Stateside is Coming in 21 days

Three weeks from today we will be traveling back to the States for Stateside.  We have been busy selling our personal belongings, saying goodbyes, and continuing with ministry.  This week we have a special service planned for all of the church planters we have trained here in Panama.  We have been able to rent out a theatre at one of the malls here - which just happens to be the biggest mall in Central America.  This will be a special time of sending these former students out to continue putting into practice what they have learned.  We also have another team coming from Eagle's Landing First Baptist Church in McDonough, GA.  They will arrive on July 7 and will be here until the 14, leaving just two days before we depart.  We have a full week planned for them and are excited about what God will do through this group!

As you might imagine, we have many emotions.  We are sad to leave Panama after pouring ourselves into the ministry God had for us here for the past two years.  We are praying that God will continue His work through those who have been trained.  On the other hand, we are excited to see family and friends who we haven't seen in a while.  Most importantly, we are ready to see our son John Robert who left for the States on May 2nd.  He has been staying with grandparents during this time, but it just doesn't feel right to have him missing from our family.

Please keep us in your prayers that we finish well here in Panama, and also that we will have a refreshing time on Stateside.  By the way, we are available to speak in churches during this time to share what God has been doing during our time in Panama.  Just give us a call, comment on here, send us an email or FB message.  We're not too hard to find!  We would love to share with many of you during the next six months.

See you soon!

Count Down to Stateside: 37 Days

We are in the midst of a lot going on right now.  Yesterday was the last day of school for Christian and Preston.  What a bittersweet day for them with the excitement of summer vacation, yet leaving the school and friends they won't see again.  We are selling all of our furniture and household goods, so there are people in and out of our apartment almost on a daily basis.  We have a team arriving today from Eagle's Landing First Baptist Church in McDonough, GA.  We will be working hard with them doing a graduation for the Kuna Church Planting Course that Cavin and Derek just finished teaching.  We will also be working in an area of the city called El Congrejo where we are trying to establish a new work.  We are partnering with a church here in Panama who will continue the work after we leave.

....And in 37 short days from today on July 16, we will board a plane for the U.S.  What a whirlwind of emotion.  Last night as I was driving through the city, I was reflecting on our time here - how God has worked through us, how He has taken care of us and been so faithful, and how blessed we have been to be here for a little over 2 years.  I was also thinking about the beauty of this city.  God's handiwork is so apparent here.  I was driving by the water while the sun was setting and it was absolutely gorgeous!  Of course, I didn't have my camera, but I have vowed to get a picture of that location before we leave.

Continue to keep us in your prayers as we say goodbye to the people we love here in Panama.  The "goodbyes" have already started, and it's not easy, even though we are looking forward to the "hellos"on the other end!  Please keep us in your prayers during this time.