God at work! Part I

I, along with many of you, are believers that God is constantly at work in our lives. But what a blessing from God himself when we can see clearly how He is at work and how He (and only He) can bring life's puzzle pieces together to complete a beautiful picture of Himself.

Four weeks ago today, we had our first assembly in our house on Sunday evening for worship. Five families were there that first night. The Chownings, the Grecos, the Uptons, the Carters, and the Fernandezes. We knew the Uptons from Abilene, but hadn't kept up with them at all. The Grecos were our realtors who helped us find our house when we came to Panama in July. We had met the Fernandezes in July when we came. And we only had met the Carters for the first time a week prior to this first church meeting.

Bianca and Niko Fernandez have lived in El Valle for 8+ years, but just recently became Christians. In fact, the Monday after we arrived in El Valle (on a Sunday), we got to witness Bianca's baptism into Christ! In the face of all the things we needed to get done, this was an amazing way for God to remind us of the truly important things. Niko had only been baptized 9 months prior to that.

Rachel and Giovanni Greco have lived in El Valle for 6 years. They have been believers, but didn't have a church to meet with out this way. They would drive into Panama City (2 hours) to meet Bible study groups or go to church when they could. On our first Sunday in Panama, we attended Crossroads Bible church in the city. The first person that came up to meet us was one of the children's ministers. We told him we were moving to El Valle. He said, "Oh, I have good friends who live up there who could really use some Christian fellowship!" Aaron and I both thought, "Yeah, ok. Like we're going to know them, but sure." "Who is it?" we say. He says, "Rachel and Giovanni Greco." And to think that we just "happened" to find them to be our realtors in July when we were here!

David and Lisa Carter are missionaries here in Panama, as are Mark and Miriam Upton. In fact, Miriam and David are siblings.

So, here we are. Five families sitting in my living room. Bianca speaks almost no English. Everyone else speaks some level of English. Aaron and I speak almost no Spanish. Everyone else speaks some level of Spanish. And yet, that night, we worshipped together. We talked about what church is. We decided to come back together and share our God stories, our testimonies, and God's words to us from that week. We remembered how the first Lord's Supper was initiated and why Jesus chose that Jewish symbol of the Passover. We read God's word. And we all sat in amazement at what God was doing in the midst of us, and wondering with wide-eyed anticipation what else God has in store. Why are we all here at this time? How is God going to work among us? And that is where we still are. . . waiting on God.