After decades of dreaming, a year of planning and a week of travel, we have finally made it to Panama! After Peace Corps we always dreamed of living/working/volunteering internationally again. After years of school, kids, houses, moves - it seemed that this dream may never be a reality. But here we are - on day one of our 15 month adventure traveling the world. We will spend the next 6 months living and volunteering in Bocas del Toro, Panama. Dennis and I stayed there for a month in 2012 and we can’t wait to return with our kids!

We left Alaska June 5th and spent a week in Cannon Beach with Angie, Rob and Misty. From Oregon we flew to Panama City and arrived today. We were exhausted from the overnight travel, but after quick naps at our beautiful apartment in Casco Viejo we set out to explore. Casco Viejo is the picturesque old town neighborhood of Panama City. We walked the narrow cobblestone streets to the town square. We were awed by the majestic cathedral and spent a half hour viewing the stations of the cross and the other relics inside. We kneeled on the prayer bench and Walker asked Jesus to be with him during this time in his life. Walker has struggled with this big change, but once we got out and started exploring he has been pretty excited about it all. We walked around town a bit more before heading back to our condo for the night. Our place has an amazing roof top deck overlooking the water. You can hear the church bells in the distance and see the lights of the city. Pretty perfect, I have to say.

We’ve had our doubts, tears, and struggles getting to this point, but we are thrilled our adventure has begun!