Expresate

Can you believe that it is going to be a month since I first arrived in Panama? I can't even imagine how fast the year will go by. The last time I updated, I informed you that I would be a science teacher at one of the Episcopal Schools. By that time, the school was already having exams and getting out for a week from the 2nd trimester. Last week was a break from school and I did a little bit of exploring on a beach and helped paint a mural at my church. Which led to a weekend getaway to the camp grounds of the Episcopal Church in Panama.  

I started off quoting Mark 12:31 from the NIV "The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’There is no commandment greater than these." Love your neighbor as yourself is a really strong message. Most of the human race might think they do this on a daily basis, but in reality it is probably the hardest thing to do. The reason I quoted Mark was because, during Monday and Tuesday of last week, which was September 2nd and 3rd, I gathered some of the youth from St. Mathews to paint a mural. Below are some of the pictures that show a working progress of the mural.

The boys getting the hands painted 

Rev. Glenda putting on the last hand

Rachel trying to reach the M. 

Shevell fixing the letters

After we were finished with the mural, Glenda and I took the youth to the Amador Causeway or the Calzada de Amador. This is a causeway that stretches from the south side of the Panama Canal to the Pacific Ocean. In length it is about three kilometers. There is a sidewalk to ride bikes on the causeway. We took two bikes that held four people and started biking. Below are some pictures of the cause way.

This is the route going back to the city.

There is a storm coming. 

We rested and I love how I captured this picture.

Just riding by.

On Wednesday and Thursday, Rachel and I had an experience that led us to the beach which is called Playa Coronado. It is about an hour away from the city and you can by a bus ticket for about 2 dollars. This was a relaxing time because there was hardly anyone on the beach and it took away from all the craziness from the city. I would like to note that I ate Mexican food at the beach, and it felt like home.

Salt and Pepper sand. Black sand is due to a volcano that erupted.  

Like I said, hardly anyone on the beach.

My love for Mexican food. I really love my Hispanic culture. 

On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday the Episcopal Church of Panama had a camp called Expresate. It was a camp dedicated to the youth on knowing how to express their love to God. Whether through theater, dancing, singing, or playing an instrument, the children were told that expressing your love to God is something that can never be expressed too much. This camp was in Santa Clara which is about an hour and a half away from the city. Below are some pictures of what was a awesome time before I started teaching for the semester.

We have crazy laughs. They tell me that I have a Panama laugh.

Participants in doing Theater.

Participants playing musical instruments. 

Participants singing.

More acting.

Dancing.

The camp was near the beach and they let the youth go.

Took this photo because of the Island in the back

Part of the chapel 

Dedicated to Bishop Shirley back in 1989.

The front view of  St. Clare's Chapel 

The view of the alter.

I would like to end on this note: Expresate is something that I just did right now. I expressed my whole adventure through pictures and capturing the moment. I titled this post Expresate because this week showed me that I need to embrace my Hispanic culture. As most of you know, I did not truly embrace my culture when I was back in the states. I had my heart opened up over this past weekend and finally understood why it is important to express yourself.

We had Eucharist on Sunday, and all the Spanish hymns were eye-opening to me. It made me feel like Panama was "home," and now I can truly be proud of being Mexican and not hide from it. It is something that I have struggled with for a long time back in the states, and even tried to run from it. I know that God has been showing me that when I embrace myself to my full potential, I feel more connected to God. Expressing myself is something that I work on everyday and knowing that God loves me when I express myself to my full potential is an amazing experience inside and out.

Tranque!!!

Tranque is a term that most Panamanians use when there is so much traffic. Your stuck in a tranque or you know not to leave around 5pm because you won't get home till about 7-7:30.  This week has been pretty amazing and really hectic. It feels that i'm stuck in a tranque most of my day and know that even if I am just waiting, God shows the way.

As I have said, I will be a science teacher at the Instituto Episcopal San Cristobal for the next semester. I will be teaching 8th grade and 9th grade.Working with kids has been probably a comfort zone for me and makes me feel right at home. I really appreciate my mentor or teacher that has helped me get through this hectic week. Since the schools in Panama for by trimesters, testing will take place next week and and the students will have a two week break and will come back for the last semester. Please keep the students, teachers, administrators, and the school in your prayers as they will need it for this coming week.

On Sunday, I had the best greeting that any other person can have. It started with me thinking what I should wear to church. If you see me at church, you should know that I really just put a polo and jeans and get my prayer on. The church that I went to is called Inglesia San Mateo. It has no more then 70 members and about 6 acolytes. The service is in English and Spanish and to top it off Rev. Glenda is my priest. Members were just happy to have another young adult coming to the church and greeted me with so much love and joy.

I also had the joy of seeing a band practice on Sunday and giving us a show at the end. I do want to say that with all the tranque that Panamanians go through, I do see a smile on each face. Tranque may be a car jam and we all may experience it back in the states, but in Panama people sit through it for about 4 hours or more. God shows them the light at the end of the road and everyday that I wake up, I see that with everyone living here.

Below are some pictures to recap this post.

These are the elementary students participating in folklore week. 

The bulletin for my church service. 

The view of the church but mostly the alter. 

This is in front of the church. 

Two Weeks in the Making

As most of you guys know, I had the pleasure to spend two weeks in New York for orientation. I am not a writer, so here are some pictures that I took. More posts to come.

A waterfall that was encounter by our hiking in stony point.

Our way of what it means to be a missionary.

Dinner in Chinatown.

Nathan's home of the International Hot Dog Eating Contest.

Coney Island

This explains everything.

This was stuffed cabbage that was served in a Russian cafe.

The menu

A view of where we stayed.

St. Paul's Chapel

A point where we will never forget.

The alter of St. Peters Catholic Church.

This is the view that woman would see at the Eldridge Street Synagogue.

Had the Pleasure to have Eucharist at Christ Church.

Had a free day in New York. My fellow YASCer had the pleasure to sing at the Park.

Trinity Church on Wall Street.

The "One World Trade Center"

The 9/11 Memorial

The inside of Holy Cross Monastery.

Another shot of the inside of Holy Cross Monastery.

My first New York pizza!

Me with the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church.

Grand Central Station.

My flight going to New York.

Meet the Young Adult Service Corps (YASC) members of 2013!

A video That my friend Ashley Cameron put together.

Bittersweet

Although it has been a long time since I have updated, my reasoning is due to the fact that no new information on my mission trip has come up. I also don't have a laptop right now, so it is hard for me to continue updating. If it wasn't for my sister being here for a week, I wouldn't have been able to update today. I also have had mixed emotions about writing a blog.

The last time I updated, I explained what this blog was about and how it will be an outlet to describe my year-long duty. I feel as if this blog is about my experience about my impending mission trip to Panama. However, today was the day I really felt that my experience about my upcoming journey was taking its toll. Today was my first day back to work and it will be my last Tuesday. This Thursday will be my last day of working at my first job for three years. I remember when I walked through the classroom doors, I saw the children and I felt God's hand on me knowing that he will get me through this. Fast forward to three years later, and my children that I had seen that first time will now be the last time that I get to see them. I was fortunate enough to work for Good Samaritan Center, and I knew that the children (that have now blossomed into teenagers) understand that I won't come back for the summer, and it hurts me because I felt as if they were my own children.

This was the first experience that I had that really made my mission trip real. It was the fact that I found a place in my heart for the children, as well as them finding a place for me. It was the fact that I know that my calling was to show children that there is more to life then just wanting to play video games all the time and see that there are individuals that can do great things. I can truly say that my heart will never be the same when I don't see my children for a whole year.

I also wanted to say thanks to everyone who has been part of my journey. I have about $6,500 raised today. This is specially thanks to the Diocese of West Texas and my family at Trinity Episcopal Church. I also want to thank individuals that have been part of my journey as well.

This is a bittersweet day and a sound off to what I know will come to be an incredible journey in a couple of months. I hope by June 16th, I will get a laptop back. I anticipate that the more frequently I update, the more I will know that my next day will be full of joy and excitement.