Panama Mission Trip: Police escort to the Rakatakas

The Rakatakas? If you thought the streets of Cinco de Mayo in the country of Panama were serious (read my previous blog if you haven’t done so already), the Rakatakas is as intense if not more so but infecting an entire city. God did some amazing things in the Rakatakas and I hope this story encourages you. Some of what I will write about appears on the Awe Star Ministry website as I had the privilege to share my thoughts for an update on their blog.

April 4, 2010 – A bus full of American missionaries pulls over near a police station on a gloomy day. Rain begins to fall. Walker Moore addresses the team as he gets ready to step off the bus, “Pray! Pray that God will grant us grace and that He would move in the hearts of the police officers and allow us to minister in the city of the Rakatakas. Furthermore pray that they provide police escort.” The team pair up in two and begin to pray as Walker goes into the Police station.

Police escort? Yes! The story is a glorious one. Let me tell you about Rakatakas. As we drove the bus through the city, there was a new odor in the air. It was not pleasant at all, actually a horrible stench as if something had died. It did not smell like a dead corpse but something much worst, more like the death of the human spirit. It was very eerie. The city was depressing. Looking out the window I noticed a young boy running down the street. He had no shoes, no pants, just a t-shirt. The homes were the size of my bedroom. Many were broken-down, the walls were missing panels, the roofs had holes, there were missing windows or doors yet these were the dwelling places for many of the locals; a place they called home. The children in the neighborhood had no expressions and wearing rags. Most of them appeared malnourished and dirty. I saw homeless people on every corner; prostitutes nearby; drug addicts stoned on the floor; and even more surprising police officers surrounding every street corner holding AK47s and shotguns clearly out in the open. Some officers even walked around with their hand on the holster. For a moment I thought I was watching a scene from a war movie infiltrated by gorilla militants. This was too surreal to believe. In comparison, the Rakatakas made New York City’s Harlem look like Disney World.

Walker returns to the bus and notes, “Praise God, we were granted grace. We can do the drama one time, only once. But here is the problem. They will not send the police officers with us unless it stops raining. Pray that the rain stops!” I am a skeptic at heart, but let me tell you the minute the team bowed their heads to pray, the rain completely stops. The skies crack open and the sun shines bright! Well, let me reiterate, the SON shines bright!

I did say the story is a glorious one, 54 souls came to Christ in the Rakatakas. Children were captivated by God’s love story, so were adults, drunks, addicts and even several of the police officers escorting us. In addition we met several neighborhood Pastors that brought us to a platform in front of the Police Station to minister through the drama for a second time. If that was not enough, one of the Pastors was so impressed with our team’s resilience, poise and fervor they asked if we would do the drama in the projects of Bagdad. We thought we saw it all in the Rakatakas, wait to you hear about Bagdad—it’s like reality clashing with your worst nightmare. I’ll save that story for the next post.

In a city where sin was visibly present and the locals were hopeless, a mighty God showed up as he has done time and time again throughout human history. In the mission field it just seems more apparent that God would show up maybe because we’re out of our comfort zone, helpless, broken and totally dependent and surrendered to Him to do what only He could do. I pray I continue to live a life in Florida that is helpless, broken and totally dependent and surrendered to Him so that God can do through my life only what He alone could do. God used a team from Cornerstone Family Church with a message full of power and glory to reach a community where even the most courageous would tremble. Imagine what we can do in our local communities. I am completely in AWE; God is glorious indeed!