Our weeks are busy with preparing lessons, visiting our neighbors, conducting Bible studies, and just living, not to mention I (Chrissy) am also taking a class at the seminary. Paul, Julio, and I have been helping out in the Good News Church in Chitre teaching Sunday School lessons while Stan Bunch has been directing membership classes for the church. The Good News Church is now officially recognized as an organized body of believers. This has been a wonderful opportunity to get to know more of our Free Will Baptists family, as well as good practice for Paul and I to teach in Spanish, especially since we now have a children’s class on Saturdays.
We also have the privilege of working with a
current seminary student on the weekends, Elisa. She is a very creative and
energetic young woman who has been a great blessing to us. She is helping with
the Saturday children’s class, teaching lessons and songs. We hope to have the
opportunity to work with other students in the future as well, as they are all
gifted in areas that would be beneficial to any ministry.
Ben, Lydia, and Jael are continuing to grow in
both body and spirit. At the ages of 9, 7, and 4, they are full of “spirit” or
spunk, like my grandparents might have said. All are speaking in Spanish very well and
seem to impress the locals with their communication skills. They are making
friends and learning to be friendly, which can be quite the lesson in itself. All
in all, we couldn’t ask for better kids. They are always up for an adventure as
long as they don’t have to sit still for too long.
Julio, Paul, and I have recently reevaluated how
the ministry in Santiago is going. As of right now we have a Bible study with a
small group on Tuesdays and one on Saturdays. The children’s class is on
Saturdays as well. Our desires are to disciple the new believers and encourage
those, who’ve yet to accept Christ, to come to know Him.
Since beginning our Saturday group, we’ve come
into a little bit of conflict. The house where we have our Bible study is
located right beside the field where all the neighborhood young people play
soccer. At first, this was a good
location, but now we have to compete with the soccer game going on during the
lessons as well as the rain which almost always falls in the afternoons during
the study time, not to mention the next door neighbor has been training his roosters for a upcoming cock fight. So, we’ve decided that it is time to look for a place to rent somewhere in the neighborhood of those we are ministering to and is close
enough for the children to walk to safely. We are hoping to find a 2 bedroom
house where Julio can live and meetings can be held. We’ve been asked by
several people, “Where are you located?” Since the answer is not directions
to a building, those who’ve asked have yet to join us. For now we are going to
try moving the studies to our house, which was the original plan, until the
Lord leads us in a different direction.
It is very obvious to our team that the Lord is
working in Santiago, Panama. We are thankful that God has allowed us to be
here, to work with Julio and all the other missionaries, as well as to learn
how to be better servants. May the Lord bless you as you too seek to serve Him
where you are, live according to His will, and let His light shine from within
and without.
To God Be the Glory!
~Paul and Chrissy Collins
~Contact Information~
Email: collins_mission@yahoo.com
Mailing Addresses:
Packages~ Regular~
Paul Collins Paul Collins
#Pty 58172 #Pty 58172
7801 N.W. 37th St. P.O. Box 25207
Doral, FL 33166-6503 Doral, FL 33102-5207
SKYPE, name & number:
SKYPE, name & number:
collinsfamily1230
(405)708-5707
This is not an international number, feel free to call.
