Looking Back

I had really high hopes while in Panama I would be able to blog every night about what was going on and what God was doing in our lives and through us. Well...that didn't happen for a few reason. So, yesterday after I got 12 hours of sleep I decided I would do a reflection back on each day so that I could cover some of the things I missed telling you about while we were there. It might take me a few days to get the whole trip in but I think it will be fun for me to look back and blog the things I remember. For referecne during my blogs here is who the Louderback family is Tim -- Dad Tina -- Mom Trinity Noah Grace Lynn or GL Eden July 23rd...Travel day

We left Lockney about 7am. Some of the wonderful ladies from our church cooked an awesome breakfast. As the day went on we were more and more thankful for that meal because our flight out of Lubbock was delayed and so we didn't have time to get lunch in Dallas so it was 4:00 in Miami before we got to eat lunch and well that was supper too. The kids were great sports about it. They were so good to just go with the flow and no one every complained. We got to Dallas and made a running leap to our next flight and made it with 5 seconds to spare. Miami we were there long enough to get a bite, use the restroom and board the plane to Panama. At this point the bunch was really quite. Chad and I both could sense they weren't sure about what would happen once we were in Panama. I was a little uneasy myself. As we flew into Panama it was dark which was kind of a bummer because we missed seeing all the water and little islands we were flying over. However, we did get to see the sunset and that was amazing from the plane. Once we were on the ground in Panama we got off the plan and went right to the immigration line. This is where we each had to turn in a paper stating who we were, how long we were staying and the purpose of our trip. The line was looooong! But, once again everyone did great. The language was a little bit of a problem getting though there but all in all it went great. Next came getting our luggage...here is where I was stressed because I just new someones luggage wasn't going to make it....but it did! We went to customs after that and basically they just sent out bag into a scanner thing. Here is where the story gets exciting! As we walked out of the airport there was a group of people to welcome us...how cool is that! The Louderback's had put a group together to welcome us to Panama. There were translators, friends, and their family minus Tina and the younger girls as it was late. We were also met by some of the members from La Boca Baptist Church and they were so sweet to share how excited they were that we were in Panama to work alongside of them this week. The bus we would be using all week was there as well. We all loaded up between the bus and Tim's (Lottie Moon) van and headed to the hotel. They got us all settled into the hotel and gave us a little idea about what the next day held and at this point we were all so excited I don't think any of us slept much. What a cool welcoming by the Louderback family and their team! July 24th We gathered in the hotel at 6:45 am...at this point the things I had learned about Panama were...some spoke English but they really didn't want you to know they could...which was so helpful and funny :) And the sunset is alot earlier and the sunrise is also much earlier. This was helpful for whatever reason because I didn't have much trouble getting up the first morning. Maybe it was just the excitement of heading to the site. We met the Louderback Family in the lobby of the hotel and headed out to McDonalds. The menu as far a breakfast isn't anything like you would think it is here in America. No biscuits just english muffins and they had some other things such as yucca and so forth. Everyone was a little excited to try something different but they also had just pancakes for those that didn't want to venture. Tim had arranged for us to have the large upstairs room for us to do a short orientation about rules, culture, where we were going and what to expect. That was so very helpful that he did that. It let us see some things about Panamanians that we other wise would have had no clue. Such as cleaning our tables. Here in the states we dump our on trash say at burger king...in Panama you don't do that...you leave it because that is someone's job. They are very much a service orientated culture. He also explained safety issues, what to expect as far as at the site and so forth. He also shared with us that Panamanians do NOT get in a hurry. They kind of run on their own time schedule which is always late. As the week went on we saw this first hand. Tim, that was such a help time for our group. At 7:45 we boarded the bus...let me just stop and say the driving in Panama is just so different. As I said above they don't get in a hurry...until they get on the road. For whatever reason they get after driving and they don't want you to stop for anyone or anything...so don't step out in front of a car...because they are not stopping. And honk...they honk all the time...fun honk, mad honk, hi honk or hey I am right here honk and my favorite...I am coming around the corner honk. I kind of miss the honking. Anyway, I just didn't look in front of me the whole time we were in a car it was just better for me. We got to the site about 8:30 to set up. The church in Panama had told us to expect about 50 kids for each session. So, we got set up and well...the people with some of the stuff we needed ran on Panamanian time..so it was about 9:30 by the time we got started. The kids started coming. They split our group into groups and each group teamed with a translator and went to the different parts of the community to invite the kids. Well the kids started to come and come...we ended up with 98 kids in the first session which was from 9-11. We went to lunch each day in a little place that had American options. We ate lunch, refilled water and loaded up to go back. The second session was from 1-3 and the kids were already waiting for us when we came back. The kids kept coming the whole time and they just kept coming and coming...at one time Tina looked at me and said "Katie, there has to be 700 kids here" we both laughed but wanted to cry at the same time. God had brought them to us as we had asked but there were SO MANY! We just threw our plans out that window and just played games, sang shared the bible story and loved on them.

After we got cleaned up from the kids camp we loaded the bus and headed back to our hotel where we had group time. This was a time for us to just debrief about the day and share things that happened, touched our hearts or God showed us. Such a sweet time with our team, the Louderback's and the translators.

After this group time we headed to supper. Which we walked everyone once we were done each day at the site. This saved money with the bus to let them go earlier than later. We walked to the first place they had picked for us and the electricity was out.

So, we turned around and walked back to option number 2 which was a Chinese place in Panama. Interesting. Cool fact is that Carlos Lee (form Astor) is the spokes person for the restaurant Don Lee....so we were a fan. We loved Carlos Lee while he was with the Astro's. But, for the most part everyone liked it!

After supper we walked back to the hotel slowly and looked at a few places on the way. There were different vendors and such on the side of the road we stopped and looked at what they had and then made it back to the hotel where we had our devotions, said our goodnights and headed for the showers and the bed. Most everyone was in bed by 8:30pm to 9pm the first night...but they were ready for the next day! It was a blast and I am having fun reflection on each day and blogging about it. I have laughed and cried. I miss Panama so much. I miss the kids, the Louderback's and their team! I never knew when God showed us his plan that my heart would hurt to come home! I hope you are seeing a little bit of what we did and how things worked out. God was so faithful and kept us all safe and showed us some awesome things. I think in the devotion time everyone for the most part agreed that we knew God had great things in story for each of us and we were excited to go back the next day.

Until later...