Kuna Indians - Panama
Partners in Missions has been working with the Kunas on the San Blas Islands of Achutupu, El Tigre and Ticantiki since 2000. All services are still conducted in the Kuna dialect. The Kuna New Testament was not completed until 1996. They still do not have the Old Testament in their language.
There are approximately 85,000 Kuna Indians living in Panama. The Border Kunas live in the jungle near the Columbian border. The San Blas Kunas live on the San Blas Islands, which stretch some 200 miles along Panama's Caribbean coastline. They moved from the mainland of Panama to the islands after Europeans landed in Central America in the early 1500's.
Most of the islands do not have electricity or running water. Drinkable water comes from the rivers on the mainland. The Kunas still use dugout canoes for transportation between the islands and the mainland of Panama.
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Karvin's
Most Recent Trip to Achutupu
September 23-29, 2009
Team Members: Luis Guardia (Kuna Director), Gilbert Davila (Pastor/Church of God Radio Speaker for the Spanish speaking people), Nicolas Perez (Pastor/Educator in Chepen, Peru) and Karvin Adams.
Purpose of Our Trip: Seminary classes and worship services for the three churches on the island; the Baptist Church, Assembly of God and the Church of God. The four of us preached in seven services, five in the Church of God, one each in the Baptist and Assembly of God congregations. Gilbert, Nicolas and myself taught eight classes of 1-2 hours each to 47 different students from Thursday night through Sunday night. Most of the students were from two Church of God congregations, Achutupu and Ustupu, which is 40 minutes away by boat. The people were very receptive to our teaching and preaching. An estimated 40-50 people were at the altars during the seven services. This appeared to be our most productive trip to the Kuna Indians. Nicolas and Gilbert enjoyed themselves and were received well by the people. Three persons were baptized on Sunday afternoon.
Pictures of the Trip
Our plane to the island ran off of the runway and got stuck. Ninety minutes later with the help of 30 Indians, we were back in the air (L)
Getting ready to go to the island of Achutupu by boat (R)
Team Members: Gilbert, Luis and Nicolas (L). Nicolas & Gilbert practicing music for a service (R)
Women of the congregation. Ring in nose indicates a woman is married. Woman on right is making the traditional mola
Worship Service (L), Seminary Class (R). Over 100 were in attendance for each of the evening services
Members of the Ustupu Church (L). Young girls musical drama (R)
I wonder whose preaching put this child to sleep? (L). Technology has come to the islands, ladies climbed on top of their house to get a signal for their cell phone (R)
Going to the baptismal service of the 3 women on right. Notice albino woman in left photo. The Kunas have the highest percentage of albinos of any people. The Kunas considered them to be special and called the "golden ones".
Leg beads, as a nose ring, indicate that a woman is married
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Information and Pictures Below are of Karvin's Trip to the Islands of El Tigre & Ticantiki
November
17-21, 2008
Dr.
Greg Robertson, missionary to Ecuador; Luis Guardia, Kuna Director and Karvin
Adams arrived on the island of El Tigre mid-morning, Tuesday, Nov.18. The church provided all meals while we were with them, fish
for lunch and dinner everyday and lobster for one evening meal, all of which
were caught fresh each day from the ocean.
The church seems to be making progress since Karvin's last visit when we
dedicated the building.
Attendance in the two services
averaged about 15 adults
and 40-50 children. Greg preached
on Tuesday night and Karvin on Wednesday. About
ten persons came forward for prayer on Wednesday night mostly for healing.
At least one woman prayed that the Lord would prepare her for ministry.
The music was led by Pastor Virgilio's wife, mostly choruses, which everyone seemed to know and
a couple of hymns in Spanish and Kuna. Three
12-13 year old girls sang specials in both services.
An offering was received each night and Luis encouraged the church to finish the upper parts of the walls with
blocks, replacing the existing cane.
The church also gave Greg and
Karvin gifts of necklaces,
small baskets and fans made on the island.
Tuesday afternoon we visited the island Ticantiki of 1,400 people, which is 30 minutes east of El Tigre. There were 5 adults and 8 children in the canoe for the trip. There are some people there who used to attend the Church of God congregation before their pastor moved to the mainland leaving no one behind to lead them. We met the chief who calls himself a member of the Church of God and he showed us a lot that we could use to build a church. Within ten minutes of arriving at the lot about 12 adults and 10 children gathered around us, all of which are Church of God according to their testimony. The lot is about 20’ x 35’ in size. The island presently has 3 churches, Catholic, Mormon and a Baptist. We talked about the possibility of restarting the congregation and constructing a building. Pastor Virgilio will visit Ticantiki on a regular bases to see what potential is there for restarting the congregation.
El Tigre Church
Some members of the El Tigre Congregation
Pastor's wife who led the music Women Singing in the worship services
(Note nose rings & beads on forearms which indicate they're married)
Greg preaching in Spanish as Luis translates to Kuna Pastor's 3 daughters
Kuna Women paddling canoe from Ticantiki to El Tigre
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Ticantiki
Church members on the Island of Ticantiki
Ticantiki Chief (L in front row with white cap) who gave Karvin permission to build church on island
with members of the church
(Note Kuna woman's painted face to the right of chief)
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