Our Journey while in the US

Always it is a challenge for me to start a report or a sharing on writing. This time I sat at a host family home, listening to Darlene Zschech songs.  At the same time trusting in Him to help put my thoughts and impressions in writing.  For the conclusion of this journey will be that He had grace and mercy on us all along the way.

As we prepared and packed our bags, the worry about the weather in the US was constant in my mind for, one thing is to pack while in a cold weather country and another thing is to pack on hot, hot weather country, so I packed what I thought I would need.  And it happens all the time we come to the States, I packed more than needed, at least for me, David is more practical.

P. Todd's kids + Issaiah 

Arriving into Atlanta was nice and for a moment we thought, hey this is nice weather, but we got into Cleveland airport and oh my Lord, it was cold and lots of snow; so we got boots out of the suitcase and warmer clothes but nothing is enough when you come from hot and dry climate.  Anyway, God is good and kept us warm through our brother’s and sister's love.

At Cleveland, we were able to do a few things like: 

It was David's first time to see snow, so he went snow sliding with Pastor Todd's kids by the Eire Lake and made snow angels, it was fun to see a 25 yr old guy enjoy snow that much.  Of course I decided to stay warm, so I stayed with Debbie and the smaller kids at the house.  Besides having fun and sharing meals together, we were blessed by sharing the ministry, David and I talked in front of the Church and in small groups.  Several questions in reference to the ministry and the family were asked opening doors for other conversations of edification.

The Lord opened the time to meet with another ministry that has the vision of helping to plant churches among the Ngobe but from the sea shore, so plans are being made to see how to start to move on that direction, starting next year, but this is still in the praying/investigation stage.  

Also, we were able to see the group that accompanied the ministry to Switche last year, how nice was to be reunited with dear partners in the work He has for all of us.  We are part of a big family around the world.

What to say about our host family, they are sweet, considerate and a warm couple, that through their testimony we can see how they have grown in grace and love.  They not only opened their home but their hearts, and gave us the key of their home! Now that is something special.  

From Cleveland we travelled to Alabama with a stop in Atlanta, in order to attend the every other year mission conference of one key partner in the ministry.  This journey was something we have not experienced before.  At our arrival to Atlanta in order to connect to the Alabama flight, we found out that our flight had been cancelled, so standing on a waiting list with the view that you are scheduled by the airline to fly next day, was not very encouraging, besides that, we had no idea of where our bags were; anyway we tried to be flexible and positive.  After waiting for almost 6 hours going from one gate to another our Lord placed us in different flights but guess what, we made it, our bags made it.  !Gloria a Dios! The experience was enriching. 

The GIC (Global Impact Celebration) was a time of refreshing, reconnecting, reenergizing and refocusing.  The theme was "Journey to One", a journey to the One that guides us to search for the one in need of the One, (refocusing of the call).  Getting to see brothers and sisters that remain in the race, others that have widened their tents and others that are an encouragement to those that come every other year to reconnect.  New faces, new runners that are serving the King in lands that you would not imagine; getting to hear and share our Kings wonders is such an enriching time; a time that until we get to heaven our Lord will allow us to have a taste at different stations of the race.  

The different opportunities given for each ministry to share the vision, report the progress and impart vision to what is coming, was very much appreciated.  Our lives and ministry were very much enriched, by meeting the prayer leader for Latin America, he is always on the top asking for request and updates.

There is a market place where the farmers can take their products that are not qualified to be at the big vegetable places, but still useful for eating.  Local ministries receive the product and select the good ones for human consumption and what is left is being use for animal consumption; we had the privilege to participate in the selection, packing and sending of these products. Nothing goes to waste. 

Just an awesome experience.

The time with our host family, was another enriching time.  As member of a youth mission trip from Asbury to our country some time ago, their daughter came and serve in Panama for one week and by knowing her parents we can see and appreciate from where her joy and grace comes from, her family and her have the same source we have, Jesus.  Believe it or not, they entrusted David and I with one of their vehicles; of course I have forgotten that David is familiar with some of the roads in Madison, but did a good job driving me around.

My family, the ministry and I are so grateful to our Lord for having such good partners in the field in different ways, through prayer, words of encouragement, by coming and giving, is enumerable the ways in which we can be part in our Lord's Kingdom.

To Him be the glory always.

Talsy and David.
Panama