Here we are all ready to jump in & drive off. We were packed to the gills. It took a little maneuvering to close the back window! A couch, a stove, most of my earthly belongings, and some of Katie's.
It was an 8 hour drive on a very curvy, narrow highway. But, we arrived safely. The traffic was not bad, and we were not stopped at any checkpoints.
The scenery was beautiful & green. It rains more here than in Chihuahua.
Thanks for praying for our trip. We made it, and everything went well.
Sunday, two co-workers are driving Katie & me farther south into Mexico to where we will settle for a few months as we build houses in the mountains where the Nahuatl live. Please pray for us as we travel. It's a 8 hour trip!
... in Mexico. We crossed the border this weekend, and this week is full of meetings and reconnecting with friends and co-labourers already here. This weekend we'll be heading farther south. 
I'm here, in El Paso, and getting ready to head into Mexico. My co-workers have been delayed a bit, so we're not heading in today. In a few days, Lord-willing!
Yep, the Panama City Marathon.
I ran the first leg. Can you tell we had just woken up? Marathoners started at 5:00. Relay teams started at 6:00.
Most of my relay team. One is running his leg, and I'm on my way to church already. SO FUN!
I find myself amazed at how fast time flies. It is now August and time for me to leave Panama and head back to Mexico! I praise the Lord for the many opportunities I have had to share what God has been teaching me and where He is taking me.
I have been able to reconnect with many friends from my childhood and friends from the church. I have met many new people who have been praying for me. I have been encouraged by the Lord through my fellow believers here in Panama.
I've also had some time to do a few fun things, like visit Old Panama - the original site of Panama City in the 1500's and 1600's. Pirate Henry Morgan sacked and burned the city in 167? and it was reconstructed farther west. We climbed to the top of the ruins of this cathedral. 
They've done a lot of restoration and preservation work. Stairs to the lookout is a new thing, so this was a first time experience for me!
And visiting and eating!
My friends are now living in a city of Panama that I do not know. Well, I've driven through it before, but I've never gotten off the highway. So, we went for a walk downtown.
And enjoyed... (well, as much as our ears would let us enjoy - there was a competition between different stands to see who could blare their music the loudest. Believe me, competition was stiff!) ... anyway, we walked through the street fair that was going on this weekend to honor the patron saint of the city. 
