Missions Blog

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. 🇵🇦❤️