 
| Panama: A Tale Of Two Cities |
Missions News: Various  (Panama City, Panama) The current skyline of Panama City is quite impressive and is a testament to foreign investment and globalization in Latin America. However this skyline, in all its prestige, is a sort of mask over what could be called generations of injustice.  Injustices that could be repeating themselves. Â
 Panama City’s first location now lays in ruins.  Hundreds of years ago it was sacked by the pirate Henry Morgan. After this attack the city was moved to what is now Casco Antiguo or San Felipe. This was Panama City for the next few hundred years. It was surrounded by a wall, part of which still stands today, and was home to the wealthy, upper class, and ruling class of their day.  Adjacent to San Filipe and on the other side of the wall lies Santa Ana. For around 200 years, Santa Ana was home to slaves, the poor and immigrants of lower social standing. The residents of Santa Ana were only allowed to enter San Filipe during daylight hours, if at all. When the French arrived to try their hand at the construction of the Panama Canal, the workers were housed in Santa Ana. This led to a time of economic growth in the area. Several movie theaters were opened and a long avenue was built for shopping. There was also a park built in the center of Santa Ana.  Over the past hundred years this park has been a traditional gathering site for Panamanians to protest and voice their opinions about key issues. During the latter part of 20th Century the traditional center of Panama City began to shift to what is now the banking district. Here you will find the first world in all its luxury.  During this shift, the apartment buildings in San Filipe who were home once to the rich became make-shift homes for the growing urban population and were mostly unkept. Many of those living in the area were not paying rent and there were very little repairs being done and for years San Filipe lay in ruin. Today, however, there is a multi-million dollar investment and restoration project under way. San Filipe is being restored to it’s former glory.  It is a center for the wealthy and those in power.  Santa Ana however is seeing hard times and even a reversion to its roots.  Since the failure of the French endeavor, Santa Ana’s movie theaters have closed and those that remain open are now for adults only. Some parts are home to brothels and gangs. The park is now home to drug addicts and those who have no home. The Central Avenue still exists as a bustling shopping market and is home to Chinese, Hindus, and other ethnic groups that call Santa Ana home and office once again.  Is history repeating itself? In some ways, the answer is yes. Those that lived in San Filipe are being moved out to the surrounding area. The excuse is that the areas is a historical landmark and must be preserved. However, for the right amount of money, you too can own a piece of history.  There is a stark contrast between the two areas. The most visible contrast can be seen when standing in front of Presidential Palace and looking over the brothels and bars of Santa Ana. There is a physical, visual, and spiritual difference that can be clearly observed.  The reason this story is being shared is because of an intercession time in Santa Ana. The Youth With A Mission (YWAM) YWAM Panama DTS which is currently under way received different words and revelations which led it to do a more in-depth study of the area.  There is much more happening than can be put onto paper. There are problems and injustices in the area that have roots going back hundreds of years. We see God revealing a new strategy in all of this.  Please pray for us as we return to areas of the city to pray and ask God for more revelation, and to see how He will use us.  This story was originally published in an entry by Missionary Chris Collins in the blog YWAM Panama: Urban Ministries.  Read More: Links  ______________________________________________________________________________ The International Faith Telegraph |
