guidance and provision.

September update

The DTS is finishing week 7 and the students are growing in their understanding of God and learning more about how to have healthy relationships. We have had great teachings on  the father heart of God and are currently finishing a,week of teachings on the renewed mind. During our next five weeks we will be learning about supernatural ministry, spiritual warfare, evangelism, world view and world missions. Our outreach plans are being finalized and we will be taking the students to Panama, Costa Rica and Guatemala.
Each week the base conduct ministry with children in the neighborhood and market area which the DTS students have an active role. We also reach out to the homeless and conduct evangelism in the Central Park in Antigua. Every Monday night we host an English worship service  which is attended by a variety of people in the community.
We are getting more students enrolled in our February DTS which begins February 16.
Please pray for our DTS students as they raise funds for the outreach. Pray also for our housing needs as we consider buying property and building.

August update

Our DTS is now in the 4the week. We have 12 students from Guatemala, USA and Switzerland. We are enjoying working with a talented group ranging from 18-60 years old. Our plans for the 8 week outreach are to minister in Panama, Costa Rica and Guatemala.
We are planning our next DTS for February 16, 2014 and have several students inquiring and making plans to come.
We continue conducting our weekly ministries to the children, homeless, the lost in Antigua and the English speakers. We have several people applying for staff and will soon be running out of space so we are looking for additional housing and the possibility of building a facility in our community. Please keep us in your prayers.

July Update

We will be hosting a group from Indiana July 14-20 who will be participating in our Summer M.A.D. program.  This is a week long program of missions, adventure and discipleship.  It is like a mini DTS and gives students an opportunity to experience what it is like to live as a mission at least in Guatemala.
We are also getting ready to receive our next group of students for the 5 month DTS which begins July 28.  We anticipate a full class of 14 from Guatemala, Canada, USA and Switzerland.
Our next DTS will be held on February 16, 2014.
Last month we had 3 groups from MN, PA, TX at the base doing ministry with us.  Each group brought a special focus to the ministries that we conduct each week at the base and in the community.  It was a powerful time of ministry for each one and we are always blessed to have groups like them come in to help us.