Meeting with other believers

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 him.  Many invited him to visit their churches, and asked for his help.  He was even brought up to the front and introduced to all those gathered. This is so important, because this acceptance gives us a firm platform from which we hope to be a positive influence both in the community we will be living, and beyond.

The other thing that Alex was impacted by was the need.  There is a need for more pastors, for training, for more Bible teaching, and encouragement for small churches that are struggling.  We are trusting that the community of Chepo will be a stepping-off place from where we can impact many others.

Unfortunately, recent guerilla activity (from Colombian guerillas coming over the border) has made that area of the Darien dangerous for foreigners.  So I was not able to attend with Alex.  But next year we learned that the Convention will be held in the coastal town of Maje, a nice safe distance from the Colombian border.

Please pray for safety of those living in the community of Capeti, and the Panamanian police stationed their to protect the locals.  Alex was told that the guerilla activity makes it very difficult for people to access their farms, and there are times when the woman can't leave the community at all.  Definately something we want to see change.