Well, I have officially been in Salvador for 3 weeks! (I applogize that this is my first blog! I have been busy since the moment I landed in El Salvador, but I will do my best to blog more often!) It has been a huge adjustment, especially for someone who has never wandered outside of the US except for a few missions trips in high school about an hour into Mexico! Although I must admit, I’ve adjusted much faster than I thought I would!! God has given me such a peace about my decision to follow Him this next year, and He has taken away all reservations!
Well since arriving in El Salvador, we have truly been spoiled by our wonderful host, Juan Carlos. He is a younger man of God who speaks broken English and has been more than a blessing to our team. He has made El Salvador sooo much fun and provided us with so many ways to serve the community! We constantly joke around and make every situation fun! He has already given me 3 nicknames: China (because I have closed eyes in the morning), Gordita (because my ID picture has fat cheeks!!), and Tweety Bird (I have nooo idea why haha). We are amigos del alma (soul friends haha) And he’s our Juanito Carlito. We are learning so much from his joyful spirit and heart for God.
So far our mission has involved physical labor, testimonies, and a lot of kids!! We are helping the sweetest pastor ever, Pastor Noah, with getting his second church ready for its inauguration. This means we’ve been clearing cornfields with machetes, spreading dirt with wheelbarrows, and moving rocks and leaves! All of this in 100 degree weather, at least! We’ve also gotten to share our testimonies with various churches. I was most worried about this part of the race, especially since my stomach used to turn before speeches in high school about making a PB and J in front of 20 classmates! Well, I’m proud to say that I gave my testimony through a translator to 60+ El Salvadorians at an outdoor church service!! My teammates felt that God wanted me to speak, so I did!! I had about 5 minutes to prepare, and God did the rest. And lastly, the kids. My heart has been stolen over and over again, as expected. These children are the sweetest little things ever! Its going to take everything in me to not sneak one back to the states with me. Ill need prayer in this department!!
I cannot believe how much I have experienced in such a short amount of time! So I figured the best way to communicate all I have seen and done is in a list of I haves…. Here goes!!
I have developed complex relationships with team members and people in the community, expecially my host Juanito Carlito!
I have experienced new “comida” or food prepared by our hosts and small mom and pop stands along the streets, especially Pupusas!! (They are like quesadillas, but the tortillas are thick and filled with cheese, beans, and carne asada, soooo good!)
I have cleared a field of corn and waist-high weeds with a machete and shovel for a church parking lot (In the most hot and humid weather. Ever.).
I went surfing in La Libertad, a famous surf spot in El Salvador, in the most beautiful and warm water.
I have provided a buffet to the millions of mosquitoes that consider gringa a delicacy!!
I have held the cutest little girl who called me “hermana mejor” or big sister like we had known each other our whole lives.
I have ridden in the back of a truck along the dirt, El Salvadorian streets with 7 other people while enjoying the breeze and rocks that fly up as big trucks pass.
I have gone swimming in a resort-like pool over-looking the ocean after a 7-hour workday shoveling dirt.
I have used my broken high school knowledge of Espanol to be the team translator for our host, pastors, and other El Salvadorians (including a nighttime devotion!!).
I have performed a skit for about 25 kids where I acted as the “loco” sheep in a herd where one sheep was lost and the Sheppard had to find it and bring it back to the herd.
I have shared my testimony with over 60 El Salvadorian people.
I have wandered through "the dangerous" neighborhood in El Salvador and prayed over people struggling with miscarriages, cancer, and broken families.
I have contributed to the World Record for the most people you can fit on one bus (It HAD to have been the record!!)
I have seen the beginning stages of a passion that God is brewing in me!! And I am learning what surrender looks like…
There is an overwhelming amount that has taken place this past week, and I am positive that I am forgetting to mention things, but to help communicate El Salvador to you, I put together a video of pictures and videos, because words on a page can only show the tip of the iceberg! Ive been trying to post it for a while now, and the internet always cuts out at 90% so Ill try to get that up ASAP
Love and miss you all!
