Missionaries Hugh and Lois Hoyle relocated to Panama City from Quito, Ecuador, arriving in February during Carnival, which has been described as the city’s equivalent to Mardi Gras. The Hoyles spent the first three weeks in a small hotel, their room barely big enough for all their suitcases.
“We learned that during Carnival no one works – and some don’t work the week before either!” The Hoyles said.
They finally moved into a small apartment on the 17th floor of a 29-story building, overlooking the business district of Panama City.
Panama City is a city comparable to Dubai and Hong Kong though not as big. On any given day, ships from around the world may be found, waiting for their turn to cross through the canal. Panama’s motto, “Panama: Bridge to the World, Heart of the Universe,” describes the city well.
Slightly smaller than South Carolina in geographic area, Panama has a population of about three million, about two-thirds of which live in the capital. There are many cultures and religions represented in the country due to immigration. The Hoyles noted a Hindu temple on a hillside, several mosques, Jewish synagogues, and several Pentecostal mega-churches all in the same general area. The country is a melting pot and has a blending of cultures in its people, but even with all the immigration and cultural blending, there are seven indigenous groups still living as they have for centuries. With the New Testament now available in all the indigenous languages, those groups do have a Gospel witness now.
Of the immigrant populations, the largest, and one of the oldest, are the Chinese who came from both Taiwan and the People’s Republic of China. The Chinese in Panama are an unreached people group, because there is very little ministry to them and no ministry to other South Asians.
The Hoyles recognized their challenge as they observed the journey of a recent parade celebrating the diversity of the city’s people. The different indigenous groups were clothed in typical dress of varying provinces and characters from local folklore, giving Hugh and Kathy a review of the various cultures co-existing in Panama. “The challenge for us is in knowing where to start!”
Panama is not void of Pentecostal organizations, but the Hoyles are there to fill the gap. As they become familiar with the area, Hugh and Kathy are also praying God will open those unique doors of ministry that will expand the spread of the Gospel to all Panamanians.
