News about the Dominican Republic partnership.

As many of you know my team and I along with Panamanian students and staff went on a mission's trip to the Dominican Republic back in November 2008. It was the first Panamanian missions project to the Dominican Republic to help with movements of evangelism and discipleship on the campus there (Universidad Autonomo de Santo Domingo, or UASD). Panama has a partnership alliance with the Dominican Republic similar to the partnership alliance that exists between Canada and Panama. The next mission's trip to the Dominican will be from February 13 - February 28, 2010. Please be praying for the details of this trip, including the students that God has set apart to go. It's exciting to witness Panama as a sending nation!

While we were there in November we were always being filmed as part of a reality tv show that was being made. The purpose of this show is to demonstrate to the rest of Central America how to do a Missions project, as well as to encourage other countries. Everyone had a blast filming! It definitely made our trip extra special and fun. Last week we received an email saying that the trailer had been finished and had been posted onYouTube.

Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrAhkJ1-Fsc

I hope this wets your appetite for what's to come! I am looking forward to seeing the completed product! Enjoy! :)

Home

(Chorus)
In this life, you're the one place I call home
In this life, you're the feeling I belong
In this life, you're the flower and the thorn
You're everything that's fair in love and war

Head Over Heels (In this Life)
by Switchfoot

I have been wanting to blog for days but I couldn't bring myself to do it. My hesitation was that all I could think of to write about was how I have such mixed feelings about going back to Canada. Alas although I wanted to try and write about something different I can't help but blog about this transition. Honestly, I have been feeling super sad these days. Yesterday I told my teammates that I felt like I had a black cloud over me that I couldn't shake off. And being the wonderful team that they are they prayed for me. I began to pack today and it felt very strange. Don't get me wrong, it's not like I'm dreading returning to Canada; it's just hard to wrap my mind on the fact that I have to close the chapter on a season of my life that was very special to me. But that's life I know. It's weird though on Wednesday we were celebrating Karina's 25th birthday, yet it was also Steve's last day in Panama with us (he had to leave a week earlier than the rest of our team because his brother was getting married the next day). Contrasts have been a familiar theme in my life lately. Joys mixed with sorrows. I'm emotionally drained as a result of it all. Please lift up my team and I in prayer as we are all learning how to say goodbye.

Something God reminded me of yesterday morning is that home is where He is. My true home isn't Panama or Canada but rather my home is found in Jesus. I am always at home wherever I go because I always have Christ abiding in me and he goes with me everywhere. I take comfort in this, especially these days when I feel so lost at times. In this life Jesus is the one place I call home.

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. John 15:9

One of our last team photos in Panama