Bible Institute Update - May 31st to June 4th

BIBLE STUDY METHODS - Module #3

Getting together to go over teachings. 

Hello everyone is a joy to write again about what God is doing in the mountains of Panama.
The Bible Institute was just an amazing experience; around 40 attendants between pastors, leaders and future leaders came to learn more about the Bible.  In this occasion the module Part I that the group studied was Bible Studies Methods.  Being such a long module it has been divided in two parts, Part II will be studied on Oct 17-21.
Three full days, deep into God’s Word was a challenge for some, an eye opening for others but at the same time a very enriching in the knowledge and understanding of His Word for our lives.  God blessed us by having 4 teachers from Costa Rica and 4 from the partner church in the USA.  At the end, they prayed for the teachers and a safe travel back home.
Pastors and Leaders were deeply grateful with God by sending the teachers and us and partner with them by bringing the Bible Institute to them in order to learn more and understand more.  
I wrote this report after our last mission trip two weeks ago to Bocas del Toro where the Lord allowed us to meet some diamond workers in the Lord, God willing they will join us for the Oct Bible Institute where they hope to be polished in order for Jesus to shine in them and keep working hard spreading the good news.  

We had problems with the equipment, for no reason the computer appeared to have lost the power point and the material been taught.  That meant that we needed to go the old fashion way, no problem for that, but David did not give up and spend until 1:00am trying to recuperate the information and of course God was in control, he was able to have the equipment ready for the team to use next day, Praise the Lord.  Some times we thing what is our service in a team? God knows how He places people in the proper place, in the proper time.

Thanks so much for praying

DAVID VEGA / Mission starts with you

Edited by Talsidia Vega

January - April Update 2018

Hello my brothers I hope you are okay.

In April God allowed us to see lot of things.

In personal life, we finally moved to our apartment I am sending a few pictures of it, thanks to everybody that God has touched to support us and for being part in this new step in my family. I send a big hug from Panama.

At the south side of the mountain(Pacific side), we have the following report to share:

Bernabe Morales:  He serves at the church in Balsa and at the moment he 6 people that are being discipled, we don’t have a picture yet, but we promise that by the end of this month we will have one or maybe two, hahaha just kidding more than two. 

He started to teach in the church so the disciples may see how he does it so they can learn more. God is giving more strength to his church, for those who doesn’t know, Bernabe is more than a disciple for me he is my friend, he has been for years by my side working.

To share a little history of the church he is serving at (Balsa), nearby where Bernabe lives a pastor sinned and abandoned the church, the church tried to survive without a leader, holding a service as often as they could.  Last year the church was destroyed in a storm (can you imagen how they felt?).  Last year a team came to rebuild the church in less than one week!! (https://mgpanama.squarespace.com/news/2017/6/27/balsa-report-rebuilding-the-church-building-june-27-2017), and then the Balsa Church realized that they are not alone, that God cared about them too.  

Besides all this, and after this, a church from one of the team that I consider my friend too (that is another story), adopted Bernabe and now Bernabe has started to disciple them and try to train a new future leader for the community.

Bernabe is also attending the Bible Institute at Cerro Miel in order to gain more training.

Simon Abrego. oh! my brother Simon…

He is just amazing, he has been our friend for almost 10 years, he started working with kids around 3 or 4 years ago besides pastoring the Church in Raton https://mgpanama.com/news/2018/1/9/january-update-2018.  He with his team have reached around 3 thousand kid for Jesus and counting. He has been adopted by another Church that supports him through MGPANAMA.  This year they will be hosting a team coming to strengthened the church and do some repairs to the structure. https://mgpanama.com/news/?category=Community+Transformation

Enrique Javilla

Enrique is a new member to the team, we have known him from years and years.  He was one of my father’s disciple, joining him to several trips to the mountain.  Due to one training, Enrique felt called to start planting churches. As part of our team we are praying and waiting for someone or a church to adopt him. Today, he is a church planter, have started his ministry where he has developed a team and 17 churches have been started and 8 of them are where there are no churches. In the plan they are planting 6 more this year.

Part of the team are Pastor Heitor and Pastor Rey Camilo, who serve as trainers in different areas.

In North side of the mountain.

At this side of the mountain there is a courageous missionary, we pray that God will send more like him, his name is Mateo.

I know that lots of you have heard about of our friend Mateo, but now is not just Mateo, God has given him true believers and disciple that they believe in what the Bible say and want to change the communities nearby.

Monte Lirio Baptism

Monte Lirio is one of the areas he looks after.  Monte Lirio was a place where teams have gone several times until we felt to stop sending teams but, rather to start a Bible Institute in order to train the 5 to 9 sporadic members.  Sometimes we give up on things but not God, the Church belongs to Him and He looks after her.  

After our return from the States, I traveled to see Mateo and share some good news in reference to the work he is doing in the area.  We talked about Monte Lirio and I told him to give up on the place, but Mateo told me “David, something is happening there, the church is growing, for there are 20 people gathering and 3 have been baptized.” So, I told him to keep going there for now is when they will need help in guidance and training. Praise the Lord. 

in MGPANAMA

1. Our ministry have started the last processes to be a tax deductible.  This has been a process of one year.  As soon as we have more news we will share it with you.  

2. In the month of April the mission trip that I did was mainly for preparing the missions trip in every area. This year we have around 4 international mission trip, little by little God is bringing more servants, to work in the mountain.

3. I have also met with Mateo, Bernabe and Pastor Simon in order to be with them and plan for this year’s work.

4. We are working in new ways to help and support our national partners. The ministry is growing not just in the spiritual side but is growing with more people that need tools to do their work better for Jesus.

5. We have met with pastors that Pastor Heitor have trained in order to serve them better, therefore a mini campaign has been programmed for August but before that the training will be strengthened with them.

We are so grateful for our trip to the States where we were able to share about the work being done in Panama but also to strengthen our relationship with Churches that support financially and through prayers, the ministry in Panama.

Know that your prayers and support are deeply appreciated, trusting the Lord for the provision He has in store for you.

Blessings and we will see you next time, if He does not come back before that.

Written by David Vega / Talsy

B&PSchools - Bible Institute Jan 28-Feb2, 2018

Bible Institute

In this occasion we had more students than expected and others for strong reasons were not able to attend but are committed to catch up with the module.

Telling the Bible Story - Nitzia Javilla

Pastor Jim and Mickel are good exponents of the Word of God and open to answer any question the students might have.  This group of students is more proactive, they are not afraid of asking questions and they are good questions, one of the things we tell them is that it is very important not to go home having doubts, better to ask than to keep not knowing.  So that is what they are doing.

Participation - Bernabe.  Oops we have a dog in the class.

Pastor Enrique, who is the one coordinating the place to stay, the cooks and did the invitations supervises many of the pastors attending the Institute therefore he follows up with them in anything they need in reference with the Institute and materials needed.

We appreciate your prayers for the next class that is programmed for the end of May and in this opportunity the Church that sponsors this Institute will be sending a few teachers, among them is the Senior Pastor, brother Todd Calaway.  So also keep them in prayers, for any need there might be with their trip.

May God keep you and bless you as you serve Him in the calling He has given you.

Talsy and David.  

18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. Eph 6:18[g]NLT

January 17-24 Update / 2018

We had the blessing of having a small team (4) that came to be a blessing.  They are dear friends from long time ago (15 yrs), we met them when Crossridge Ch used to be Little Elm Baptist Church and they came to bless the mountains with a medical/construction team.  They came for a week and joined us in the outreaches that were programmed for January, besides that, they did some repairs at our home.  So we have broken the report in short sections:

1-  More of Christ Celebration - We went up to Raton as part of the Christmas celebration done with Elconix but this year the pastors coordinated everything.  The blessing of seen 170+ come and hear the Gospel with the program that Pastor Simon has is unmeasurable.  We learned a different way of sharing God's love and make the classes interesting.  The same day a similar Celebration took place at Alto de Jesus with Pastor Rey Camilo and reported around 45 kids in attendance.  Praise the Lord!.

Virgina, Pastor Simon' wife.

2-  Women's Teaching - Grace was the main theme of the retreats and sharing we (the team and I) had with the women at Raton, at the Women's Jail and a small church led by Pastors Joel and wife Jennie.  Teaching about Grace, Faith, Love, takes back to the Cross, for you get to learn new things you did not see or did . not get the first round, such as a deeper understanding of 1 Cor 13 and the description of love; take each word and share about it is always a learning/dying process.

3-  Home Repairs - Since time was short no big project was done but enough as to repair things that needed to be change such as door frames (termites), door replacement, putting up a new door where needed, things that otherwise I would have had to look for somebody to do them.  God blesses us by placing loving people in our life's, and through time they become part of you by the love that bounds us in Christ.

Thanks be to our Lord for this time of sharing, teaching, learning and serving.  In Him always,

Talsy

Follow up to Balsa - Sept 2017

 Hello my friends, is good to say hi again.

This time I was in Balsa, doing the follow up with the church. 

This is a church that was rebuild with an American team, but as the church needed rebuilding from the outside is necessary to do it in the inside too.  For you to have background, the pastor that used to be in this community sinned and the “matata” religion took advantage from this, at the moment there are 5 member from this church that are been discipled, hopefully one or two of them will start the Bible Institute with us next month, God is doing amazing things in this place people are hungry to hear more and more from God.

We taught on, what is to be a Christian?, What is to be a church?, The unity of the Church as the Body of Christ, and more. We had around 20 to 30 persons in the lessons and during the nights we had around 50.

God opened the doors for a church to support Bernabe to take care of this place until one of them are ready to take the leadership of the church.

Things to pray for.

1. That God give strength to His church in the mountains. 

2.  That God raise leaders hungry for Him.

3.  For Bernabe to have strength to keep the hard work in the mountains.

4. For us, that God give us strength to be a support to His church and keep serving them.

5.  For my missions trips this month, I have 3 more mission trips to different areas.

6.  For wisdom to all member of MGPANAMA team.

Blessings as together we serve Him,

David E. Vega

MGPanama  

Hacha Report - June 11-16, 2017

Hello, good to greet you.  This last week we had a team from Alabama, Asbury, whom we love deeply,  the purpose was to go to Hacha and brake ground and for that, using VBS with the kids was important.  A new generation needs to be impacted in order to change the future of a people group with their own.  Hacha is a Mama tata/mama chi governed area and, a new group among them has arisen, they call themselves as “cruzo ley” or the law of the cross; it is more as a denomination within the mamatatas.

The results overwhelmed us and we rejoice for them as we saw:

New born christians: 23.
Children that attended the VBS: approximately 140.
Number of people opened to receive Bible Studies: 7.

There was a great spiritual warfare for we were in the midst of three believes and they have control over many villages in the area; they came to visit us the first day, all dress in many color tunics; that was their first contact and visit of our arrival day.  

But the Lord had something even greater in store.  The first night a young man, Ishmael, stood up and received Christ (not common among them).  When the team went out hut to hut we could see the hunger there is, for hearing, learning and believing in Jesus but because of fear it is difficult for them to step in faith. That was our first experience.

On our third day while I was giving the cooks what was needed for that day, a woman and her husband came requesting prayers for a son whom was ill, I asked them when would they like us to go there, they said “now”, so at once we went to their home to pray for their little one.  

At our arrival to their home we shared a few stories of how Jesus healed the sick and the importance of Faith; we got ready to pray for the family, when I saw Rosa with tears in her eyes, at first, I thought that an insect had bitten her eye but then I noticed that she had tears in both eyes, mmm this is strange, one insect in both eyes? Strange; but no, !she was crying!, so I asked them if there was something we needed to know before praying?  Luis, her husband, said “yes, I have something to say, my wife believes the same as you do but I am not fully convinced” so we stayed and conversed with them and made a few questions, he said “I believe” and received the Lord, him and his household.  After that, we kept talking about Jesus as the only way and how important is having Him in our lives as Lord and Savior.  

Luis removing the mama tata crosses.

I noticed crosses from the mamatata witch-man around his house, so I talked with Luis that now that he has Jesus in his heart he needed to get rid of things that can avoid him from following the Lord fully, for example those crosses, Luis got up at once and said “then, let’s go and throw them away.”  Wow, my heart cried and burst for the Lord was allowing us to see this (the first time for me to see).  It was raining hard, but that did not stop our cleaning up of the crosses, since then that family attended every meeting held, they are hungry for the Word.  So much to share and little space do so, but pray you are bless as much as we were.  

“Our God is greater than any other god”  He touches the deepest of one’s heart and brings forth radical changes as we could see in Luis and Rosa.  Thanks so much for Asbury team and Carl for coming and serving alongside with us and your prayers, so much needed; indeed, thanks so much for your generous giving, that allows us to do what He has called us to. 

Our Savior peace be with you.

Written by David V. / MGPanama

Bible Institute Last Session and Graduation

Our arrival to Algarrobo for our last module of the Bible Institute was smooth and dry (no rain).  We settle and got ready for starting next day at noon.  

This last module was "Church History", even though the story itself was a little complicated, things changed when we enter the section of "Church History in Latin America"; specially when we came to the point of the "conquistadores".  History tells the story from our perspective but is very different from the native's perspective, wow, at that moment the class became alive, with stories carried from generation to generation, stories told by the grandparents and so on.  By hearing them share,I felt ashamed with all the harm done to native cultures and the way in which the Gospel entered our land; it was the wrong way, not God's way.  The harm is already done and we need to learn from past mistakes.  We learned a lot of how the Mama Tata believe was born and how the Gospel came to the Ngobe reservation; all this through their sharing.  

For three year a group of almost 30 started their studies in the Institute, some very shy, others with little knowledge about the Bible and others not knowing if they will finish the 15 courses required for graduating.  Little by little some could not continue due to, coffee harvest and the need to search for a better income, others due to work, training etc, we felt sad for that but the Institute continued.  Last Saturday June the 3rd, 13 received their certificate that proved their perseverance and determination to finish well, Mateo and disciples had to travel for day and half, Simon had to walk for 5 hours and so on in order to attend. 

The last day we had to stay for the Sunday service since the car that was to pick us up, came in late; but what a blessing to hear how Pastor's Lorenzo preaching has improved, and how Domingo has changed from a shy and little talkative person to a person willing to share from the pulpit and telling me that he together with Dionisio will join the team to hacha this coming Sunday the 11th.  

Having Tate, Pastor Todd's son on board brought the local kids the challenge of playing using the kid's sign "a soccer ball".  No problem with language, they solved that.

Praise the Lord for ministries such as Crosspoint Ch, IBAC (Bible Institute) that come to be a blessing in the equipping of workers that will use properly the Word of God.  To God be the glory and thank you for holding us in prayers.

The report from the Balsa Team will follow soon.

In Him and until He comes back again,

Talsy 

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.  2 Timothy 2:15.

Balsa Report - June 6, 2017

Rebuilding the Church Building

It is good to greet you my friends, we have one week and half before the next team comes in, and it is a good moment to share with you a few things our Lord allowed us to see and do during these days.

Balsa is three hours hike from Raton (mother church) and we were called there with the purpose of rebuilding the church building destroyed by the summer strong winds, to start a discipleship process with the kids and to do hut to hut visitations. 

At the end of this arduous week we could see the following results:

People that said “yes” Jesus: 10.
People that started a follow up program: 20.
Gospel presented to: 20.
Church Building finished: 90%.   

This outreach was a special time for the team as well as for the community, both were captivated by God’s love as they witnessed life’s being change and in the way to a discipleship walk.  There is hunger to learn more and more about our Saviours’s words.  Overwhelming was the moment of our departure as they cried and prayed over us, not a cry of sadness but of joy that brothers from other culture and language came together in Christ.  Enjoy the pictures as much as we enjoyed living the moment. 

In Him and until He comes back again,

David and team

Guabal Update / April 2017

Introduction

Upon my return from Costa Rica, we visited our missionaryMateo, who is in Guabal, just to visit with him and learn how was his family.  Bernabe, my faithful friend joined me in this journey. 

We had a good surprise as we saw how nice was the road, unfortunately the advance is only 20%,  :)

Our arrival to Guabal was really nice,  at first sight we could see the results of the offering given by our partners,  the missionary home where Mateo and family live, is already looking good with a new kitchen place and a new bathroom (in a month time will be complete).  Is good to part of such a blessing, together with all those that gave for this to be a reality.  

They were very happy with our visit and spend time with them as well as with the beautiful church members, hungry to do their best forJesus.

Different people came over to say “hola” and share a cup of coffee accompanied with stories that talked about the Good News.  

In the evening we had a time with the leaders and went over some basic teachings with them.  We also talked about, Why are we Christians? What is the fuel of our faith? What is that, that motivates us to keep on going?  

These were key questions in the lives of the 15 + leaders and disciples that were present.   Their answers to my questions were interesting, fear was the common word, and that is because their cultures fear is present, they grow with it; they are afraid of satan, afraid of the witch, and many other things.  It was important and fundamental to reassure them, through the Word, that our fuel should not be fear, but love, love to our Savior and the one that took our place on the cross.  As we went through the Scripture and the sharing, their faces started to change, joy and peace could be seen.  Our gathering started around 8pm and ended past midnight, just sharing about the Bible and questions that arose from the sharing about proper relationship in marriage, how to be a person with a good testimony, including that your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, etc. 

This kind of trips are very important, to be able to sit with the church leaders, because as leaders we also need advises, encouragement, love and above all search for God’s wisdom in His Word for their is hunger to learn and hunger for Jesus. 

Thank you sooooo much for keeping us in your prayers, we deeply appreciate your love shown to our family and ministry.  

God bless,   David Vega / Panama 

April 2017 Report

1. T4T Training in Costa Rica:

Is good to tell you how was our time in Costa Rica.  Mateo and Hector went with me, they are hard workers in the ministry,  we went to Costa Rica for a training about how to evangelize make disciples and plans churches more effective.

God expanded our minds and gave us a new refreshing time, not just for me but for Mateo and Heitor too.

View fullsize

Our small team of three with brother O'Connor.

From day one we agreed to, look, hear and learn everything we can, but with an open mind to what God wants to show us.  Trying to find God in everything and trying to hear His plans. Because at the ends of this training I will like to heard how God is showing you how to use this tool, and this is how we started the training; with a mind willing to hear God and how He wanted to use everything we were going to learn.

Our time was a real blessing, we learned so much but better than that we now know how to use these tools, we have a strategy that we going to start to use in Mateo's and Heitor's places.

In Him,  David

2. YWAM Translation:

The group integrated by students around the globe including Ngobe from the mountains. 

Two weeks translation, besides been a challenge is spiritually enriching.  One of the things I take pleasure on doing besides evangelism and discipleship is translating,  for in some way in builds up the life's of others as well as mine.  

The first week was dedicated to "Relationships" with others, with God and with ourselves.  How attitudes affect our surroundings, our communication with the Holy Ghost and our life is affected consciously or unconsciously.

The second week, well, is something we all want but little we understand  how this works, and is "True Freedom".   In Him we have been made free from the guilt of sin, but because we collect things as we grow and go through life, it becomes hard to believe that we are truly free.  Understanding the lies the enemy made us believe up to the point in which they become part of our core of beliefs, is when our true freedom starts.  He made us unique in Him and His heart is for us to grasp His desire to brings us back to that uniqueness we have when He is the all in all in our lives.  

Thanks so much for praying, our heart is to be able to serve Him full-hearted.  The migraine  was gone for the rest of the translation time, Praise Jesus.  

In Him,  Talsy 

3- May

May is a month in which a lot of coordination needs to be done, for at the end of May and first week of June, we have the first graduation from the Bible Institute coming and at the same time we have a small team that will be doing some construction at the Balsa's Church building, because the summer wind blew it down.  In the second week and five days after the Bible Institute and Construction team leaves, a youth team from Alabama will join us in order to break the ice in Hacha and try again to start a preaching point in this small area. 

Your prayers are important to us.  Pls pray for good weather, grace before the local churches, community members, schools etc.  That our hearts may be sensitive to the Holy Ghost guidance. 

In Him and until He comes back again.  MGPanama.

"... for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not of works, that no man should glory."  Ephesians 2:8-9