A brief tour of the missions base outside of Panama City, Panama.
A ministry update from Dan and Jess Cotton in Panama...
The Paraiso Missions Base is a building project we are working on to have a place to house missionaries when they come to Panama. Most of our missions work in Panama is done in the interior of the country, about 5 hours outside of Panama City in a little town called Santa Catalina. Groups that come to Panama to work in Santa Catalina must fly into Panama City first and overnight before heading out to the Interior. Therefore, it has become more and more necessary that we build a place in Panama City to house groups that come down.
Our building is located 35 mintues from Tocumen International Airport and is a perfect location for groups to rest before heading out into the mission field. Because it is located near the city, it is a perfect homebase for us to acquire supplies, rent buses/vans, and have administrative offices. We are excited about other possibilities once we finish this facility. This could also serve as a training facility for missions group, a retreat center or a hostel for other missionary groups.
Over the last couple of months we have really been feeling the financial pressure of our house project and also feeling the time deadline of June when we need to be moved out of our apartment and into the new house. We began praying and asking the Lord to provide for our financial needs, especially concerning the house. We were at a very discouraging point right before Christmas and had to stop all contractors until further notice.
Over the past week, we have had three major contributions to the house! Praise the Lord! He knows our every need and he has a plan. We praise Jesus for HIS provision and encouragement from other believers that have been willing to be obedient and faithful to what God has called them to give. Thank you for your prayers for our family! We are so encouraged. God Knows!
Happy New Year! As we look back over the last year, we have so much to be thankful for. This year especially, I have learned that when you have a thankful heart, your perspective changes and your focus shifts from yourself to others. It is so easy in the world we live in today to look around and complain about all that you do not have. But when you focus on what you don’t have, then your heart grows jealous and bitter; however, when you focus on what you do have and decide to be thankful, the blessings around you light up and become more precious. As we prepare to move to our new home attached to the missions base, I find myself wishing these last few days away, longing for a bigger place. But when I look around Panama and for that matter, most of the world, I remember that many live in a home much smaller than mine, with many more people. Suddenly my two bedroom apartment with 5 people turns from cramped to spacious and from a struggle to a blessing. Thank you Lord for helping me stay in that thankful place. We are also so thankful for our new baby girl Selah, who came to join our family last year. She is a joy and we praise God for her health and her sweet spirit. Emmy and Micah continue to be a blessing as each one adds so much life and personality to our family. After ten years of renting and moving from house to house, Emmy asked me the other day, “Mom, will we have a landlord at our new house?” I replied, “No, sweetheart, the place will be ours.” She jumped up and down and yelled, “Yessssss that means we can do whatever we want! We can get a dog or a cat!” The children are very excited about our new home and about living at the missions base. Part of our dreams and visions for our time here in Panama is to open our home and use it for ministry. We love having people in our home and forming relationships through hospitality, so we are so excited about being onsite of the missions base and of the meeting place for Christian Surfers Panama.
Today marks one week before The Cottons and The Bakers come to visit. Dan's family will all be here for Easter and hopefully when the Baby arrives. We are so excited to see them and share everyday life with them down here.
Dan and Jordan are working hard today at Paraiso, continuing to finish up the first bathroom's tile work. Tomorrow, we are welcoming a team of 60 people from Seaside, CA. They will be heading out to Catalina and spending 3 days there, serving the church and the local people. Dan has opted out of leading this trip, as we are getting too close to when the baby is due. Power often goes out in Catalina, and therefore he would not be able to call home and see if he was needed. So we are thankful that he is staying home. Please pray for the other leaders, Aaron, Jordan and Linday and David as they lead this group.
This weekend we had a small team of contruction workers in from NJ (Aaron, Pete and Rob) helping us work on the plumbing and wood work of the missions base and our home. They were able to accomplish a lot, finishing the rough out plumbing for all of the bathrooms and kitchens. The guys worked super hard, and we are so blessed to have skilled workers as it is tough to find here. Jordan and Linsey Guy have also joined us in our work down here, as they just moved from NC to become a part of what's going on in Panama. Jordan is a skilled contractor, and we are so blessed to have him helping Dan oversee this project.
In two weeks, Steve Brooks will be coming down to help us work on the Missions base... once again, another person giving up his time at work and with family to help with the missions work here. We are so thankful for all of the physical support, financial support and prayer support from home. You all have been awesome, and we count you as a huge part of all God is doing. Thank you! The detailed, March update will follow soon with more pictures of the progress on the base.
Living in Panama City to continue missions work with beach and urban communities through short term missions trips that promote long term community development...Through it all, that Jesus Christ may be glorified and lives may be changed in His name!
Matthew 28:18-20
"So don't worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern." ~Matthew 6:31-33
We are so blessed and praise God for his provision for our family. We want to thank all of you who support us through prayer and finances each month. You are a blessing! Many of you have asked about specific needs that our family has, so we want to communicate some unexpected or irregular things that have come up. If you want to help meet one of the needs below, or contribute just part of the finances for that need, please see our Support Info below. Then we ask that you send us an email, indicating what need you feel led to help meet (if you feel comfortable doing so). Thanks so much in advance for partnering with us.
Needs:
Family Needs:
$850 ~ Yearly Van Insurance on our missions vehicle
$1300 ~ Yearly School Tuition and Registration
$3000 ~ Plane Tickets Home this summer
$?~More monthly supporters! We are looking for people to partner with us on a monthly basis. See the Support Info below on how you can join up with us either through sending checks through the mail or donating online.
Mission Needs:
$15,000 Funds to finish Phase 3 of our Construction Project. We are so close and need funds to finish the kitchen and enclose the downstairs with windows. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GIVE TO THIS PROJECT, PLEASE CONTACT US PERSONALLY SO WE CAN GIVE YOU THE DETAILS OF HOW TO GIVE TO OUR MINISTRY FUND HERE IN PANAMA.
Christian Surfers United States
PO Box 9 • St Augustine, FL 32085
Phone: 904-471-4308
Make checks payable to:
Christian Surfers – in the memo c/o "Panama Staff Fund"
*Support can be given online and monthly support can be set up as a direct deposit
Online donations: go to www.christiansurfers.com select "make a donation"
Please indicate the fund as Panama Staff Fund. Christian surfers will then designate your donation to our account. This fund is for our family operating budget.
Christian Surfers United States is a registered non-profit 501.3c that will issues tax receipts for your donations.
*If you would like to donate to the ministry, please email us and we will let you know how you can do that. jesscotton1@yahoo.com
A couple of slow months at Casa Paraiso has finally given us a break and time to pursue other things. Jess helped our church here in Panama put on its 10th Annual Women's Retreat called Bloom 2011 and Dan traveled to NJ to spread the news about what's happening here in Panama. But now we are busy preparing for the 2012 season of missions teams and projects! We are very excited, as we already have almost 20 groups booked for 2012!
Our Website is up and running, so visit us http://casaparaisopanama.com/
Also, check out our new missions videos below!
