More Costa Abago Adventures: Visit To Quebrada Leon

Costa Abajo, Colon Panama has been a placed filled with much excitement for me. I wonder, will there be an end to my adventures. I hope not.

So the latest…

Sunday March 11, 2007 I finally visited the last of the four missions we have in Costa Abajo. I made it to Quebrada Leon. And it was not at all what I had expected. But after my first boat trip I have come to expect anything. This is the chapel.

I was accompanied by a brother from First Isthmian Baptist who acted as my translator. The driver of the taxi also attended worship, and waited to take us back to Colon. I was very happy that it was he who was driving when we got on the Icacal road and the vehicle started skidding all over the road. We were fortunate, as you can see the passengers of these buses were not.

We also rejoiced that we were still on the road, and that no one from the buses was hurt. However, we were stuck for 45 minutes waiting for a wrecker to pull out the buses. So this is the way we do it out here…but hey, look at the ‘back hoe’ (Is that what its called?) Have you ever seen it do this? Listen, I was awestruck to see this thing move like a robot in one of those cartoons I sometimes (happen to) watch. My little cousin Shellaine would say..”Auntie, don’t that cool?” So look how it did it….braces down on road, wheels in the air..”Coool don’t?”

Then we were off again. Almost got lost but we finally made it. And guess what, we drove all the way to a playground around 5 minutes walk from the Quebrada Leon mission. That was wonderful. Know why? Up to the present time, horses are the main means of transportation in this part of Costa Abajo. Now the boat up the Rio Indio was one hurdle. A horse is a whole different story!! So no horse = happy Marvia.

Once again, I experienced the warmth of the Costa Abajo friends. It was a lovely day, a change from a rainy morning and I had a great time. I preached, spent some lovely moments with the children and then we headed back to Colon . At service we had 21 adults, 12 children and 3 chickens. The latter were more restless than the children, as they kept walking around pecking at tinier helpless creatures who were also at worship! Reminded me of some Christians when they come to church on Sundays walking around pecking at details, people and decisions.

It was one of those lovely days that reminded me of times I went out to preach in Jamaica near the coast. Returning home was always difficult as there was the sea and a longing to stop at the beach and relax. Can’t for the life of me say why I have never stopped. Perhaps thought the day was too ‘holy’ to do such a leisurely thing like relax on the beach. I have to do it one day and see if I am overcome with guilt…

It probably would have been the best thing to do. Because my brother from First Isthmian and I did not return home alone. We brought back company with us. This I soon realized when on Monday I woke up with the most dreadful itching – even in places I cannot mention here.

Ohh Nooo….come on. Not “grass lice”!! You’ve got to be kidding. Listen, this has not happened to me since an embarrassing episode at Nutshell, Duncans -Trelawny back in its primal days. It was a SACABAYA Retreat, the water finished on us girls and we got creative with the same drum of water from which the Cows were watered. I do not have to tell you what happened next – and to me and I wasn’t the only one who used that water. I do not venture near ticks/grass lice for nuttn. So can you imagine me with a microscope and mirror trying to reach the little critters. What did I tell you about ALL who attend church on Sundays?

Or was it the walk through the grass to the small house you can see in the background ?

Adventures abound in Costa Abajo for sure. What will I get into next? Stay tuned…I assure you I do not go looking for trouble but I’m sure I must have some kind of magnet!

Upcoming…
I’m excited about our friends who will be coming to Panama from Caribbean Christian Publications (CCP) next week. We will be having training sessions for Sunday School department workers. They will be conducting training in Colon City at First Isthmian, and at Almirante Baptist, Bocas del Toro.

Pity I can’t arrange some grass lice, boat trips, horses and the like for them. Not for lack of good intentions mind you – they just won’t have the time. Anyway since this is Panama – something is bound to happen and you KNOW I will be right here to share the details with you.

Until then,
Marvia

PS** You’ll better stop laughing if you want to remain my friends. Catching “grass lice” is not funny!!