Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

The presence of the Lord in our lives is our strength.

I am writing to tell you about the eight days that I spent in Puerto Rico. I wanted to spend May 11th with my mother for Mother's Day. After an absence of 17 months, I did not think that the culture shock would be so great, but I was wrong. It was not the same Puerto Rico that I had left, nor was my family the same.

I found that my father, who is 78 years old now has Parkinson's disease and my sister never told me. Also, my sister now weighs 20 lbs. less than the last time I saw her. My mother is very thin, but still struggling and supporting my father. She is 81 years old and as always, without the gift of her sight, is doing the work around the house. It is wonderful to see how God in his infinite grace enables His sons and daughters to go about their daily living. My daughter, Vanessa also traveled from El Salvador to visit her grandparents and share with the news that she is getting married at the end of the year. On my return trip, I was able to stop in Orlando to visit my oldest daughter, Mirta, and my grandchildren for a day and a half. After having officiated at her wedding 16 years ago, I was finally able to visit her for the first time.

When I returned to take care of my responsibilities here in Changuinola, Panama, I did so feeling a little sad, but thankful to God for these days among my family. The power of the call is very strong and even more so when the people here have so many needs.

The work here has not been easy, but we have been moving ahead patiently in order gain a place in the community and among the church leaders. Women in ministry are not looked upon very favorably and it creates jealously among the pastors. The community is different. They have very particular situations and what they see is a woman who is willing to laugh with them, and also to cry…and believe me there have been many tears.

When I arrived, I was met with the news that the assaults continue in Sixaola with the thieves doing what they do best. Patricia, who had lost all her merchandise in the floods of December 2, when the thieves broke into her business on a rainy night and literally emptied the store taking all her merchandise. It has been a severe blow to her. As a Nicaraguan displaced to Costa Rica, she has been working to help her family get ahead. It is not easy to offer words of consolation in the midst of so many tests. The Bible verse that comes to mind has been:"Everything works for the good for those who believe in Jesus Christ" (Romans 8:28). I ask that you keep Patricia in your prayers. At the same time, the rainy season arrived; the Sixaola River has threatened on several occasions to overflow its banks. The government knows that the only thing that would stop this is cleaning the riverbed, dredging the sediment down deep, but they do not do this. The people continue to live with anxiety thinking that that they will lose everything again if the river overflows with the force that it did last December.

On the Panamanian side I received the news that two young indigenous brothers from the Community of Bella Vista were run over by a car. One of them was transferred to the capital due to the severity of his wounds. These children attend the Mission that we have there. I ask for your prayers for them and their families.

Regarding the work at the Theological Center of the Caribbean in Changuinola, we are about to begin this year's classes at the end of May. We have six persons who have expressed interest in starting their theological studies with us. Pray that God may continue to call others to be trained.

Finally, I ask you to continue praying for me and for the work that God wants me to continue developing. May He give me many blessings and may He give me wisdom.

I pray that each of you support me with your prayers and contributions as well as my companions in other parts of the earth.

In Christ, the Model and Figure for my Life,

Rev. Ingrid I. Roldan Roman
International Ministries Missionary in Panama