We are almost to the end of our first semester. Let me just explain to you guys how good God has been to all of us: He has kept us safe wherever we go, he gave us an awesome transportation dude, Wilber (who is basically apart of our family now). He has let us witness to a lot of people, as well as invite them to church (The church was PACKED last Sunday we went from like 45 people to around 65). On top of that He has let our whole group become better and better at speaking in Spanish, our whole group gets along extremely well (although once in a while we do get on each others nerves - but that happens). He gave us an AMAZING cook, Carmen. Carmen has been a blessing to all of us in too many ways to describe. Oh, and Cam the man. One of the most Godliest leaders we could have asked for. He answers all our questions about the Bible, and leads some of the greatest Bible studies I have been apart of. We are so blessed, and so thankful. It has really been something else to see God work.
We just celebrated Thanksgiving. and I really missed my family. It wasn't the same with out them, of course, but I am so thankful to have them supporting me and Parker while we are here. We ate an incredible thanksgiving dinner with some of our church family. Just a year ago (I think) El Salvador adopted black Friday, so the malls were pretty crowded. I remember I went to go get candy for some pinatas we have and it took me forever! Friday night we went to a graduation ceremony for a person from our church. It was really fun!
One thing I remember myself thinking when we first got here was - "Why don't we go pass out Bible verses or just do something during our free time other that just sit around." I was trying to think of something to do. Basically tell as many people about Jesus as I could, in other words. And, while this is not bad, I have learned more specifically that Jesus called us to make disciples - not run around everywhere. Make disciples. Hmmm how can we do that? Answer: build relationships. Address people's needs. Put yourself in their situation. 1 Corinthians 9:20. Our group has immersed ourselves in the El Salvadoreno culture and God has let us impact them and have them open our hearts to us. In the orphanages we get to play soccer with the kids each time we go (Soccer - thats all we do, except for sometimes we eat limes and then chuck them at people still playing soccer). Sometime last week Thomas had an idea to take a trip to the slums (and I mean shacks, dirt floor, unbelievable, and very humbling).Oh, and the slums are right across from 3 huge malls. Slums next to huge name brands. Something doesn't make sense. So off we go - Parker, Thomas, 2 of the girls, and me. (later we figure our that the slums are gang controlled and police have nothing to to with the slums because they are too dangerous). We go in and ask this on later (probably in her 20s) if she needed anything for her family - food, clothing - anything. She said yes, and made a list for us to go get for her. Word spread around in the slums pretty quick that we were getting necesities for them and eventually we had about 5 other people giving us a list. Long story short - they came to walmart with us and they got everything they needed. And I mean everything. It was awesome. (oh, and parker and me got to zoom around their kids in shopping carts, that was definitely my favorite part.) So, afterwards we invited them to church. (We usually invited people to church, even if it's a random person we meet that day, and usually only a couple have showed up - so weren't too sure if they were going to come). Well they came. And they brought their friends too. And their friends brought their kids. It was awesome to see how one small act of kindness (like addressing someones needs) turned out to be a blessing to the church. I was so excited. How awesome God is. This was last Sunday when they came. I asked the them if they were coming again, and they said yes! So I can't wait to see them again tomorrow.
So other than that we are at our regular ministries. They keep on getting better and better since we are getting to know everyone better the later on it gets. Sooner or later the first semester will be over! Time has gone by so fast... Parker and I are not coming back in December. We are staying here with Mario's (our pastor) family and Lane and Holly, two of the other girls on our team. We have an opportuity to work at Pizza Hut, or help a small little restaurante serve food,and even some food stores in the mall Mario said he could hook us up with. I don't know what I am going to do, but I know that I am going to be a cobrador (bus boy) for sure. It is the absolute funnest thing to down here. Is it dangerous? Duh. But I love it so much. Parker and me have some new buddies in route 42 and they said whenever we wanna help we can give them a call. I am so excited. They even gave me a free ride when I wasn't working! I feel called to witness to them and people at the point (the point is where the buses rest and the drives and cobradors eat and chill). Mostly all the points for the different routes are controlled by gangs and the buses have to pay a protection fee to the gangs. It is a little dangerous, but I know I am called to go there and invite them to church and talk to them about Jesus. So that's what I will be doing over december for the most part when our group returns for Christmas. I am so excited.
Thats about it.
Think about this:
Romans 13:10
Romans 2:11
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Closer to Jesus
Wow, I haven't wrote in a while - 2 months actually. A lot has happened. The rainy season is over so its a little cooler, the election has come and passed, God has brought us closer as a family, and many other things.
This past week was parents week and Thomas' and Mitch's moms came, and Allison parents came. It was such an awesome week we were able to do a lot of things and take a break (somewhat) from our regular schedule).
In fact, this past Tuesday when we were at Metamorphosis a person got saved. (I was wrong when I thought everyone at the prison ministry was already saved. Apparently they just have to have really good behaviour to work there). Hector had been told about Jesus many times, but this past Tuesday Mario (our pastor) talked to him and Hector decided to commit his life to Jesus. How awesome. However, there are a couple others there who still haven't made this decision. So please pray for Hector as he is a new believer, and any others at that need to trust Jesus as their only way.
The other week we had the opportunity to help set up for an organization called Johnny and Friends (Founded by my hero Johhny Erikson Tada) We helped decorate and stuff like that. We also blew up a lot of pool inflatables. That was exhausting. The cool thing was we were at the beach though -Costa de Sol. The beach soccer team for El Salvador was there and we asked if we could practice with them and they let us. This was awesome! This team got 2nd place in the World Cup.
My favorite part here is at night. I usually go up on the roof and just stare at the stars, praying and listening to what God has to say. Our team has a lot of conversations about Jesus and we pray on the roof and all the good stuff like that happens on the roof at night. I love it. Something we have all learned recently is too ask God to tell us ways we can grow closer to Him. God wants us to come to Him and seek Him, and when we do He will seek us (Verse somewhere in James). If you are continually seeking God then you need to be asking Him ways you can grow closer to Him. What if there is a sin in our lives that we are blind to? What if God has been waiting for us to come to Him asking how we can grow closer to Him? What if He has been waiting to reveal something to us that is hindering our walk with Him? Remember that God wants ALL of you, and that you are as close to God as you choose to be (I learned this in my devotion I didn't make it up). You have control over the things that you chose to do each day, and when we chose to do something that either doesn't honor God, or something distracting that takes away from your quiet time, that is you not choosing to be as close to God as you can be.
December is coming up soon, and that means all of our our team is going back home for a month except for Me, Parker, Holly, and Lane. During December the four of us will be staying at the same house and Mario and his family will move in for the month with us. On Christmas we are planning on going down to the city to serve the homeless and people who don't have any gifts. I can't wait.
So - for all the people that think El Salvador is "so dangerous," it's not. Although they have riot police here almost everywhere, the trouble you find here you can find anywhere. "The safest place to be is the center of God's will." I have no idea who that quote is from.
Love you guys!
This past week was parents week and Thomas' and Mitch's moms came, and Allison parents came. It was such an awesome week we were able to do a lot of things and take a break (somewhat) from our regular schedule).
In fact, this past Tuesday when we were at Metamorphosis a person got saved. (I was wrong when I thought everyone at the prison ministry was already saved. Apparently they just have to have really good behaviour to work there). Hector had been told about Jesus many times, but this past Tuesday Mario (our pastor) talked to him and Hector decided to commit his life to Jesus. How awesome. However, there are a couple others there who still haven't made this decision. So please pray for Hector as he is a new believer, and any others at that need to trust Jesus as their only way.
The other week we had the opportunity to help set up for an organization called Johnny and Friends (Founded by my hero Johhny Erikson Tada) We helped decorate and stuff like that. We also blew up a lot of pool inflatables. That was exhausting. The cool thing was we were at the beach though -Costa de Sol. The beach soccer team for El Salvador was there and we asked if we could practice with them and they let us. This was awesome! This team got 2nd place in the World Cup.
My favorite part here is at night. I usually go up on the roof and just stare at the stars, praying and listening to what God has to say. Our team has a lot of conversations about Jesus and we pray on the roof and all the good stuff like that happens on the roof at night. I love it. Something we have all learned recently is too ask God to tell us ways we can grow closer to Him. God wants us to come to Him and seek Him, and when we do He will seek us (Verse somewhere in James). If you are continually seeking God then you need to be asking Him ways you can grow closer to Him. What if there is a sin in our lives that we are blind to? What if God has been waiting for us to come to Him asking how we can grow closer to Him? What if He has been waiting to reveal something to us that is hindering our walk with Him? Remember that God wants ALL of you, and that you are as close to God as you choose to be (I learned this in my devotion I didn't make it up). You have control over the things that you chose to do each day, and when we chose to do something that either doesn't honor God, or something distracting that takes away from your quiet time, that is you not choosing to be as close to God as you can be.
December is coming up soon, and that means all of our our team is going back home for a month except for Me, Parker, Holly, and Lane. During December the four of us will be staying at the same house and Mario and his family will move in for the month with us. On Christmas we are planning on going down to the city to serve the homeless and people who don't have any gifts. I can't wait.
So - for all the people that think El Salvador is "so dangerous," it's not. Although they have riot police here almost everywhere, the trouble you find here you can find anywhere. "The safest place to be is the center of God's will." I have no idea who that quote is from.
Love you guys!
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