A mission team of 33 people from Escondido, California witnessed the conversion of Jose D. Arauz

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Jacob Peters
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1 A mission team of 33 people from Escondido, California witnessed the conversion of Jose D. Arauz The Metropolitan Church of Christ in Panama City collaborated with 5 mission groups who consecutively came from the US to do summer mission work in Panama. The mission teams from Central Church of Christ in Tuscaloosa, Alabama (June 4 th - 12 th ); from Greenbrier Church of Christ in Anniston, Alabama (June 15 th -24 th ); from Margaret St. Church of Christ in Milton, Florida (June 22 nd - July 3 rd ); from Park Plaza Church of Christ in Tulsa, Oklahoma (July 10 th -16 th ); and from North County Church of Christ in Escondido, California (July 19 th 30 th ) all collaborated with the Metropolitan church in Panama City and with congregations we are working with in different places of the republic. Many stories and events can be mentioned, but the following are just some of the highlights of the intense mission effort these groups participated in our country. The team led by Mike Hawkins who came from Park Plaza Church of Christ in Tulsa, OK (July 10 th -16 th ) mentioned some highlights in their report of the outstanding job they did in Panama (Their mission trip report is attached). With the Park Plaza group, we had the unique experience of working with a fully bilingual team for the first time in Panama. The group from the North County Church of Christ in Escondido, CA led by Javon Johnson was a team of 33 people (22 teenagers and 11 adults). Leading and keeping this active

and hard working youth group busy during 11 days wasn t an easy task. It was an exhausting but extremely pleasant and fruitful mission work.

Three groups enjoyed the bilingual worship that Sunday: The Metropolitan congregation, the youth group from Escondido, and a mission team of 25 people from Atlanta, Georgia led by David and Lisa

To be able to gather the 185 participants that day we had to use the high school gym to worship the Lord. It was a time of joyful celebration!

Of course, the teenagers took advantage of Deivis baptism to enjoy the Veracruz Beach.

2 and hard working youth group busy during 11 days wasn t an easy task. It was an exhausting but extremely pleasant and fruitful mission work. One of the most wonderful experiences was to witness the conversion of Jose Deivis Arauz who was baptized at the Veracruz Beach in Panama City on July 22 nd right after our Sunday worship. Three groups enjoyed the bilingual worship that Sunday: The Metropolitan congregation, the youth group from Escondido, and a mission team of 25 people from Atlanta, Georgia led by David and Lisa Carter. Regularly, our local church has its worship in the conference room of the Instituto America High School which has a capacity for 120 people. To be able to gather the 185 participants that day we had to use the high school gym to worship the Lord. It was a time of joyful celebration! Two teenagers from Escondido presented a bilingual lesson and Javon preached a powerful message that moved Deivis s heart to obey the gospel of Christ. Of course, the teenagers took advantage of Deivis baptism to enjoy the Veracruz Beach. It was unusual for the beachgoers to witness a baptism at the beach followed by such a great Christian celebration! But this time of relaxation was only the prelude of an intense work that was to come in the eastern province of Coclé. On Monday July 23 rd, we traveled west 3 ½ hours from the city to Las Tibias, Coclé. From there, 5 four- wheel- drive trucks were needed to travel up to the mountain through a very rough path until the end of the road where the Omar Torrijos School of St. Marta is located. In Santa Martha, Coclé, we had the most wonderful experience working in this delightful place surrounded by enchanting mountains. Around 500 low incomes families, who live in isolated poor houses, struggle to survive in the community of Santa Marta. This rural community has only one school which is the center point of all family activities. It has 234 students and only 7 teachers who work in uncomfortable conditions. The school doesn t have electricity and sufficient teaching materials. Even worse, the school has to provide lunch for the students. On occasion, it doesn t even have enough funds to fulfill this vital need.

Even though The Omar Torrijos School is a public education institution, the Principal practically left all the teaching and activities

The 33 members of the Escondido team were divided in 5 groups: the first group worked with pre-k, kinder garden, and 1 st grade; the

conducted the class sessions for the junior high students; and the 5th group was in charge of teaching basic English to the teachers!

learn Bible stories, Christian songs, crafts and conversational English.

English to the students. All the lessons and activities were related and based on Jesus death, burial and resurrection.

Catholicism is the only religion allowed to be taught in public schools.

The Principal and the teachers even attended the gospel meeting organized by the Church of Christ in Santa Marta on Monday, July 23 rd.

3 Even though The Omar Torrijos School is a public education institution, the Principal practically left all the teaching and activities under our management for two days (July 23 rd - 24 th ). The 33 members of the Escondido team were divided in 5 groups: the first group worked with pre-k, kinder garden, and 1 st grade; the second group led the sessions for the 2nd, 3 rd and 4 th graders; the third team worked with 5 th and 6 th grades; the fourth team conducted the class sessions for the junior high students; and the 5th group was in charge of teaching basic English to the teachers! Each team of facilitators was stationed in a classroom to teach the students in 4 different 30-minute sessions: The students rotated to learn Bible stories, Christian songs, crafts and conversational English. The teachers received 3 sessions of Basic English for 1 hour per session to improve their English skills and to equip them to teach English to the students. All the lessons and activities were related and based on Jesus death, burial and resurrection. The team from Escondido was very aggressive in teaching the Christ centered message at this official institution. Catholicism is the only religion allowed to be taught in public schools. However, the teachers and the students were kind to all of us and were very receptive to the gospel of Christ. The Principal and the teachers even attended the gospel meeting organized by the Church of Christ in Santa Marta on Monday, July 23 rd. It s hard to explain with words the experience we had at this school and with the families in St. Marta. Only the Lord knows the great impact and the unlimited scope of our mission work in this town! The Principal and the teachers urged us to keep visiting the school more often. The door is widely open to keep teaching God s word in this community and at the Omar Torrijos School. The Omar Torrijos School has 234 students- from pre-k to 9 th grade

In El Copé, Coclé, the strategy was to visit each home of the community. This time the team was divided into 11 groups of 3 workers.

visitors (July 24 th - 25 th ). The church in el Cope was a small congregation of 7 members.

Rocío Rodriguez and two other young men decided to be baptized during the two days of evangelism; some others are seriously thinking about becoming church members.

4 In El Copé, Coclé, the strategy was to visit each home of the community. This time the team was divided into 11 groups of 3 workers. Each group introduced themselves to the families, shared a portion of the Scripture, prayed, and invited them to the evening meetings in which Javon and two teenagers shared the gospel with the visitors (July 24 th - 25 th ). The church in el Cope was a small congregation of 7 members. During the two evening meetings, the attendance was Evening meeting at the church building in El Cope approximately 50. Therefore, most of the attendants from el Copé were non- Christians. Rocío Rodriguez and two other young men decided to be baptized during the two days of evangelism; some others are seriously thinking about becoming church members. The group from Escondido was astonished to see how the families from El Cope warmly welcomed them in their homes, which is very unlikely to occur in their neighborhoods in the US. Rocío was one of the three souls we baptized in El Cope El Cope is 45 minutes away from Santa Marta. These two congregations support each other and the Metropolitan church collaborates with both churches. Roderick Valdes, from the Metropolitan church s mission ministry, visits the churches in Santa Marta and El Cope every other weekend. We traveled from El Cope to Santa Clara Beach and the following day (July 27 th ) we arrived at el Valle de Anton (Anton Valley). The purpose of this trip was to evangelize the town and to support the new, growing congregation that meets in this volcanic valley ( El Valle de Anton is a cool climate valley lying on the largest dormant volcano in Central America ). Once again, the Escondido team was divided into 11 groups and went door knocking. We read the Scripture and prayed with the families and invited them to the evening meetings which were held in the auditorium of the hotel where we stayed. We even studied the Bible with the couple who own the hotel. They attended the first evening meeting and were very receptive to the gospel. A total of 15 visitors attended during the two evening meetings. The last evening, a 21 year old man named Roberto Rivas came forward after the invitation and asked us if he could sing a Christian song! Roberto Rivas baptism- July 27

5 After he praised God, he said: I ve been waiting for this moment; I want to be baptized right now. Roberto sang his Christian song once again that night, right before he was submerged into the waters of the El Valle River. To witness the conversion of this godly young man was a unique experience for all of us! The whole group was exhausted when we returned to the city on Saturday night (July 28 th ). The following day, the Escondido team led the Sunday worship at the Metropolitan church, but Scott Blackwell and I went back to the west to celebrate Angeli s first birthday. Scott traveled from Tulsa, Oklahoma all the way to Panama City to participate in the miracle baby s first birthday. A year ago, the doctor prepared Angeli s parents to face their baby s death because of her severe illness. According to his diagnosis, there was no possibility for the baby The miracle baby is now 1 year old to survive. However, because of the miraculous power of our Almighty God, Angeli is now completely healthy. Mike Hawkins and Scott Blackwell from the Park Plaza Church of Christ in Tulsa, Oklahoma met Angeli when she was seriously ill at the Children s Hospital in Panama City; they prayed for the baby and with the support of the Park church members, provided for her the required special formula from the United States. Now, she s a living testimony of God s unlimited grace and power. That s why we had to celebrate Angeli s first birthday with great joy and thanksgivings! I asked Hilario Moreno to be our driver because I was extremely tired to drive 4 hours from Panama City to Santiago after our mission trip to Coclé. Scott, Hilario and I arrived at Atalaya, Santiago in the evening to celebrate Angeli s birthday (July 29 th ). It was a great joy for us to see the miracle baby taking her first steps!!! Following the rhythm of Panamanian music, Scott even danced with her! The three of us had the opportunity to speak to Angeli s family about how God worked miraculously in her life. We spent a couple of hours with Angeli s parent and their family, but we came back to the city before the loud party celebrations began. We arrived to the city at midnight Having just a few days to prepare to travel to McAllen and Pharr, Texas, I left Panama City on August 4 th to participate in the lectureship organized by the churches in the Texan Valley. The general theme was The Challenges of God s Family. I was in charge of presenting the four main lectures (August 7 th - 10 th ). Different Bible classes, based on the main topic, were developed during the evenings (2:00-6:00 p.m.). Even though the

purpose of the lectureship was to edify God s family, 5 people were baptized during this activity! The average attendance was 420 people.

is the Ladies Annual Conference, which was held this year in the beautiful town of Cerro Punta, Chiriquí.

The main topic was Setting Spiritual Goals for the 21 st Century.

The convention was all day Saturday and on Sunday they worshipped with the church in El Volcan, Chiriquí.

6 purpose of the lectureship was to edify God s family, 5 people were baptized during this activity! The average attendance was 420 people. Lectureship in Pharr, Texas (August 7 th - 10 th ) General Theme: The Challenges of God s Family One of the most marvelous activities we have in Panama is the Ladies Annual Conference, which was held this year in the beautiful town of Cerro Punta, Chiriquí. The Bambito Hotel hosted 232 ladies from different congregations of the country. They met together to participate of the 26 th annual Conference. The main topic was Setting Spiritual Goals for the 21 st Century. Twenty ladies from the Metropolitan congregation traveled on Friday noon to the province of Chiriquí, which is 6 hours from Panama City. The convention was all day Saturday and on Sunday they worshipped with the church in El Volcan, Chiriquí. The congregation there was so happy to fellowship with them, that they prepared food for them after worship. Many of the ladies had never travelled to this part of the country; therefore they enjoyed sightseeing and meeting their brothers and sisters in Christ. 232 women attended to the 26 th Annual Ladies Conference Figur - 20 ladies from the Metropolitan church participated

7 After intensely working during this summer in Panama City, Metetí, Wacuco, Emberá Purú, Santa Marta, El Copé, and El Valle, our main focus for the months to come is to spread the gospel in the community where the church property is located (Milla 8, Las Cumbres). Currently, we have started working to collect the funds to construct a church building on this property. Thank you for your faithful commitment to the work at the Metropolitan congregation and for your active involvement in our mission work during this summer. Please continue to pray for our family and for the expansion of the kingdom in Panama. Your brother and sister in Christ, Raul and Betty Alvarado

To check our mission, vision, faith and activities, visit our webpage:

To check our mission, vision, faith and activities, visit our webpage: NEWSLETTER FROM THE ALVARADOS FEBRUARY 19 TH, 2014 THE METROPOLITAN CHURCH OF CHRIST IN PANAMA CITY ENJOYING SUNDAY WORSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP AT THE OMAR PARK- FEB.9, 2014 As most of you know by now, Panama