October 2026 Update from Panama 🇵🇦

A lot has happened since our last full update, and we wanted to take a few minutes to bring you along with us.

God continues to open doors, deepen relationships, and remind us that some of the most meaningful ministry happens through simply showing up consistently and walking alongside people.

And lately, we've had a lot to celebrate.

They Did It! 🛠️🇵🇦

In our last update, we told you about our construction vocational training course in Veracruz and how Pastor Adán had taken ownership of leading and teaching the students.

We're excited to tell you that all seven students completed the full 200-hour course and graduated!

This was a big accomplishment.

These students spent months learning practical construction skills they can use to find work, earn income, and help provide for their families.

And because of the generosity of people who came alongside Bridging Panama, we were also able to provide the graduates with tools and equipment so they could actually put those new skills to work.

We're incredibly proud of Pastor Adán as well.

From the beginning, our goal has been for programs like this to be locally led and locally owned. Pastor Adán didn't simply help with this course. He took ownership of it, taught these students week after week, invested in their lives, and walked with them all the way through graduation.

That's what we want Bridging Panama to look like: local leaders investing in their own communities, with us coming alongside them to help however we can.

Seven graduates. 200 hours of training. New skills, new tools, and new opportunities.

And Now the Ladies Are Selling What They Bake 🧁

Our vocational baking program has also been one of our biggest encouragements.

Just like the construction course, the goal isn't simply to teach a class. We want people to learn skills they can actually use to help provide for their families.

And that's already happening.

Several of the women who have participated in the baking training are now baking from their homes and selling what they make to earn income for their families.

This is why we believe so strongly in vocational training.

Sometimes helping a family isn't about continuing to provide something for them. Sometimes it's about helping someone develop the skills and opportunities to provide for themselves.

And we love watching that begin to happen.

Another Team Came to Serve 🇵🇦

In September, another team from the United States came to serve alongside us in Veracruz.

They jumped into the work, served families, spent time in the community, and came alongside the ministry already happening there.

We're incredibly thankful for people who come willing to serve alongside our Panamanian leaders and become part of what God is already doing here.

Veracruz has also been going through a difficult season recently. There has been a heavier police presence in the community, and we would appreciate your prayers for peace, safety, and, more than anything, real transformation.

We love the people of Veracruz, and we believe deeply that God is at work there.

We Have Driven the Wheels Off This Thing! 🛻

Earlier this year, one of our donors generously purchased a truck for Bridging Panama.

We knew we needed it.

We had no idea how much we would use it.

We have driven the wheels off this thing! 😂

It carries food, tools, medical supplies, equipment, people—you name it. It goes into the communities with us and has become part of almost everything we do.

At this point, we honestly don't know how we survived without it.

The Story of Veracruz Is Still Being Written

I also had the opportunity to speak at Pastor Adán's church.

One of the things I've been reminded of lately is how important it is to remember what God has done in our lives and to tell those stories.

We see this throughout the Bible. In Joshua 4, God had the Israelites set up stones so that when their children asked about them, they could tell them what God had done.

I love that.

We all have a story. Some parts are good and some parts are really hard, but God can use all of it.

That's why I shared my story that Sunday. I talked about foster care, adoption, and eventually how God got ahold of my life.

Sometimes we need to look back and remember what God has done. And sometimes somebody else needs to hear that story.

And I think about Veracruz the same way.

There is a lot happening there right now. There has been violence and a heavy police presence, and there are days when it's easy to focus on everything that's wrong.

But the story of Veracruz isn't finished.

We don't know what the next chapter looks like, but we know God is at work. And we want to keep showing up, loving people, sharing Jesus, and trusting Him with the story He's still writing there.

And Yes… the Coffee Is Here ☕🇵🇦

You probably saw our email announcing Bridging Panama Coffee.

What started as an idea has now become a real social enterprise designed to help create sustainable funding for the ministry here in Panama.

Our first coffee has made it to the United States, and orders are going out!

We don't want the coffee to distract from the mission.

The coffee exists because of the mission.

FROM PANAMA. FOR PANAMA.

Every bag helps support the work of Bridging Panama while also allowing us to share something pretty special from this country we love.

Looking Ahead to 2027

It's hard to believe we're already planning for next year.

We currently have mission opportunities planned for January, July, and September 2027, and we're excited about what God is already putting together.

There is still so much we want to do, but sometimes we have to stop long enough to look back at what God has already done.

Seven construction students graduated.

Women are using skills they've learned to earn income from home.

Teams are coming alongside the ministry.

Local leaders are leading.

Families are being served.

Relationships are growing.

And through all of it, doors continue to open for us to share the hope that can only be found in Jesus.

Thank you for being part of this with us.

Thank you for praying, giving, coming to serve, buying coffee, sharing our story, introducing us to people, and encouraging us.

There are a lot of different ways people are part of Bridging Panama, and we're thankful for every one of them.

Please continue to pray for Veracruz, for the families we serve, for Pastor Adán and our other local leaders, and for wisdom as we prepare for everything ahead in 2027.

We can't do this alone, and we're incredibly thankful to have you walking alongside us.

Blessings from Panama!

Bill & Jenna Lewis
Bridging Panama
Strengthening Families. Bringing HOPE.