As I sit here on my off day of ministry, I sit and think about the country of El Salvador. To be honest, my race has been pretty easy when it comes to seeing poverty, brokenness and violence. Don’t get me wrong, I have seen my fair share of it. I’ve see big families living in a square tin shack, babies picking through the trash, and unconscious men lying on the streets. I have “taught” A LOT of English at public schools and wealthy private schools. I’ve mixed concrete, pulled weeds, and raked a fair share of leaves. I have also prayed over individuals, families, and buildings. I have casted out demons and prayed for healing in the name of Jesus. I have seen miracles happen as promised, and I have been restored by the Father.
This being month ten, I thought I have seen it all… but, I am wrecked by this country and my heart breaks for it’s people.
The ministry I am with this month is Youth With A Mission. YWAM has many ministries in San Salvador. Four days out of the week we pile into the back of a ford truck and go through the city to a community of 1000 families. I have not yet seen a house made of wood, only tin and plastic are the foundation of the homes. The community is ran by gang members. You can spot a gang member out by the way he carries himself, tatted up, tight faded haircut, and a cell phone either in his hand or up to his ear. When we come into the community we have to move big rocks out of the road to get through, the rocks are to slow the police down enough for the members to get a chance to make a run for it. We have a feeding program called The Kings Table, we are allowed into the community because some of the kids we feed are kids of some of the gang members. They know how important food is, so they let us come and feed the children. We also distribute bibles to the families of the community and invite them to an adult service held on Monday night.
On one of the other nights of the week we walked to two different corners to pray where prostitutes and transvestites prostitutes hang out. When we prayed, it was still daylight but there was so much darkness lingering where we were standing. The next week we went out after dinner carrying juice and cookies, hoping to strike up a conversation with someone. We met two groups, three men dressed as ladies, and three older ladies. They have been working on the streets from 3 years to 20 years. Some were my age and one started at the age of 14. None of them said they enjoyed their work, no one said this is what they have always wanted, it was the opposite of that. Some have other jobs, but they do not make enough money, and some would find other work if they could find a job that pays more than 10 dollars a day, because 10 dollars is the average amount they make a night. The 3 ladies have kids and that is why they are out there every night working their bodies to make money to feed their children. I experienced a little bit of this in Bangkok, some friends and I were out walking around the city and we found ourselves in the oldest red light district, it was awful. I had never been in place like that before. We walked through it, prayed, and went back to our hostel. Here was different, I heard their names, their struggles, their fears, and their prayers. Sometimes I forget how blessed I am, now I am thankful every time I lay my head down at night that I am alone in my own bed and not someone else’s.
Now, imagine, your hospital, it is clean, with A/C, bug free and friendly. Yeah, that is not the case here. Last night we went to the city hospital and gave out coffee and cookies. The hospitals here are a lot different, first they are not very clean, they are too over crowded there to get a nice cleaning so there is a smell. I was kind of in shock when we first arrived, there were so many people, everywhere. People in beds, people sharing beds, and beds just hanging out in the hallway. There was a waiting area outside the hospital, a place for the families waiting on their loved ones to get out of the emergency room or dialysis. Most of them have slept there for nights, sometimes over a week waiting for them to finish. Some come every week, living hours away traveling by the chicken bus, some have been doing this for many many years. I met one lady who is a fighter, and who holds more hope than I do. I admire her strength and her faith in God.
I have been here two weeks and the Lord is showing me so much. I am finding my strength in Him and Him alone, there are days I do not want to get out of bed, I call on Him and He gives me what I need to get up and get going. The enemy is attacking me physically and emotionally because of the good we are doing here. We are telling people “that their is hope, you are loved no matter your circumstances, God is faithful and God wants you to go to Him when times are hard.” The Father’s love is greater than anything else. I’m reminded of how blessed I am and I am so thankful for that. The Lord is working in the lives of the people of El Salvador, of YWAM, my team and my self.
Thank you to all my supporters who are lifting me up in prayer, and all who have donated towards my race. You all mean the world to me.
Thank you Jesus for who you are and what you are doing in my life and in the lives of others.
