Bajo Grande

Wao (That's Panamanian for wow)

Wao is all I can say when I think back to the past 4 days up in Bajo Grande. A group of 26 of us, led by Todd and Marielena Tillinghast (check out www.lfim.org...missions trip anyone?!?!?) headed off into the rural community of Bajo Grande in the Cocle province of Panama (its a short 3 hour paved drive, 1/2 hour 4x4 drive and 15 minute hike from Panama City).
We went there to serve the Lord by serving the people. Our time there was filled with helping families in the community with practical things during the day (harvesting food, cleaning, digging ditches etc...) while also getting to know the people. We would then invite them out for the night to a house where we would share testimonies, dramas and the Jesus film (which was ran on a generator as this community does not have power).


Our accomidation for the weekend. The girls had the luxury of sleeping on the dirt inside, as us boys slept under the tin roof.


It was an incredible experience. Although the people live such different lives, it was still easy to connect with the people as we conversed and shared with them. The family I worked with consisted of a man and his wife, their daughter and from time to time their 4 year old grandaughter would come to visit (her house was a couple minutes away). On Sunday as we sat down for a lunch of Sancocho (Traditional Panamanian chicken soup) my teamate and I were able to start sharing our faith with the faimly. After giving my testimony and sharing the gospel my teamate did the same. The family showed interest and began asking questions. When we told them it was possible to begin their own personal relationship with God and have their sins forgiven they said yes, and prayed to receive Christ. That night it was great to see them come out to the meeting and meet the pastor who hopes to plant a church in the area.



The landscape there is absolutely beautiful. The sides of the hills are used for growing crops...Yuca, Beans, Coffee, Oranges, Lemons


Presenting the drama 'Everything'...


The Canadians (minus Sarah) satisfied, joyful, dirty and exhausted after the weekend

PLEASE PRAY FOR BAJO GRANDE. Pastor Coree is a missionary in the area, he has planted one church in the next community over and wants to now plant one in Bajo Grande. There are about 20 communities in this area without a church presence. As I was working on Sunday a couple of Mormon missionaries hiked by. The harvest is ready and the people are thirsty for a change and meaning in life.

"..but whoever drinks of the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed the water I give him will become in him a well of water springing up into eternal life"
- Jesus