San Felix Missions



Coach Drake



Dean

Austin











We were picked up by Larry [David Rotary member] and colleagues at 6:30 AM.  Traveling 45 minutes east we then stopped for a great local breakfast along the highway – a Panamanian truck stop.  After fueling up we hopped back in our vehicles and soon arrived at a mission in the town of San Felix.  We spent the day at this mission that had classrooms, a kitchen and outdoor cafeteria, several other buildings, community rooms, and a farm. We joined a few local workers carving a field out of the forest/jungle.  Some of our team assisted the workers in hoeing out the plant life and working with the tiller to pull roots and stones from the area.  The other members of the team spent the morning filling and moving about 200 garbage size bags with chicken coop filler that included the chicken droppings.  We transported the chicken manure bags that were then spread in the field.  The field is intended for papaya plants.  Although we were working with manure we kept reminding ourselves that it was January and we were putting on sunscreen and sweating in the sunshine and 88 degree temperature. 

   

Coach Haas



Marques



Nick



Shawn



Jon

The mission fed us a very nice meal of rice and beef with cilantro.  After lunch we cleared weeds, used machetes to chop up plantain trees, fed the goats, moved brush to a burn pit, etc.  At the end of the work day Larry, his son, and a business partner took us to the development they have created at the beach outside of Las Lajas.  What an awesome locale.  There was 100 yard of pristine beach up to clear Pacific Ocean water that was probably 80-85 degrees.  Everyone enjoyed the water.  This yet to be discovered beach was deserted; we couldn't see one other person on the beach or in the water.  Boarding the public transportation and paying the $2 per person fee we took the 45 minute bus ride back to David.  After showering we went out for pizza and are now back at Hotel Occidental.  Tomorrow we will attend an English speaking Sunday School and a bilingual service at Iglesia Bautistia Biblica de David (Bible Baptist Church of David).



Matt

Chad





Las Lajas