Mission to the Americas

Serving Ministries and Missions in Latin America

Alcoholism and it’s evidence

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In today’s La Prensa, the daily newspaper in Panama, there is an article about the growing challenge that alcoholism is causing in the city centers.  It’s estimated that 5% of the homeless are alcoholics and that number appears to be rising.

The story captures the struggle and journey of one man in particular.  My heart felt this story.  Speaking of his daughter’s invitation to live with them and get cleaned up, he says.

“It’s a great opportunity, and with my 65 years it’s the best thing for me,” said Serrano. “But I’m not ready, and won’t be until I’m able to find the Lord, something I hope to accomplish before my death, so I can return to my kids.”

The line that grabs my heart is “won’t be until I’m able to find the Lord, something I hope to accomplish.” 

This morning, my prayers are focused on this man and on the many like him, who perhaps don’t realize that it’s not hard to find the Lord.  Lord, send the church, send the workers into the harvest.

The intercessory burden is clear. 

It is our calling to help equip the church to help men and women like this, to help them find people and share the good news of the love of Jesus, to help folks find forgiveness and the strength to pursue transformation and be transformed.

Walking through transformation is difficult.  Finding the Lord should not be.  Who shall go to the harvest field that is ripe?

An Armchair Quarterback’s thoughts on Panama Mindset

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Concerns and worries

polldata on panamaAccording to La Prensa (Sept 17, 2008), the number one issue in the mind of Panamanians, described as their "pain in the head" is inflation.

In a survey of 3,021 responders, 33% had inflation as their number #1 concern.  Though down from 38% in 3 months, it remains the #1 issue. 

The second issue (32.5%) is crime.  That has shot up from 16% 3 months ago. 

All other issues polled, such as poverty, bad economy, unemployment, corruption, and high cost of fuel all under 9% of the results. 
Source: http://prensa.com/t.asp?d=080917p1523246

Economic Growth

According to La Prensa (September 16, 2008) recent growth within the country’s economic sector measured 10.1 percent.  The Panama economy in the first half of year 2008 grew at a rate of 9.5%.  Yet inflation remained at a rate of 9.8%

My thoughts

I’m not an economist, just observing what I see and wondering what that suggests for our ministry in Panama. 

I don’t understand how it’s all tied together with the growth in the construction industry, the speculative housing / condo market (which continues to expand).  Though the local economy is growing, it is may be beginning to face a credit crunch as well. 

Banks are not giving easy credit like they used to.  In fact, those that can’t prove an income of $500 a month will no longer qualify for a card (according to La Prensa last week). 

One February article on consumer debt looks at this item: Panama banks overexposed on consumer loans.  Interest payments in 2007 totaled $2.7 Billion for a country that has only 3.2 million people (July 2007 figure).  That is about $843 per person.  Seems small, but take out those that can’t get credit (I have no idea how to compute that figure) and the number must be a whole lot higher.

What I see on the "Everyman" level is

  • a fear of crime (example: La Prensa reported highest rate of car thefts in years),
  • the rising cost of food in the grocery store and market, and
  • the continued threat of increased bus fares. 
  • Taxi fares have already gone up considerably. 

I don’t hear complaints about being in debt.

Yet, I’m not aware of salaries growing similarly to compare with cost of living increases.

Inflation and crime — that is what is on the mind of people as best as I can tell.

Ministry Impact

This suggests to us what fears and anxiety reside in the mind of many.  What can the gospel say to such fears?  What can the Bible say about managing your personal economy (finances) and debt?  How can a person have peace of mind in the midst of such external stressors?  How can a person find the peace of Christ in this?

How can people experience the joy of a full life?  What role does sin play on both a personal level and on a regional level?

These are simply thoughts that run in my mind. 

Spanish Lessons In Panama

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SpanishTutoringinPanama For nearly a year, I’ve been taking private tutoring at ISC Panama in Panama City.  I usually take 4-6 hours of private instruction each week.

I’ve had several different professors.  Some have been excellent, one or two I haven’t clicked with.  They have been helpful to me in working with me to translate my teaching material into Spanish, and helpful in some of the finer points of Spanish.

So, two or three times a week, I walk to class.  The building is about 6 long blocks away and for the most part, the walk is enjoyable, particularly if I listen to my IPOD as I go.  I listen to sermons from Ravi Zacharais, or Mark Driscoll, as well as leadership development podcasts.

The DELE Exam

I will continue to take and pay for classes at this school.  I have a new professor and she is helping me specifically prepare for the DELE exam, an internationally recognized certification

cervantesDELEexam

 

DELE is the official test in Spanish as a foreign language and stands for Spanish Diploma as a Foreign Language (Diplomas de Español como Lengua Extranjera). The Instituto Cervates (the official governmental organization who promotes the Spanish language) is the organization in charge of the DELE Spanish language exams.  The DELE Spanish language test is also internationally recognized as the official Spanish language exam for non-native Spanish language speakers (like the TOEFL test is for the English language).

I am planning on taking the 2nd level, or intermediate level.

deleexam The second Spanish language course level is the intermediate (Nivel Intermedio) which is for students who are able to understand and speak the Spanish language in every day situations and who have a good knowledge of the Spanish grammar.

The Spanish language exam for all levels consists of 5 different parts where the main difference of the 3 levels is the difficulty and the time available for each part.

The first part is to examine the Spanish language reading comprehension of the student and consists of a Spanish text which will vary in length and difficulty. After having read the Spanish text the student has to answer a number of multiple choice questions about the text.

The second part is to test the Spanish language written skills of the student and consists of writing a small text or an essay depending on the Spanish level.

The third part is a Spanish language listening exercise where the student has to answer a number of questions after having heard a Spanish text.

The fourth part is to test the students’ knowledge of Spanish language grammar and Spanish language vocabulary and consists of multiple choice questions and filling out blank spaces with appropriate Spanish words.

The fifth part is the oral test where the student has to talk to a Spanish examiner for about 10-15 minutes about a picture or a specific topic.

Prayer Request

Continue to pray for me as I prepare and make this investment in our future ministry in Latin America.  I am preparing to take this test in the Spring of 2009 as the November 2008 dates will not work in my schedule.

Panama Tourism continues to grow

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La Prensa reports in July 31 that Panama received 771,376 visitors between January and June 30 2008, as 12.2% increase of the same period the year before.

For the month of June, the number climbed 14% year over year.

  • By Air (Tocumen International): growth of 25%
  • By Land (Border crossing with Costa Rica), growth of 19.1%
  • By Sea (Cruise ships): -18.2%

Continued Inflation News

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Inflation is a concern for us, as is it for a large majority of people living here.  Wage increases are not keeping up with price increases, utility increases, services increases.

Just this evening, what was a 1.25 taxi ride ran us 2.00 because of the new tarriffs that have gone into effect.  As mentioned previously, we’ve seen banana prices jump from .15 to .30 a lb.

When one gets used to living by nickels and dimes and making every penny count, such increases are astronomical.  It is an issue in the mind of many here, even as there is a growing middle class. 

The economy is growing strong at something like 9% year, but for the those living at the low end of the wage scale, price increases are a big deal.

 

From Prensa Latina. (Source)

Panama Food Costs Continue to Rise

Panama, Apr 29 (Prensa Latina) Panama’s basic foods increased 1.2 percent between February and March and 20.9 percent compared to the same month of 2007, the Ministry of Economy and Finance published on Tuesday.

According to the report, the average price of 50 basic food products calculated for an average diet per person daily of 2,305 calories – reached 246.79 dollars per month. This is the third rise in food prices reported this year.

All groups of food products registered an increase in prices this year, and the highest were fats, including vegetable oil and margarine for 46.9 percent, followed by dairy products (cheese and powered milk) up 38.7 percent.

Other products with significant increase in prices are potatoes, 21.6 percent and bread, with 19 percent

Electricity Prices (Source)

From LA Presna Latina

The country’s three electricity providers have announced that they will be increasing rates again this year.

Elektra Noreste, Edemet and Edechi yesterday published proposed adjustments to rates that will go into effect July 1. Those rates have a 2 cent per kilowatt hour increase. Industry officials said the increase is necessary because of rising fuel costs.

The latest increase comes on top of a 4 cent per kilowatt hour increase that Elektra Noreste and Edemet enacted on January 1.

The government is expected to absorb most of the price increase. In January, it decided to subsidize the increase for 90 percent of the affected customers.

The customers bearing the brunt of the price hike will be those consuming more than 500 kilowatt hours per month. These customers do not receive subsidies from the government.

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