Ponderings from Panama

Ponderings from Panama for 

Monday, August 22

I believe that if you asked anyone on the trip what they thought the highlight of the trip was that there is a good chance that 100% would mention Monday afternoon when we spent a couple hours playing with the children at Casa Hogan Caanan (“Home of Caanan House” / or “Home of Hope”).

For all you PEPpers, this is the orphanage home that we support.

At this particular time his “funny way” was to allow the air conditioner on the van to go out.  For two days we drove around in a large tropical city with the windows open breathing car fumes, chocking and coughing and sweating our way from place to place.

The good news is that we all acted like mature Christians and took the discomfort in stride.  And the better news was that when we arrived at the compound where the children’s home is the driver was able to repair the air conditioner.

It took about two hours and guess what we did during that time?  We played; played with the children.

On our visit we had a wonderful worship service conducted by Pastor Glenn, we gave gifts, we took them to lunch and we gave out a lot of hugs and kisses.  But the most productive time spent there was out in the yard playing children’s games.  It was there that we showed them what all the other activities really meant and it was there that our hearts were bonded together in love.

My dear, dear friend, please do not miss this important lesson: Your setbacks are God’s methods of setting you up for success.

How could we know that during those long hot days of driving around Panama in a van with no air condition that God was
setting us for the highlight of the trip?   The same is true for you dear one.  God does not waste a day of your life.  If you will be willing to leave off complaining and fretting and instead trust God through your tough times, I promise you, one day you will look back and thank Him for setting you up for a wonderful gift.  (Genesis 50:20)