It's Not Goodbye...It's See You Later!!

We have learned to say "see you later" many times here in Boquete as it is very transient in this area. It does not get easier, but it does become a way of life in the English congregation. Many need greaters come just to check things out or  as a starting point as this is a fairly easy place to live for a foreign country. We have had to tell many friends goodbye over the past 8 1/2 months and now it is our turn. I will miss Panama so much that it is hurting inside. This has become my home. The friends, the country, the local people and customs. And what hurts the most are leaving my two precious bible students. As I post the pictures of what has happened during the month of June I will write short stories to fill you in on what has been going on. Also, as a conclusion to this chapter of our lives I will give a summary at the end of the photos from June. Enjoy....

 Jason was privileged to go assist in painting the Remote Translation Office in Volcan, Panama. Friends were already there when he arrived and they were working very hard. I wish I had after photos but the battery died and Jason forgot the charger.
 For those of you who do not know what RTO is this office will be where the translators for the Ngabere Indigenous language do their translation work. I believe some will live here as well. A special pioneer couple is moving into our home and they will be supporting the local Ngobe Congregation and working at the RTO.

Friday Service with April has been a highlight for me the last several months. We enjoy going on bible studies together and making return visits but I always learn something from April. Her and her husband, Ken, were missionaries in Paraguay for a time and then had to leave their assignment to care for aging parents. I have grown spiritually because of her influence in my life and I know that they will be forever friends of ours. It is sad to leave people you love so much but it helps knowing that the friendship is not ending. This was a Friday in the ministry with April, Brandie, Sharon,and our family. We stopped at Los Molinos for a return visit of mine and one of Brandie's as well. It is such a beautiful place.

Would you believe we had our own private island? I cannot believe it! We enjoyed ourselves so much! We went to Isla Seina off of Boca Chica and had the whole island to ourselves. The Bromiley's, Bancroft's and our family took a road trip to Boca Chica and then a boat taxi to our private island. It was only $40 for all three families to share! The water was beautiful and the day was fabulous! It may have been the best beach day ever! WOW! Words and pictures cannot even describe the day! Kamerin even got coconuts off the tree and we all drank fresh coconut water. It was fun watching the children bang the coconuts against the point of a log to get them open for us! Ken even went fishing. We packed our lunch, but went to a nice taco place in David for dinner. April even made frozen adult "Capri Sun's" with watermelon juice, tequila, and triple sec. Great Memories with wonderful friends!

For our "Go Away" party, as Kamerin says, they had a sweets gathering. This was also a going away party for the Bromiley family as they were not moving away but going to the Bajo Spanish Congregation. The friends brought deserts and we all had a great time talking and encouraging one another. Steve Langston, our coordinator, gave a nice little speech. The friends all signed a very sweet and touching card. We will always remember our family here in Boquete, Panama.

This was a bittersweet meeting at the Kingdom Hall on June 8th. Ken gave the talk and did such a fine job but it was also their last meeting at the English congregation. It was also happy because that morning April's bible student Isabel went to her first meeting and now she will be studying with someone in the Alto Boquete congregation as she lives in their territory. That evening after the meeting we had a Nacho party and a movie at the Bromiley's. We really enjoyed ourselves! I did not get any pictures from the last movie party we did but we had a Chocolate Party the Sunday before at the Bromiley's to welcome sugar back in our lives after the no sugar May. We watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and ate so much chocolate! After the party we said our goodbyes to friends. This was not easy! However, we know Jehovah will bless their ministry as they serve where the need is great in Panama. 

 

I got this picture from Brandie. This was the chocolate at the chocolate party!

We decided to walk the trails at the Boquete Tree Trek Resort in hopes of seeing a Quetzal. We did not see any Quetzals, however we really saw some beautiful views and enjoyed the company. We even walked through the coffee farms and did our own "Coffee Tour"! I do not have pictures but earlier that week we did a hike with Kamerin and April to the "Lost Waterfalls". It was pretty intense but the views were outstanding! I am going to have to get some of April's photos as she was smart enough to bring her camera!

This is Dex and Rebecca Pickett. We had to say goodbye to them early as they returned to the States to visit family and take care of some things after being here in Panama for 18 months without leaving even once. They are a good example of a regular pioneer couple and even served in a foreign language congregation before reaching out to serve as need greaters in Panama. They speak Russian and have been a real pleasure to know.

I decided to go in the ministry with the Bajo Spanish so I could still have my Friday with April. What a fun day I had! We worked territory and we even saw a bible student that attends the meetings in the Ngobe Congregation. After an hour or so of working territory we went to do Return Visits on interested ones. I really enjoyed the morning, but after spending 3 1/2 hours of talking and hearing nothing but Spanish my brain was hurting! We went to the Bromiley's for a sushi party and it was so good! Smoked Salmon sushi has to be my favorite.

So I was really blessed on Thursday evening the 19th of June when Olga came to her first meeting. She said that she loved it, and even said she needed to get used to speaking in public so that she could comment. I just know that Jehovah's heart is rejoicing over this precious gem that he is drawing to his Organization! 

 The carts finally arrived and we were able to start a new form of public witnessing here in Boquete English Congregation. They have drawn quite a bit of attention and I am unsure of the total results, but I do know the two hour shift that Jason and I did Friday morning the 20th resulted in 5 books placed, 8 magazines, and 1 brochure. We also received contact information for a young man, around 10 yrs. of age probably, who would like a bible study in English. Jason was also able to follow up on a request for a man who speaks English and attends the meetings in Bajo Boquete Spanish to receive an English Bible. It was an encouraging morning and I know the other friends have enjoyed it when they were able to work the cart as well.

This is the view from our backyard! How on earth are we going to leave this place? We will miss seeing such beauty every morning. We surely have been able to give glory to Jehovah for all of his creative works. They surely are too numerous to mention just as the psalmist sang. Panama has been such a joy and a gift to be able to explore. I never want to forget this most wonderful experience and the pleasure I have received from serving Jehovah where there is a need for Kingdom Preachers in English. 

Dylan has attended the meetings in this Kingdom Hall now twice and Jason and I each once. It is such a beautiful hall and is only a little over a year old. This is the Bajo Spanish and the Ngobe Congregation. Dylan and I really want to learn Spanish and so we have wanted to go for a long time and things just kept on coming up, but we finally made it and we really enjoyed the visit there. The friends in the congregation really make you feel welcome. I really loved it and hope to continue growing in my knowledge of the Spanish language. Maybe after many years of practice I will be able to communicate with others what I want to say instead of silly speech that does not even make sense.

Sunday at the meeting Cooper and Kaia wore native dress. Kaia's is the Ngobe and Cooper's is the Guna dress. They looked so cute. We also had the privilege of welcoming Carl and Beth Probasco back to the congregation, at least for a week! You may remember they were here before for 3 months and then had to leave to go home for a time. They are visiting us this week and then heading to Isla Colon where they will live as long as Jehovah allows! Carl gave the best talk on Sunday. He is such a good speaker, it was as if he was speaking directly to you as an individual. Very personable! 

 This is "My Olga"! We had our bible study Monday and I wanted a remembrance of it. We will have one more on Saturday and it will be full of tears, I know! Her love for Jehovah and for the Bible just makes me have so much lover for her and she is such a meek and humble person. I know that she will continue to grow and that I will see her in Paradise! Darlene, the one in white in the picture above, will continue her studies after I am gone.

This is "my Marleny"! She is such a humble and gentle woman. I know that April will take good care of her. At her study today, June 25th, I gave her a Spanish bible and tears came to her eyes. We went over the information about not letting anyone stop you in your relationship with Jehovah and she assured me she would not. Even though she is only ready for lesson 4 of the Good News From God brochure she has such an appreciation for what she is learning. We are only able to do a little each week because of the language barrier but she will do better with April in Spanish. There were many tears when we parted and we both expressed our love for each other. I told her to continue learning and advancing so we could be together in Paradise and she confirmed. Oh how people touch our hearts even when they are in our lives for just a short time.  

Our last pioneer meeting in Boquete Ingles Congregacion! What a zealous congregation we were privileged to be in for 9 months. There are 18 present but some were in the States when this meeting happened. IT was such an encouragement and Chris and Rebecca Soulatka were amazing to have our last week in Panama! He is the substitute Circuit Overseer and his visit as well as visiting with his wife was very faith strengthening. 

(Our family with the Langston's)

(The Bancroft Girls, Kamerin, and My Children)

( Chris and Rebecca Soulatka)

Our last meeting at the Kingdom Hall in Boquete. This was not an easy meeting, but I did alright until Jason said the concluding prayer. When he said the prayer I just kept thinking this is his last public prayer in Panama! Donny and Wanda Foster are the couple with us in the picture directly above these words. They were like parents to us. The Coordinator and his wife, Steve and Sheryl also were very dear to our hearts. How we will miss all these loved ones and look forward to spending much time with them in Paradise!

I went by Olga's work one last time to make sure we were still on for our last bible study together the next day. It was bittersweet visiting with her!

Our last sushi with the Bromiley's and our goodbye to Carl and Beth. Carl and Beth were leaving the next day to go to their assignment in Isla Colon, Bocas del Toro, Panama. They are family, and very dear to our hearts. We will miss them so much but are so happy that Jehovah brought them in to our lives!

My final bible study with Olga. She is now studying with the sister on the left, Darlene. I will miss her more than she will ever know, but I am so happy that Jehovah brought her into my life. She has been drawn by Jehovah and she will continue to progress.

Our last night at the Bromiley's! Olga came over after her bible study and we enjoyed entertainment by Kamerin and Lychee. April had made a wonderful dinner and Olga and I ate our final meal together, at least until Paradise.

Oh the Bromiley family! Words cannot even express how I feel about them! They were so good to us! I know Jehovah is blessing them in their assignment in Bajo Boquete Spanish Congregation. I also know Jehovah brought them into our life! They will always be a part of our family and I know we will never lose touch with them. Come see us in Mexico, Bromiley's!

So this is it! Our farewell to Panama! We were so tired we did not make it to the Canal. We stayed at our hotel and the children swam and I studied. There is so much  more to Panama than the Canal anyways! It is full of beauty! The people are amazing, the culture is incredible, the fruits and vegetables grown there are great! Our ministry for the preaching work had many challenges but I feel that I grew because of the trials and I feel I am ready to serve Jehovah anywhere. Will there ever be a perfect place to preach and teach others about Jehovah? Not until Paradise and then there will be no need for the preaching work. Did Panama have it's downside? Of course, every place does. Overall though, I would never have wanted to serve anywhere else my first time as a need greater.