Day 2 11-15-25
It was a short overnight in Miami - we were up and outside the hotel by 6:50, ready to meet our shuttle. We knew it was a green and white shuttle, but not quite sure how we would fit 13 people and our luggage onto the waiting Ninja Kawasaki, although it looked like fun!
Just kidding - that was not for us! Our shuttle arrived promptly and we loaded up.
The drive to the airport was quick and without traffic. However, inside the airport was another story.
The first TSA checkpoint we went to directed us to another TSA checkpoint because they didn't have wheelchairs. Then the other TSA checkpoint pulled Marilyn, Kelsey, and Lorrie aside (we thought to wait for their wheelchairs), while the rest of us went through. But we did not see Marilyn, Kelsey, and Lorrie coming through. It seemed like a very long time and they were still right where we had left them, standing at the entry to the TSA area. The departure gate was close by, but kind of crowded, so we went to a nearby gate to hang out. It was still plenty early. surely they would come through soon. About 30-40 min later, Kelsey called me. She said the TSA person had told them that they would need to go back, a little further past where we had initially stopped at the TSA gate, because that is where the wheelchairs were. Our group of three explained they couldn't walk that far - that's why they need wheelchairs! But the TSA person said she really couldn't help them, that's where they needed to go. Kelsey's knees were starting to buckle from standing, so she and Lorrie went to a nearby Burger King while Marilyn went to procure 3 wheelchairs..... I thanked Kelsey for the update. We continued to hang out by the gate.
While Kelsey and Lorrie continued to hang out at Burger King, hoping Marilyn would return.
After a very long wait, indeed, Marilyn was able to round up three wheelchairs and three people to push them and we were all reunited! Soon thereafter, Cynthia Pine arrived and we huddled together for a devotion that Denise led based on Isaiah 26:1-9, with the basic thought being that the Lord gives peace to those who trust in Him. And so as we face trials throughout life, we look to the Lord, because He is our Rock and our Peace. We are safe and secure with Him.
There was some discussion about the latest Coca Cola design for the Christmas season. Below is my Coca Cola can from the flight but this same design is also on Coke Zero cans apparently- I wouldn't know about the Coke Zero -Pastor informed us on that one,
And made our way through to immigration and then to baggage claim. We were thrilled to discover that Dan's luggage (which we could not locate to check in at the Eastern Iowa Airport) had indeed appeared in Panama, BUT the tag on it said Lorrie. Great news, Dan! However, of course, now Lorrie does not have her checked bag. Still don't know where that is....
Other than THAT, everything went smoothly. Going through customs was a breeze. No long lines. Also, at no point in immigration or customs did they actually ask to see those QR codes that we had faithfully filled out the forms for at church, taken our pictures and scanned the QR codes to have ready. ...But always better to be prepared and NOT have them ask rather than the flip....
Griselda (deaconess at Loma Cova) had met us at the airport and rode with us on the bus, sharing some of her story, with Cynthia Pine serving as interpreter.
As we drove we saw the Pacific Ocean to our left (you can make out a line of boats waiting to enter the Panama Canal in the picture if you squint)
We were on the tollroad (which uses the PanaPass)
Welcome to Panama City, proudly sporting the "AutoMac" sign (what they call McDonald's drive through in Panama, kinda has a nice ring to it....)
The spiral building to the left below is an icon of Panama City (F&F tower, also known as the Revolution Tower, El Tornillo or Corkscrew), construction started in 2008; completed in 2011, 52 floors)
There was off and on rain, sometimes heavy, complete with thunder and lightening, other times just more a drizzle.
The traffic pattern at times seemed a little chaotic.
Next we walked around the corner and entered the main part of the mall (Albrook Mall - largest mall in Panama). Our main destination was the Super99 grocery store to stock up on whatever - gifts like coffee, candy, cookies, etc and necessities (like Coke Zero....)
Apparently Pastor has had a rather sizable number of Coke Zeros on the flights this trip, including a Dearth Vader Coke Zero that he received yesterday. So, from our information, Star Wars and Santa themes seem to be circulating currently on the coca cola/coke zero cans. (Don't you feel better knowing that?)
We deplaned in Panama City
As we exited the airport, Ramiro was waiting with the bus to take us into Panama City.
And Ramiro also handed out cold water!
Just outside the airport, there was quite a display of Panamanian flags, perhaps left over from their celebration of Separation Day from Columbia (Nov 3, commemorating the 1903 events leading to Panama's independence from Columbia), Also Flag Day (Nov 4) Also Colon Day (Nov 5, commemorating Cristopher Columbus' arrival to the Americas) and Shout in Villa de los Santos National Holiday (Nov 10, commemorating independence from Spain in 1821). That's a lot of National Holidays in a row! Not sure how they are getting any work done with so many holidays!
and "Old Panama" to the right. (Not much is left of the original settlement which was originally founded in 1519 and was attacked by Pirate/privateer Henry Morgan in 1671, and largely destroyed by a fire intentionally started by the Spanish to prevent the pirates from looting everything. All that's left is this one tower.
Welcome to Panama City, proudly sporting the "AutoMac" sign (what they call McDonald's drive through in Panama, kinda has a nice ring to it....)
A constant through the whole trip was the blaring of horns (not out of anger/road rage like in America, as Pastor explained, but out of, well that's just how you drive in Panama) and the weaving in and out of lanes and driving between lanes by the motorcyclists.
There was off and on rain, sometimes heavy, complete with thunder and lightening, other times just more a drizzle.
As we approached the mall, the old army base was to the left,
and the mall to the right
but we eventually reached our destination - El Trapiche, where the vast majority of us ordered the emparedado de ropa vieja (old clothes sandwich) - shredded beef , mozzzarella cheese, pickled onions on flour fritter.
Delicious!
and we discovered yet another Star Wars themed Coca Cola can -
Next we walked around the corner and entered the main part of the mall (Albrook Mall - largest mall in Panama). Our main destination was the Super99 grocery store to stock up on whatever - gifts like coffee, candy, cookies, etc and necessities (like Coke Zero....)
Christmas season was in full swing.
We also rode the famous dinosaur mouth escalator
and admired the giant giraffes.
After the mall, we drove to our hotel (Radisson -Amador Ave and Van Hook St), passing Ancon Hill along the way. Ancon HIll is the highest point in Panama City. It played a key role in the history of Panama, as Henry Morgan's scouts climbed the hill to survey the defenses of the old Panama City before attacking it (from the backside, not from the ocean side). Today there is a giant Panamanian flag at its summit, which can be seen in the background on the right side of the photo below (which has some army base buildings in the foreground)
Lord, may we always put our trust in You, not in who we are or in what we can do but rather in who You are and in what You can do. Because without You we can do nothing, but with You we can do all things. With You we have nothing to fear. Therefore, You are our peace. Fill this Panama team with servant hearts, Your presence and Your peace this week as we go out and serve You by serving our neighbors in the Eyeglass Clinic.
I
(this is zoomed in on the the flag)
ok. Not the best picture. It was dark and it was raining!
When we reached the hotel, Pastor Arthur Rickman and his family were waiting for us at the front, and we enjoyed a brief time together with them. Pastor Rickman said Pastor Demetrio Perez wasn't feeling well, so he (Pastor Rickman) had some things he would have to work on tonight (like put a sermon together for tomorrow?)
Pastor arranged for all our hotel rooms (everyone on the second floor), overlooking the Pacific Ocean (to the left) and the Bridge of the Americas (to the right).
We gathered in Pastor's room, where Cynthia Pine led a devotion and we attempted to sing two songs in Spanish that will be part of the worship service tomorrow. These songs are in the booklet Pastor had handed out. The first one has refrain:
El Senor es mi luz y mi salvacion.
El Senor es la defensa de mi vida
Siel Senor es mi luz
A quien temere
Quien mehafa tmeblar
or in English:
The Lord is my light and my salvation.
The Lord is the defense of my life.
If the Lord is my Light,
whom shall I fear?
Of whom shall I be afraid?
(Psalm 27:1)
Which ties in nicely with Denise's devotion this morning....
You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you.
Trust in the Lord forever,
for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you.
Trust in the Lord forever,
for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.
Isaiah 26:3-4
This is a car we passed in Panama City - on the back it says
Jesus, en ti confio
(Jesus, I trust in You)
Lord, may we always put our trust in You, not in who we are or in what we can do but rather in who You are and in what You can do. Because without You we can do nothing, but with You we can do all things. With You we have nothing to fear. Therefore, You are our peace. Fill this Panama team with servant hearts, Your presence and Your peace this week as we go out and serve You by serving our neighbors in the Eyeglass Clinic.
In Jesus name, Amen.
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