Many of the Wounaan communities that Forest Grove is connected with have been struggling the past several months with logging companies coming on their land and illegally cutting down the cocobola trees to sell to China. The Wounaan have gone to the government and legally tried to bring some resolution to this issue but there has not been much help. At the end of March the confrontations resulted in 2 deaths- one a Wounaan leader from Rio Platanares. Please take time to pray for the people, many leaders and communities involved and support the Wounaan by learning more about the conflict and their culture in crisis at http://injusticeinpanama.wordpress.com/.
Panama Work team home Monday
If you would like to greet the Panama team at the airport they are to arrive Monday night at 10:15. Thanks for your prayers and following along with what God is doing in Panama. We will try and post some updated pictures soon!
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yavisa 2012 winding down
Hello again from Einer’s kitchen. The work here is going very well. Rick is busy building sink stands, cupboards and counters for the kitchen area in the large center building. I knocked a wall down here with some helpers to make the kitchen more open. Ryan and his new Wounaan friends are busy finishing these peices and putting them together. Ryan arranged a late night fishing trip for us after work with the Wounaan in a dugout boat. Einer was nice enough to let us use some rotten meat he had been saving for bait. Even our guides thought that was gross. We made some friends for life that night as we had many small mean fish slapping around in the boat. Brian has added some good lighting and ceiling fans to the hall. We also added a fan to Einer and Girlesa’s bed room. There was also some warranty work done at the house and the hardwood floor has a new coat of linseed oil. Jim has plumbed in the plumbing for the new ktichen as well as a few upgrades here and there. Dave has built a wall in a area of the hall where a cook can stay when cooking for the camp. Einer and Girlesa have become grandparents while we are here. Their dog had seven puppies last night. I think this makes us uncles 
. We are all healthy, the work is going very well and we are once again forming new friendships with the Wounaan and their families. We all want to thank you for your prayers and support so we can countinue our suportive work with Einer and Girlesa. Abdulio is also here helping and he has also been communicating with the town to get more consistant water at the camp. We have only had water on and off all week and this is another prayer request. The town has a new multi million dollar water plant that sounds like it is running but the water is only on for short periods. That is all for now. We have had a great week and will see you all soon. Tedd (from Einer’s blackberry)
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Day 5 in Yaviza!
Yesterday I had a phone call from Tedd on behalf of the Panama work team. Things were going well with their projects in the Dining Hall and they were progressing on the work.
One of the things we talk about when we send out Short Term Mission teams is the reality
Welcome to Yaviza Sign (2009 team)
that they will likely experience three things… FRUSTRATION, the need for FLEXIBILITY, and FORGIVENESS. When you go with a group of people to another culture you need to be flexible…like when you arrive in Yaviza late at night after a long bumpy drive in the dark to find your planned rooms are not available- AND there is no running water in the town ( remember it is 36 degrees with high humidity!); so you practice flexibility and sleep at Einer and Girlesa’s home for one night, and you jump in the river to cool off when the showers are not available! God provides as we trust in Him and give up our own plans. All is well and the team is enjoying their time with the Wounaan. Thanks for your prayers for them.
Yaviza Hotel in 2010
Continue to pray for the building project and the relationships they are making with the Wounaan families who are at the camp in a discipleship program with Einer and Girlesa…for patience with one another, openness to learning from another culture, laughter, unity and running water!
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Seeking Justice in Panama
Leonides -Wounaan Lawyer
Last week we received an email from our friend Obdulio, who came to visit us in Saskatoon with his wife in 2010. Obdulio shared that the Wounaan have been struggling with land issues the past several years- companies have been coming on their land and cutting down hectares of the cocobolo forests which they rely on for their livelihood and to make their carvings. To learn more about this see http://www.prensa.com/uhora/locales/indigenas-wounaan-piden-proteccion-policial-para-evitar-enfrentamientos/65755 Leonides, is a lawyer we have gotten to know while in Panama – featured in this article. Pray for him.
Let’s stand in prayer with our brothers and sisters in Panama as this really is heavy on many of their hearts- especially those from some of the villages we have visited like Rio Hondo, Maje and Platanares.
“You hear O Lord the desire of the afflicted, you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed , in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.” Psalm 10:18
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Panama Team in Yaviza
Girlesa's Kitchen in Yaviza!
Hi from yavisa panama. We had a great flight. Getting to panama the same day you leave winter in saskatoon is like a time warp. Einer was a little late getting there but when we teased him he said “hey i am a latin man’. After shopping all day tuesday we arrived late in yavisa to find no hotel rooms or water. We stayed at einer and girlesa’s. We are very tired today but have still got a great start. Girlesa is cooking all the meals for us and they are great. We are all fine and thankyou for your prayers and support. Tedd (from einers blackberry).
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On the way to Panama!
Here is the team early Monday morning- Dave, Rick, Ryan, Tedd, Brian and Jim waiting to board their flight to Panama- they were excited to go. Einer and Girlesa sent a message today saying ” We are happy too!!! We are in Panama City to receive the team. The wounaan people are waiting for them. Tomorrow in the morning, we go for building supplies. Then travel to Yaviza. Thanks for the support.
We love you. We miss you!!!! ”
Thanks for your prayers for the team and all those in Yaviza.
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Celebrating with the Wounaan
This morning we commissioned the Panama work team with prayer as we send them off to work on the camp dining hall and kitchen in Yaviza Monday am. ( be at airport at 7:30 to see them off). As Ryan Epp, Tedd Epp, Rick Froese, Jim Siemens, Brian Barton, and Dave Hiebert go they are representing many of us who have gone before and many of us who would like to be going again or for the first time. The people we have met in Panama have become our friends and are like family- we have been blessed getting to know them and privileged to learn along side of them.
Augustin and Obdulio at Dedication of the Camp
What joy there is in hearing how God has provided for Einer and Girlesa as He has called them to serve the Indigineous in Yaviza. Read Girlesa’s story The White House
La Casa Blanca...White House on the Hill
and join in thanking God for the home He prepared for her on the hill in this place and how Forest Grove has helped with this project.
We will add pictures and more info this week- so check back to see how things are going. Thanks for your prayers for the Team and Zuluagas!
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Panama Work Team
A team of 6 men are preparing to go to Panama to work alongside the Wounaan at the MB
work team 2010 in front of house
camp in Yaviza Feb 27- March 5. The project will involve plumbing, electrical and some carpentry work on the Kitchen and Dining Hall Building. Einer and Girlesa have just begun a new session with several families who have come to live at the camp and be discipled in leadership and faith. The team will meet and build relationships with these families while they put their construction skills to use in the jungles of Panama! Pray for them as they prepare and plan this next week.
Team leaves on Monday Feb 27 at 8:55 am.
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Answered Prayer
We praise God for His provision for Shannon T and her school in Bangled*sh! The threat of bulldozing the school has been removed after much pressure and negotiating. Please keep praying as there will likely be more hurdles and opposition but the principal is continuing to work with the authorities to get continued security for the school to be on this land.
Shannon writes; ” For me, this has been a time when I have seen how the Church, across time zones and oceans, really is a supportive family that draws together in time of need. Thank you so much for all your prayers, past, present, and future!
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