Since 2013, First United Methodist Church McKinney has been working with David and Cindy Ceballos to minister with the Ngnobe-Bugle in central Panama. We have team members working on construction projects, doing medical education and testing, and offering Vacation Bible School to the children. Our vision is to build on established relationships, as we listen, grow in understanding, and help meet the needs within the local community.
Current needs:
A bridge used by the community children has been washed away by recent storms. We need to rebuild this bridge so kids can safely walk to school! If you can give, please click here and write “bridge” in the memo line.
Our mission teams just returned from our October trips. New trips will be planned for 2025
We hope you can join us in this amazing ministry! This year, we offered medical and dental care, Vacation Bible School, and helped begin construction on the bridge.
Here’s an update from mission leader Ann Spaight:
Hello,
My name is Ann Spaight and I am privileged to be the leader of our Panama Mission Trips. Our church has been sending a team to Panama since 2013. In 2024, the Spirit lead us to send two teams. One team was Medical/Dental/VBS and the second team was Construction/VBS. What an honor to be part of both of the teams.
Our Medical/Dental/VBS team totaled 26 members. We had 1MD, 6 nurses, 3 dentists, 2 dental hygienists and one pre-dental student. This team was awesome! Our medical team saw 458 patients, provided 894 prescriptions, and distributed 440 adult and children vitamins and 417 doses of anti-parasite medicine. We did a total of 60 medical tests which included pregnancy tests, ear cleaning, and taking glass out of a patient’s foot. Our MD was able to make a house call to an older woman who was unable to walk to where we were. He was expecting to see one patient and 5 or 6 more family members arrived.
Our dental team saw 172 patients; performed 102 extractions and provided 76 fluoride treatments. We also took reading glasses to allow our friends to help to be able to see. We were able to distribute 183 pairs of readers. Our friends in Rio Luis are so wonderful and so appreciative of the medical care and dental care that we provide.
Our VBS team shined. The children loved the crafts and coloring and games. I saw one little child who made a cross, and they were so proud of it. They were holding it so tightly that no one one was going to take it away! But the most important part was the love that the team showed the children.
Our construction team had a few travel issues, but they were definitely able to make progress on clearing the way and planning the foundation of the bridge. Tommy has been speaking about building the bridge and I am happy to say that our team was able to help. We had a team of 9 and 5 to 6 were construction and 4 were VBS. Our construction team helped to move boulders, plan, and help with the foundation. This bridge will span 125 feet, allowing the local children to walk safely to and from school. Our VBS planned another wonderful week of stories, crafts, and games.
The two weeks that First United Methodist McKinney was in Panama, we definitely made and impact. However, we are unable to do any of the work that was done without the generosity of this church. From the medicine that we took, VBS supplies, reading glasses, and construction items needed for the bridge. We would not be able to be to do any of the fabulous things that were while we are there.
Plans are underway for 2025. If anyone has any questions about the mission or if any group would like mor information, please email Ann Spaight. For current information on Mission Panama, if you are on Facebook, search for Mission Panama and you can join and see what all is happening there with all the teams.
Blessings,
Ann
To learn more about our upcoming trip or other ways to support this ministry, please click here to contact Pam Parmley.
To make a gift to this ministry, or to pay fees to go on a mission trip, please click here.