Day 6 (10/16/24)

 Today after breakfast and a brief send off by the Radisson resident cat, 





we set off for Iglesia Luterana Church in Los Andes. This church is located in a busy area of the city, near a rail station and right across the street from an international soccer complex (I heard that the
US recently played Panama there and won 2-0). 



There is also a medical clinic across the other street from the church 


The bus backed into the church yard and parked on the lawn. It was a tight squeeze to get the bus through the gate, but our bus driver Ramiro did a great job. It's hard to  get perspective in the picture below, but it was taken out the bus window and shows how close the bus is to the gate (an inch?) 

This is the church lawn/where the bus parked -



Just outside the church yard is a bus stop and rubble. 








There are also a fair number of dogs roaming around in this neighborhood








The sanctuary had already mostly been set up for the Eyeglass clinic by the time we got there, with pews pushed out of the way and tables set up. We got to work, unpacking our suitcases onto the tables...













When we first arrived, the waiting area only had a few people in it, 





but by the time Pastor Patricio started the first evangelism station group, the pews in the waiting area were starting to fill up.






As a side note, this is one of a few churches I have seen with a soccer themed case for holding the hymnals!






While we were waiting to get started, Anita and Marilyn decided to try out some glasses to color coordinate with their clothing. 



This idea may have been sparked by others in the group wearing matching outfits....



The clinic was soon underway and running smoothly








At times, one of the stations in particular seemed to have a little too much caffeine ...Not quite sure what was happening over there....




On break, we were welcomed to use the bathroom of the attached parsonage, which has great decor AND a flushable toilet.



When the clinic was over, we had served 130 people...the Iglesia church family celebrated Micah's birthday with cake 

 

and empanadas





We thanked our amazing group of interpreters, and our host church, 



and took a group photo



Our luggage was loaded back on the bus in the unique Panamanian way.








Pretty soon, we were flying through the streets of Panama, admiring the artwork 






or stopped on the streets of Panama, admiring the logjammed traffic and motor bikes squeezing between lanes as if they were competing on a professional slalom ski course.







Dinner was at Restaurante Pencas, which is quite close to the Radisson where we are staying. Since we are meeting early tomorrow  to get on the bus, there was no devotion/team meeting tonight. 

Near the entrance of the church building today we saw 

In English,

They cried out to God during the battle, and he answered their prayer because they trusted him. (1 Chronicles 5:20)


Lord, we thank you for this day, for the opportunity to be able to partner with your church in Los Andes. Be with the Pastor Patricio and Pastor Voigt as they bring your word to this community. Give them courage, patience, and confidence that you are working. May we continue to lift up this congregation in our  prayers.



























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