Seven years ago, Grant and Matt (a friend from our local church in the US), worked all day to pack up our house for our big move to Madagascar. A few months later, Matt and his wife, Misty, would also pack up their belongings and follow the Lord's call overseas. After 7 years, we were able to meet up again for the first time since God had radically transformed both our families' lives.
Matt and Misty moved to Panama to work alongside the government in revamping their adoption laws so that the many orphans of Panama would have a better chance of being adopted out of crowded orphanages and into loving families. Over the years, their mission has evolved into a deep love and outreach for the special needs orphans of Panama. They are currently in the middle of building a special needs orphanage to help overcome this huge need. Over the years, we have prayed for Matt and Misty and their ministry and its been inspiring to see how God has worked in and through their family.
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| Grant, Jodie, Bill and Judy |
Since being on the field, we have been blessed to have the partnership of our stateside church in North Carolina, Southbridge Fellowship. This church has faithfully sent out teams to work alongside us in what has been a task to heavy for us to carry alone. Bill Grimme has faithfully led these teams over the years, and he and his wife Judy have become more than ministry partners. They have become our friends, family, and mentors. When they made the decision to move to Panama to work alongside Matt and Misty, we couldn't have been more excited!
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| At the Locks (Panama Canal) |
As we prayed about what our time would like in the states this year, we kept coming back to being able to visit these two very special families in Panama. Thanks to my very sweet parents babysitting our boys, we were able to make the trip to central America. I cannot tell you how much fun we had visiting these couples and their ministry!
One of my favorite parts of the trip was attending church with them at their local Panamanian church. Matt led worship, and as we sang in English and Spanish alongside Bill and Judy I couldn't wrap my mind around how blessed we are to have such amazing friends to walk through this journey in life with. I couldn't wrap my mind around how God orchestrates his work worldwide, whether in the desert of Madagascar or the rainforest of Panama. There are moments when you are just overwhelmed by his Sovereignty. Sometimes it comes when you are looking at the vastness of the stars at night. Or when you are holding a precious newborn baby. For me, I was reminded of His goodness in that moment. Worshipping alongside these people whom God has intentionally and graciously placed in my life. We have sung His praises alongside each other in the pews of America, under the trees of Africa, and in the rainforest of Central America. Can you imagine how beautiful it will be when one day we worship the Lord together in heaven?
To learn more about their work going on in Panama check out:
heartscrychildren.com
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| Matt, Grant, Jodie, Bill and Judy |
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| Hiking in a park in Panama City |
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