Perspectives transform in Panama
By MICHELLE BOSWORTH
Staff writer
There really are places in the world that put even a Kansas summer to shame. Ask Emily Bebermeyer, and she will be happy to say it's Panama City during the rainy season.
Having recently returned from a mission trip, Emily says the experience changed her perspective about her walk with the Lord and summertimes in Kansas.
Six years ago, Emily made up her mind. "I'll never be a missionary," she thought.
Then one year, at a youth conference in Estes, Colo., a speaker radically impacted Emily's thinking by saying, "Don't ever say 'never' about something! Because often, that is the exact thing God will bring into your life over and over until you face it, deal with it, and learn some new truths about it."
Emily remembered her vow about being a missionary. She realized that she wanted to control that area of her life rather than be submissive to God's will. As she prayed for the Lord's will over the years, her perspective began to change.
A couple of years ago, she became interested in Brio Missions, the ministry outreach of Focus on the Family's Brio magazine for teenage girls. Her sister, Adrien, had gone with them on a mission trip to Brazil. For several consecutive years, Emily printed the application from a website, but things never quite gelled until this year.
Last August, Emily took a mission trip with her youth group to New York. "It amazed me how much I liked it," said Emily. With her attitude changing, she became serious about the next Brio trip to Panama and sent for the paperwork.
In December, she received notification she had been accepted. Family, friends, and church members chipped in monetary support, prayers, and encouragement. Emily also worked and saved money for the trip.
Four hundred and fifty girls including Emily, who were scared yet excited, arrived in Miami, Fla., on June 28. For three days they learned mime routines and practiced their drama, "Spellbound."
Eventually, the girls, ranging in age from 13 to adult, boarded a plane to Panama City. They were housed at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort, one of the few places in the area that could host such a large group, provide optimal protection, and supply safe drinking water.
Teams consisting of about 33 Brio girls and leaders spent their time in Panama either performing ministry, completing work projects, or enjoying free days. Each team had two or three native translators.
In the evenings, they gathered for activities and an opportunity to nurture their relationship with God. They participated in worship with a praise band and listened to speakers, many of whom were authors of popular Christian teen books.
The majority of Emily's ministry days were spent at a variety of grade schools and high schools.
Surprisingly, the Panamanian government had no problem with American missionaries coming into the schools and speaking to their children. Some teachers even accepted Jesus as their savior.
Once, after performing their drama four times at three different schools, Emily's team decided to take a break from the school scene. They did their drama at a
