As I scrolled through the photos from my recent trip, I realized a few things. One – I do not take many pictures. I never have but I had hoped to do better this trip. But so many were taking lots of pictures and I knew there were would be opportunity to share some of those among the group. But looking through my own pictures in order to share a few here, the choices were much more limited. Note to self: take more of your own photos. I also noticed, with the photos I do have, it is really hard to share so much of the story – and all that God did during that week – in just a couple of pictures. It really was a great week. A full week. And I’m sure I will be sharing bits and pieces in posts here over the next few weeks. But, for today, just a couple of pictures….
We went during rainy season. Rainy season basically meant we could expect rain every day, around two in the afternoon, and for only an hour or two. Not exactly what I think of when I think “it will be rainy today” but that is about what it did every day. I think we had one (maybe two) days without rain but the rain we did have was not problematic with plans or such in any way. In fact, having the clouds roll in each afternoon was a welcome break from the intense sun, in my opinion. The weather was hot, humid and more humid. I typically do not mind humidity. At least, not like some do. However, I was a sweaty mess every day (and all day) in Panama. I would not say you get to used to do it, but you do learn to accept it. I’m sweaty. You’re sweaty. We are all sweaty and that’s just life in Panama:)
Most know the country for the Panama Canal. As in the locks that connect huge ships between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean. On the itinerary for our trip was a “day trip to the Panama Canal” and I totally expected to see those locks and/or a ship passing through. I never saw either. Our trip to the canal was, quite literally, a morning on the Panama Canal. The body of water. Kind of funny. By boat, we meandered through different “monkey islands” in search of wildlife. Primarily monkeys:) It was actually a lot of fun – and the monkeys were super upclose and personal – but just not what I had expected. The boat driver and tour guide would feed the monkeys and they would come on the boat to help themselves. We were told they would happily help themselves to your belongings too, but that never happened. This is about upclose to nature as I care to be. Just sayin.
As far as you can see in the photo, the rooflines just meld into one another and it is hard to tell but there are literally houses after houses. The average income for a lower income Panamanian is $500 a month. A month. The average (small) apartment is $1000 a month. You can do the math and see why mulitple family members and/or multiple family units typically live in one home. Most of the neighborhoods we either drove through or visited were lower income, although I did see several higher income ones. The disparity between the two is significant. I will say the people were incredibly open and friendly. In conversations, they were genuinely interested and enjoyed talking with you. Quite different from the reserved nature and arms-distance attitude of most people where I live – including myself. Honestly, it took me awhile to get used to it but, eventually, I found it refreshing.
Of course, anywhere – children are children! They are both cute and fun. On Sunday, we helped put on a fun fair for the church. The children had been earning points and tickets for several weeks prior to our being there, and that Sunday they had a great time at the fair. The tickets were for playing all kinds of different games as well as for cotton candy and other fun treats. These boys won those balls and were quite pleased with themselves!! It was a lot of work getting it all together but it was also a lot of fun. And hot! Most of the games were outside in a covered shopping center type venue (where the church is located) but still outside. No direct sun but, still, hot!
If you are still reading, thanks. I sorta feel like I’m sharing family vacation slides. (Do you remember slides??) But I will end with this photo. I did not edit this photo (other than to put the frame on it) so please excuse the water bottle etc. However, this was one of the most meaningful afternoons for me. Our group of 11 was invited to a homemade lunch at this home. The home of family in the church. A family of eleven. Mom, Dad and nine children. All eleven of them live in this one room. This room is their living room, bedroom and their kitchen. The toilets and shower are outside. Yes, it was humbling. But their generosity and sincere excitement to host us was something that impacted us all. They were thrilled that we would come. So happy they could cook for us and share the afternoon with us. (They were just happy!!) They started cooking at four in the morning to make homemade tamales and a wonderful meal. If there was ever a picture of two mites being given – and the Lord being so pleased and others richly blessed – I experienced it on this afternoon. I will long remember it.
On that note, I will end. Thanks again for reading. Thanks, as well, for all the kind comments since I have returned home. I am looking forward to catching up with comments and blog reading today. It is my day’s agenda! Have a wonderful week ahead –
Awww, I loved reading this! I think picture taking becomes a habit and so you have to develop it if it is not a habit. Of course there is such a thing as too much picture taking as well and not being in the moment. It´s all about balance… Speaking of pictures, yes, I remember slides. Almost every picture from my childhood is on slides; I have had some prints made from the slides. I can´t wait to hear more about Panama! What you have shared here is really neat- that family welcoming you with open arms and feeding you is touching. And to know how many live in poverty really puts into perspective Americans´ material wealth. Obviously not all here are wealthy but with the majority of Americans being middle class- that is way more wealthy than most people living in Panama.
What a nice post. I found that same welcoming spirit when I went on mission trips to Mexico. It is humbling when these families put together a huge meal. I often wonder what happened to those families.
I am not used to humidity as I live in a dry climate, so the least amount really bothers me. Attitude is everything isn’t it? – you sweat, everyone is sweating – I guess you accept it.
As for photo taking, I’d like to ask you to please be sure to let me know. I like to take photos, but when I am on vacation, I don’t want to miss a thing, so I don’t take as many as I would like.
Thank you, Debby. So glad you enjoyed the post. I hope I can somehow keep in touch…at least a bit with the church and/or some of the families we met in Panama. I pray God blesses them richly for being such a blessing to us. And, yes, attitude is everything. With humidity and much of life:)
I so enjoyed this post. Thank you for sharing and looking forward to hearing more.
Thanks Cathy – glad you enjoyed it. And glad you stopped by!
You have some truly precious memories now of your time in Panama. How wonderful to have spent time with this family.
Yes I do..and I am very grateful. Writing some of them in blog post will, hopefully, keep them on my mind and in my heart!
I loved reading this and learning more about Panama. It sounds like you had a wonderful time; that last family sounds like such a sweet one.
I’m so glad you enjoyed reading along:)
Hello, my friend. Thank you for sharing this post. I learned more about Panama from your photos and experience than I ever have from a book. What a blessing you were to the people you met and shared time with. I am struck by the happiness and kindness they shared with you and your group, and I will remind myself of their humbleness and generosity when I feel overwhelmed. Welcome home!
Thank you, BillieJo…it is super nice to be home!!:)
Thanks for sharing a little insight into Panama. My dad grew up that way. I have visited that apartment. My grandparents had nine children in that small space and only one bed. All the kids slept on the floor. They had a bathroom for showers and number 1 but to make a bowel movement you had to go to the shared bathroom in the hallway. It is hard wrapping our minds around such a thing. My grandfather later in life found a way to move into a house which I am sure must have been a relief to all.
Hena – wow…that is an incredible story about your grandparents. So amazing to see what God can do – and life can evolve – in just a couple of generations! Thanks for sharing…and so glad you stopped by the blog!
Oh the story of the last photo is my favorite. We have so many blessings in our life that we take for granted!
Oh that is so true, Karen. This trip really did help put perspective back on some things for me.
I think the Panamanian people, particularly those living in the interior, or small towns, are exceptionally warm and friendly. I became more outwardly affectionate because they were so much that way toward me. The humble home of the family of 11 that you shared in your last photo could have been the home of any of a number of my daughters’ Panamanian family members at the time that we were stationed there in the 80s. Now, I think most of them have electricity, running water, indoor plumbing. But when we were there most of the women cooked over a wood fire.
I take too many pictures and then have trouble parting with any of them. Have begun trying to go back each month to delete pictures from the same month, for example September 2021, 2022, and 2023. It is easier for me to delete them after some time has elapsed.
Thank you for the good work you did in Panama and for sharing your trip with us. I hope to take my daughters back again some day so they can see where we lived.
Leslie, that would be exciting – and interesting – to take your girls back to Panama one day. To see what they remember and how they process it all. I hope that works out of all of you one day!
The only countries I’ve been to outside of the USA are Mexico (for all of about 20 minutes!!) and Canada (where I lived for 5 months). I know very very little about Panama. The picture you shared from the airplane of the skyscrapers in Panama City surprised me. I expected nothing but huts, the canal, and jungle. My husband, who traveled to Panama on a business trip my years before we met verified the picture of Panama City. All very interesting. As for humidity, we’ve got it here, right now. I’m sitting on our lanai waiting for Hurricane Helene to arrive. The humidity is making my fingers stick to the keys on my computer. Thanks for sharing your adventures.! Welcome back!
Huts, canal and jungle. That is a bit closer to what I was expecting. Not exactly but I, too, was surprised when we landed and as we drove around. I did not see any jungle while I was there but, then again, I didn’t really see THE canal either – ha!!
What a beautiful trip, both literally and figuratively! I love that last picture the most, though, and the story that goes with it; isn’t it amazing how the Lord always works on our own hearts on trips like this? I hope to read more in the coming weeks!
Thanks Jennifer!
Jennifer, I saw this post earlier in the week when you posted it, but I viewed it on my phone. I’m not sure why, but for whatever reason, when I view it from the phone, I can’t leave a comment. I can only click on the “like” star.
Anyway, I wanted to make sure to stop by when I was on the computer to let you know that I really enjoyed your post. Reading it brought back so many memories of my first trip to Mexico City to visit our daughter and son-in-law, who were there as missionaries. The heart wrenching sight of driving through downtown Mexico City and seeing the affluency of the rich and coming to a stop light and looking in the other direction only to see young children sifting through the trash cans on the corner for food…well, I’m sure you understand how I felt.
I’m so thankful that you had this opportunity to visit Panama and that it wasn’t just as a tourist. While that can be fun, the “touristy” sections seldom show the reality of living in a third world country. May God richly bless you, my friend.