28OCT10 -Great news and bad news. I guess we will go with the great news first. We are just back from another incredible trip to villages in the Rain Forest. This past Sunday there were 15 baptisms in the Embera village of Dozate. Maria and I can't wait to go back, we know more villagers will obey the Gospel. It was so exciting to share the Lord's supper with them for the first time in their lives. We strive to teach them the meaning of the Eucharistic elements and the historical significance of this practice.
Maria did an incredible job as usual with the children. She teaches them to read their Bibles publicly; she teaches them to pray; she makes snacks like popcorn for them; she scans, translates and prints coloring bookpages for them; she paints flowers and hearts on their smiling faces. No wonder she is exhausted when we get back to civilization. On this trip Maria organized the children and helped them plant two rows (50 trees) of Papaya, one row (100 seedlings) of Pineapple and two rows (80 hills) of Watermelon! Then she gave them all watermelon flavored bubble gum in the shape of little melons that she found in a store in Panama City. The kids had a blast. The people of Dozate were excited about our Bible studies. There were15 baptisms and we know there will be more when we return. I also taught in the village of Tortuga where we had a wonderful time studying the scriptures together and enjoying Christian fellowship.
The last section of floor has been poured and the JCB Life Center is taking shape. We were able to work on the knee-wall around the building and it looks great! Also the men are working this week fencing the 5 acre grounds of the Life Center.
On our way back to civilization we stopped in Dozate once again and there were told of a elderly man who had rammed a stick through his foot and had a bad infection. Upon examining him, it was clear that we were going to have to take him back to Panama City with us for medical treatment. We were in the hospital from 10:00 pm. until 8:30 am. waiting for the verdict. After x-rays and blood tests we were informed that there was no injury from a stick but rather he had been bitten by a venemous snake. The following day he underwent orthopedic surgery and is recovering.
As allways, there is never a dull moment. Now for the bad part! On the way back our 4wd mission vehicle broke a timing belt and bent the valves in the motor. We were stranded about an hour outside of Meteti. I could tell by my wife´s eyes that she was running on empty. Yet, we were blessed and brother Jose Calderon came to our rescue and brought us into Panama City where we went straight to the hospital with Celso Caisamo, the snake bite victim.
We are now without transportation and are in immediate need of a 4wd replacement vehicle. Please contact Tim Dobbs at 432-352-1968 if you are able to help.
God bless you all, The Rowells 03SEP10 - We just returned from an incredible mission trip to the Churches on the Ucurganti river in the Darien rainforest. In our adult bible studies we were teaching about prayer. Maria also used this theme in her children´s and women´s classes. I will be uploading some great video of the children praying. She prepared popcorn and jello for all of the kids in the village after their classes. They really had a blast.
Maria has also organized the children and they will begin their first agricultural project next month. As soon as the JCB Life Center is fenced, we will be planting pineapples to the tune of 1500.
There had been a lot of disentary and impetigo in the village because the water system was down. The concrete tank had cracked and sprung several leaks. We purchased SIKA Concrete sealer and chipped, repaired and stuccoed the interior of the 5000 gallon tank. Clean water is such a blessing.
We got the last section of rebar installed in the Church´s building and the floor was poured! Halleluyah! In Janruary the roof will be installed. This is going to be an amazing tool for teaching God´s word and holding campaigns and training seminars.
Our Sunday service was actually held in the Church´s building. Or at least on the concrete slab, there are no walls or roof yet but all were excited to have services there.
Dr. Arles was extremely busy as usual. His first day he treated 57 children, the sickest in the village to try and relieve them of various ailments. As I already mentioned most were suffering from water born illnesses.
In the village of Riocito we met with Julio Chango, the new chief and other village leaders concerning future projects with the church. This year we assisted them in planting sugar cane to provide raw sugar for the needs of the village. They are also in need of repairs on their water tanks. We will try to accomplish this on our October mission trip. They will be celebrating the anniversary of the founding of their village on the 16th of October and we have been asked to attend and lead prayer for God´s blessings. We will also be preaching that night and conduct worship services the following Sunday morning.
Arles also identified a high risk pregnancy in the 37th week of gestation. We brought Isania, the niece of one of our refugee brethren, in to Panama City with us and will be caring for her until the birth of her baby.
As if all of this wasn´t enough, the Lord blessed us with another opportunity to serve on our way home. After a six hour trip down river in a dug-out canoe, we began the 5 hour highway trip back to Panama City. At about 9:00 pm we came upon a terrible accident on the Panamerican Highway. We stopped and informed the patrolmen that Arles was a medical doctor and asked if they needed assistance. The patrolman related to us that they had just taken a man with severe lacerations and head injuries to the health clinic in Torti. We drove there and went inside offering assistence. At that time of night there is usually only a nurse present in the health clinics in these small towns. Arles was there for an hour and a half treating people. God bless him, I know he was exhausted. We took Arles to Chepo where he lives and finally arrived home at about 2:00 am.
What a great mission trip. They always are. God bless all of you for being a part of this wonderful work.
Grace and Peace, The Rowells
15JUL10 - Border Police have begun limiting access into the Darien because of FARC activity. Two Panamanian soldiers were injured when an antipersonel mine exploded last month. Several other mines have since been discovered in Panama along the border. Please pray for our brethren here.
29JUN10 - Hey again, sorry for not blogging for so long. Besides being occupied with back to back trips into the jungle we have been in the process of moving and had no internet access. Thank the Lord we are out of the boat hangar. What a relief. For the first twenty days of June we had two groups down from the States visiting the villages of Tortuga, Upper Membrillo and Lower Membrillo. Great young people and great trips. God Bless you all!.
09MAR10 - We are leaving today to return to the jungle for a month and continue work among the refugees. Please pray for us. God bless you all. Remember, we need your financial partnership to continue taking the gospel to the Embera people. Please contact Tim Dobbs and ask how you can help. Grace and Peace, The Rowells.
20FEB10 - Praise Godl The road is finished and we have begun transporting building materials over land to the JCB Life Center. Please help with a timely donation so all the materials can be taken in before the rainy season begins. God bless you all!.
31JAN10 - We should start bulldozier work this week and by the end of the week have a provisional bridge over the Chucunaque. How exciting! We are in desperate need of immediate funds for the road portion of this project. PLEASE HELP! Contact Tim Dobbs if you can help. Thanks and God bless you all.
20JAN10 - Just returned from a meeting with the ten chiefs over the five villages in the Membrillo - Ucurganti river basins. Great news! All of these men are unanimous in their decisions. They want the church in their villages. An agreement was signed between them asking us to help them connect their villages with a road and establish churches in each village as well. We are still needing funds to help with costs. Please contact Tim Dobbs if you can help. Thanks and God bless you all.
08JAN10 - WOW! What a great trip! We just got back from the border village of Tortuga and got a ton accomplished. All of the plumbing is installed, the first section of floor is poured and the sceptic tank has been dug. I will be meeting with the Chiefs of the five area villages as well as the Regional Chief on 18JAN10 after which we will be surveying the area where the road will be cut in. We are needing funds immediately to help with costs. Please contact Tim Dobbs if you can help. Grace and Peace.
27DEC09 - Our next trip to the border will be on 03JAN10. We will be pouring the first portion of the floor for the John Connor Brown Life Center. Also plans are being made to begin clearing the road into the village after 15JAN10. Please contact us if you can help in these projects.
23DEC09 - I am so glad to get an easier and friendlier website online! Please send me your comments and suggestions for further improvements.
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PANAMA MISSION RELIEF
