A VISIT TO PANAMA
Our Heavenly Father blessed me with the privilege of visiting Panama situated in Central America. I spent two months there as I was trying to escape from the winter in Canada, and was the guest of my niece, Sis. June Neblett, who really made me very comfortable during the entire period. The weather was perfect at that time of the year, not too hot, and so I just settled in there comfortably, more so on hearing of the terrible cold weather that was being experienced in the colder regions.
The highlight of my visit was of course attending the meetings and meeting with the brethren and sisters there. I spent most of my time in Colon, where there is a small ecclesia of very closely knit brothers and sisters, very warm and hospitable. Thankfully most of them were bilingual, and so I was able to communicate with them easily. Not so in the stores when shopping, where I resorted to all kinds of strange body language and a bit of miming with the few Spanish words I knew and which I am sure I mispronounced, to make myself understood.
The meetings are conducted partly in English and Spanish. They use both English and Spanish hymn books, and I was able to sing from the Spanish books as the tunes were familiar, but sitting close to and listening to a Spanish person made it easier for me to fit the words in, as we sang. The talks are sometimes given in English, but when done in Spanish, we would sit with someone who would interpret. There is a youth circle program in progress, and there are a few young people who attend the Sunday meetings. I was also able to attend a Breaking of Bread meeting in the ecclesia in the city itself of Panama, following which we were entertained to a very tasteful and filling luncheon, ending the day with an interesting and lively Bible Discussion Class in which everyone participated.
As in Colon, the brothers and sisters were very warm, friendly and hospitable, so that I felt really at home in the meeting. I find it so fascinating and comforting that we can meet brethren in this way in any part of the world, embracing the same hope and with that simple togetherness, looking forward to the same glorious destiny. What an exciting and exhilarating experience when we all, by God's grace, can come together like this in his Kingdom - an event we all need to constantly remind ourselves of which He and his Son are right now putting into place!
Both meetings are planning a Bible Campaign in August, God willing, involving brethren from Canada and the USA, an event to which they are eagerly looking forward. Wish I could be there! One sister disclosed to me that these campaigns do not only serve to preach to others outside of the ecclesia, but also greatly stimulate and encourage the brethren themselves too, as the planning activities are spiritually lively and uplifting.
One of our brothers, who works with the Panama Canal Company, invited us to experience the interesting journey guiding a ship through the canal, up the three water levels that made it possible for huge ships to sail through the narrow passage to the area where they could proceed to their destination. That was quite absorbing. I was also able to see the new updated Canal now in process of construction a very advanced complex showing engineering achievement that boggles my feeble mind.
Sis Esther Worrell (standing) thanking Brothers and Sisters for a lovely gift they'd given her and for their generosity and hospitality.
The Ecclesia at Colon Panama
Sis. Esther Worrell, (Canada)
