Last week we gave you an update on two of the Child Development Centers in Panama. This week we'll finish the tour by showing you Playa Chiquita (Little Beach) and San Jose in Playa Caimito.
The work in Playa Chiquita was started when some faithful Nazarene leaders learned that there were many people living in a trash dump near this beach.
The trash dump near the beach. Photo taken from school grounds with zoom lens.
This all began 4 years ago and thanks to the work of these passionate leaders in the church and the local government (who didn't realize there were people living in the dump until the leaders showed them), there is now a school, a church and a Child Development Center, and the people no longer need to live in the dump.
The new church/Child Development Center in Playa Chiquita.
The leaders chose to name this center "Luz de Esperanza" or "Light of Hope." God's light is shining in Playa Chiquita. In 2007, through Nazarene Compasionate Ministries donations, a water tank was built to hold and supply water to the center. While visiting the site, we spent much time taking photos of children who are not yet sponsored but who are attending the activities of the Child Development Center. This Center has 48 children sponsored already with more to follow soon.
One of the children of Playa Chiquita standing on the school grounds with a view of the new church and Child Development Center in the background.
A view of the beach/ocean from the school.
The Center has plans for a working farm to begin later this year. The community will work the land to produce crops to feed the families and to sell for profit as well as raise animals for milk, meat and to sell. Here is an example of a crop they will grow. This plant is called yuca and you eat the root of the plant after the plant reaches about 5 feet in height. It will great to watch this project move forward to assist the community.
Pulling up the yuca plants.
The San Jose Child Development Center is located near Puerto (Port) Caimito and to reach the community you must walk across two rickety bridges.
A view of the beach at Puerto Caimito.
One of the swinging wooden slat bridges.
It is quite isolated and not a safe place to live as it often floods and makes living conditions very difficult. Most people earn a living by fishing or collecting clams.
Two fishermen repairing their nets.
The Center is the only church in this part of the community and many of the children have an opportunity to hear the Word of God through this work.
The children of San Jose Puerto Caimito singing praise songs.
The day Shelley visited happened to fall on the celebration day of the first day of school. They children in the sponsorship program received new backpacks for the school year. We shared a meal of rice and beans and enjoyed visiting with the children. One little boy in particular, without shoes and with dirt head to toe, stood outside the center. We invited him in but he would not enter. When we ate, after much asking, he finally agreed to take a plate and ate it up in a minute. He was obviously very hungry. We learned later that his mother forbids him to enter a church and so he is too scared to enter but the Center tries to feed him when he shows up since it is likely his only nutrition of the day.
Two of the girls at San Jose who chose to wear their new backpacks while eating their rice! Too cute!
I am so impressed by the work of the leaders of the Child Development Centers in Panama. Please pray for them and their work with the children in their areas.
After two very long, hot days of traveling Shelley returned to cool San Jose very thankful for the opportunity to see the children whose names she sees in reports each month and to meet the leaders of the centers to thank them and encourage them.
A view from the air of a port along the Panama/Costa Rica Atlantic coast. Look at all those ships! Amazing!
When Shelley returned from her trip, David began his preparations to leave once again. He is now in Panama with an evangelism team from California. The team will be working in two communities not too far from all the Child Development Centers. Pray for their work this next week.
On a personal note, Kayley would like all to know that she decided to cut her long hair. Now her curls fall around her shoulders and she is soooo cute. (Of course, as her mother, I may be a bit prejudiced!)
May you have a blessed Easter! We will be celebrating with a special breakfast at the church of Gallo Pinto (rice and beans) and eggs. We are looking forward to that!
God bless you all,
Shelley, David
Joshua and Kayley
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