EXCELENTE

Good participation.  Deep questions.  Great trip.  That's how I would describe the latest trip to Algorrobo, Panama.  Algorrobo is a village in the mountains of Chiriqui, Panama.  We began our pastoral training ministry there in 2010 in partnership with E3 Partners, and the Vega family.  The Vegas have been working among the Gnobe indians for several years and it's a joy to partner with them in the work of equipping this indigenous tribe to reach their own people with the gospel.  We will be training pastors and leaders in this village three times per year.  For me, it's a fun trip - no electricity, very remote.  There is water - but for us, it's not potable - AND it's VERY cold when taking a shower. So... during our 4 days in the village, I took one (frigid) shower - the other days, I took a "Wipie Bath" which is refreshing if you have Wet Wipes with a Citrus odor.  Not bad.  We had some up close experiences with two scorpions - but thankfully no one was stung.

Culturally, the Gnobe people are very timid and hesitant to initiate conversation or speak in public.  That's one of the first things you notice when you spend time with them.  However, those cultural barriers were broken down and our students were open and active and the questions they asked demonstrated a deep desire to learn and a deep understanding of what we were teaching.  The course we taught was Reading The Bible For Understanding and Impact, which is a course on the various genres (types of literature) in the Bible and how to read and interpret them appropriately.  My favorite word for the week was EXCELENTE - excelente pregunta (question); excelente respuesta (answer). Please continue to pray for these wonderful people as they eagerly receive training and embrace the responsibility to take the gospel "further up the mountain" to those who have yet to hear the good news that Jesus is the Savior.

Below are some pictures from the trip...

JIM TEACHING
I mentioned there is no electricity in the village...
We use a gas generator for power.

STEFÁN FELIZ-KENT
Stefan is a pastor in Costa Rica who has become an integral/invaluable part of our Bible Institute Ministry.
What a blessing to have gifted men share the joy of equipping others. 

What a joy to wake each morning and find the Gnobe students already studying their materials and full of questions.

The man in the middle is a Gnobe man named Benjamin.  He has attended all our training events.
The man with the Arkansas cap is Reid Pfifer, the worship pastor of Crosspoint Church in Cleveland, OH.
Crosspoint is providing financial support for this Bible Institute
and it was a joy to work with Reid and the Senior Pastor, Todd Calaway, who joined us on this trip.

This is Pastor Simon's horse.  
He slept outside the building where we slept each night and made lots of noise.

Articles in ReachGlobal News About Some of Our Ministries

Bible Institute in Potosi
http://www.rglatinamerica.org/2012/09/04/hungering-for-sound-bible-teaching/

Melanie's Ministry with a Team in Guarari
http://www.rglatinamerica.org/2012/08/07/phototou-bringing-smiles-to-a-slum/

Ocotal Bible Institute 2012

Jim joined a team from Summit Crossing Church in Huntsville, Alabama to teach a course on Bible Study Methods. The pastors responded with enthusiasm about the material and the necessity of solid, biblical teaching for their ministry and their churches.

Jim joined a team from Summit Crossing Church in Huntsville, Alabama to teach a course on Bible Study Methods. The pastors responded with enthusiasm about the material and the necessity of solid, biblical teaching for their ministry and their churches.

Joelene Vickers, a ministry partner and dear friend, spent the week visiting several ministries and exploring options for future teams. She met Amalia who welcomed us with open arms (literally) and a treat every day.  Amalia met with the team on Wednesday and by Thursday had a group of children's ministry workers in Ocotal organized and waiting for future training.  It's humbling and challenging to see how grateful and dedicated church leaders are in this culture.

I cannot imagine the struggles these leaders have ministering with so little while trying  to meet needs that are so great.

Another place we visited was a private nursing home. The rooms are bare with old beds, and although the staff is doing everything possible to make the elderly comfortable, they are limited by having few resources available.

 

 

 Evelin and Freddy are a delightful couple we met.  They both work full time jobs so they can each give 50% of their income to fund an evangelistic ministry they have for children in poor neighborhoods.  What an amazing testimony for a young couple!

 We are also grateful for the opportunity to work with Chico, Cairo, and Melvin who serve as our Nicaraguan ministry partners.  They have blessed the lives of all who work with them!