What a Difference Two Years Have Made!
Rod and Sherry Boyd

What a Difference a Year Makes was our report from last Christmas a year ago on construction progress of the Latin America Resource & Training Center in Panama. This Christmas, we look back at what God has done in 2017 and declare, what a difference two years have made! We are living the fulfillment of a twelve year-old dream!

A year ago, we were celebrating the completion of the structure of Building One. On February 20th, we moved our offices to the second floor and by the end of July, all finish work was complete! We also stepped out in faith to begin construction of Building Two and believed God that the 10 guestrooms on the first floor would be completed by July 31st.

Once again, God used two teams - Portland Christian Center (OR) and Calvary Christian Assembly (Seattle, WA) - and many generous people and ministries to provide needed funding to be able to complete this work and more! Thirty-two students and teachers moved into those rooms for study four weeks in August.

Thanks to the excellent work of MAPS Construction Teams from Grove Church (Marysville, WA) and Eastridge Church (Issaquah, WA) in October and November, nearly all of the perimeter block work is complete on the second floor of Building Two. Even before these two teams arrived, the Lord miraculously provided funding to purchase materials and install the roof, and to build the stairwell for Building Two. When finished, the second floor will add 13 new guestrooms, allowing us to house nearly 100 leaders, pastors and teachers.

Work is currently underway to bring the first-floor kitchen, pantry, laundry and storage rooms to construction finish (tile, ceiling, electrical, paint, lighting, plumbing, windows and doors). The Eastridge Church team generously provided funds for a commercial washer and dryer. We are believing God for a women’s group to “adopt” the equipping of the commercial kitchen!

What a different 2 years have made! From 0% the end of 2015 to 25% the end of 2016, we have now completed more than 50% of the LARTC construction! We continue to see God’s miraculous hand at work through your generosity and His stretching provision for maximum value. Below is a summary of the progress of our five construction phases.

1 - Training/Admin/Production, 9,200 sq ft (2016-17)
100% COMPLETE!

2 - Housing/Kitchen, 15,200 sq ft (2017-18)
65% COMPLETE!

3 - Atrium: Reception/Auditorium/Dining, 5,700 sq ft (2018-19)

4 - Training/Admin Addition, 5,200 sq ft (2019-20)

5 - Staff Housing, 4,200 sq ft (2020-21)

Please pray for us and the Center in 2018: Faith to believe for miraculous provision, wisdom in how it is used, and strength and anointing to serve as God continues to open doors for ministry. We will be working on two fronts in 2018 as funds permit. First, we hope to finish the 13 guestrooms on the second floor. Second, we hope to begin construction of the Phase Three Atrium building!

Even now, with the new facilities we are better able to empower leaders, train teachers and produce resources. We need your help to finish what we’ve started! In addition to praying, as God prospers you, please include the LARTC Project in your year-end giving to the address above.

Together we are raising up Christian leaders in Panama and throughout Latin America to train harvest workers who will go to the ends of the earth!