Hey friends!
Wow—it’s been a whirlwind of a few days, but we’re finally sitting down to take a deep breath and share a little update with you all. First and foremost, THANK YOU for praying for us, especially on Tuesday as we made the big move. Your prayers were felt every step of the way.
The flights went incredibly smoothly—seriously, better than we could’ve hoped for. The kids were total champs, and even our dogs did amazing. We even made it to the vet appointment in time, which saved our pups from a 24-hour quarantine at the airport (praise!). And yes—all of our luggage made it too. Huge win!
When we arrived, we were met at our new rental house by two realtors (yep, here in Panama you need one just to rent a house!). It was such a gift to walk through what will be our home for the next year. It’s definitely different from what we’re used to, but it’s awesome in its own unique way. The kids have truly blown us away with how well they’re adjusting—better than we ever could’ve imagined.
The past few days have been packed with ALL the things—navigating traffic (so much traffic), getting a rental car, buying what feels like brand new everything, and trying to find some sort of rhythm in our new normal. Did we mention the traffic? Yesterday it took us nearly two hours to go just 4.1 miles. Yikes! But we’re learning the flow of when to go and when not to go. It’s a process.
Here are just a few things we’ve learned so far about life in Panama:
- The people here are incredibly kind and helpful.
- Google Translate is our new best friend… for now. We can’t wait to dive into language school soon!
- Hot water is optional in homes. (Let’s just say morning showers are refreshing.)
- Tire inflation is also apparently optional when renting a car—thankfully, Bill came to the rescue on that one!
- Panama is deeply community-oriented, and we LOVE that. We’ve already met folks from all over the world—Panama, Spain, Zimbabwe, and France to name a few!
We’re also learning that everything here takes time. The American sense of urgency doesn’t quite translate—and that’s okay. We’re learning to slow down. Just yesterday, a quick trip into the city to sign immigration papers, fix a tire, and head back home ended up taking almost 8 hours. It’s stretching us, but in a good way.
Even in the middle of the chaos and adjustments, we see God’s hand everywhere. We are exhausted, yes—but so incredibly grateful. He’s been so faithful, and we can’t wait to see what He continues to do in and through this adventure.
Thank you for walking with us, praying for us, and cheering us on from afar. We’ll share more soon—but for now, know that we’re here, we’re safe, and we’re thankful.
Much love,
The Lewis Crew
