Panama Urary trip

Well, there is no Internet or cell service in the little village of Urary, so we were unable to Blog during the week. Urary is a village our Medical team went to in 2005 - it was a dirty and sad place. Many little kids running around naked with swollen bellies, fatigue, and malnutrition from worms. An old man way in the back with a gangrenous leg, unable to walk, waiting to die. Back then there was no dock so we just ran the boat aground and walked through muck to shore where we set up our clinic in the muck and mire.

At the beginning of the week I was astonished to see a 150' long pier and 5 homes have been built. Where it was unkempt before, they are now cutting the grass with Machetes, clearing the homes for the snakes and mice and rats. There were some swollen bellies and some naked kids, but fewer than before.

We had a very good time! The floor for the school was almost complete when we got there. Our guys spent a little time confirming the floor plan, stud spacing, and material plans, and got to work. By the end of the first day the walls were framed, second day roof framed and ready for siding, but there were no nails for the siding. The guys measured and cut all of the siding and framed the house, waiting for the siding nails to arrive on Wednesday. Having a break in the action, we played with kids and got to know the villagers.

I fell in love with Celestino, Yahaida, Letisha and many others. Everywhere I looked, I saw little kids playing, laughing, and sitting in laps.

We went to Toris Creek for a medical clinic where I had been in 2005 with a large team from White River, Stroh, and Christ's Church at Georgetown and saw the 7 homes we built all lived in, the wooden school replaced with a beautiful concrete and tile school. The day before school was to start there was a room with 10 bags of rice, 100 pounds each. There is a large kitchen and 5 latrines. The proud teacher was there bragging about the success of his students and how the school was changing the village.

We learned that a school brings more than education. It brings food for the kids - one meal a day, vaccinations, $20 per kid per month helping relieve their crushing poverty.

Juan told us about he breadth of his work - numerous churches, missionaries in Cuba, Guatamaula, Nicaraugua, Costa Rica, DR, numerous schools and homes have been built, and some 20,000 people baptized! Medical Care provided in 5 remote medical clinics and countless mobile clinics. Lives changed on earth and brought into relationship with Jesus for all of eternity! It's a real privilege to work with someone so blessed by the Holy Spirit.

The team is safe, healthy, happy, and looking forward to coming home! Thanks for the prayers!

Love you all!,

Jim Ingram
www.drjimingram.blogspot.com
www.jamesingrammd.com

Buses, planes, airports, buses, and boats

Well,

We all met at church starting about 11 PM Friday, prayed together and started the treck to Panama. After a drive to Chicago we got to wait in the airport a few hours before waiting on the Tarmac several hours. Apparently they not only forgot a piece of luggage, they forgot a whole container full, which required us to Taxi back to the gate and lose a couple of hours in the process.

In Miami, we fortunately had a long enough layover planned that we made our connection without problem. No problems in security in Panama other than due to lack of sleep, I almost left my backpack on the X-ray conveyor! Thanks to big Ed for noticing it!

Well, our friend Bobby the tour driver had a flat and was late three hours. He finally picked us up and we ate McDonald's before heading out on he road to David - an estimated 200 miles in 6 hours. Still driving now :(.

I write this as I fade in and out of consciousness due to lack of sleep. The travel has been a little harder this time, but we're holding up well.

Today I got to hear the fascinating testimony of one of our new team members. Guns, drug dealers, sickness, betrayal, and ultimately the audible voice of God drawing a man to repentance and true freedom in so many ways. I can't wait to get to know these men better and hear God's work in their lives!

Please be praying that God will work through us to bring the Indians to him and that he will work in us to draw us to him as well. To God be the Glory! Thanks for your interest and prayers!

Love you all,

Jim Ingram
www.drjimingram.blogspot.com
www.jamesingrammd.com