We just finished the first Medical Mission in Colon; 7 people from Alabama joined 29 people from the three churches in Colon. The Ministry of Health joined us with malaria testing, educators, dentists, doctors, the vaccination team, social workers and psychologists. We had planned on seeing about 200 people over the course of two days. We saw 300 people on our first day. We attended a total of 600 people in 2 ½ days. The dentist saw more than 100 people and the vaccination team saw at least that many.

At the end of the third clinic day folks from Alabama, the churches in Colon and the Ministry of Health boarded a boat and traveled up the Gatun River to Chorro Embera. The Embera had invited us to their community for a “thank you cultural celebration.” We were greeted by the people and escorted out of the boat using a hand made dug out canoe as a walkway to dry land. The people were painted with the traditional Jagua. The girls had flowers in their hair. We were invited in to the tribal counsel building. They were frying Tilapia for us. There was a huge pot of rice bollo cooking. Our hostess reassured us that if we didn’t like the food they would not be offended but they wanted us to have a full Embera fiesta as a thank you. The Embera weave baskets and carve Tagua. They showed us their crafts and we shopped. The chief gave me a basket and the assistant chief gave me a necklace as a thank you for caring for their people. Then the music started; drums, a percussion instrument made with a turtle shell and we began to dance………..now then I was a happy missionary.