Contentment.

Here we are in April. APRIL!  I don't understand how it is already April.  And we are going home...next month.  It is very hard for me to find a want to go home, I mean I am excited to see my family and friends but that is about it.  El Salvador has become my home, in a house with 11 other brothers and sisters.  I love so much being able to walk down the street and buy fruit and a bag of water. I love walking to catch a bus or a micro.  I love living with 11 other people.  I love having worship at night with my family.  I love sleeping with the windows open and fans blowing. I love my little babies at Exodo.  I love the sweet men at Metamorphosis.  I have recently found myself in a state of contentment in different situations that I wouldn't expect myself to be content.  It's one of the most peaceful things I've ever felt.  I'm not talking about contentment in my walk The Lord.  I have been experiencing pure joy, happiness, and contentment, which is coming straight from The Lord. 

Last week was Semana Santa (Holy Week)  so we didn't have Spanish class, Bible Class or any of our normal ministries.  We went to the beach, the mountains, Ataco, a waterfall, the movies, and we were able to see one of the processions that the Catholics do each day and night.  The day we went to Ataco, the waterfall and to see the procession was probably my favorite day.  Especially because we swam in the pool of water under the waterfall.  Oh man. And the lunch I ate in Ataco was amazing.  I'm talking authentic Salvadoran. :)  On Saturday, we spent all day at a park/field helping a team that came from Indiana.  And there was a soccer tournament and activities for younger kids. They are some awesome people!  Our group performed the Lifehouse Skit for the teens that were there.

Next week we are going to work with a group from Georgia all week.  It's actually a group from Woodstock First Baptist, which is also Lane's church! So it'll be a different but a good week!

"I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.  I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all this through him who gives me strength."  -Philippians 4:10-13




                                                                   
                                                                 My Lovely Family :)

                                             

                                            Our team with the team from Indiana.



My heart has been melted.

Everything is still ging great here!  We recently started a new ministry with one of the near by schools!  Last Thursday was the first day, we went on a field trip/retreat with them.  We helped the high schoolers with the younger kids and the activities they had planned.  It was a great day! At the end each group broke into small groups.  Abigail was able to give her testimony in Spanish to the group of kids we were with.  It was so amazing to watch her glorify the Lord.  At the end a woman walked around and prayed for each of us, the kids, the high schoolers, and the three of us gringas.  It was definitely a blessing, even though she was speaking very fast and in Spanish it was such a beautiful blessing. 

The past two weeks at Exodo have been so wonderful! (Not that all the other times haven't been wonderful because they have!)  But, I was able to help some of the boys with their homework and even though some of them didn't want to, it was a blessing for me to be able to help them.  And again, this past week we helped most of them with their homework. But those who didn't have homework or finished we just showed them love and played with them.  I was able to braid Carolina's hair, which I usually do each week.  Before I came here I could not really french braid at all and now i can! Thanks to Carolina for letting me do her hair each week. :)  I also spent some time with Ceaser who except for the week before I haven't really spent much time with him.  Well let me tell you, he just melted my heart.  The picture below is of Ceaser when we first got here so he has grown up some.  Each week I fall more and more in love with these kids.  It already breaks my heart just when I think about leaving them in only 2 months. 

 

Next week is Holy Week so we won't have any of our normal ministries or classes.  It's a surprise as to what we will be doing!

 

      " nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

-Romans 8:38-39

"...Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel."

Parent's week has just ended and it was such a blessing to have some of the parents here including mine!  We did many different things, Monday we went to La Puerta de Diablo.  Tuesday we went to look at some Mayan ruins and Metamorphosis.  Wednesday we went to El Tunco which is the beach!  Thursday the parents attended our Bible Class and then we went to Exodo!  Friday was a free day so Leah's parents, my parents and I went to a volcano and got coffee at this beautiful place in the mountains.  Later that night we ate pupusas in the mountains for dinner!  During this week my parents were able to experience life here in El Salvador including the crazy micro rides, walking through the city, the pupusas, and some of our different ministries!

Beautiful place where we got coffee :)

My parents and I at Puerta de Diablo!

My dad at Exodo!

So about two or three weeks ago I decided that I wanted to be baptized again.  This is actually something that has been in the back of mind probably for the past 4 years or so.  (I now realize that that thought in the back of my mind was God)  I couldn't let my pride hold me any longer from doing what He wanted me to do.  So since my parents were coming in about 2 or 3 weeks they were able to see me be baptized in the ocean!


At El Tunco being baptized! :)

Brant led a Bible Study which was quite convicting.  I was only there for two of them because I stayed at the hotel with my parents two other nights. 

 

"All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.  We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.  God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

-2 Corinthians 5:18-21

 (Reconciliation: the action of making one view or belief compatible with another) 
"...And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation."  God has reconciled the good news to us, His children, to go and share the salvation God has offered the world.  Our mission, our command is to go and share the gospel and make disciples. (Matthew 28:18-20)

Time seems to be flying by here, which makes me sad...it's almost March!  I have a feeling of urgency (which I need to have all the time) since we only have a short time left here.  An urgency to make a difference for the Kingdom of God, an urgency to learn as much as I can, including Spanish.  Like I said, I need to have to have this urgency at all times.  Actually, we as believers need to live with and urgency that Christ could come back at any moment.  (2 Timothy 4:2 and 2 Peter 3:10) 

"For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel." - 1 Corinthians 9:16

Beginning of the 2nd semester!

I haven't blogged since November and a lot has happened! We are now in our second semester! It was SO wonderful to see my family over our break! As we were landing in Atlanta I teared up a little bit. We went through customs and everything went for the most part, smoothly.  When we were at the last checkpoint the man told me to turn around and go to another room.  I thought other people were going to be sent to that room as well, but no. So I waited in line to have my bags checked again. I guess since I put that I brought back coffee and beans they had to check it again? I'm not really sure. But, the security lady didn't even check my bag after it went through the scanner so I walked out of that room to go through the checkpoint.  After that, I turned the corner and there was a huge crowd of people, no one I recognized might I add. I finally saw my parents and brother and then they met me as I walked to them! For the first week or so of being home it felt like I was in a dream and that the last four months had been a dream. I was able to see all of my family while I was at home! 

So, here we are in our second semester.  This past week we didn't do too much, we didn't go to Metamorphosis on Tuesday because the men didn't have work.  We did have Spanish classes Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  I thought going home and not hearing Spanish would make me lose some of my Spanish.  It seems that I have picked back up where I left off, I still have SO much to learn though!

During the break, the four that stayed really strengthened their relationship with the boys down the road at Parque Pelota! (Which is where we go and play soccer!) So a lot of the boys have been coming to youth group and to church! Last Sunday some of us went and played with them and we did today too! :) It was a lot of fun and I already can't wait for next week!

Hopefully I'll blog again soon! :)

Mark 16:15: "He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation'"

Give God what is God's.

This past week was parent’s week and it was such a blessing to have some of the parents, Johnny, and Hannah here.  Allison’s parents, Thomas’ mom, and Mitch’s mom all came to experience a part of our lives here!  We went to Puerto de Diablo which was absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!  It was so cool to sit on the edge of the mountain and just look at a tiny piece of God’s creation, which looks enormous to us!!! Ah, it was so breath taking… literally the view and the walk up there was very breath taking! But well worth it!  Having the parents here made me almost feel like my parents were here too… well almost! It made me pretty excited to see my family in December!  Although, while I’m excited to see them I have to keep my focus here! As our break in December is getting closer I am getting excited but also kind of nervous.  I know the person that I left as in August is long gone I just don't want that person to creep back.  I want to stay the person that God has broken and built back up and hidden Himself in.. and I want to continue to grow in Him.


Michayla and I at Puerto de Diablo

Sunday after church Abigail invited two of the girls to go to lunch with us at Multi Plaza.  These two girls, Raquel and Felizicata (I don’t know how to spell her name) are 12 and 14, who walked to church from their home.  So after we ate, Abigail, Holly, Anna and I walked with them to their house so we would know they would get home safely.  We walked in almost in a complete circle from Multi Plaza and around the church to the entrance of their neighborhood.  These are the sweetest girls, my heart was just so joyful after we hugged and said goodbye to them.  They said that they would come next Sunday to church, hopefully we will see them!  :) Then we decided that we would just walk the rest of the way home instead of taking a microbus and plus, it wasn’t that far.
 
Yesterday, Andrew, Thomas, Parker, Allison and I went to the gym and then after Thomas had the idea that we should go find someone and ask them what they need. So we walked to the "barrio" type neighborhood and we talked to the first lady we saw. Before we knew it there were four other people standing with us. So, they walked with us to Walmart and on the way all of us Gringos were walking kind of fast ahead of the women because they were carrying there kids and walking with them. So each of us helped carry them. I carried a baby down the highway named Ella Alejandro...I think was her name. She was the sweetest little baby I carried her almost the whole time we were in Walmart until her mom took her back...ah she was just adorable

At church on Sunday a man named George was a guest speaker.  He did a phenomenal job by the way.  I pretty much sat there with my mouth wide open while I took notes.  He talked about how God created us to be a dwelling place for God and a whole lot more.  One of the scriptures he gave us was Matthew 22:21.

“…Then he said to them, 'Give to Caeser what is Caeser’s, and to God what is God’s.'” –Matthew 22:21

George explained that we mostly just take this verse and think oh, we just need to pay our taxes. But there is SO much more to it than that.  What we need to understand from this is that we were created BY God in HIS image therefore we are God’s.  So, we must surrender ourselves completely and give ourselves to God.  And I have felt convicted because of this verse.  Especially for next year and the rest of my life.  I want to do what God has planned for me to do... whatever that means.  Because I am God's, I want to give myself to Him.  Right now, I'm trying to seek God as much as I can so I can hear God.  I've also been looking for and praying that God would give me confirmation on what he wants me to do.  I just need to be still... and have peace that God will guide and direct me.... because he won't leave me.

1 John 4:11-12

Last Thursday was our two month mark for living here.  I am still having trouble believing that we have been living here for over 2 months.  Before we know it, it’ll be December 15 I will be going back to the states for Christmas.  Exodo this past week was AMAZING! (It is every time) I really feel like we are creating relationships with the kids and teenagers there.  Abigail, Leah and I spent Thursday with the little girls!  We played duck, duck goose with them and we taught them a dance that our Spanish teacher, Tuty, taught to us.  It was so much fun, they truly bring so much joy to my heart.  I pretty much want to bring every single one of those girls home with me. 

 

  This past Wednesday was first time that the girls were allowed to go out on our own!  4 or more girls are now allowed to go out to multiplaza or walk to a restaurant close to our house, it’s pretty exciting!  So on Wednesday all of us girls went to Starbucks to have our Bible study!  After we finished we got up to leave and sitting at a table near us was a man that spoke English, so we started talking to him. It was really cool because talked with him for about 10 minutes and then we prayed with him.  When we left Multi Plaza we walked to get on a micro to head home.  And God is definitely watching out for us because as we turned the corner there was a 42 micro sitting at the stop and so we walked and got on it to head home.  This also happened Saturday when 5 of us girls went out to Multi Plaza.  Also on Saturday we had youth group which was really good!  After, we went to Mc Donalds and ate and then I went with Andrew, Parker, Thomas, Daniel, and Freddy to go watch them play soccer.  The place we went to only allowed men to play so I watched, which was fun too! :)

^" Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."  -1 John 4:11-12

God is working in crazy ways! :)

So I haven't blogged in a while. But since then I have still been enjoying life here in El Salvador! :) The new orphanage, "La casa de mi Padre" is really cool!  We have been there twice, hopefully we will start creating more relationships with the kids there. It is absolutely crazy that on the 18th we will have been here for a 2 months! I can't believe it! This past week I was having some health issues and so was Abigail (we are both okay though!) So on Monday Mario took Abigail and me to the doctor, and Leah came with me for moral support. :) So we went to Abigail's doctor that she was seeing first and Mario went in with her to translate. After, we went to the hospital to see the doctor I was seeing, Mario had to leave to go pick up his kids and Silivia to take them home. So it was just us girls seeing the doctor with no translator... So Abigail knows more Spanish than Leah and I do so she helped translate for me alot! Later she said that it was God who helped her translate and that she thinks that God may be telling her to be a translator. And then we got to thinking... What if the reason both of us were having health issues was for God to show Abigail that she is supposed to be a medical translator or a translator of some sort? Cool, huh?

       A few weeks ago we all tried to send letters, so we sent letters with some of the people for them to send when they went to the post office.  Turns out, the post office was on strike.  But it is back and running now!
      One of my MANY favorite things to do here is to go up on our roof and either just spend some quiet time with God or to marvel at the lightening when there are storms. Which here in El Salvador storms happen a lot! Today after church I rode with Guillermo on the back of his motorcycle to Multi Plaza and then to Roberto’s house to watch the Barca/Real game! I'm beginning to feel a little bit like a legit Salvadoran. (except I still stick out like a sore thumb)Some other people from our group were supposed to come but they got lost so they decided not come.  So I was the only person from our group that was there, which was completely fine and I also got to practice my Spanish a little bit more. :)
      The weeks seem to be flying by, which is kinda scary!!! Before we know it, it will be December and we will be half way through our year!!! I guess its good that it’s going by fast, that means I am enjoying it! Hopefully I will be able to blog again soon!