Jennifer and Alex Cabezon

Well, we are finally at the end of our time here. Tomorrow we are moving to the community of Chepo.  Our rental house is waiting for us, though we just found out that the landlord has not managed to get the electricity hooked up yet. So that has put a bit of a damper on our excitement about the move. This last week has been full packing up, and cleaning and painting our house for the next occupants. We don't yet have internet at our new house, so communication will be a little complicated until we manage to get an internect connection. Of course, without electricity, that is irrelevant.  So prayers for that situation would be appreciated! We have been so blessed during this time by all those who have encouraged us during this time, and given us the courage to take this step.  God has confirmed in lots of ways that this is the right time, and right place for us to be.  It just may take a little time for all the pieces to fall into place. Look for news and pictures once we are

Last week Alex had to opportunity to attend a large gathering of Wounaan believers from around the nation.  Those attending are all part of the Iglesia Evangelica Unida, a small denomonation in Panama made up of mainly Wounaan, with some Embera as well. The church we will be partnering with in Chepo had rented a bus, and Alex joined with others from Chepo for the 5 hour bus ride to the community of Yaviza.  There they spent the night, departing the next morning before it was light.  The Chucunaque river was their highway, connecting with the Tuira River, and eventually leading them to the community of Capeti. 250 Wounaan and Embera believers met together for the next several days, listening to teaching and testimonies from several leaders, eating together, praying together, and culminating in an all-night prayer vigil. Alex was impacted by too things: One was the incredible openess he found.  One night, several pastors came up, one by one, and shared at length with

Tuesday afternoon found us walking the streets of Chepo (the neighborhood is called Margaritas), asking anyone we met if they knew of a rental house.   Neighbor after neighbor told us that they didn't know of anything, and that it was difficult to find rental houses in that area.   We saw a couple of rooms for rent, but I wasn't quite willing to go that route. We had prayed before leaving that God would open a door for us to move soon.   But things were not looking promising.   Then one woman pointed down the path behind her house, "I heard the house down there is for rent."   I couldn't tell which house she was pointing towards, but we followed her directions to talk to the step-daughter of the owner.   She took us rather unenthusiastically to see the house, but her mother had forgotten to leave the key.   The house didn't look like much from the outside, but when she said "two bedrooms" we were encouraged.   At least we had one viable

I have written in the past about our outreaches to the communities of Rio Hondo and Platanares. But this week we learned of some serious conflicts threatening these villages. Friday, as we were in Chepo looking for houses, we stopped by a friend's house. Diogracio is a leader in Rio Hondo, though he lives in Chepo and works there. He has been at the forefront of a battle for these communities to receive the rights to their land. Several years ago, violence broke out with settlers who were moving in on land traditionally belonging to the Wounaan. Several Wounaan were injured, but no action was taken by the government. Now, it has happened again. According to Diogracio, a logging company has moved onto their land and is taking out their forest at an alarming rate. Those logging do not own the land, it's been claimed by the communities of Rio Hondo and Platanares, though the government has not officially recognized that. When the loggers were confronted by sev

YWAM in Panama is going through a whole new stage.  In a little over a year we have gone from one base, to four bases, with individuals, like us, going out from the bases in minister in other areas of the country.  Basically, we are being scattered. But most of us didn't really want it to happen.  It was fun to all be together on one base, with lots of friends to share your vision, and many hands to make light work.  It was great.  Until it all started to change. Our former director, Richard Tracy, and his wife, felt the call to move out and pioneer a new base in the Chiriqui province.  Leaving new leaders in charge here, they went out. Just months later, another team, made up of two families, were sent out to start an urban base in the middle of Panama City.  Then other staff began to feel to pull to move out, and settle closer to the people they feel called to reach. Then, before we knew what was happening, Alex and I sensed that we too were being pushed out of the nest.  W