Thursday, February 18, 2010

Panama Update (4)

Time really flies, and I can’t believe that I only got two weeks more here in Panama.
The past week were wonderful and a very good experience for me.

(1) 10th Anniversary of Panama Youth Camp

As mentioned in the last update, the camp was very successful. Among 138 participants, 38 of them dedicate their lives to God first time, while many of them rededicate themselves to God, there are four of them willing to offer themselve to God as full-time minister if God's will. Please keep continue to pray for the youth, as a lot of follow-up work have to be done by the local ministry here in Panama. Also, please pray for the ministers so that they will have wisdom and strength to feed these new sheeps.

Here are some photos:







If you have facebook, you can also take a look here at the camp memories for the past ten years.

(2) Dr. Hanson Wong free medical treatments

I have the chance to involve in the medical mission trip by Dr. Hanson Wong. His team travelled around different countries to give free treatments to help people relieved from their physical pain, while at the same time, evangelise them so that they can also be relieved from their spiritual pain.




Among the five days here, I was glad that I was able to help out with two days. In both days, I mainly help in putting the medicine into the needles, while the local ministers preaching to the patients while they are waiting. It was an eye-opening experience for me, as I eye-witnessed how Dr. Wong preached the gospel while needling people (yes, strange, but it works…!), and how many people turn themselves to Christ in the clinic.

This is what the gospel is for: relieving people from their pain, physically and spiritually.

(3) Chinese New Year Celebration Event in Panama

For the past few years, not only that the Chinese community started celebrating Chinese New Year together, they started to have events involving the main-stream community. The church, of course, will not give up this great opportunity and have a booth there at the “market”. We hand out gospel tracts and bookmarks, and people are willing to take them. I was told that there was a university student later called the church because he saw the booth at the event. Praise the Lord. Click here for the photos…

This year, beside the “market”, the Chinese community leaders have a joint venture with the 中國海外交流協會 for a wonderful show and 春茗after the show. More than 1500 people were at the show while 2500+ were at the dinner. ()
So many people showing up at the show and dinner indicating the life style of Chinese community here had been changing rapidly in the last five years. When I came here the first time in 2005, closing down for Chinese New Year is not common and spending $30-50 in these entertainments is almost impossible. Wednesday night, thousands of people are gathering around for the one-hour firework show before midnight, and people are holding up their digital cameras and video cameras. However, while their life-style is improving, at the same time, the door of gospel is also opening wider and wider. Please pray for Panama Chinese community.

(4) Gathering with youth and their families

Having some reunion time with the youth during a picnic trip Monday afternoon and attending birthday party at night make my trip much fruitful. Not only I have a chance to talk with some youth leaders, I also have the chance to communicate with their non-Christian parents.




(5) Joint Alliance Retreat

I have participated in part of the retreat for all Panama Alliance churches. I also have the chance to communicate with the young adult group during the retreat.

(6) Prayer items and upcoming schedule

2.18 – Helping local missionaries to update their computer systems
2.19 – Visitation and Bible studies (Iglesia Evangelica China de Panama)
2.20 – Sharing at Daniel Fellowship 10th Anniversary Gathering (Iglesia Evangelica China de Panama)
2.22/26 – Sharing at Alliance Joint Young Career Fellowship (Iglesia Alianza)
2.25 -- Visiting Santiago Ministry (Iglesia Alianza)
2.26 –Bible study (IEC Panama)
2.27 – Sharing at Daniel Fellowship (IEC Panama)
2.28 – Preaching at Iglesia Evangelica China de Panama
2.29/3.4 – Training for Daniel/Timothy Fellowship (IEC Panama)
3.5 – Leaving for Canada




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