Let me tell you, time here in El Salvador has been amazing. Our host family spoils us and this country is so beautiful. I think at this point we have experienced the world race at it’s finest.
Yesterday was a very long day, but such an amazing day. We woke up at 6 to go do kindergarten ministry and went to two different schools. We sang songs with the kids and it was super fun to see their cute smiles. We made crowns the night before that we gave to them with a verse on it.
Originally the plan for the day was supposed to be after morning ministry, we would go home eat lunch and rest to prepare for night ministry. Well on the race, you can’t believe anything until it’s actually happening. We ended up going to the mall on public transportation for lunch because we didn’t have a ride quite yet. Then, we were informed that there was an explosion near where we lived, so roads were closed. I shouldn’t of been surprised that we ended up at the mall all day. We left at 5 to go ministry and we took another public bus. I never realized how many people you can truly fit in one bus. Crazy stuff. We get 5 minutes down the road and hit dead stop traffic, awesome. We stood on the bus for a good 30 minutes and then our ministry host decided we would walk.
We then proceeded to walk on the side of the interstate in El Salvador in the dark and let me tell you, I was a little sketched out. It ended up being completely fine, but we got a good workout walking for an hour to ministry. (training camp prepared us well) Then we got pupusas for dinner, what a shocker.
I honestly was not excited for ministry because the day had dragged on. Pan Y Chocolate is the name of the ministry a branch of our church does with homeless people. For the ministry they feed the people and share the gospel with them. Before I do something I always subconsciensly have an image in my mind of what it will be like. I thought this would just be like a soup kitchen in the states. Boy was I completely wrong.
We were split into groups of 3 from the racers and then added to a group of people from the church. I was with Ethan and Tara from the river jumpers. All of us loved this ministry. We arrived at our first site and walked down the street. The first person I saw was a pregnant girl named Sophia who was very high. I had conversations with her as best I could, but she was just all over the place. I asked how her old she was and her answer killed me. 14, this 14 year old girl who sells her body is living on the streets high and with a baby on the way. This is not how its supposed to be. I have never seen so many homeless people in my life. It broke my heart so much. They were so poor, spiritually and physically. It reeked of a very strong smell that I found out was glue they were all stiffing. We got to pray over them in spanish and english. I was just so humbled for how blessed I am.
Please pray for Sophia and all the other people being touched by this ministry. Pray that their hearts are softened and that they will listen to what we have to say.
“I’m in awe of you. I am so content right now, as I sit on the edge of a pickup truck. I watched the clouds roll over the beautiful mountains as we listened to Difference Maker by NeedToBreathe. I couldn’t help but believe those words. I am making a difference with even just sharing my God given smile. This place gets more beautiful as it gets darker, the silhouette of the mountains with the sun setting behind it. God gave me so much peace on the ride home tonight.”
I just wanted to finish off this blog by sharing a journal entry from the other night. I am so happy to be here and can’t wait to see what all God is going to do.
Xoxo, Hailey
