We are not the only ones voluntarily relocating to Panama.

At Panama Investor Blog there is a whole article of statistics on people emigrating out of the US to live overseas. Its an interesting read. It doesn’t really address the motiviation of people wanting to live outside of the US, but rather points at current trends of emigration.

Now that we’ve been in our building (the yellowish one on the left) for a few days, its time to find the new rhythm of life.

We have arrived safely in Panama to a not quite ready apartment. But flexibility is the key to life here.

Two days ago, we packed up all our remaining possessions into an orange 20′ sea going container. Friends helped us load it up and it was a tight squeeze, but it fit.

It was quite the freeing discipline to declutter possessions. Selling some things evoked some tears (like Brandon’s first crib or my yard tools). The emotions caught us by surprise — some were sentimental pieces. Some items we were glad to sell off, wondering why. Ebay and craigslist repositioned some cash for us that will carry us for a few months.

When the house was empty, it was hard not to be reflective. We held a youth lock in on day 1 when we owned that house — it was vacant to. It’s been a place of many memories, but no longer our home.

The emotions of moving finally caught up with us in force. We had been able to ignore the emotions — always stuff to pack, stuff to sell off, phone calls to return. But once it was all done — we felt.

One of our deepst family friends was with us that night and we spent time praying with her and her for us. It was a sweet time of memory making, and a time of closing out that chapter of life in Richmond VA.

Some of our dearest friends were with us on Sunday night for dinner. These friends have been with us since the late 1980s and have had the privelege of helping to shape the vision of ministry in Latin America.

In fact, one of them asked one of the key questions in our discernment of this next chapter in our life: “Do you think you are living in the wrong country?” This question was one of those questions where time stands still. A life altering question that shapes a destiny. No one had ever asked, so I never had to answer. Once confronted with the question, it was clear — yes, we were called to live in Latin America. Why didn’t we think of that?

Earlier in the day, we were roasted by one of our churches, Victory Life Fellowship, who expressed their love for us by inviting us to share the ministry and having us fellowship around the table with them after the service. Their kindness to us, generosity of the people, and the all around love shown to us got us a little teary eyed.

It’s been a month of goodbyes. Our Spanish church, Victory Life, and a few other Presbyterian Churches that I’ve covered for vacationing pastors have all said their goodbyes. It’s been an emotional month for us.

Blessings.