Dear sisters and brothers,

We are so excited to share some amazing news with you!!  Over the last few months and through a series of providential occurrences, God has deeply laid it on my heart that We are to go and minister to the local Chinese of Panama City, Panama this Thanksgiving (Nov 21 to Dec 1)!

Panama is the connecting link between Central and South America, with about 80 kilometers (50 miles) wide in its narrowest part. On one side, the Caribbean Sea washes its coast, and on the other side, the Pacific Ocean skirts its long, beautiful beaches. The Panama Canal, considered as the Eight Wonder of the world, allows vessels to transit from one ocean to the other. Panama has about 3.3 million people. An estimated of over 150,000 Chinese lives there, mostly concentrate in Panama City and with no legal status. They come from mainland China and work 12-16 hours a day, 7 days a week.

We will be going to minister for 9 days in Panama City with 7 other Crosspoint members.  We will be working directly with the local missionary and churches: playing games, teaching Bible lessons, singing songs, and just plain hugging and loving the kids from 5-18 years old, as well as witnessing to the adults.  We will have 2 weekends Vacation Bible School, many local visitations, help out Sunday worship service, and minister in a mission station.

Yes, We are writing you today to ask you to partner with us on this incredible investment for eternity.  God has called us to go and we have committed to trust Him and follow His lead.  But going is only part of the investment required to serve these children and adults.  Those who can’t go, but can pray for and financially support those who do go are fully equal co-laborers in this ministry project.

The total cost for this trip is $ 1,800 per person and we need to raise $4,200 for the whole team (the rest will come from team members and church contributions).  We know that because God has called us to go to Panama that He will also provide a way for us to go.  But we also want you to be involved with us on this project so that you, too, will be blessed as a result.  Jesus says in John 10:16, “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”  Helping us to bring these people back to Christ is an investment that God will surely be pleasing in you because it is His will that “all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).

We know that you probably receive many letters similar to this one asking for support for one mission trip or another.  And we understand that even if you can’t support us financially at this time, we will still have your prayers while we go.  But please, consider the plight of those countless kinsmen, and give us and them the joy of seeing God’s hand at work to change their lives. From the testimony of those who have gone on this trip in previous years, we know that we truly will never be the same for having gone and your willingness to invest in us and in the Chinese of Panama is something that we know we will forever be grateful. So if you are able, please send your tax-deductible gift to Pastor Ching ( at Crosspoint Chinese Church, 680 E. Calaverase Blvd., Milpitas, CA 95035, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or (408) 586-8688 X224). Checks should be written to Crosspoint Chinese Church of Silicon Valley and be sure to write STM/Panama in the memo section.

Thank you so much for your prayers and support and may God deeply bless you !!

Together Serving HIS Kingdom,

___________________

Crosspoint Short Term Mission Team 2008

Jesus said, "open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.”   – John 4:35-36