Our mission trip to Panama

I could talk a lot about missions and missionaries. Our family moves every 2-3 years so you could say we take a mission trip often. We sometimes feel like we’re missionaries but we just don’t stay very long.
My husband is in the United States Air Force. We have lived in many different places across our country. We try to quickly find a church and get involved. We are always trying to make a difference wherever we live. I will, however, narrow it down to one place.
In 1995, we moved to the country of Panama in Central America. I was scared to death since I was still a new convert. I had only been a Christian for 1 year before making this journey. I did not know how it would change my life.
We arrived in Panama City and was it ever hot. It is a beautiful country filled with birds, snakes, flowers, iguanas, and lots of trees. The Panama Canal is so cool to see even though so many died to build it. We did not know the language, Spanish, so we got a big culture shock.
I hated being in Panama for at least 2 years. I wanted to go back home, but I fell in love with the people. They are so poor, but they will give every dime to further God’s kingdom. We have seen people give their last bit of change in the offering. That last bit of change was their bus money to get home. They truly taught me the lessons of sacrificing for the kingdom of God.
By the time we got ready to leave, 1998, there were at least 5 other military families who were apart of the mission church. We still keep in contact with these families even though we are in many different places in the world.
I learned many great things while being in Panama. I had learned a little Spanish at least enough to find a bathroom. I learned how to pray, fast, worship, and a lot about missions and what a missionary’s life is like.
I had hated being far from all that was familiar. Thanks be to God I now have a great love for Panama and a burden for missions.