NEWS

Couple going to Puerto Gavilana, Team Gathering, and Family Projects

Yefri and Cabayai

Yefri and Cabayi are a young couple from one of the islands in Kuna Yala. They had come to the city for a surgery that Yefri needed and have stayed. I (Max) met them in January through their pastor and have been getting to know them, teaching and training them to make disciples since. We took them to Puerto Gavilana on Tuesday to serve as missionaries. They will minister to the people there for the next three months. They are members of a Baptist Church in the island of Playon Chico. Their church, Soul Seekers Ministry, and our Panama team (Hermosos Pasos) have joined together to send and support them as they are there.

Join us and ask God to direct them as they make disciples in Puerto Gavilana. Pray for them during the next few months as they will be in Puerto Gavilana. If you would like to support them during their months see below.

Time of Team Fellowship

Last month we had another Hermosos Pasos team's meeting.

We worshipped, shared about our life, prayed and encouraged each other. We had a great time of renewal and fellowship together.

While we were all together, we took the opportunity to pray for Yefri and Cabayai before sending them out. We prayed for them and the ministry they will be encountering in Puerto Gavilana.

Time with Pastors

A couple of times a month I meet with two pastors from our team, Pastor Josef and Pastor Arturo. They are both helping us teaching the people in the village in the Kuna language. God is using them tremendously. We (Clara, Christy, Verna and I) have known Pastor Josef since he was a youth. We are seeing how God is using him as a pastor in one of the suburbs in Panama with the Kuna people. Before passing away, Pastor Roosevelt commissioned Pastor Arturo to lead his church. He had never been a pastor before but we can see the call that he has to be a shepherd for the church.

Family Projects

We also try to have time for fun. Misael and I go play basketball with his cousins and friends.

A couple months ago, Saraí, Misael and I made skimboards. It took around two months to complete but was a fun learning experience.

As a family we enjoy trying to make things. Right now we are making a hydroponic pvc garden. It it taking longer then it should since we have to get creative with some of the supplies that either aren't available here or are too expensive. Pray for us to have a green thumb so we can teach others how they can grow their own food too.

Support and Prayer Request

Thank you again for your prayers and support. Please know that we are praying for y'all too.

Ways you can support us:

Sharing this newsletter
Sharing our social media posts
Praying for us and our Panama team
Telling your friends and family about Soul Seekers Ministry

Support SSM Financially

How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!

And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans 10:15

Hermosos Pasos

Front, right to left: Magdalena, Yeya, Deborah, Arturo, Marie, Max (and of course Chloe in front left)

Back, right to left: Kemuel, Ray, Rigo and Verna

Not shown: Saraí, Misael, Josef, Yavelin and Solange

Our Panama team's name is Hermosos Pasos. It means Beautiful Feet from Isaiah 52:7 and Romans 10:15.

We are all from the Kuna Tribe, but are from different islands. This is very helpful in so many ways. Even though we are Kuna, it does not mean we only reach our people, but whoever is ready to listen to the gospel.

New Disciples

One weekend, a group from the village came to stay with us for discipleship. I had a great time teaching them about the Bible.

However, it was challenging. They know Spanish but that is not their first language. Valeriano and Teni have been my Kuna translator.

Now they are disciplining a new couple who wants to know more about Jesus! There are another two sisters, 17 and 14 years old, who also want to follow Jesus! God is adding people to His church.

We are focusing on teaching them so they can teach others in their village.

Jesus Film in Kuna

During the weekend of Easter, we showed the Jesus Film in the Kuna language. Showing them the Jesus film is not as easy as turning the tv on and watching it.

Before we leave for the village, we pack all the equipment needed to show it to them. Some of the items we have to bring are a fully charged laptop, a projector, a tarp/sheet, extension cords and a speaker.

In the village, we wait until it is dark enough for the projector to be seen, when everyone is done with the day's work, and start setting up.One families graciously volunteered the use of their generator for the film. We had to plug four extension cords together spanning 7 yards for the generator to reach the projector.

Even though the mosquitos joined us, we had a great turn out for the film. About 30 people came out to join us. Many people were also watching it from their house.

Jesus in the Jungle

"Jesus in the Jungle", is the name of a project directed by a pastor in the city.

The main focus is to help native Kuna to write and read in Kuna. There is a large amount of people who are not able to read write or in the Kuna language.

The ladies from the city went to Puerto Gavilana to start this reading program for them.

How to Help

Pray:

For wisdom
finance to make trips deep in the jungle
Mission House Training Center

Give:

for trips to go to other villages
help new churches with chairs
Bibles
pastor resources

Go:

Teams can come during January and February to help with construction for churches
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

Isaiah 52:7

What God's been doing in Panama, Jan-March

January

New Life Jackets

Thank you for last year’s donations to buy life jackets for the team!

This will help us be safe wh

en traveling by canoes to other villages that are deep in the jungle.

Looking forward to using the life jackets in our travels!

Waterproof Hymnals

Some of you know about the waterproof Kuna New Testament made with PVC material. Now there is also a Kuna hymnal made from the same material.

Kuna ladies love to sing and are excited about these new hymnals!

With some of the regular monthly donations we were able to bless the village and other churches with a few of the new hymnals.

If you would like to bless someone with a new Kuna hymnal, the cost is $10.00.

Evangelisitc Basketball Tournament

We had our first evangelistic

basketball tournament in the city with fifteen men from the Puerto Gavilana village who came for the weekend.

We had planned for everyone to stay together all in one place. However, because of a covid outbreak, our housing arrangement cancelled.

We ended up having half of them stayed with us and the other half with another family. Please keep praying for a mission center where we can host events like this with all the logistics involved.

We had 4 teams, and the tournament went on all day. We had a great time playing basketball!

The goal of the tournament was to share the gospel with them.

Most of the men who came were not believers. Friday and Saturday morning our Panama team was able to share the gospel and their testimonies.

From the group, one man decided to follow Jesus! Later his wife also decided to follow Christ, Praise God!!!

February

Visiting New Village

In February we went to visit a village called Morti where there are strong brothers and sisters. They are doing an amazing job there. It is about 5 hours from the city. Since we had to pass Puerto Gavilana to get there, we picked up a few people. We were able to bring Valeriano, Teni (his wife), Ana and Domiciano who are all leaders from the village. We wanted them to meet other believers from their area to be encouraged by them. This church in Morti is planning to reach other communities around them. We are looking forward to doing God's work with them to reach other communities.

March

Discipleling for a week

Because of your support, Soul Seekers was able to help send Pastor Aristides, and his wife Tita, to Puerto Gavilana.

They spent the week ministering and discipling the believers in the village and now they are sending one of their members (couple) to stay for a month. We wil be sending more information about them.

Discipleship in AkuaYala

Akua Yala, is another village about an hour and half before Puerto Gavilana.

Part of our city team and I went to their church to share with the adults about discipleship.

Again, we brough Teni, and two young ladies from Puerto Gavilana to help us. Some other churches came and helped with all of the children.

The Pastor of Akua Yala has a vision of reaching another community close to them.

Prayer Request

Discipleship Program: Starting a Discipleship Program to make disciples for lay people and indigenous groups
Saraí: Taking college classes online
Language: Learning Spanish and Kuna
Misael: Graduating in May. Started treatments for his allergies
Verna: Immigration papers
Vehicle: 4x4 vehicle to travel to the villages
Mission Center: We are still looking for a house with land in the right location
Max: Wisdom and starting a discipleship program for small groups in the city
Financial help: All the above are extra but important expenses

PEREZ FAMILY