Twelve Hearts, Three Days and Two Nights

From L to R: Anne, Layne, Maria, Lindsay, Naomi

My outreach team call ourselves "Twelve Hearts."

We are a clan of love revolutionaries. Innovators. Creators. Photographers. Espresso Junkies. And if the walls of our small community came crashing down, fear not. We are committed to rebuilding. Because we’ve still got our love.

God is calling us to minister to people within Panama City and on Tuesday we traveled to the heart of the city for the first time.

I met a cafe owner named Maria with three of my mates and the minute we walked in she treated us like old friends. We ate, we ate some more, read Ephesians and promised Maria we would return to hear her story.

A day later, Twelve Hearts decided to "move" in to the city for three days and two nights. Thursday afternoon, after taking photos in the streets, I went back to Maria's shop and listened intently as Maria shared the story of her life. It was moving, painful, filled with tears, love and longing for something more.

I know Maria wants to say God is a God of love but does not believe she has experienced His goodness in her own life. She longs for intimacy that will not leave her and desperately wants to know what it means to be loved unconditionally.

I'm determined to visit Maria again. I carry that love within me. It's time Maria carries it too.

A glimpse into our city lives:

Layne reading from the book of Ephesians in Maria's Cafe on Thursday afternoon. The Twelve Hearts has made the book of Ephesians their book during their time in Panama.
A view of Maria's cafe. She is a glass artist as well.
Mis Amigos. Jean Luo, 10 and Mario Moralo, 14.
Layne the super model against the colorful walls of the city.
Faith, hope and love must wake up with dawn.