Dear El Salvador,
I just wanted to write and let you know how truly loved you are. To tell you how consummately beautiful you are. To tell you how much you completely and utterly changed my world.
You have become more than just a place to live. You have become a home. You have become loved, more than you even know. All of you. All of the wonderful people you hold. All of the grand stories you tell. All of the vast treasures you contain. It’s all loved. Not only by me, but by the one you’re named after. By the Savior. By your father. He loves you so much and He is ready to work in you and call your people into His love. He wants you! Don’t ever believe the things the world says about you. Don’t ever believe that you are damned. That you have no hope. Don’t ever believe that the gangs are too bad to be redeemed. Don’t ever believe that all the murders and violence make you unwanted or awful. Your father is calling your name. He wants you. He wants to work miracles in you, so let Him! Let Him into your life daily! Let him love you for all of the magnificent things you are!
You are so beautiful. From the toothless smiles your children claim to the seafoam green lakes at the pits of your volcanoes. You occupy exquisite flowers with details like no other, elegant waterfalls with powerful streams, and astounding people; each with a sublime story of their own. You have these sunsets and stars that tend to blow me away perpetually. I have never seen such a beauty. You are so cared for. Abba paints your beauty daily. He takes the time to put all the colors of the rainbow vividly into your sunsets. He makes sure all of your ravishing forests are covered with every shade of every color. He makes sure theres a light shining extra bright onto your moon and stars. He takes the time to make the water in your pools crystal clear. The truth is though that even without all of these things you would still be beautiful because of all the captivating people He has given you. Some of which love Him, and some of which don’t; but He still calls them remarkable. He still loves them. He still wants them. He still gifts them with your beauty. With your magnificence.
You’re impact on my life has not been minuscule. In fact when I try and describe how you have imprinted on me, I can’t find the words. You have touched my heart in so many ways. Everything about you is so different from anything I’ve experienced before. You have pushed me out of all comfort zones I ever had. Your people have shown me more love and joy than I ever though was possible. Your mesmerizing sights have brought me closer to my father. You have completely shattered all my expectations.
As I prepare to leave in a few short days, I realize how thankful I am for you. I realize how much I love you. How much your people mean to me. If I felt it was what God wanted for me, I would stay with you forever. I would continue to love your children and cherish you’re adventures. I will never forget the lessons you taught me or the memories you gave me. There were days where I wanted nothing to do with you. All I wanted was to go back home; but now I can’t imagine being anywhere else. I will forever love you and your people. I can’t wait to come visit you again.
With much love,
Annie Grace
