The Dry and Rainy Seasons

I apologize to all of you who regularly check this blog for updates for my lack of blog time. A couple of weeks ago, Cyndi and I had to leave Panama because our tourist visa expired. Every 90 days, we are required to leave Panama for three days, then we are free to re-enter the country and receive another 90 day visa. We went to the closest country we could travel to... Costa Rica. During this time, Crystal Jones visited us even though she knew that we would be taking Central American transportation! We were so glad to have her experience our latest adventure. We really enjoyed Costa Rica, and Crystal's visit, despite the overnight bus ride through the mountains. Blah!

A week ago, an LST team of five from New York state came to Panama to help us with the opening of UDELAS, the local university where we are finding new readers. Cyndi and Lisa Carter (our missionary contact in Panama) spent the first couple of days going to classes telling university students about the LST program. The word spread and we spent last week signing up lots of readers. And starting reading sessions!!!! We are so glad that people are ready to read with us now! Summer vacation is over and they are ready to get to work.

God has brought to us many college students, and some faculty as well. All five of the folks from New York have lots of readers. They plan to be here for two more weeks. Once they leave, Cyndi, Lisa and I will take all of these readers and continue to have reading sessions with them. We are so excited with the response that we have received. So many souls drinking in the Word of God. Praise God for His work in their lives. Please pray that we will be His instruments as we read the gospel with them.

In Panama, the are two seasons... the Dry Season and the Rainy Season. Their equivalent of summer vacation started the day we arrived in Panama and last week it ended. Also, the rainy season will begin very soon. The same has been true with our work here. We tried and tried to read with people, but had very little response. But now, the response to our work is almost overwhelming. In Panama, when it rains, it pours and I'm not just talking about water. Let it rain.

Let my teaching fall on you like rain; let my speech settle like dew. Let my words fall like rain on tender grass, like gentle showers on young plants. I will proclaim the name of the Lord; how glorious is our God! Deuteronomy 32:2-3