Aaron & Jessica In Panama!
Most Recent Updates First - Scroll Down For Past Updates
August 2008
July 2008
Life around here has been, dare I say it, "normal" lately. I continue to train the teachers at the school on discipline strategies and classroom management. I'm also working with kids as well, guiding them to learn self-control and how to deal with the anger they have in their lives. It's challenging but rewarding to see them slowly change over time. I've also continued to tutor Antonio and Joselevy in English.
The biggest thing that has been consuming our lives right now, by necessity, has been...
GETTING READY FOR CORBAN!
Jessica is currently in her 37th week, so the baby could safely come any day, though he isn't due until July 20. We've been going through a flurry of preparations. We are almost finished taking an online birthing class, since there are none in English here. In general, we've been doing a lot research and learning about childbirth.
Of course, Corban's grandmas, aunt, family, and friends have already given him a lot of cute clothes to wear, so Jessica has been working on getting them washed and ready to get dirty. In all, Jessica has began her "nesting" phase, and the apartment has never smelled so much like bleach, cleaning products, and laundry detergent. Since the doctor says that she can't go to work at the school anymore, she stays home and is usually more tired when I get home than when she came to the school.
Jessica really is enjoying being pregnant; she told me again yesterday. She said she would rather be pregnant for just a little bit longer. I am so proud of her!!! Even though I know she has had her moments, she has handled being pregnant in a foreign country so well. She is such a virtuous woman.
GETTING READY FOR THE MOMS!
Speaking of virtuous women, we have also been preparing for our moms to come down next week (July 9). We have been waiting for them to come all year, and now that it's finally here, we can hardly believe it. We've been getting the apartment ready for them. I made some wall hangings out of some cardboard boxes and paint we had lying around, and Jessica put a shopping bag that she liked the design of into some frames. She even fashioned a way to hang our mobile for the baby out of some PVC pipe, a wire hanger, and some masking tape. If you want, you can see pictures of some of that on our website.
The "abuelitas" will get here next Wednesday, July 9. Please be praying for their safe travel.
OK, NOW FOR THE PANAMANIAN SNOW DAY!
Two weeks ago, we got to experience what I like to call a Panamanian "snow day." School was canceled one Thursday because of protests that were to occur in the city. Over 90% of the public transportation bus drivers went on strike and protested a new law in Panama that supposed to bring in new buses and also raise the price of the fare as well. The bus drivers don't like that, because that would mean they wouldn't be able to cram as many people into the buses as they want to (right now, they use condemned school buses from the United States, which have been deemed unfit for the transport of children there). While the protests did get bad in some parts of the city, such as the rogue drivers who continued to drive having their buses set on fire, the only thing we noticed in our part of the city was a nice sunny day with more peace and quiet than usual, due to the lack of the buses' incessant honking, snorting, and rattles from the mufflers. We rather enjoyed the "snow day" and took the time to get ready for the baby and for our moms' arrival.
We are so thankful for safety and that nothing happened in our neck of the woods.
NOW FOR SOMETHING TECHNICAL
We've recently updated and upgraded our website, so if you haven't visited it in a while, you'll probably notice that it's had an overhaul. You can still go to thecrossleyfamily.com. On the "About Us" page, you can access our calendar to see what we're probably doing on any given day. On the "Family Albums" page, you'll find all of our recent pictures (to access that directly, go to this link: http://web.mac.com/aaroncrossley/The_Crossley_Family/Family_Albums/Family_Albums.html). You should also check out our new blogs. Jessica's is especially good; I love reading every entry she makes. I especially love the entry entitled "Father's Day" from June 15. And for those of you who are really technical, we also have what I believe is nowadays called a "vlog," which is a video update. You can also subscribe to that as a Podcast, if you can do all of that fancy stuff. Anyway, stop by the website sometime, check it out, and leave us a comment.
NEXT TIME, THE BIG NEWS...
Next time we e-mail everyone, it will be to announce the big news, so be checking your inbox often. We'll send the word out as soon as we can. It will only be a couple of weeks!
Aaron, Jessica, and Corban
April 17, 2008
"April showers bring May flowers." The rainy season is upon us. Hot, dry days are yielding to hot, wet days. However, the rain does bring some short periods of coolness, like on my walk to the school this morning.
Our last update was a brief one, so there's a lot to cover. So, I'm just going to divide everything into different kinds of opportunities.
OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE
We've had a lot of opportunities to serve recently. In the last full update, I told you about the first week of music camp...we were able to serve a lot during the second week as well. Besides being able to keep an eye out for things that needed to get done, I also got to preach on the last day of camp; we looked at the example of Elihu from the book of Job, and how he shows that "it is not the old who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right." Rather, "it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand" (Job 32:8-9). What an important reminder it is to lean on God's understanding through learning His Word and not to lean on our own understanding.
The Saturday after music camp, we were able to attend the wedding of some friends, Ghinno and Adriana. I also had the privilege of singing "Amazing Grace" during the service.
Every year, the church here has a Conferencia Semana Santa (Holy Week Conference). It's held at the Word of Life camp in Chame, Panama. Away from the city, it's an awesome place to get away from the noise and hurriedness of urban life. There was some great teaching from the Word, and Jess and I got to serve a lot through song. You can see us singing together in the links below.
Our primary ministry now is at the school, Panama Christian Academy. Toward the end of February, we began by attending workshops. I also was able to teach a workshop on discipline. The first day of school began on March 10; Jessica has been working as a teacher's assistant for the first grade classrooms, and I've been working to help give teachers strategies on helping kids be successful in class, by doing observations of their classrooms and by working with kids one-on-one.
Lastly, I've had the opportunity to tutor a young guy named Antonio, who attends Iglesia Biblica Amistad, in English. We meet twice a week, and we're using the book of Mark to study the language.
OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN
Everything we experience here is a learning opportunity. Here are some specifics...
First of all, we learned the sex of our baby! I know that I've already e-mailed everyone, but just in case you've forgotten or somehow the message got lost in cyberspace, IT'S A BOY!
Second, we had the opportunity to attend a leaders' retreat for the different leaders of the church. It was held in an area of the country known as Chiriquí. It was up in the mountains, so it was nice and cool, with beautiful vegetables, fruits, and flowers growing everywhere. It was probably one of the most beautiful places that we have ever had the pleasure of going to. Beyond that, it was an awesome time in the word of God. It was a time for the leaders of IBA to get away and focus on the theme "Redeeming the Time." It was amazing to see how the Holy Spirit used the speakers, who were all in different parts of the Bible, to convey a coherent message about redeeming the time. The thing that stood out to me the most was how suffering and joy kept appearing in every passage and how they´re connected to each other and to making the best use of the time.
OPPORTUNITIES TO RECONNECT
Since we arrived in January, we had been looking forward to the Caltons, the Austins, and the Pickards coming to visit. We weren´t disappointed. Seeing these familiar faces from our church in Lee´s Summit was such an encouragement to us, and the only disappointment was not being able to spend more time with them. We love you guys! Thanks for being such a blessing and an encouragement to us!
OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU (AND US)
With that being said, you (the reader of this e-mail) are welcome to come visit us...our door is always open. We would love to show you are life here...the church, the school, our home. I´m not just saying it; you are welcome anytime.
You can also keep up with us in other ways as well, such as:
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Facebook
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Skype. Our username is aaron.crossley
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Our website,
www.thecrossleyfamily.com. If you´ve been waiting for it to be updated, now´s your chance. It´s been updated with links to pictures and you can also access our family calendar to see what we´re doing from day to day. You can get to the calendar by going to our page and clicking on "About Us" and then "What's Happening?" There are also links to the school and the church, as well as other things that we enjoy (and we hope you will too).
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Our Kansas City home phone, (816) 256.8346. Through the "magic" of technology, we have a phone that plugs into the internet, giving us a local, Kansas City number. So, if you're calling from the KC Metro area, you don't even need to dial the area code! And, it won't cost you (or us) anything!
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We could also use your prayers. Please pray for:
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Jessica, as she has been sick for a couple of weeks. She's had some blood work done, but everything has come back fine. The doctor just keeps saying "rest," which Jessica is tired of doing. She's ready to get back to work. Please pray that she would have strength to be able to return to the school, but that she would also have wisdom in knowing when to take it easy.
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Our work at the school and the students who attend.
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Thomas and Patricia, a young couple from Switzerland, who will be staying with us for a few days, as they travel both the North and South American continents.
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Possible loneliness. Our friends from home left a few weeks ago, the Halls (a couple from Canada that we've been working with at the school) just left yesterday, and the Weets will be leaving later this month. Though we do have a lot of friends here, these are people whom we have relied a lot on. Please pray that we would look to the Lord to satisfy us.
Lastly, thank you for your faithfulness to us in your friendship, your encouragement, and your constant support toward us. We think of each of you often!
With love,
Aaron, Jessica, and Corban
RECENT PHOTOS
If you're unable to click on the following links, then visit our "Panama" section on our webpage, by clicking on the Panamanian flag at the bottom of the page.
Here are some pictures of what happened during the month of February, including Valentine's Day and getting to have some house guests (our new friends, Fred and Deb)!
After "googling" how to butcher a chicken, we were off. In case you yourself need to butcher a chicken but don't quite know how, here is the website: butcherachicken.blogspot.com.
Here are some pictures of us getting ready for the school year!
Speaks for itself...
We had to go to Costa Rica for three days, and here's where we went...
More pictures in and around Golfito, Costa Rica.
Every year, the church has a "Holy Week Conference," Thursday through Saturday. It's at the Word of Life camp in Chame, about an hour outside of Panama City. It was a blessing to get away from the noise of the city and enjoy the quiet and the time in God's Word.
This was such an awesome time, away from the city, up in the mountains of Panama, in the region of Chiriquí. It was a time for the leaders of IBA to get away and focus on the theme "Redeeming the Time." It was amazing to see how the Holy Spirit used the speakers, who were all in different parts of the Bible, to convey a coherent message about redeeming the time.
Here are some more pictures of the retreat. What beautiful scenery...one of the most beautiful places I've ever been.
And what a blessing it was to be able to spend time with Tom and Olga, Steve and Tonya, and Roger and Cindy. We miss you guys! Also, recorded for all time is the now infamous and feared "Volleyball Game."
January 19th, 2008
This morning, I've been having a throwback to childhood; I've had a Sunday school song stuck in my head. "My God is so BIG, so strong and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do." Having seen this in His Word and having experienced it personally, Jess and I are looking forward to how BIG God is going to show himself to be during this coming year. Here is how he's done it so far:
"NIÑO, CAN I HAVE THE WINDOW SEAT?"
After we boarded the full flight to Panama and stowed our carry-ons in first class due to lack of space, we came to our row. In the aisle seat sat a wrinkled-faced woman with long black hair; she tried to communicate something. We pointed to our seats, and she didn't move; we thought she wasn't going to let us through. However, after some translation help, we found she was asking us to sit in the window seat. Having long legs, I gladly accepted.
Before the plane took off the ground, she began to pray...and then to sing...loudly! As everyone starting looking our direction, we couldn't help but rejoice in the songs she was singing...some hymns we recognized and some others we didn't. However, we were reminded of God's faithfulness and his offer of salvation to all people no matter where they are.
ADJUSTING TO LIFE IN PANAMA
Our first thought about Panama? Muggy! Warm! Coming from mid-west winter to tropical summer is quite a shock! However, temperatures and humidity are quite like summers in Missouri, so it is definitely tolerable, and after a few days, we're (pretty much) used to it.
Besides adjusting to the heat, there are many other adjustments to be made as well. For example, everything is in Spanish, which is to be expected, but you forget how much you depend on reading and speaking day-to-day to get around until you're unable to so. Jess and I have been studying our Spanish books a couple times each day. Please continue to pray for language acquisition. Also, traffic flow and driving is a lot different than in the states; basically, the old adage "you snooze, you lose" is in effect. Stop signs are usually suggestions, and while I don't know this for sure, I don't think that there is any such thing as "right-of-way." In spite of this, we are looking for a used car to buy, so we can be more accessible, more involved in peoples lives, and in general, just get around better. Please pray with us that we will find an economical yet reliable vehicle.
"DO YOU WANT TO GO TO THE CAUSEWAY?"
Randy and Donna's son, Jesse, insisted that we go to the causeway at the canal to rent some bicycles. So, after he was able to arrange a ride, we were off. The ride was provided by Paco and Jennifer, a newlywed couple here in the church. Jennifer is from Panama, and Paco is from Nevada. Not only was it enjoyable to see the canal and skyline over the water by night, but it was even more enjoyable to be able to spend time building relationships with new friends. We are so thankful for all of the new relationships he is bringing into our lives.
OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INVOLED...
On our first morning, Randy walked through the dining room, where I was sitting, and asked if I would like to teach the married men's Bible study on Thursday. I jumped at the opportunity to get my feet wet, and so Thursday, I taught as Paco translated. Jessica just got back from the church's orchestra rehearsal, because she brought her flute along with us. Starting next week, I hope to borrow a trumpet to join in!
APARTMENT HUNTING...
Even though it has been a great pleasure to stay with the Weets, we are in the process of finding an apartment. There are a lot of factors to consider, such as distance to the school and to the church. We went to go see a nice apartment yesterday that would work, but we are going to keep looking these next few days. Please pray that we will find one that is reasonable, close to where we need to be, and useful for having people over and getting to know people.
Thank you for your prayers; having people like you behind us is an enormous encouragement.
And in all things, in every way, God is showing just how big, strong, and mighty he is.
Aaron (and Jessica)
PICTURES
Just click on the addresses below, and see what's been going on!*
Our First Few Days in Panama...
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=28325&l=f402b&id=540800521
The Causeway (on the Canal)...
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=28322&l=c9c10&id=540800521