HOLA!
Buenos Dias from El Salvador!
For those of you who don't know, I left for the world race on Monday!!
I flew into Ft. Lauderdale for my last few days of training which were held here
Check out the video my team made the day before we left @ http://t.co/IoTNZNkD
We arrived safely in San Salvador yesterday around 1 p.m. (central time)! The flight, only 2 hours long, was uneventful considering most of the squad fell asleep as soon as the plane took off! By the time we boarded, it had already been a long day:
3:30 AM Wake up call
3:30-4:00 AM Pack & Clean
4:15 AM Begin the mile long trek to our bus stop
4:45 AM Get on the bus to the train station
5:00 AM Ride the train to the airport
5:30-10:30 AM Check in & Wait to board the airplane
After landing we had some trouble getting through customs because we didn’t know the exact address of where we were staying but an hour or so later we were on our way! My team was the first to get through so we grabbed our bags and went to meet our host.
They welcomed us with open arms. They were so excited to see us and us them! As soon as the girls caught a glimpse of us “gringos” they began jumping up and down and motioning us toward them. They immediately greeted us with hugs, kisses, and smiles. It was awesome!
Then began the 2 hour wait for the rest of our squad to get through. No joke. 
[NOTE: Now in the states when you go through customs I’m pretty sure only suspicious looking characters are selected to be searched and patted down BUT here in El Salvador it’s determined by 3 traffic lights! Each line has a traffic light with a button everyone must push before being handed back your passport. If the light turns green, you may go. If the light turns red, a buzzer goes off and you are searched! Thankfully, only one person on our entire squad was searched.]
Once we got everyone through, the boys began loading our bags into/on top of all the vehicles. We said our goodbyes to all the other teams but one. It was weird/sad to leave all of them because since training camp and these last 4 days we have always been altogether.
(Jaime got in the way)
Soon we were on our way! An hour later my team along with another from our squad arrived at our host's home. We gathered in the living room to make introductions and hear a little about what we would be doing during our month here. My team is staying with a girl named Cindy. She has some friends staying here as well to help with translating and go with us to our ministry sites. Their names are Susie, Bertrice, Amy, and Jenny. They all understand English very well and they are able to speak it too!
I was so impressed by these women, some of them younger than me but each very passionate about bringing Christ to the people of their country. They proceeded to tell us how honored and excited THEY were for US to be here and that they admired our willingness to leave behind our family and our home to further God's kingdom but truthfully we are the honored ones.
Afterward we braved the busy streets of San Salvador to find something for dinner. Here's where we ended up & it was fabulous!
beans & cheese corn pupusa (left)
beans & cheese rice pupusa (right)
I don't know if they were so good because we were all starving but we all raved about them and look forward to eating pupsas again 🙂
left side of the table: me, susie, dura, melissa, jenny, erica, leslie, paige
right side of the table: leah, cindy, andrea, peggy, juan carlos, joe, beka, josh
After dinner we went home and our hosts asked to share a devotional with us and to lead us in a time of worship. Juan Carlos played guitar and Cindy sang. Whenever we knew a song in English we would join in with them and it was so neat to hear the two languages combined praising the one true God! 
Finally, I want to tell you some of the ministiries we will be involved with over the next 3-4 weeks:
– performing dramas, leading worship, and sharing testimonies for youth at 2 churches
– taking food to the homeless in the city center & start conversation in hopes to share the gospel
– visiting & praying over children with brain paralysis
– singing, acting, and playing with orphans
That is all I can remember right now but it sounds like we will be super busy. I can't wait to begin!
