Day 3 11-16-25

 The day dawned cloudy and humid, but still with a great view of the boats on the Pacific Ocean. 

and a great view of the Bridge of the Americas.

Many of us women gathered outside the breakfast room at the hotel, before we went in for breakfast.

All of a sudden, one of us shouted, "LOOK, LOOK" and pointed out the window. Thinking I was going to see something shocking like a leopard or something, I turned to look out the window and said "What is it?" and they said "BIRDS!!!!" I said something like "well, we do have birds in Iowa, have you never seen birds before? " 

(OK , I will admit, they were rather large birds, not EXACTLY like the ones in Iowa)

The rest of the group came shortly thereafter, and we proceeded to have breakfast. 

Afterwards, Myrl led a devotion just outside the breakfast area. 

We went to gather the large luggage from our rooms (containing the eyeglasses) and whatever else we wanted for the day and went out to load the bus. But first we said good morning to the technically stray cat (who wears a collar that says "Radisson" and also was laying on a comfy chair right next to a bowl of food and water that the hotel leaves at the entrance, so I would say is kind of adopted by the hotel, but not officially....) Definitely a more comfortable life than the average stray cat...

Then we loaded up the slightly smaller van though the usual route (side window), with Renee hauling in the suitcases and driving for us today.

As we drove to El Redentor (Redeemer) - Balboa, we passed the building where Pastor Arther and Eva Rickman live with their family. It is close to the church, and would have a great view. 

Along the way we also passed the Dr. Arnulfo Arias Monument. He was founder of the Panamenista Party and three-time president of Panama during the 1940s. Each term ended prematurely by a military coup. The monument also depicts various classes of citizens who followed the popular political leader. His wife, Mireya Moscoso, was 44 years younger when they married. She was the country's first female president from1999 through 2004.

Pretty much right as we were pulling into the church parking lot, Pastor Rickman and family were also arriving (walking over). Pastor Rickman greeted each of us, and welcomed us. He also mentioned that service usually starts at 10, but this week, he changed it to 9 so that it wouldn't be so hot in the sanctuary! In this picture you can see the fellowship hall (main level) and parsonage (above). 

This is the walkway connecting the sanctuary (on the left) with the fellowship hall (out of this picture to the right). The walkway in between the sanctuary and the fellowship hall is where the people who wanted to go to the eyeglass clinic gathered. 

This is the welcoming sign on the side of El Redentor, on which we read "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

entrance to the back of the sanctuary:

We were able to move the suitcases into the fellowship hall prior to church.

and also had some time to socialize. Here is Pastor sharing pictures of his grandchildren with some of the Rickmans.

Pastor Rickman led the service, mostly in Spanish, except during the sermon, when he alternated speaking in Spanish and English (for our benefit). His message focused on Matthew 24:1-14 - Jesus telling the disciples that their world will be shaken, that the temple will be destroyed. It was hard for them to imagine but it happened (70 AD). Our lives are shaken too, so we can relate! But Jesus also reassures them (and us): "The one who stands firm to the end will be saved". 

After the service we set up the clinic in the fellowship hall, 

The people were starting to gather for the clinic, 

including children who had come with their parents

so this year, in addition to the same stations we had last year, there was an added table where kids could come for some arts and crafts. 

Inside the sanctuary, all who came to the clinic heard the Gospel message with Pastor Demetrio Perez

We ate a delicious lunch of ropa vieja, rice, potato salad and plantain.

We had an amazing group giving their support from the congregation!

At the clinic, the people came through the nursing station first, where we asked basic questions about how their near and far vision were and other eye health type questions. Cindy worked with several translators throughout the day (Here she is with Jatniel), 

I worked with Gustavo (right in photo below), who is the president of the El Redentor congregation. I think the first thing he said to me was that his first language is Spanish and his second language is French. I asked if he could speak English, and he said that was his third language! We were a great team. I took notes on how he said certain phrases, to try to learn a few Spanish phrases, and he took notes on how I said certain phrases in English.

Next was the vision testing station, using "flippers" and an eye chart with hands pointing up, down, left or right. The person being tested holds their hand the same way as the hand on the chart. 

"Runners" search for glasses close to the likely prescription, and bring several such pairs of glasses to the next station for the person to try on.

The clinic participants then try on the glasses and find "the right one". 

Vision is then again checked to confirm that each person gets the right glasses for that person. 

Finally, the nosepiece fitting is done and the lenses are washed. 

Each person receives a pair of distance glasses and a pair of reading glasses.

Also, each person gets a pair of sunglasses!

After saying our goodbyes, we drove to Mi Ranchito for dinner. Along the way we passed this statue of Jimmy Carter shaking hands with the Panamanian head of state Omar Torrijos when they signed the agreement to turn over the Panama Canal to Panamanian control (1977).

and a monument depicting the building of the Panama Canal.

Of course, all along the Amador Causeway there are amazing views of the Pacific Ocean. 

Here we are in the van, all the suitcases in the back, two tables in the aisle.

View of Naos Island from the Amador Causeway (The rock extracted when the Panama Canal was being built between 1904 and 1914 was used to build the causeway. The road extends 3.7 miles out into the Pacific Ocean, and links the mainland with the islands of Naos, Perico, and Flamenco.)

view of downtown Panama City from Naos.

Our Redeemer group outside of Mi Ranchito.

All the food was very good!

After dinner, most of us got the moist and tasty "tres leches" for dessert. Tres leches is "three milk cake" - whole, condensed, and evaporated. They only had 10 slices left, so some people shared a single tres leches and some people chose a different dessert (ie they missed out!)

A gecko joined us as well.

There are many party buses, up and down the Causeway, but this was the first time I saw a party train!

After we came back to the hotel and took our luggage up to our rooms, we met for his and lows, and devotions. We talked about how today had really gone well - all the stations ran smoothly, many people received glasses, and many friendships/connections were made and deepened between the Our Redeemer group, those from El Redentor, and those who came to the clinic. 

I led the devotion on Isaiah 43:1-2

But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
    he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
    I have called you by name, you are mine.
 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
    and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
    and the flame shall not consume you.

Lord, Thank You for creating us and redeeming us. Thank You for coming to us and making us Your own because we would never on our own come to You. Thank You for protecting us, for keeping us safe in our travels, for never leaving us. Be with us as we go out into the various eyeglass clinics this week and may Your will be done through our words and actions. Amen.