For a second consecutive summer, Pepperdine Athletics traveled to Panama with a group of student-athletes for a mission trip. Seven student-athletes representing women's soccer, women's basketball and men's water polo traveled over 4,000 miles to Panama City, Panama, in order to aid local missionary outreach initiatives. Student athletes interacted, played, and shared personal testimonies daily about the love of Jesus with local school-age children.
 
"Being able to watch our student-athletes boldly declare their love for Christ, shower love onto the kids and receive so much love from them, was special to watch," Athletics Chaplain Jordan Holm said. The theme verse for the trip was John 13:35 which states, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
 
"It was so special to hear, in our nightly reflections, the unique and special ways God was showing His love to our student-athletes," Holm said. "They were all so tuned in to the voice of God and ways in which God was showing them His love through the people we interacted with. In turn, God was pouring out love through our student-athletes to all the people we came into contact with."
 
"God is so faithful," Holm said. "We are immensely grateful for the donations that have made this trip possible. Our prayer is that these trips will become part of the Pepperdine student-athletes experience, and make Pepperdine student-athletes known as those that share the experience of Christ to newfound brothers and sisters all over the world."
 
Below are the reflections from the student-athletes that went to Panama:

Caroline Maloof, Women's Soccer
"Traveling to Panama and meeting the incredible people there was very eye opening for me. I embarked on this trip the day after graduation, and I was struggling with a lot of uncertainty in my life. Being able to push myself outside of my comfort zone while being surrounded by people that love me and love Jesus was so meaningful and gave me a fresh perspective going into this new chapter. Panama is filled with beautiful people and culture. Some of my favorite parts were playing sports, especially soccer, with the kids and the service projects. I hope that we were as much of a blessing to the people of Panama as they were to us. I would highly recommend this mission trip."
 
 

 
 

Addison Melone, Women's Basketball
"This trip was amazing! I wouldn't have changed my mind one bit on whether I should go or not. A perfect balance of hard work, as well as fun. The experience will lead me to lifelong memories, as well as lessons learned. I do feel that this mission trip to Panama was a shift in my faith. Connecting with kids is something I never knew how much it meant to me. I loved going around to all of the schools. I made an instant connection with a young girl, and I knew it was god speaking through me to her. I had never felt such an energy shift, but I knew in that moment I was exactly where I needed to be, for both me and her. This trip was so powerful, and ending our night sharing our thoughts/reflections of that day truly was so special. And of course, thanks to our van Fabulosa, we couldn't have done it without her."
 
 


Kendall Campbell, Women's Soccer
"My time in Panama was truly a blessing from God. While we were there, we were able to help paint and repair a few churches. We were also given the opportunity to visit different schools. At the schools we got to speak to the students and faculty. I thoroughly enjoyed playing a variety of sports with the kids and deepening my understanding of where they come from and what they experience on a day-to-day basis. Despite most of the students coming from less fortunate backgrounds, they had attitudes that exemplified gratitude and joy. It brought smiles to our faces to see how joyful they are and be able to spread the love of Jesus to them. This trip was an amazing experience and I highly encourage other student athletes to go in the future!" 
 
 




Matty Walsh, Men's Water Polo
"I was blessed to be able to go on my first mission trip to Panama with an amazing group of people who are filled with God's spirit. Being able to go to a different country and share how God is in all of our lives and how He impacted my life was an opportunity of a lifetime. We were able to enjoy the talents God has gifted each of us through playing sports with the kids of Panama. I was also blessed to have God show me a sign while on the trip and show me His unfailing love for all of us. God showed me that timing is not important and that we all are on different levels in our relationship with Him and that no matter where we are in that relationship, He loves us all equally."
 



Dane Howell, Men's Water Polo
"Panama was a surreal experience that I am blessed to have been a part of. The hardest part of our mission trip was having to come back home. Every day was filled with hard work but there was not a single moment I did not cherish. The citizens of Panama were very friendly and were ready to hear about our Christian testimonies. Every day we were met with local Panamanians that wanted to hear about God. We were able to spread love, help, and the word of God throughout the trip. We used activities and sports to create a connection with each person and then were able to create a conversation around God. Going to local churches and providing help in numerous ways gave us more opportunities to spread the gospel. This experience gave me a whole new perspective on the world. Despite poverty, the people of Panama were rich in community, love, and acceptance. I am very grateful for the opportunity to go on this mission trip and I have recommended it to numerous people if they get the chance next year." 
 



Tony Dambra, Men's Water Polo
"Personally, I have been fortunate enough to be a part of a handful of different mission trips and experiences of spreading God's word and showing his love throughout my life. After embarking on the trip to Panama with some of my fellow athletes and peers, I can say with sure confidence that this was a unique, and once in a lifetime experience. If possible, I would say to make this mandatory for all our student-athletes but I don't have that power so for now I will share with you some of the moments that made this trip so magical and hope that with my words I can influence others to go and help donors understand what they are funding. There are two sides to this trip; first is what we actually did, which was a combination of playing sports with children and bringing the joy of God into their lives. We also did a lot of sanding, repainting, and reorganizing churches, having small group discussions with the kids about their lives, and where they can find God throughout their lives despite the hardships. Lastly, visiting a Native Panamanian Tribe which was completely disconnected from society. Truly all crazy experiences filled with learning moments and amazing people. As for the second side of the trip, that is much more of an important factor in my eyes, which is what the trip actually does for you as a person. Going through all these experiences you truly cannot deny God's Existence, His Love, His Compassion, His Strength, and His Unique ability to connect people. Sitting down with these kids seeing how little they have but how much joy is in their hearts is baffling. Being raised in the United States and having the privilege of attending Pepperdine, I find myself still having something to complain about really slapped me in the face. Of these kids and families, we met, some of them don't know when or where their next meal is coming, yet they still have a smile on their faces and trust in God and his plan that he will provide. It is said that we are supposed to go there and help the people of Panama. I know we did a lot of work and worked for hours on end. Still, I don't think it comes close to the amount of work that the people of Panama did on my heart and the hearts of my peers for that matter. Every experience truly left me contemplating how I ever didn't trust God in moments of my life or took his love for granted. A truly unique experience for me was prior to coming to Panama I found myself constantly worrying over the uncertainty of God's plan and where I am supposed to be in life. On night one we gathered as a group and I shared my uncertainty about God's plan, and my inability to fully trust in God. Day 2 came around and we were working with Sportsquest, a fellow mission group down in Panama. The task for the day was to come into an elementary school and work with the 1st, 3rd, and 5th graders, sharing a couple of verses from the Bible describing our story, and how to trust in God, as well as playing soccer and with the big rainbow parachute. As I said before, trusting God's plan is something I struggled with and prayed for with the group the night before. As we were meeting in small groups with the 1st graders, we expressed our stories and how God has impacted our lives, after they wanted to give us all hugs and high-fives. During this, I was laughing and smiling with the kids high-fiving them all and all of a sudden, I felt these arms wrap around my back and a small little girl jumped on me and embraced me. I turn to look at her and all I see is Jesus hugging me back saying I love you my son and I want your worry to wash away and trust in my plan. I have never been so overwhelmed with love and in that moment, I found myself having to run to the bathroom where I broke down in tears. The Lord will answer your prayers and to have this experience in this moment was truly life-changing for me. The impact this had on me will forever last and my trust in God grew to new heights I never thought were possible. Changing me for the better as a person. I know you might question, well that happens to be your experience but I will tell you that it was not the only answered prayer on the trip. Plenty of my peers during the trip expressed how their eyes were opened to something they had been struggling with. This trip will make a mark on anyone who attends and truly is such an amazing experience. My favorite in my time at Pepperdine."

Tori Waldeck, Women's Soccer
My time is Panamá was filled with so much joy from the Lord. I had no expectations going into the missions trip and was there to serve the Lord and share his story to the people of Panamá. Each day I was there offered something different and a new way to let people know the good news. I was able to use my passion for teaching children and let them know that Jesus loves them. I was able to share my love for soccer with a boys high school team and show them the realities of being a collegiate athlete. I was able to share my story with a group of high school students and let them know that being a Christian is not easy but the Lord is with you every step of the way. I was able to create bonds with fellow student athletes at Pepperdine that I never thought I would create relationships with. And lastly I was able to see the Lord work in my life and show me the joy I have when I am seeking him and honoring him. The week is Panamá was truly something special and I am extremely grateful the Lord blessed me with this opportunity.  
 





Leah Doherty, Fellowship of Christian Athletes
It was a privilege to be able to experience serving the people of Panama, and equally so, how they ministered to our team. It was such an encouragement to see the ways the Lord is moving through the missionaries and churches we partnered with in Panama. I came back encouraged by how vast the Lord's love is, to every nation, tribe and tongue. The theme verse for the trip  was John 13:35. "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." It was incredible to see how the Lord used the testimonies of the Pepperdine student-athletes to reach and truly show the Lord's love to the children in Panama. I was so impressed with how each student-athlete was quick to step out in boldness to share their faith and the hope we have in Jesus! International mission trips can be so life transforming and an opportunity to put faith into practice.