Blogs from Panama City, Panamá, Panama, Central America Caribbean - page 43

Today we traveled to the Youth with a Mission organization outside of Gamboa. YWAM is an international and inter-detominational Christian missions organization. YWAM is operating in more than 900 locations in over 140 countries. The YWAM in Panama is headed by the wonderful Tracy family. They had been working in Panama since 1993. There are three main things that they do here. The first is YWAM training programs. YWAM is a large international movement of Christians working to help make a difference in a needy world. They offer a five month discipleship Training School (DTS). They also offer Staff and Leadership Training. The purpose of the SALT school is to produce better equipped staff members for their schools and base staff. The second thing YWAM Panama offers is short term Mission Adventures. They offer a 7 ... read more

Today we traveled to La Chorrera. La Chorrera and the surronding area has a population of around 200,000. It is west of Panama City just over the Canal. We crossed the new bridge over the canal. We met past district governer Andy Guillen, Ruth Mata, and current president of the La Chorrera club Roque. Roque is a pilot for the canal. When a ship enters the canal control is turned over to the pilot and he guides it safely (we hope) through the canal. He works different shifts. The next morning he had to get to work by five. The first place we visited was a group home that the club has worked with for several years. The school is a place for children from around the country to go who have a not so good ... read more

We arrived in PC Tuesday the 28th after a very long flight. Fog in Texas meant we were sent to New Jersey instead. After being picked up at the airport by our local Rotary friends, we checked into the Hotel Marbella The group this year is made up of seven Rotarians from Kansas. Greg Peterson, Lenxa. Wes McCoy, Olathe, Lois Kastner, Leavenworth. Bob Green, Ottawa. John and Wanda Wilhite from Overbrook. I´ve been asked quite a bit about what and why we go to Panama... Rotary District 5710 in Kansas has worked over the years with Rotary clubs in Panama. There has been a very successful annual health fair, assistance with schools, orphanages, medical supplies, etc.. The clubs in Panama had noticed that many of the children are still not coming to school and that many ... read more

Its warm here in Panama City and the weather is nice, I am still alive and I am having fun in the sun. I woke up to take a dip in the pool to find it already occupied and had to take the little guy out of the pool. he was pretty friendly and tried to give me a kiss (not really) he didnt even try to run away. We gave him to the maid who really seemed to want him only to find out that when she said "comida, comida bueno" which loosely translated means lunch, I guess Iguanas taste like chicken, personally i would rather eat a chicken. Anyhow things are very relaxed here and I guess I have to start thinking about what I am going to do when I get back to ... read more

It´s been a while since I´ve updated. Since my first day in Puerto Viejo. It is hard for me to remember. I´ve done alot and seen alot since then. Puerto Viejo is always a good time. Rocking J´s, one of the hostels, had a good crowd there. I stayed for 3 nights. I got enough of a break in the rain to see some nice beaches and waterfalls and such. A guy from Vancouver island and I ended up getting mugged while we were walking home from a bar. A couple local guys came out of the forest with there faces masked and big shiny machettes in hand. The worst thing for me was that I had gone to the bank before the bar and was carrying 40,000 colones, which is $80 U.S. Luckily I wasn´t ... read more