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'"