Week of July 26th

I must share with all a very faith strengthing experience.... Pretty much since we arrived in Volcan and found our first rent home we have been looking for our next rent house. It has been quite the challenge to say the least due to a large hydroelecric Russian company that has moved into the area and pretty much taken most of the rent homes in the area that can be lived in. We have also come across many greedy locals who are very proud of their houses(they think that it is worth more than actually is) and are not willing to negotiate price. I guess they would rather let the house sit and wait for someone to come and pay the higher prices they are asking. So this matter has been the source of much frustration and stress. All the friends in Volcan were on the lookout for rentals for us as well.
The english groups in both Boquete and David were trying to convince us to move there to assist in the preaching work. Around 2 weeks ago we found a house in Boquete that would fit are physical needs and budget (which fitting budget in Boquete was a suprise since that area is generally more expensive than Volcan), but we decided that we would still try to find a house in Volcan.

There were a number of factors to keep us serving inVolcan, which I mediated and prayed about. (1) The congregation was just formed in April (so still lots of territory to work),  (2) The whole family is being used in the congregation experiencing spiritual growth (if we move to David or Boquete we would be attending the bulk of meetings in Spanish), (3) We have formed a loving bond with all the brothers and sisters in this congregation.(the children don't have children their age but have lots of grandparent figures that are very spiritually mature. This is good for the whole family).

Okay so this week Stephanie and I decided on Monday that this would be the week to decide if we stay in Volcan or move to house in Boquete. We saw several houses this week but none fit living or basic needs. Thursday night Stephanie and had a conversation that we really wanted to stay in Volcan and despite the lack of home prospects we would trust in Jehovah and put our soles of our feet in the Jordan. We mediated together on the account in Joshua 3:11-16.
Friday morning we decided to stay in Volcan and check for more houses and I received an unexpected phone call from a house that we had looked at about a month and a half ago.

So I must fill in the details now of the history about the house and family that is trying to rent the house. The house belongs to a widow (Panamaian) who is currently living in David (1 hour from Volcan). She doesn't speak any English, but her daughter who works in Panama City speaks perfect English as she is a English teacher is trying to assist her mom in watching after the house.  The mom (widow) lost her husband 3 years ago he suffered from heart attack (after 45 years of marriage). She also lost her youngest son 10 years ago in tragic car accident. She is living in David because she has hard time being in house by herself due to emotional ties.
So about a month and a half ago on a Friday we were coming back from service in Boquete and we had some Spanish speaking sisters with us. So the mom was able to show us her house and the house was very nice but there were a lot of concerns with the renting the house. 1. No furniture; 2. No closets in any of the rooms; 3. The stairs weren't built right and would be considered a safety hazard by US standards.  We were able to witness to her and place some literature. We expressed the concerns about renting the house, and thanked her for her time. I called her daughter (Seri) since she had been the main point of contact and I told her the same concerns. So I thought we were done with this house.....So Seri calls me on Friday and asks me if we have rented a house yet. I explained we were still looking and she tells me that her Mom has taken a lot of recommendations that we had given her and was getting them worked on because she really wanted my family to rent her house. Seri mentioned to me that her Mom had interviewed many other individuals but didn't like them. She only wanted to rent to us. So we made arrangements to revisit house on Friday to see what all had been done. Some furniture had been placed back in house (which the mom had previously given away to relatives and went to ask it back from them), closets were getting added in the rooms (about 80% complete), some work on stairs but not fixed to our liking.
So we were able to reach agreement that she would buy material for stairs, and we would have stairs fixed. We have a loving brother, Cliff Vickerman from Minnesota who is a general contractor back in US volunteered to assist us and work on stairs for us.

Stephanie and I were also able to place literature ( 2 August Magazines and Bible teach book) with Seri who plans on reading it for herself and share with her English classes. I will keep you posted with this return visit as she is very interested in spiritual things and was amazed of the love we have amoungst each other in our organization. So yeah....we have a house to rent for the next year now.... 4 bedroom 2 bathrooms ; house situated on one of the largest lots it actual covers a whole block. Usually 4 houses would fit on the land that this one house sits on. The rent is actually cheaper than the house we are in right now.









We decided that it would be best for our spiritual well being to keep the family in Volcan and rely on Jehovah to help us find a house to rent.

Week of July 19th

Just getting back to the swing of things. Last week we had just recovered from the Flu. Two weeks ago Stephanie, Oliver and I were hit pretty good with a flu bug that was going around. We were able to join the Boquete group last week who had the visit of Circuit Overseer and his wife. We are looking for our next rental house in Volcan, but things are looking to good. There is a big Russian hydroelectric company that has bought up a lot of the rentals in Volcan. We have found a house in Boquete that fits our needs and budget. We will probably have a decision reached by this week. There is also a possibility of moving to David area but that area is very hot. We are seeking Jehovah's direction on the matter.

week of June 28th

This week in the Ministry....

Monday visited neighboring hotels to inquire of any English speaking staff members. Visited Hotel Bambito (about 10 minutes up the mountain from Volcan) and met an individual Jose who has worked @ Hotel Bambito for 29 years. Probably in his sixites and was very receptive to Bible message, so I plan on returning and demonstrating the Bible study arrangement with him. Visited another hotel and got into conversation in Spanish with receptionist asking how much the rates were and if she knew anyone who spoke English. We also inquired about if she knew of any house rentals in the area. She proceeded to pick up phone and got me in touch with Jorge (George) who has a ranch in Volcan with some rent houses. We visited him and it turned into a witnessing opportunity as Jorge who is Greek has been in Panama for over 15 years recently lost his wife to death (4 months ago). So we were able to place "When someone you love dies" brochere with him. Looking to make him a return visit but not interested in any of his rentals that he has available.

Wednesday--- (David) Stephanie had here study with Tonya in the park. Very promising study.  I found a man who speaks English he works in Autopart store was set up as return visit in order to demonstrate Bible study.

Thursday ----(Puerto Armulles) purpose of our trip was to turn over some studies that the Gilby family had but needed some other friends to take over study.  Since we aren't planning to make Puerto Armulles apart of our weekly schedule. We had some friends accompany us to turn over the studies. While Stephanie was at a study in a neighborhood. I decided to take a walk with Oliver and see if we could find anyone in the neighborhood that we could witness too. I came to find a 66 year old lady named Mrs. Silva who is here for the summer while school is out. She is a teacher in Pearland, Texas and her husband is trying to obtain his US citizenship so for close to 2 years she has been coming out to be with her husband. I was able to have a 1 hour Bible discussion with her. I placed a Bible teach book with her and currently making arrangements to have a sister that will be going to Puerto Armulles come and study with Mrs. Silva.

Friday---  (Boquete)  I started study with young lady who works in the Airbox office (Jessica). I presented the Bible teach book with her as a "special gift" for her. She opened to the page where her name goes and she put her name in it. I introduced her to Stephanie and we plan on going through chapter 1 next week....