Panama

Our time in Panama was amazing. The border crossing from Costa Rica to Panama was the toughest of the trip so far. We would find out soon enough that it wasn't even a drop in the bucket compared to getting our five vehicles across the Panama Canal to Columbia. After two days of travel consisting of two of our vehicles having problems we arrived in Panama City, Panama. We had the privilege of staying in a church that was right next to the Panama Canal. We got to watch the big ships travel on the Canal and the trains taking big containers away from the docks. We also got to drive over the bridge that the trains use but one lane is for cars to get to the city we were in, Gamboa. They just put some wood over the tracks. It was a bit sketchy to drive over but fun.

We had a lot of ministry opportunities but the one I want to write about had the greatest impact on me. Our contact from YWAM (youth with a mission) David, arrainged for us to minister in the most dangerous and poorest section of Panama City. This is why we are all on this trip. We want to go in the darkest areas of the Americas and bring the Light of Jesus to it. We went to this apartment building where they were waiting for us. A pastor was already loudly preaching and praising God in the inside courtyard of the building to some children. We all spread out and started praying for the people and the community. Some of the guys started praying for this one man. When I first looked into his eyes, I saw a lot of evil. One of the guys, Taylor, heard from God that we need to roar like a lion into him in unison. So we told our translator to tell him, and when he agreed to it, we roared very loudly for about 10 seconds. We continued to pray for him after and gave him hugs and told him Jesus loved him. When I looked into his eyes after praying, I did see a difference. Two days later, David told us the testimony of this guy. That same night we were praying for him, he was planning a big robbery. During the time we prayed for him and roared into him, he saw his destiny in a vision. It wasn't a good one. He saw himself in hell. When we left, he gave his life to Jesus and did not commit the robbery. Praise God!! People being transformed by the love and power of Jesus. I felt very honored that the Lord would allow me to be a co-laborer with Him in this gentlemens life. It was an awesome display of light entering where darkness is, and darkness fleeing.