C&MA Panama

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”  Isaiah 43:19

When God closes a door, He opens a window.  Having been involved in the Panama STM for the past four years, I am inclined to do things a certain way, to think in a certain pattern and to plan everything accordingly, in spite of having a flexible attitude.  God had really opened my eyes this year through new opportunities, new people and new possibilities.

New Opportunities

As the registration deadline approached in April, our team only had four people.  Every promising individual was now either unable or not ready to go.  This year, we teamed up with NTCAC (North Toronto Chinese Alliance Church) and I was initially informed by their coordinator that they might have three to four people joining our team. Much to my surprise, those three or four became 13.  By the beginning of May when training commenced, a team of 22 was formed.  A large team means more potential and new opportunities.  However, I knew right from the start that the team would be split into two teams but little did I know, we were asked by C&MA Panama to split into three teams, serving in three different locations in Panama.  Planning and logistics became incredibly complicated.  On the one hand, we needed to have evenly distributed experienced people in each team to lead the others.  This was easier said than done, as this was NTCAC’s first STM team and they did not know the C&MA Panama approach, although there are quite a few on the NTCAC team who are experienced in children’s ministry. On the other hand, we needed to have enough people on each team for worship, to teach English and crafts as well as to do administration.  After much prayer, God granted me the wisdom to split the team and He provided seasoned leaders from past STM trips to lead in the other two locations.  Although the team members had different language backgrounds and came from different churches, God granted us incredible unity and harmony.  The team was truly amazing and fun!

During our trip this year, there were times when I had come to a total impasse and did not know what to do next.  As I was faced with this ongoing spiritual warfare, the Lord spoke to me through 2 Kings 6:14-16, “Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.  When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?” the servant asked. “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”  And Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”  The Lord has long prepared for everything that we needed and He knows best.  All we had to do was to ask Him to open our eyes so that we may see His mighty works.  God has granted me perfect peace in the midst of chaos and obstacles.

New Possibilities

One month before we left for Panama, we were informed that the school holiday was reduced to one week, which meant that the VBS classes could no longer be run in the morning during school hours. But God had a better plan.  The sudden change in school holiday provided the possibility for a new approach in children’s ministry this year.  We quickly switched to our contingency plan to run an after-school children’s program (放學ICU: 齊學, 齊唱, 齊歡樂). We noticed that there was a much broader interest in learning English than in learning Chinese.  Therefore, the main focus on teaching Chinese in VBS classes had now shifted to teaching English, but with a more vivacious approach.  We had over 110 children attending at the three locations, with approximately 35 of them accepting Christ.  Although some of these children are quite young, they have a simple heart and we firmly believe that these seeds will grow in time and transform their lives.  With this breakthrough, we are no longer bound by the school holidays to run morning VBS Chinese classes.   This positive outcome was unanticipated and more than what we had ever hoped and asked for.  The shift in ministry focus calls for future team structure to include more creative people to teach English, especially English-speaking brothers and sisters, as confirmed in our team of 22 this year.

New People

Besides having a new team structure this year, there were many new people who came to the meetings. There have been more Chinese people migrating from Panama City to Santiago, given the more peaceful environment that Santiago has to offer and the escalating crime rate in Panama City.  These non-believers remain a challenge to be reached as they are scattered throughout the Region.  People that we have visited over the years may not even be there when we return the following year.  We need to pray to the Lord of the harvest that He will gather the people so that they too would seek and find the truth.  Let us also pray for those who are now believers that the Holy Spirit will continue to work in their hearts and strengthen their walk with the Lord.

With new opportunities, new possibilities and new people, we need to expand our horizon, sustain our efforts, strengthen our support and press on with what God has already enabled us to accomplish so far, knowing that He will “. . . establish the work of our hands for us.” (Psalm 90:17).  I challenge you to step out in faith and join us next year and see what God has been doing in Panama.

“Jesus went through all the towns and villages . . . preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9:35-38

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9