Nick in Panama: Day 1

I've never been in such a small plane before, I thought to myself as I took my seat in one of four passenger seats. When the doors were shut, the heat was unbearable. The engines started up and the noise was overpowering. A bug. That's what we'll be. We'll be a bug in the sky.

Nick gave an enthusiastic "woot!" and I couldn't help smiling. I swallowed and began to laugh-- maybe out of nervousness. As we turned on to the runway, I gazed out the window and tried to get my mind to catch up with my body. Yes, yesterday I did wake up in my dorm room in Urbana. Yes, I was sitting in a four passenger plane with Nick Vujicic (you can see his website here), my mom and Nelson (the Kuna-English translator). And yes, we were on our way to visit two Kuna villages.

I guess I'll back up and give a little bit of background information first. I am currently in Panama City, Panama serving as Nick Vujicic's translator on an evangelistic four day tour through Panama. I have translated with him twice in the past and have been blessed with the opportunity to join him again-- this time in Panama. Yes, I am missing four days of school to do this :)

Today was incredible.

First we went to Panama's police and military department. Nick shared a message of hope and encouragement there. It was beautiful and inspiring.

Then, we took two tiny planes across the jungle to Kuna territory. This indigenous people group is absolutely beautiful. They wear brightly colored clothing (lots of red) and the women have huge bead bracelets up and down their arms and legs. Beautiful nose piercings characterize older women. All the women and girls wore brightly colored skirts, that to the westerner's eye were extremely unmatched.

We flew over the Panama Canal and then landed on a strip of concrete in the middle of the jungle. I kind of felt like we were in a movie. We got on to some boats and headed over to the first community. I was overcome by the community's love and welcome. It was beautiful. After Nick's sermon they couldn't stop giving gifts. They were overcome by gratitude.

We were ushered into the church building and fed some rice, lentils and lobster. It was actually pretty good lobster!!

After that we went back to the planes and headed to the other community. Landing on this island, we were told, was like landing on a aircraft carrier. The dimensions of the landing strip were comparable and water surrounded it. Thankfully our pilot was excellent :)

A couple hundred indigenous members warmly welcomed us. Nick joyously preached the Gospel... explaining that Jesus was more than a good teacher. You see, all other teachers say that they know the way, they know the truth and they know God. But Jesus said that he is the way, he is the truth and he is God. Again, he was showered with gifts and we finally headed back to Panama City.

We just got back from dinner overlooking the ocean with huge, beautiful boats in the bay. Carlos Ivan, the organizing pastor shared his testimony with us. He grew up on the streets of Bogota and soon got involved with the drug cartels in Cali. When he was sick of those we went to Bolivia and started his own. However, he ended up owing TONS of money so was kidnapped by the Bolivian drug lords. Through a series of events he came to know Christ as savior and his life was totally transformed. He now works with gang members and slum dwellers in Panama and Haiti.

Once again, I was amazed by the transformative power of Christ in the lives of hearts that are open to him.

Continue praying for this trip!!

Prayer Requests:

1. That souls would be ripe for the harvest

2. That the logistics would fall into place

3. For the health of everyone on the team-- especially Nick's

4. That God would be glorified