Mission to the Americas

Serving Ministries and Missions in Latin America

Archives for February 2008

More on the Street Protests in Panama

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February 14 — the city was on edge.  What would the labor strike look like this day?  One could feel the tension in the air.  TV reporters at the hot spots looking to cover any breaking news. 

The labor union kept their members under control that day, and held a peaceful march at 4pm to presidents house to make their demands known.  Life seemed to be returning to normal.

February 15 — a different day all together.

Violent protests broke out again.  Major traffic arteries shut down for at least 4 hours by the protestors.  The police manage to round up nearly 450 more workers to detain.

Workers fled into high rise construction projects and started tossing cinder blocks and rebar from the higher floors, including one tower that is approaching 60 stories tall. 

Some of the protests were in Paitilla, the ritzy neighborhood next door, where several new towers are under construction, including the Trump tower.  Tourists in the area chose to flee (see some of their stories).

My reflections

How did we experience this?  The hotspots for the protests were visible from our windows, though over 1/2 a mile away, meaning we could only hear the emergency vehicles and see the acrid smoke from the tear gas bombs. 

We walk in Paitilla nearly every week (that’s where Blockbuster is and a great ocean front park). 

The main disruption in our life was that our kids schooling was affected (sent home Wednesday before even arriving, canceled on Thursday, and sent home early on Friday).  Our ability to get around town was hindered.

I pray for this country. 

Watching the events of this week has fueled more prayer.  I was surprised as to how disappointed and hurt I was.  Our sense in prayer is that God has a plan for Panama to use missionaries from here to minister in China and the rest of Latin America.  The riots of this week were so contrary to the Kingdom that my heart was broken. 

My prayer is now, "Lord, the people of this country need to know You and to use this passion to proclaim your renown around the world."

Join us in prayer for Panama.

Street Protests in Panama

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February 13 was a day of street protests that got out of hand.  Demonstrators closed principal traffic arteries, police used tear gas, and protestors were hurling rocks and rebar off of skyscrapers under construction. 

Visit PanamaGuide.com to see images, video, and play by play of the accounts of yesterday.

The images in the news really put a damper on the image of Panama as a safe country. 

February 14 sees the US embassy issuing travel warnings for Americans in panama, schools closed, and people a little on edge. 

As of this writing however, the demonstrations continue, but in a calm way, unlike yesterday.  No rocks, no fires in the streets, no stone by stone live TV coverage.

The economy lost thousands if not millions of dollars yesterday because of the inability of people to get to work, the concern for personal safety, and the images broadcast on TV of the stone by stone action.  A cruise ship with 2000 tourists decided to not disembark yesterday because of the protests.

Life Disrupted

Life was disrupted by some angry demonstrators. 

The consensus emerging today is to remind people that demonstrating is a right of the people, but a reminder to do it non-violently.  Allow the rest of us to go on with our life.  The organizers of yesterday’s events have a big PR problem now. 

The typical Panamanian opinion is this: "Go to your corner, chant your slogans and wave your placards, but dang it, allow me to go work since I have to feed my family."

A Call to Prayer

As I watched the events of yesterday, and in my prayers this morning, I felt a brokenness in my heart for this nation.  Panama is the hub for which we are called to minister in the Americas.  This is the nation we live in by choice.  This is where God has called us and He has given us a passion for this culture.  We invite you to join us in prayer for this country.

Some upcoming Ministry

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Next week will be a busy week for the ministry.

Sunday Feb 17:

Oil of Joy Church — working with a visiting American team during Sunday services and children’s church.

 

Monday, Feb 18 (Brandon’s Birthday)

Youth Retreat, Gorgona Beach.  Workshop for teens on the Person and Work of the Holy Spirit.  In Spanish.

 

Wednesday and Friday

With Oil of Joy Church.  Partnering with their bible school and street outreaches together with the visiting American team.

 

Pray for us during these ministry events.

Praying for a car

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Would you join us in praying for a car for the ministry?  Many opportunities are coming are way to teach workshops in various churches in the country, and we are beginning to find a challenge in transportation.

For the workshops that are coming up, pastors are offering to have a member come and get us, and return us, but we’d prefer not to impose.  We are finding that the lack of a car is beginning to get in a way.

How do we get around?

Currently, we use the public transportation system: taxis and buses.

Buses cost .25 a passenger, and taxis run $1-$7 around the city.  We generally do not leave the city unless we rent a car, which runs about $70 a rental for the first day, $40 per extra day, so we try not to do that often. 

As workshop invitations come in from other parts of the country, we face the challenge of getting there.  There are buses that run from the national terminal to various points in the country, and we are beginning to learn that system to try and solve this challenge for now without a car.

Want a taxi ride?

image The condition of taxis are ranging from brand new cars to beat up junkers.  We’ve been in all of them.  Sometimes, taxi drivers refuse to take us where we want to go (because they don’t want to go in that direction), other times, they pick up other passengers so that every seat is full anyway.  Sometimes the drivers are chatty, sometimes quiet.  Sometimes they try to charge me $$ double dollars because I’m American, but I’ve learned the approximate prices. 

The typical taxi ride:

  • To church: $2.25 a trip.
  • To the airport $30 each way.
  • Home from the grocery story: $1.50

The Rojo Diablos.

The public bus system is no where like what you might experience in America.  It’s an inconvenience that we live with. 

Overcrowding is a fact.  During rush hour, people push each other to get on board.  Three adults on one side meant for 2.5 children, two adults in the other, meant for 1.5 children, and two standing in the isle, butt to butt overcrowded.  Body odor.  Getting off a bus during rush hour can be an act of parting the Red Sea since every person on the bus is defending "their turf." 

Poor maintenance is a fact.  We’ve been on buses that appear to be maintained well, but most times, seat cushions are collapsing, rusted holes in the floor allow us to see the pavement underneath, and general interior condition is just not well maintained.  We’ve seen seats mounted with duct tape, grab bars overhead made of PVC, and one pair of my pants got caught on some screws that were sticking out.

Hundreds of thousands of people use these buses every day.  We don’t mind being 4 of them.  Yet, there is a limit to where they run, and we still don’t know all the routes.  We are praying for a car to have the mobility.

Carnival Begins

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carnval queenCarnival began last night.

The whole nation shuts down for a party until Tuesday night before Ash Wednesday. 

The news programs have been full of stories on "how to survive carnival" (as in don’t get drunk and then go swimming in the ocean), people who pawn their electronics to raise money to spend, how there are no rental cars or hotel rooms in the entire country available, and man on the street interviews with people saying what they will do for Carnival.

For example:  How to get ready for Carnival

The national bus terminal was a jammed as O’Hare or Atlanta airport on the Wednesday before thanksgiving.

This celebration is bigger than Christmas.

People gather in the streets during the day, fire trucks hosing people down with water.  They stay up all night partying.  Various towns have parades with floats like the Rose Bowl parade.

Beauty pageants around the country have been selecting "queens" and all the barrio queens competed last night for the title of Queen de Carnival.  (photo from La Prensa, Carlos Lemos).

Curfews have been suspended, the President has gone on vacation, the National Guard has been activated, and the Health Ministry has been restaging medical supplies around the country to hospitals.  (Source: Panama-Guide.com, a great source of information for English Speakers about panama — I’ve met Don and have appreciated his help here).

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