Jack & Suzy Krumroy
Missionaries to PanamaOur Vision for Panama!
Suzy's sister Marileida
Our vision for Panama is actually twofold. First, let me start with the spiritual side. We desire to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who have never heard. In the most remote locations, travel is extremely difficult. There are villages out there that see very few if any outsiders. It is these villages that we desire to see churches planted, and leaders made to shine a light of hope to these villages. The area where Suzy is from consists of about twelve villages, four of which are known to have churches. In the ones with churches, they often lack equipment, Bibles, and materials for the pastors and congregation. We have also seen in Suzy’s village, how a typical church service often places the adults and children together making it difficult to truly reach the intended audience. As a result, attendance is low and it is extremely difficult to hear and understand what is being said. We desire also to work with the existing pastors to develop an effective children’s ministry to reach the young ones, so adults can have a service that they can relate to as well. Another problem that we would like to focus on is the fact that missionaries come to the area for short term trips, but leave after only a short time, leaving many people confused about what they are learning, and leaving pastors and leaders ill equipped for their calling. We want to maintain a constant presence in the area so everyone can have a deeper understanding of Christ’s love, and ensure that leaders have Bible, learning aids, and brothers and sisters in Christ in whom they can turn to for help and encouragement.
Now let me address the issues in the physical realm. On one recent trip to Panama, we were excited to learn that one of Suzy’s sisters had recently given birth to a daughter. We were so excited, and even had a chance to hold the newborn girl. She was absolutely beautiful, and looked just like her mommy. When we returned to the village less than a year later however, we were met with some tragic news. The baby that we held only months earlier had died. According to Suzy’s sister, the baby became ill and had a fever. The fever spiked uncontrollably, and the family lacked the medicine to treat the infant, and she died a short time later. We also learned that infants are generally not named until they are at least two years of age because of the high infant mortality rate in these villages. Indeed, illnesses in the villages take their toll among both children and adults alike because help is not close by. Villages are located hours away from a main road, and even then, towns with a clinic are far away and few between. And families are too poor to afford medicine anyway. Thus, we have decided to also supply villages with simple first aid kits, anti fever medication for children, and mosquito nets for everyone to prevent the spread of Malaria and other mosquito bourne illnesses. We would like to have volunteer doctors hold small health clinics in the remote villages for the benefit of the people.
It is our mission to show the love of Christ to the Kunas in a tangible way so they will come to know God and just how much he loves and cares for them. Every single person, each individual life, is worth so much to the Father. We will ensure that they know they are important and that they do have hope and a future that is as bright as the promises of God.
Pictured here is Suzy’s sister Marinelia and her husband with their children. The baby girl that Marinelia is holding passed away only a few months after this picture was taken due to a fever which spiked uncontrollably, and the family lacked the medicine to treat her. (January 2006)
Jack & Suzy
