Panama Canal and Other Information

Recently found and uploaded Panama Canal pics for your viewing pleasure! In this one you can see the little tug trains that are attached to the boats going through the canal to help pull them along and keep them in the center of the lane. It's a gray color. This shows the gate that opens up after the water is level. There is a nice overlook spot where you can see it all take place. We went on a Saturday, so it was crowded in the main area.

 The three story museum was very nice. One level showed fish and other insects (dead) that are in the area. In another level, they had a few areas that were hands on, like the "control room" of the ships and one of the canal. The kids also got to see the difference in a manual and electric opening of the bridge gate.

 

 They use underground tubes to push water back and forth to whichever side needs the water. When the gates open, both sides of the (green colored) water need to be the same. So in some spots, they will raise the boats up 6 meters and in some spots, they will lower them. They are raising the left side water in this pic because after a boat leaves the right side, it goes into the lake in the middle of Panama to go to the Canal on the other side of the country. They just opened a third lane a year ago that's a little farther in the background (the long red boat). It handles larger, heavier boats. Here you can see the closer lane and a boat (blue and red) going through the second lane. Each section takes about 15-20 minutes to pass through. Most boats take 6-8 hours to go through the Canal.

A little taste of driving in Panama City

 Here are my McFries. We are loving the David McDonald's right now, thanks to their free Wifi!

 You see the difference in David's temperature and Volcan's? Can you see why we chose to live in Volcan?

 This is my favorite little van here. I want one! The tires are a little bigger than a wheelbarrow I'd say! So cute and seats 6! Perfect for Mama and kids to get around town, don't you think??

 Bienvenidos a Volcan! When are you coming to visit us??

 Resurrection Sunday in Volcan was so nice. The weather was perfect, but the kids thought it was a little too sunny when I wanted to get a pic with the volcano, Baru, in the background. The town of Volcan is back there as well.

 Lunch after church at Casa de Luz, a bilingual church in Volcan!

One last thing. We loaded up all of our stuff at the end of March (thanks to a lot of helpers from our church and friends) in a huge, 40 foot container. It's on it's way to Panama now and then it will be loaded onto a truck and brought to our house. We brought a lot of things for ministry that I'll share in a later post. Here's a pic of the container after it was loaded!