Video From Mission Trip

Information about this Mission Trip

The goal of this Mission Trip to Panama was to go into four isolated Kuna Indian Villages in the Bayno River Region of Panama and show the movie "The Passion of the Christ." The four villages were Martee, Walla, Nura and Wakuko.

Some have asked about our choice of the movie, "The Passion of the Christ." Our thinking was this. First, there is very little dialog in this movie. For our setting this was good - the movie is spoken in Greek and Aramaic but was shown with Spanish subtitles. From there, the interpreters translated from the Spanish subtitles into the Kuna language. The Kunas understood the movie through the translator.

Secondly, the graphic nature of the movie carries an additional credibility in many of the Central American Countries.

Thirdly, even though there is hint of Maryolatry in the movie, it helped convey a 'credibility' in Panama.

After each showing, we gave a short invitation through and interpreter inviting people to become a Follower of Jesus. The word "Christian" has a broader meaning in Latin America than it does here in America. We wanted to be crystal clear about what we were asking people to commit to.

In each of the villages, there are either existing churches or there are plans already in the works to purchase land and have churches started. It is imperative that each church have a Kuna pastor. These are their churches - not ours. We strive not to make "western baptist churches" in these Kuna Villages. There have now been over 25 churches started in various Kuna Villages and each church has a Kuna pastor.

The movie and our presence serves as an inroad to each village. It helps the church or future church in reaching their village for the Lord.

This is a continuation of the ministries of to Panama of Sam Craig and Sam Parker who have been going to Panama for over 20 years.

If you would like more information, or even a presentation for your church or community, please let me know by emailing me at mbredd@bayshorebc.org.

Village of Martee

The village of Martee has 400-500 Kuna Indians in it. We stayed 2 days in the Village. On the first evening we showed the first hour of the movie, "The Passion of the Christ." About 1 hour into the movie - the DVD stuck - and we told them we would finish it the next evening.

However, the next day - late in the afternoon - we were told we could not finish showing the movie. We were not given much of an explanation.

While we travelled a great distance, we were guests and we abided by what the Cheifs told us. We spent the last night there and went to another village the next day.

This was the only time that we had any difficulty in any village.

When we pulled into the Village of Martee, we were swarmed with kids. You can see that they are in various stages of dress (and undress) but were happy to see us in their village.

All of the trips we made to the villages were taken in the two vehicles pictured. Both are 4 wheel drive and were very well used on the trip in and out of the villages.

Three of the four villages are only accesable by road 3 months a year. It is during the dry season that the roads can be used. The rest of the year - you can only access them by either foot or boat. During the dry season - to access them by boat is difficult for the rivers are very low in areas and require dragging the kyukas up stream.

Here is a group of children that were in the middle of the village. There are many many children in each of the villages.

Many of the villages are filled with older men, women and children. Many of the men either work in their fields are go to Panama City to work and provide for their families.

For a man to walk from the village of Martee to the main road was an 8 hour walk. It took us about 2 1/2 hours using 4 wheel drive vehicles.

Here are a group of kids playing games in one of the open fields behind some huts in Martee.

Here are two Kuna Indian women that were walking through the village with "lunch." I think that the lady on the left was not married - but the lady on the right was. Just my observation - but it seems that they married ladies dress in the more traditional Kuna atire while the unmarried did not do so.

Notice the Mola the lady on the right has across her midsection. Kunas are famous for their brightly colored Molas. Also, notice the wrappings around the lower legs. They are brightly colored threaded beads that wrap around each leg. I do not know the purpose they serve other than ornamental beauty.

Here is Sam Craig giving out packages of Chicklet Gum. Whenever the candy would come out - we were swarmed with kids. This was the ladies house behind her. You can see her entire family in photos later in the blog.

Here is a photo of one of the Cheifs of Martee. He got all dressed up so that he could have his photo taken.

One of the new technoliges we tried at Martee was to be able to take a family portrait and print it out for the family. This meant taking a Laptop and Inkjet printer and printing using the genrator while the movie was playing. It was a bit tricky - but worked like a charm.

On future trips - I think we will take one of the "Photo Printers" that prints 4x6 photos. Many of these can access pictures directly from the camera.

This will allow us to carry even less on each trip - but still accomplish the "Photos for Families." It was a great hit. Following are a few samples of some of the family pictures we took.

Many of the families came and had their "Portrait" done. For many, this was the first time they had ever had a picture of their family.

Here is one of the extended families in Martee.

Here is another one of the families of Martee.

Village of Walla

Here you have a great view of the Kuna Village of Walla. This was the only way into the village. It was about 15-20 miles from the main road to the Village.

We were told there were about 600-700 people in the Village - but many people came to play in a "Soccer Tournament" that was being played on a field outside the village.

You can see people going from one side of the river to the other. While most of the river was shallow enough to cross - this main section was only accesable by using a kyuka - or swimming.

Something that was pretty amazing was that there was some kind of "Soccer Tournament" being held in this village. Soccer teams from all around had walked for hours to play all weekend long. Since there is no electricity - there are no lights - so no night time soccer.

So all of these kids who came from villages all around came into the Congress Hut and watched the movie. The Congress Hut was so filled that people began to sit on the rafters prompting a loud 'crack' and people began coming down like crazy. No one was hurt. People stood around the hut - even behind the hut watching the movie from behind the sheet. There were about 500-600 people gathered in and around the Congress Hut. About 225-250 people responded indicating they wanted to begin to follow Jesus.

Here is another picture of Walla taken from across the river into the village.

The Road to Nura

This is on the road to the Kuna Indian village of Nura. That is Lino Smith in front with Moses leaning into the window.

This road was the abosolute roughest road yet. It took us about 3 hours to cover the 20 miles from the main road to the village. We were told that it takes the Kunas about 10 hours to walk from Nura to the main road.

Though the scenery was beautiful, my back was really sore when this trip was done. We came in early in the afternoon - but made the trip back through the jungle late at night.

Village of Nura

In the distance you can see the Kuna village of Nura. It was the most beautiful village of all.

We were told there were about 350-400 people in the village.

Here are some of the woman of Nura. Notice the wrappings aound their ankles. They are made up of threaded strings of beads. Also, every "wrap" the women wore was similar.

Women in the Kuna Villages are usually married around the age of 15. The marriage is approved by the Cheif(s) of the village.

Here are some of the boys in Nura standing on a Kyuko that was being worked on in the village.

We started the movie a bit earlier in Nura fearing the 'more treachorous' trip back to Hotel Paradise.

These are the only 2 pictures we have of the crowds watching the movie - it usually was far to dark in the Congress Halls to take pictures.

There were 250-300 people that watched the movie and about 110 people responded to the opportunity to become followers of Jesus.

Something unique occured after the movie. I was talking with the chief of the village - acknowledging his wisdom and love for his people - when he told me that they would be talking about this movie - my message - and our coming in thier Congress meetings for many days.

These Kuna Indians have no written record. The way they pass their history from one generation to another is when they meet in Congress and the Chiefs lay in the hammocks, adjudicate matters, discuss issues and tell stories. Now - our coming - the movies - and the message would become part of Congress Meetings in the future. We had become part of their Oral Tradition. Pretty amazing.

Here is another picture of the crowd that watched "The Passion of the Christ."

The river at Nura surrounded the village on three sides. The village itself was high on a bluff over the river valley - only accessable by steep trails.

As with Martee - the village had once been destoryed by flooding during the rainy season - so Nura relocated to higher ground.

This was the cleanest village we had been to. We also saw something unique to this village: Around each of the huts, there were sticks that had been collected, stacked and stored that lined the outside of each wall. We wondered what the purpose was. It appeared that they were preparing wood for each home's cooking fire - or getting ready for a long winter. However, we were there during their winter and it was 90 in the day and about 65 in the evening. Still, it was the only village that showed this kind of planning and forethought.

This is just another section of the river at Nura. Man - it was beautiful!

Here is just another view of a river section that encompassed Nura. Just stunningly beautiful.

The River that 'horseshoed' Nura was beautiful. With the village up on a bluff, it was a steep walk to access the river. This was a spot that was on one side of the village.

Village of Wakuko

This was the last of four villages we visited on this trip. It was the village of Wakuko.

It is located right off of Panama One Highway - the main highway that runs from Columbia to Panama City. This village is predomanately Christian - seeming built for that purpose.

There were 100-120 in and around the village on the day that we stopped. The village, though small, was scattered out and had the 'garderns' right next to the home rather than at a distance. This was unique to this village.

Here is another picture of the Village of Wakuku. This Kuna village is right off of the main road that runs through Panama.

It also was the most "modernized" village we visited - although it didn't have electricity. Being so close to the main road - it had much more influence from 'outsiders' than did any of the other villages.

Here is another picture of the Village of Wakuko. There were youth from a Baptist Church in Panama City that were there for the day doing Children's Activity.

That evening, the entire village - about 120 or so people - watched the movie, "The Passion of the Christ."

With Wakuko being a predominately Christian Village - there were none that became Followers of Christ - but several that wished to recommit themselves and their walk with God.

A Summation of the Mission Trip is as follows:

• Over 1000 Kuna Indians watched the movie, "The Passion of the Christ."
• Approximately 375 indicated the wanted to become followers of Christ
• We determined two new techniques for future Mission Trips to Panama
• We designed a template for future mission trips that would last 7 days.

Our next trip will be to the Kuna Indians in the San Blas Island Region. It will be in early August and will cost approximately $1500.00. We will be showing the movie, "The Passion of the Christ" to 4 Kuna Indian Villages and possibly doing One Day Children's Bible Clubs in each Village. Email me at mbredd@bayshorebc.org if you are interested in going.