The DTS leader there, Morgan, had this vision of a “flash dance” (let me explain before you burst out into into “What A Feeling”)
Instead of a dance we were going to do an exercise. First one person would start doing this routine, then people from our group would join in at random (making it seem like we didn’t know each other, just strangers in the same place) and by doing this we would draw a crowd.
After a crowd had come they were going to do a drama called “Everything” so that we could portray to the people of
I thought that the idea sounded a little crazy, but we decided to go anyway to take pictures and just get off base.
We took the bus to downtown
There were even people selling dried corn so that you could feed them. Of course our kids had a field day with that!!! Camber even got smart enough to catch them! She would put corn in one hand and then when they would land to eat she would grab them by the leg. She did this at least 4 times!!!
After playing with the birds (and recreating Alfred Hitchcock films in my head) for a while Dash started out the “flash exercise.” Everyone joined in and it really drew a crowd!!!!
To end the flash exercise they quoted Philippians 4:13 in Spanish and English.
Then they moved on to the drama everything.
Here’s the video, I was surprised at how powerful it was!!!
The bus ride was long (17 hours), but it was fun. We got the chance to catch up on sleep and spend some quality time with other classmates.
When we got to the Costa Rican border we had to get out of the bus and get our passports stamped to leave
We got to
One of the biggest fears that I had coming here was leaving my family. I had NO idea that I would be gaining NEW family. This REALLY is a family! There were people here who hadn’t seen each other in years, but they caught up to exactly where they left off. There were so many new people to meet and SO many stories of God’s faithfulness!!!
After dinner Saturday night the married couples were taken to a hotel off base. It was really nice! Although we were just really excited about the HOT showers (even though there was a tree in ours!)
Sunday morning started early with breakfast at the hotel, then back to the base to practice the drama that we’d been working so hard on (I’m anxiously awaiting video to post!!) Practice was a little rough, but David sat us down and we talked about why we were doing what we were doing.
When Loren Cunningham was 20 years old he had a vision of waves of young people crashing onto the shores of the different continents. The waves kept coming and coming and they eventually consumed every bit of land. At the time he didn’t know what that would entail….but God has been faithful for the last 50 years! YWAM has touched the lives of EVERY continent and EVERY country.
Worship was amazing!!! (it’s soooooo much better in Spanish) and then we were able to hear from Loren himself. He is in his mid 70’s now, but has more energy than I do!! He is an EXTREMELY humble man and realizes that everything that has happened in the last 50 years has been at the hand of God!
He spoke about obedience. He encouraged us that as we said “yes” others would be able to bless us and encourage us by saying “yes” as well. He shared a story about some land in
God affirmed Loren’s calling with this man saying “yes.” And this was only one instance of God’s faithfulness.
As the conference progressed we were blessed to hear from Loren’s wife, and partner in ministry, Darlene. We also heard a word from their oldest child, David Cunningham. He’s currently a director and working on a major motion picture telling the story of David. (Lion of War)
As the conference came to a close on Tuesday afternoon Loren explained to us a situation of need within our own gathering. He told of how the giant tent that we had been eating under for the last few days wasn’t paid for yet. He shared that the balance was $5,840. My mouth dropped!!! I was sitting in a room of 175 missionaries. Most of them were under the age of 30. Loren said that we needed to reach deep and do two things. First, ask God if we are allowed to participate in this gift. Second, ask God how much we can give.
I immediately (without thinking) asked God, “Can we participate?” (I asked this because Mark and I have not yet finished paying for our schooling here.) God IMMEDIATELY said “Yes!” I then asked God, “What do you want me to give?” And He resounded “Everything in your pocket.” (This was weird because I don’t EVER carry money in my pocket. The day before I got money out of my wallet to purchase a shirt, and put the change back in my pocket. It was a late night, so that morning I just grabbed the money back off the night stand and shoved it in my pocket again.) I asked God again, “I’m sorry….how much?” And he responded, “Everything in your pocket” (I knew it was well over $20) I told Mark what God was telling me, and he said, “Do what God is telling you.” So I did.
I stood in the back of that meeting place and watched person after person say “yes” to God. I had NEVER in my ENTIRE life seen God move like that. It wasn’t pushy, it wasn’t long and drawn out, no one was saying “we’re going to stay here until it’s met”, it was just a 15 minute line of people willing to give according to what God instructed.
Y’all, $6,135 was raised!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
During this time God REALLY spoke to my heart. I have left money in our bank account ‘just incase.’ God spoke to my heart and said “If your hands are grasping onto something then there’s not enough room for me to fill them up.” God just told me that I have to COMPLETELY empty my hands for Him to be able to fill them up. Which takes an AMAZING amount of faith!!!!!! But I’m up for the challenge, I know that he is going to bless us more than we can imagine.
We look forward to sharing with you the AMAZING things God is doing. We are SO open to Him moving…..are you?
The scenery out the window was BEAUTIFUL!
We were picked up by another missionary/ teacher for the base that we will be visiting in Bocas del Torro, Dale. He was in a white pick up truck that our family and luggage BARELY fit in, and we started the trek back to the YWAM base. Panama is BEAUTIFUL and there were many familiar sights!
About the time that the kids became completely bored...We arrived!
We were shown to our room, met with our classmates, and had dinner together. We then got the chance to get all settled in, well, as settled as one can get in 2 weeks. (We will only be at this base for a short time as YWAM celebrates it's 50th anniversary and we will be a part of that in San Jose, Costa Rica next week)
We learned that our DTS (Discipleship Training School) has been asked to perform the opening ceremonies at the 50th Anniversary Celebration next week. The members of staff here in Panama, as well as members of the DTS have been piecing together a drama to represent a vision that Loren Cunningham (the founder of YWAM) had when he was 20 years old. He envisioned a sea with waves of young people crashing on the shores of every continent bring the two fold gospel of Jesus: Love the Lord with all your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself. (Video will be posted in a few weeks). 