Bible Chapel Mission Trip Blog
Day 7 — Going Home
Another early morning. This time, it was to head to the airport and say goodbye to Panama.
It’s a bittersweet feeling. We were ready to see our families, sleep in our own beds, and return to the comforts of home—but leaving a place and people who had become so meaningful to us in just one short week wasn’t easy.
There was plenty of time at the airport today to reflect on everything we experienced. We’ve all spent time looking back through the hundreds of photos we took, reliving the moments that made us laugh, the moments that moved us, and the moments we never want to forget. We’ve also loved watching Word of Life’s social media fill up with incredible highlights from the women’s conference and seeing the faces of so many women we met throughout the week.
As we looked back, one thing became very clear: we came to serve, but we were also served.
That was one of the most unexpected and beautiful parts of this trip.
We came grateful for the opportunity to help, but we are leaving grateful for everything we received in return. We cherished the joy we witnessed in the Panamanian women. We admired their simple way of living and the hearts of those who prioritize family, community, and God. We took in the beauty of the land—the fog that circled the mountaintops in the mornings, the thick green terrain, and even the heat and humidity that made us sweat more than we ever have. 😂 Somehow, we even came to appreciate the summer weather in October!
But perhaps the greatest gift we are bringing home is the relationships.
We are leaving Panama with new connections there, but even more importantly, we are leaving with a bond among our own group that we know will last a lifetime.
We are now friends for life.
We all came from different walks of life. We are all unique, with different personalities, experiences, gifts, and responsibilities. Yet every person brought something to the table that helped make this team work.
There was leadership and organization, someone managing our finances, travel coordination, ordering supplies, preparing daily devotions, making sure we were medically prepared, taking photos, writing this blog, and countless other details happening behind the scenes. Everyone had a role, and every role mattered.
It’s amazing to think back to the first day, when we were all learning each other’s names and figuring out who was who. Then we were paired with a prayer partner, and slowly those unfamiliar faces became friends.
Now, we’re leaving hand in hand, promising to stay in each other’s lives.
What a beautiful picture of what God can do when a group of women says yes to Him.
It has been such a joy getting to know these women—my sisters in Christ. We are definitely coming home tired in our bodies, but somehow refreshed in our souls.
For one week, we were able to step away from the hectic pace of our everyday lives and focus on one united vision: serving God and loving people.
And through every obstacle, every unexpected change, every long day, every language barrier, every moment of exhaustion, and every challenge along the way, God was faithful.
He was there through all of it.
We leave Panama refined, encouraged, and with an even deeper trust in Jesus. We’ve been reminded that He doesn’t need us to have everything figured out. He simply asks us to be willing.
And when we say yes, He takes care of the rest.
What This Week Meant to Us
As we reflected on the week, we asked each other: What words would you use to describe what this experience meant to you?
“Grateful and blessed to have been called to do a little of God’s work!”
“Truly blessed to have been called to disciple to women. And so grateful for the new friends in Christ that I have made.”
“Humbling! Being reminded that our plans aren’t God’s plan, and that when you’re called to serve, it may not look or play out as expected.”
“Awe-inspiring! God’s love transcends every culture and language, and being part of it from a different perspective is life-changing!”
“A life of faithfulness: the missionaries set a great example of how to live a humble life, serving Jesus first and being bold in their faith.”
“God’s work. Unforgettable women. Truly blessed, grateful and lucky.”
"My favorite part was seeing the joy of the conference attendees and the missionaries. As we share our testimonies, they were able to see that joy of the Lord is our strength!"
To everyone who supported our team through prayer, financial gifts, donations, encouragement, and the many items that were packed into those 22 bags and carried across the miles—thank you.
Please know that you were with us in spirit. You were part of this commission. Your prayers mattered. Your generosity mattered. Your support helped make this trip possible, and we are so grateful.
We are honored that God gave us the opportunity to serve in Panama, and we hope our experience encourages others to pray about where He may be calling them.
If you feel Him calling you to go on a mission trip, GO.
Say yes.
Step outside your comfort zone.
Trust Him with the details.
We promise—you won’t regret it.
We came to Panama thinking we were going to serve.
We’re leaving realizing just how much God served us in the process.
Christ be magnified! Glory to God!
¡Hasta luego, Panamá! 🇵🇦❤️
Day 6 — Our Last Full Day in Panama
Our last full day in Panama. The days were long, but somehow the week went by so fast.
Traci took our team to one of her favorite local beaches, Santa Clara, where we were able to slow down, soak in the beauty of the country, and simply enjoy being together. A couple of the missionaries were able to join us as well.
It was a quiet, clean beach, and the ocean was the perfect warm temperature. Since our group was larger than most of the women’s groups that come to the camp, and many of us had roommates for the week, we took this opportunity to get better acquainted with people in our group we may not have had the chance to really talk with. There’s something about sunshine, sand, and the sound of the ocean that creates the perfect environment to relax and enjoy each other’s company. We even had lunch right there on the beach.
While we were there, a couple of local men rode up the beach on horseback, asking if anyone wanted to purchase a ride. Although none of us participated, Traci took the opportunity to introduce herself, share who we were, and invite their children to come to the camp. It was such a simple, unexpected interaction, but it was another reminder that planting seeds and sharing Christ doesn’t always have to be complicated. Sometimes it happens in the middle of an ordinary day, in an ordinary conversation.
On our way back to camp, we stopped at a souvenir shop where some of us picked up gifts to bring home.
Then it was time to pack up, say goodbye to the camp, and say farewell to most of the missionaries. Traci had been with our team throughout the entire week, and leaving her was especially difficult. She truly was such a joy to be around—always making us laugh, always encouraging us, and always making sure we were taken care of. But beyond her personality, seeing her passion for people was incredibly inspiring.
Traci has continued carrying on this ministry and legacy since the unexpected passing of her husband in 2018. Her commitment, strength, and faithfulness left a lasting impression on all of us. We were truly in awe of her.
We loaded up the van, and John and Bianca Fowler drove us into Panama City. We had originally planned to stop and see Old Panama, but heavy traffic changed our plans, so we headed straight to our hotel near the airport.
Although we didn’t get to explore the city the way we had planned, we did get to drive through much of modern Panama City—and it was quite a sight to see. Most of us were surprised by just how large the city was. Towering, modern skyscrapers stood alongside areas of poverty, creating a striking contrast.
John shared more about the city, its rapid development, and some of the significant challenges Panama continues to face, including drug trafficking, human trafficking, and corruption. These are very real issues that affect communities, and hearing about them gave us even more to pray about.
When we arrived at the hotel, another missionary and their family, who had spent the day working at the Word of Life city office, joined us for one final farewell meal.
For the first time all week, we had the undivided attention of John and Bianca, and we were able to hear more about their family life in Panama, their experiences serving there, and the future plans for Word of Life.
They shared their desire to expand their missionary team—hopefully at least doubling it—and to have a presence in every province of Panama. They are also working on language classes for their team and the surrounding community, offering both English and Spanish to help bridge communication gaps and open doors for ministry. There are also plans to continue improving the camp and expanding the opportunities available there.
It was encouraging to hear about what God is doing and what they believe He has ahead for Word of Life in Panama. The work is far from finished.
After dinner, we said our final goodbyes and headed back to our rooms to FINALLY take our first hot showers of the week.
And let me tell you—there are some simple luxuries you never think twice about until they’re gone. A hot shower suddenly felt like the greatest gift in the world. 😂 It’s safe to say none of us will take one for granted again!
One last sleep in Panama.
Tomorrow, we head home—but we’re leaving with so much more than we came with. New friendships, new memories, a deeper appreciation for the work being done here, and, most importantly, a renewed desire to continue planting seeds wherever God puts us.
One more night. One more sunrise. Then home. 🇵🇦❤️
Day 5 — The Reason We Came
Today was the last day of the women’s conference. It’s hard to believe we are already wrapping up what has been such a full and meaningful week.
As usual, our team began the day by coming together for devotion and prayer, preparing our hearts for what God had planned. We then joined the women for breakfast once again.
It has definitely been an adjustment getting three large meals a day here at camp — lots of rice, beans and lentils, chicken or sausage, and plantains! But we were reminded that for some of the women attending the conference, meals like these are not something they get to enjoy regularly. For the women from the indigenous tribes, for example, the fish they catch from the river may be their breakfast, lunch, and dinner most days. It was another reminder not to take something as simple as a meal for granted.
We then entered into a time of worship before hearing the final three testimonies from our team. It was such a special time. The women listened intently, supporting each person with applause and encouragement. And as each woman came down from the stage, we made sure to greet her with an embrace and a reminder of how deeply she was loved.
Afterward, several of the missionaries joined Laura in teaching about the different emotions God has given us and the ways they can enter our lives — both in healthy and unhealthy ways. They talked about what different emotions can look like, what may trigger them, and how we can learn to manage them in a healthy way while maintaining spiritual and emotional balance.
It was a good reminder that life brings challenges to all of us. There are normal ranges of emotions and feelings we experience, but there are also times when we need to recognize that we may need help and not be afraid to seek it.
One takeaway that really stood out was the reminder that, as women — daughters, mothers, sisters, wives, and friends — we often carry a lot of responsibility. We naturally tend to nurture and care for everyone around us. But we also have to recognize when it is time to care for ourselves.
We need to take care of the temples God has given us. We need to rest. And sometimes taking care of ourselves is not selfish at all — it allows us to continue pouring into the people God has entrusted to us.
Then came one of the most powerful moments of the entire conference.
The women were asked to take a moment to examine their lives and confess to the Lord any sin that needed to be surrendered and turned away from. Everyone was given a piece of paper and asked to write down something in their lives they wanted to give completely to God.
The Gospel was presented, and a cross was brought to the front of the room. Anyone who wanted to could bring their paper forward and leave it at the foot of the cross.
As I looked around the room, I saw women wiping away tears. Many were visibly moved. Several of us found ourselves wrapping our arms around women we had only just met, allowing that bond of womanhood — and even more importantly, sisterhood in Christ — to comfort one another.
And in that moment, I think many of us realized this was exactly why we were called here.
It wasn’t just the hands-on work.
It wasn’t just the donations we brought.
It wasn’t just cleaning, setting up tables, carrying bags, or helping behind the scenes.
We were there to meet women in their deepest need — to remind them that they are loved, that they are seen, and that there is One they can cling to who will never leave them - Jesus.
To close the conference, Laura invited the women to come forward and share their reflections and responses. Several women expressed how grateful they were for the fellowship, ministry, and discipleship they had experienced during the conference.
There was also a special time of honoring all of the missionaries — both those serving here in Panama and our American team.
Lunch was packed to go as the women began gathering their belongings and boarding buses to return home. So many came to say goodbye, thank us, pray over us, offer blessings, and ask for pictures together.
And just like that, the women’s conference was over.
While the Word of Life missionaries began tearing everything down and cleaning up, our team headed back to the hotel to set up the clothing donations we had brought for the missionaries and their families.
Most of these families live very simply, with their income largely dependent on sponsorship support. So having the opportunity to “shop” through the clothing we brought was a real treat — especially for the children.
It was humbling to watch their faces light up as they found things they liked. But what struck me even more was that they weren’t only thinking about themselves. They were looking for things for their children, spouses, friends, and others they knew who might need them.
Even while they were being blessed, they were thinking about how they could bless someone else.
Afterward, we all freshened up, loaded into the vehicles, and headed into town to treat the missionaries to dinner.
It was our small way of saying thank you for the way they pour their hearts and souls into God’s work and into the people He has entrusted to them.
Dinner gave us something we hadn’t had much of during the trip — time.
Time to slow down. Time to talk. Time to hear more of their stories.
The conference kept everyone so busy that we hadn’t had much opportunity for those deeper conversations. But that evening, we were able to connect in a different way. By the end of the night, we were taking pictures together, exchanging contact information, laughing, and already talking about the hope of seeing one another again.
Maybe they’ll come visit us at The Bible Chapel someday.
Maybe we’ll be back in Panama.
Either way, we know this isn’t goodbye forever.
We headed back to camp, circled up together as a team before bed, and made our plans for our final day in Panama — a much-needed leisure day that everyone was looking forward to.
Tomorrow, we get to slow down a little, take in more of Panama, and enjoy our last day together.
But tonight, our hearts were full.
Full of gratitude.
Full of new friendships.
And most of all, grateful that God allowed us to be His hands and feet for a few days — and reminded us that sometimes the greatest thing we can give someone is simply to sit beside them, wrap our arms around them, and remind them that they are loved.
A Day of Healing, Hope & Joy
Today was a long day—a really long day! 😴 We started at 7:30 a.m. and for most, we didn’t finally crawl into bed until 1 a.m. Sunday. But as exhausting as it was, it was also one of the most meaningful and joy-filled days of the trip.
We started our morning with devotional and prayer time as a team before heading to breakfast with all of the women attending the conference. As more women arrived, we gathered together for praise and worship. It was absolutely beautiful to hear hundreds of women lifting their voices to God—each in their own native language, yet worshipping the same God. ❤️
After worship, two more women from our team shared their testimonies with the help of a translator. This has definitely been one of the most nerve-racking parts of the trip. There is something incredibly vulnerable about standing in front of hundreds of women and sharing the difficult and painful parts of your story.
But there has also been such freedom and peace on the other side of that vulnerability. We aren’t sharing our stories because they’re perfect—we’re sharing them because God has redeemed them. And if being transparent about our struggles can give even one woman hope that God can heal and restore her story too, then it’s worth it.
Next, Laura, the Word of Life missionary who was our conference speaker, shared a powerful message about the Lord healing our hearts and finding our identity in Him.
One of the most meaningful parts of her message involved the mirrors we had purchased for the women. She encouraged them to look beyond their physical reflection and consider how distorted our view of ourselves can become through our own flaws, experiences and the expectations of society.
Our reflection in a mirror can show us what we look like—but it can’t tell us who we are.
She encouraged the women to see themselves through the eyes of their Heavenly Father. We are daughters of the King. We are children of God. Our identity isn’t found in our appearance, our past, our mistakes, our circumstances or what other people think of us. It is found in Him. 💜
After the morning sessions, we enjoyed lunch and then into more of our testimonials.
Following this we moved into one of the fun parts of the conference—craft time!
A big part of the fundraising and preparation for this trip involved collecting supplies for the craft, and today we got to see all of that hard work come together. The women created their own hats for our Kentucky Derby-themed party that evening. They had so much fun being creative and making each hat completely their own.
And honestly, the best part was seeing them all show up later wearing their creations! 🎩💐
After crafting, we had a little free time, and some of our team helped lead water aerobics. It was a welcome chance to get out of our chairs, move around and cool off. There was plenty of laughter involved, too!
Then it was time to get ready for the party. We all put on our dresses and florals to fit the Kentucky Derby theme, and we headed to dinner where our team helped serve the women.
After dinner, we gathered for worship, and two women from our team had the opportunity to help lead a song in both English and Spanish. Once again, it was such a beautiful reminder that even though we may speak different languages and come from very different places, we are united in Christ.
We then heard two more testimonies from our team, followed by more teaching and sharing from Laura.
And, of course, there were plenty of coffee breaks sprinkled throughout the day—which were VERY much needed on a day this long! ☕😂
Once the conference sessions were finally finished, it was time for something completely different: FUN!
One of the women’s favorite traditions is the conference pageant, where they compete to be crowned queen of the conference. The women are divided into two age groups. The women over 40 are the “Ensure” group, while those under 40 are the “Collagen” group. (Yes, they have a sense of humor! 😂)
The contestants walked the runway, performed a talent and then were judged by the crowd’s applause.
Our fearless team leader, Sarah, even entered the competition—and she made it to the finals! 🎉
At the end of the night, last year’s queens crowned the new queens, and the women laughed, cheered and celebrated well into the night.
By the time we finally headed to bed around 12:30 a.m., we were exhausted—but our hearts were full.
One of the greatest joys of this trip has been watching these women simply enjoy being together. We even recognized some of the women from the Emberá tribe we visited earlier in the week!
For some of these women, this conference may be the only opportunity they have to step away from their jobs, responsibilities and families for a little while. It’s a chance to be surrounded by other women of God—to find fellowship, encouragement and support.
A place where they can laugh together, cry together, learn together and grow together.
And tonight, as I watched them laughing and celebrating late into the night, I was reminded that sometimes healing doesn’t always look like a serious moment of prayer or a powerful message.
Sometimes healing looks like a room full of women laughing together.
Sometimes it looks like a handmade hat.
Sometimes it looks like a testimony shared through a translator.
Sometimes it looks like worship in a language you don’t understand.
And sometimes it looks like simply knowing, I’m not alone.
What a beautiful gift it has been to be part of it. 💜🇵🇦
Day 3 — Preparing the Way
Our day started early with group devotion and prayer time, preparing our hearts for what would be a very full and meaningful day. Afterward, we joined the other missionaries and staff for breakfast, fueled up, and got straight to work.
The women’s conference was beginning that evening, and there was plenty to do to prepare for more than 300 women who would be arriving. We tore down all the tables in the pavilion and cleared the space before sweeping and mopping the floors. Then came the fun part — transforming the space into a beautiful place for the women to gather.
We cleaned and set up all the tables and chairs, added tablecloths and centerpieces, and created photo stations throughout the pavilion. Little by little, the empty space became a welcoming place for the women who would soon fill it.
Once everything was ready, we had a little free time — and after working in the hot, humid weather, the camp pool was exactly what we needed! It was such a refreshing time to relax, laugh, and enjoy some time together as a team.
Then it was time for lunch, and once again, we were blessed with an incredible meal prepared for us. We certainly have not gone hungry on this trip!
After lunch, we gathered the blessing bags and conference shirts and finished setting up the registration tables. Then it was time to get ourselves ready. We put on our team shirts, headed back to welcome the women as they arrived.
And then, at 7 p.m., it began.
The reason we are here!
The evening started with dinner and some fun icebreaker games, giving everyone a chance to laugh and connect. Then two women from our team had the incredible honor of sharing their faith testimonies with the group. It was a beautiful reminder that God can use our stories — even the hard parts — to point others toward Him.
Bianca Fowler, the director, then blessed us through worship, followed by a powerful message from Laura, a Word of Life missionary who has served for more than 35 years. Our team was able to listen through headsets with translation so we could follow along.
The message centered around God as our Great Shepherd — the One who cares for His lost sheep. He is the healer of our broken hearts. His name, Jehovah Rapha, means “the Lord who heals.”
We were reminded that only God can truly fill the emptiness we carry. We live in a broken, sinful world that was never God’s original design. Sin brought brokenness, suffering, and struggle into our lives, and we will experience those things until we are with Him again.
But God has not left us alone in the middle of that brokenness. He is here. He offers peace when life feels chaotic, comfort when our hearts are hurting, and strength when we feel like we don’t have anything left to give. He is the Shepherd who sees us, cares for us, seeks us, and heals us.
The conference wrapped up around 11 p.m., but the night wasn’t over yet. Bianca and the worship team began rehearsal, continuing into the early morning hours. A few members of our team who serve in worship back home are hoping to join them during this special time of ministry.
And as we finally headed to bed — you guessed it — exhausted again!
But underneath the exhaustion was excitement and anticipation. We know there is still so much ahead, and we can’t wait to see what God is going to do through another full day with these women.
Another day, another opportunity to serve. And another reminder that God is already at work.
