Bible Chapel Mission Trip Blog
Day 2 — From the River to the Camp
Today was another full and unforgettable day in Panama!
We began our morning at Traci’s home, where she blessed us with breakfast before we spent time in devotional and prayer. Before heading out, we took time to prepare our hearts for the people we would meet and the experiences God had planned for us.
From there, we headed to visit and support one of the indigenous tribes of Panama, the Embera Drua. We traveled to Chagres National Park, where we boarded two boats and made our way about 30 minutes down the river to the tribe’s community. As soon as we arrived, we were warmly welcomed by the families who live there.
The tribe’s chief, Matteo (Matthew), spent time with us sharing about their ancestral history, culture, traditions and way of life. We learned that the community began in 1975 with just four families and has now grown to 27 families. Every five years, they select a new leader through discussion and a community vote.
We toured their community and school and learned about how the families make a living. The women create beautiful handmade jewelry, while the men do woodworking. Their chief is currently studying English in Panama City, which was another reminder of how these families are connecting their traditions with opportunities beyond their community.
One of the ways we were able to support the tribe was by purchasing the handmade items they create and getting henna tattoos. It was special to know that our purchases directly supported these families and their community.
And, of course, they also blessed us with their hospitality!
They prepared fresh fried plantains and tilapia for us. We even learned that ketchup is considered a delicacy to them, so we had brought some along with us! We also brought empanadas to share.
After lunch, they treated us to traditional tribal songs and dances. We were invited to join them, and it was such a fun experience to step into their culture and celebrate along side of them.
By this point, the heat and humidity were definitely catching up with us, so we ended our time there with something everyone was ready for—a dip in the river! It was refreshing, cooling and the perfect way to end our visit.
From there, we traveled about two hours to Word of Life Panama, where we will be staying for the remainder of our trip.
We have the incredible privilege of staying in their brand-new hotel, Casa Grande, which was completed just this spring. We were warmly welcomed by the missionaries, staff and families here at camp, along with camp directors John and Bianca Fowler. They treated us to a delicious dinner before we jumped right into the next part of our evening.
All of the women gathered for a time of introductions, planning and prayer. It was incredibly moving to hear women praying in both English and Spanish, lifting up the upcoming conference and the hundreds of women who will be arriving.
And there are a lot of them! Around 300 women are expected to attend the women’s conference, which begins tomorrow.
After our meeting, we began unpacking the donations we brought from home and assembling welcome bags for the women who will be joining us. Seeing all of those supplies finally come together after months of collecting, sorting and packing was such a special moment. What began back home as boxes and bags of donated items is now being prepared to bless women here in Panama.
Our team of 10 ended the evening together, reflecting on everything we experienced today, talking through tomorrow’s plans and praying together.
It has been another very long and very full day, but our hearts are full too.
We’re exhausted, but excited. Tomorrow begins the women’s conference, and we can’t wait to see what God has in store.
Time to recharge for a big day tomorrow!
Day 1: We’re Here! 🇵🇦❤️
After months of fundraising, preparing, packing, and praying, the day we had been looking forward to finally arrived. God has orchestrated so many details to bring this trip together, and today we were incredibly grateful to finally be in Panama and ready to see what He has in store for us.
For most of us, the days leading up to this trip were filled with getting things in order at home so we could step away from our families, jobs, responsibilities, and everyday routines. There was a lot to do before we could actually leave!
Last week, we spent about four hours sorting through and packing all of the generous donations we received. When we finished, we had 22 50-pound bags packed and ready to come with us — two checked bags per person!
And even after all of that, we still had many bags of donations left over, which were able to go to another local charity. We are so thankful for everyone who has partnered with us through prayers, giving, and donations to help make this possible.
Then, finally, it was time to go!
We left Pittsburgh at 6:00 a.m. with A LOT of luggage and made our way to Houston for a layover before continuing on to Panama. By the time we arrived around 3:00 p.m. local time, we had fueled ourselves with plenty of coffee, fellowship, naps, and candy to keep us going!
At the airport, we were warmly greeted by Traci Delibasich, the founder and missionary with Word of Life Panama. A van took all of our donation bags to the camp where we’ll be staying later this week, while we had the opportunity to do a little sightseeing.
Our first stop was the Panama Canal, where we learned about the incredible history behind this famous waterway and watched a documentary that gave us an even better understanding of how it came to be.
After a long day of travel and sightseeing, we are definitely exhausted! Tonight, we are staying with Traci, who has already been such an amazing hostess and has welcomed us into her home just outside of Panama City.
We’re all heading to bed early tonight to get some much-needed rest because tomorrow brings another day of adventure — and, most importantly, another opportunity to see where God leads us.
Our final day in Kenya was one filled with worship, gratitude, and many emotional goodbyes.
On Sunday morning, we attended church with the students at Lion of Judah, where the service was held on the school grounds. Students from grades 6–12 participated throughout the service by sharing memory verses, singing songs, and reciting poems they had prepared. Their joy, confidence, and love for the Lord were evident in everything they did.
Matt Gilbert had the opportunity to preach once again, encouraging both the students and staff with God’s Word. At the conclusion of the service, our team was given the chance to express our heartfelt gratitude for the incredible welcome and hospitality we had experienced throughout the week. Although we traveled to Kenya hoping to be a blessing, we left feeling that we had been blessed just as much by the people we came to serve.
Saying goodbye was by far the hardest part of the trip. After spending the week building friendships, laughing together, worshiping together, and sharing life, it was difficult to part ways. There were many hugs, tears, and promises to pray for one another before we finally pulled ourselves away and departed the school around 2:30 p.m.
From there, we began the long journey home. We traveled from Nairobi to New York City and then on to Pittsburgh, arriving home on July 20 around 2:00 p.m. after over a full day of travel.
As we reflect on this mission trip, our hearts are filled with gratitude. We witnessed God at work through churches, schools, families, and communities. We experienced the joy of serving alongside fellow believers, built friendships that will last a lifetime, and were reminded that the body of Christ extends far beyond our own community.
None of this would have been possible without the support of so many people back home. Thank you to everyone who donated, prayed faithfully, and followed along with these updates. Your generosity and encouragement made this trip possible, and you were a part of every conversation, every prayer, and every opportunity we had to share the love of Christ.
From all of us on the team, thank you. May God continue to bless the ministries at AIC Zion and Lion of Judah, and may He continue the work that He has begun in the lives of everyone we had the privilege of meeting.
Asante sana—thank you very much.
July 15 – Our Final Day at AIC Zion
Our last day at AIC Zion was filled with both joy and bittersweet goodbyes. Thanks to the generosity of our church family, Chapel Ministries, and Vacation Bible School, we were able to distribute toys and gifts to the students and teachers. Seeing the excitement and gratitude on their faces was a wonderful reminder that even small acts of generosity can have a lasting impact.
Through the donations that were raised, we also had the privilege of purchasing chapati and potato stew for the students. Our team helped serve lunch, and it was a blessing to share one final meal together before saying goodbye.
After lunch, we loaded up and began the drive to Emali. Along the way, we experienced a brief vehicle breakdown, but thankfully it was quickly resolved, and we safely arrived around 6:00 p.m., ready to begin the next part of our mission.
July 16–17 – Serving at Lion of Judah
Our first two days in Emali followed a similar rhythm. Each morning, we spent time in the classrooms interacting with the students, helping with lessons, and building relationships. In the afternoons, we joined them for games, conversations, and plenty of laughter.
One highlight was the school’s track-and-field event. It was incredible to watch some of the best young runners in Africa compete. One student even ran the 200-meter dash in an impressive 21.44 seconds—a reminder of the remarkable talent and potential these students possess.
July 18 – A Day at Amboseli National Park
Today, we had the opportunity to take a field trip with the Maasai Boarders students to Amboseli National Park. It was an unforgettable experience as we saw elephants, giraffes, African buffalo, hippos, wildebeests, antelope, and ostriches in their natural habitat. The beauty of God’s creation was on full display, and it was a special day to share with the students. We returned home around 6:00 p.m., tired but grateful for another incredible day together.
As we write this, it’s hard to believe that tomorrow is our final full day in Kenya. It’s bittersweet knowing our time here is coming to an end. Over the past week, the students, teachers, pastors, and families we’ve met have welcomed us with such incredible love and hospitality. While we’re looking forward to seeing our families back home, we’re also saddened to say goodbye to the friends we’ve made here. We would appreciate your prayers as we finish our final day of ministry well and for safe travels as we begin our journey home. Thank you for praying for us every step of the way.
Today was another full and rewarding day at AIC Zion. We began the morning by spending time in the classrooms, getting to know the students and learning from one another. Matt had the opportunity to share about his background with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and explain how dams help manage our rivers and waterways. The students, in turn, taught us about Kenya’s infrastructure and the important role it plays in their communities.
Later in the morning, we returned to Mathare to visit more of the students’ homes. As we sat with families, we listened to parents share their prayer requests and their dreams for their children to succeed in school and build a brighter future. Their faith, love for their children, and hope despite difficult circumstances were incredibly moving. We ask that, if you’re reading this update, you would join us in praying for these families—that God would provide for their needs, strengthen them, and continue to open doors for their children.
The afternoon was filled with fellowship and fun. Some of our team joined the students in games of volleyball, soccer, and netball, while others spent time in the classrooms talking with students about everyday life. We answered questions about what America is like, debated who might win the next World Cup, and simply enjoyed getting to know one another better.
Tomorrow will be our final day in Mathare. Around noon, we will say goodbye to the students and staff at AIC Zion before traveling to Emali, where we will spend the remainder of our trip serving alongside the ministry at Lion of Judah.
Thank you for continuing to pray for our team and for the people we have met here. We are grateful for every conversation, every smile, and every opportunity God has given us to share His love.
