Every year Jan prepares the team with lots of information about Panama, the mission, and what to expect. Every year that we've gone to Volcan and Chiriqui Province, he has promised the team that 1) it will rain every day--rain, rain, rain, and 2) they should not count on any ATMs being anywhere near our work. Well, this year the weather has been incredible--clear skies in the morning, beautiful views of the volcano, and some days with NO rain and others with just a sprinkle. (Eat your hearts out, 2008 team!) And Volcan itself now has its very own ATM! (Never mind that we hear that several weeks ago, theives broke into a safe at the post office and stole the stamps and they have yet to be replaced. So don't expect post cards any time soon.) And I have to take back a promise I make each year when I tell a skeptical group that it's worth stopping at the same MacDonald's for lunch because they have clean restrooms. (There are no"rest stops" with good facilities along most of the Panamerican Highway.) Much to my dismay, the Santiago MacDonald's let me down this year, so I had to explain and complain to the manager. We may stop at the KFC next year! You need to understand that it's not that we are unwilling to "eat local," but in addition to wanting clean rest rooms on this 8-9 hour bus ride, we also need fast service, which is not reliable at the local roadside restaurants.
Last night we took our Panamanian friends who have been working with us for the lat week out for dinner in David, and on the way back, after dropping off one of them in Bongo, we stopped along a dark section of the little road to look at the most glorious sky most of us had seen in ages. It was perfectly clear, with no light pollution, so we saw millions of stars, many constellations, and even the milky way. What a treat! This afternoon after we finished all our work, we drove farther up the mountain, past Volcan, on another little back road to see new parts of the volcano's slopes where vegetables are grown at incredible angles. On the way back the reflection of a setting sun against a mist between mountain peaks provided another "ah ha!" moment. For the Beauty of the Earth!! We have been truly blessed by this experience in so many ways.
Tomorrow we start our journey home, so keep us in your prayers during our two days of travel.
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