Feeling poor in El SalvadorFeeling poor in El Salvador
Raise your hand if you have been to Panama City Beach, Florida to Pier Park in the past 2 years? Know how everything is really nice and slightly expensive? Well… that is how I kinda feel here in San Salvador, the capital. The country is very “Americanized”. They even use US currency! (Score at the ATM! I don’t have to worry about trading that money in later!) With temptation, I mean restaurants like Burger King, Pizza Hut, McDonalds and Wendy’s on every corner.. It is hard to believe that I am not in a city in Florida (minus the beach…) But, then again, this is the first time I am serving in a big city in a country. Mondays are our day off here in El Salvador and our first Monday, they took us to a mall and I just caved in. I felt poor in El Salvador. Stores that they run up and down main street in New York City are here. Maybe its just me being some ole’ country girl… but, I was not prepared for this!
But, on the flip side, I am feeling so rich and abundantly blessed! Our squad is in partnership with a ministry here in El Salvador called GPS, Generation prepared for Salvation. The best way I can describe it is similar to a D’NOW weekend that my church participates in-building community within living situations, outreach missions and service projects. People from GPS are divided into groups/contact hosts and instead of just a weekend, they host us for the month. I envision it as a large umbrella with Oscar, the lead/director/founder of GPS and all of our contacts are points under that umbrella.. Same purpose and goals, just different execution styles of getting there.
My host is Cindy. She lives in a beautiful house with her brother and new sister in law (who are expecting their first child in April! Aww! Big smiles!) Cindy is the main contact person but has two “assistants”, Suzy and Jen-who are amazing! (We also have Beya and Amy to help since Cindy and Jen are in university)
My host is Cindy. She lives in a beautiful house with her brother and new sister in law (who are expecting their first child in April! Aww! Big smiles!) Cindy is the main contact person but has two “assistants”, Suzy and Jen-who are amazing! (We also have Beya and Amy to help since Cindy and Jen are in university)
We are focus on three different ministries this month:
1) Hospitals and care units. We have been serving in a brain paralysis hospital with about 100 severely disabled patients there.
1) Hospitals and care units. We have been serving in a brain paralysis hospital with about 100 severely disabled patients there.
2)Our second ministry is street evangelism. We pray before we go out, trusting that the Lord will direct our paths. We hit the streets with our Bibles and faith and wait for the Lord. We have seen awesome power of God so far!
3)The third aspect of ministry this month is dedicated to ourselves and to each other as a team. We have opportunity to grow and develop this community living with us six girls. AND IT IS AWESOME. It is such a good….sweet time. It is so good to work and to figure these things out now during month two instead of kicking and screaming at each other come month seven. It really is a good time. I personally am soaking this up!
I was in my last semester of college, had to get my art gallery up, got engaged, worked my butt off trying to fundraise, working, studying and all the life that happens in between August- December! This past semester was hard! So for me, I am able to sit down with my Bible and grow this beautiful intimate relationship with Jesus. It is so good just to take time with and for my heart. He is teaching and exposing so many new things to me. (Read “Funeral Service” blog!…good stuff!) I totally see this as a blessing because I needed it… I needed time to sit down and ponder scripture, to cry out to God and to journal. It is definitely preparing me for these next nine months and I cherish this time. It is so good!
Here are just a few fun facts about my country:
Had a civil war which lasted 12 years (1980-1992). Peace Accords were signed in Mexico on January 16, 1992
Its the smallest country in Central America (slightly smaller than the US state of Massachusetts)
Despite its small size, it has the third largest economy in Central America. It is the most densely populated country in all of North, Central, and South America, with over 850 people per square mile. (see? Lots of people on the streets! Lots of opportunity to hear of Jesus and to bring God glory!)
El Salvador's official language is Spanish…which I am becoming good at. Smiles.
It has used the US dollar as its main currency since 2001…yay!
The country's minimum wage is US$120-150 a month
It's made up of 14 States/Departments
It's the only Central American country that does not have a Caribbean coastline.
The biggest Shopping centre in all of of Central America is located in El Salvador's capital, San Salvador…see? Feeling poor in El Salvador!
It was involved in an infamous 100 hour war with neighboring Honduras in 1969, after a soccer game
It has a total of 21 Volcanoes
One of these Volcanoes had a minor eruption on October 1, 2005. Spewing up clouds of ash and rocks, its effect reached nearby villages and caused two deaths…I know it would “not be cool” if it happened again this month… but….I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT! Ha.
El Salvador has the largest airport in all of Central America
Gained its independence from Spain on September 15, 1821
Is frequently hit by earthquakes, the last big one being on January 13, 2001. Earthquake was marked at 7.6 on the Richter Scale
Is part of CAFTA (Central American Free Trade Agreement) which has trade with the USA…and, as I heard it on the streets…Americans can get serious tax breaks for opening/bringing business down here! Hmmm!
90% of Salvadorans are mestizo (mixed Amerindian and Spanish/European)
Its the most densely populated country in all of the Americas
Unlike many countries that have four season ever year, El Salvador only has 2. The wet and dry seasons, which run from May to October and November to April, respectively
The country name, El Salvador, literally means "the savoir" in Spanish
El Salvador is part of what was the Mayan Empire. The Mayan Empire didn't go any further south after El Salvador
It has many Mayan and Pipil ruins including some pyramids
El Salvador's national dish is called a "Pupusa"….and they are DELICIOUS. I am learning how to cook them so Justin and I can have them… OFTEN when we get married… so excited! 😀
El Salvador has a missionary named Amy Colley there who still needs $3000 to stay there. (And Honduras!) So, feel free to pray and sponsor me today!
Sources: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070829150036AA70ffM
Raise your hand if you have been to Panama City Beach, Florida to Pier Park in the past 2 years?
Know how everything is really nice and slightly expensive? Well… that is how I kinda feel here in San Salvador, the capital. The country is very “Americanized”. They even use US currency! (Score at the ATM! I don’t have to worry about trading that money in later!) With temptation, I mean restaurants like Burger King, Pizza Hut, McDonalds and Wendy’s on every corner.. It is hard to believe that I am not in a city in Florida (minus the beach…) But, then again, this is the first time I am serving in a big city in a country. Mondays are our day off here in El Salvador and our first Monday, they took us to a mall and I just caved in. I felt poor in El Salvador. Stores that they run up and down main street in New York City are here. Maybe its just me being some ole’ country girl… but, I was not prepared for this!
But, on the flip side, I am feeling so rich and abundantly blessed! Our squad is in partnership with a ministry here in El Salvador called GPS, Generation prepared for Salvation. The best way I can describe it is similar to a D’NOW weekend that my church participates in-building community within living situations, outreach missions and service projects. People from GPS are divided into groups/contact hosts and instead of just a weekend, they host us for the month. I envision it as a large umbrella with Oscar, the lead/director/founder of GPS and all of our contacts are points under that umbrella.. Same purpose and goals, just different execution styles of getting there. My host is Cindy. She lives in a beautiful house with her brother and new sister in law (who are expecting their first child in April! Aww! Big smiles!) Cindy is the main contact person but has two “assistants”, Suzy and Jen-who are amazing! (We also have Beya and Amy to help since Cindy and Jen are in university)
We are focus on three different ministries this month: 1) Hospitals and care units. We have been serving in a brain paralysis hospital with about 100 severely disabled patients there.
Our second ministry is street evangelism. We pray before we go out, trusting that the Lord will direct our paths. We hit the streets with our Bibles and faith and wait for the Lord. We have seen awesome power of God so far!
The third aspect of ministry this month is dedicated to ourselves and to each other as a team. We have opportunity to grow and develop this community living with us six girls. AND IT IS AWESOME. It is such a good….sweet time. It is so good to work and to figure these things out now during month two instead of kicking and screaming at each other come month seven. It really is a good time. I personally am soaking this up! I was in my last semester of college, had to get my art gallery up, got engaged, worked my butt off trying to fundraise, working, studying and all the life that happens in between August- December! This past semester was hard! So for me, I am able to sit down with my Bible and grow this beautiful intimate relationship with Jesus. It is so good just to take time with and for my heart. He is teaching and exposing so many new things to me. (Read “Funeral Service” blog!…good stuff!) I totally see this as a blessing because I needed it… I needed time to sit down and ponder scripture, to cry out to God and to journal. It is definitely preparing me for these next nine months and I cherish this time. It is so good!
Here are just a few fun facts about my country:
Had a civil war which lasted 12 years (1980-1992). Peace Accords were signed in Mexico on January 16, 1992
Its the smallest country in Central America (slightly smaller than the US state of Massachusetts)
Despite its small size, it has the third largest economy in Central America. It is the most densely populated country in all of North, Central, and South America, with over 850 people per square mile. (see? Lots of people on the streets! Lots of opportunity to hear of Jesus and to bring God glory!)
El Salvador's official language is Spanish…which I am becoming good at. Smiles.
It has used the US dollar as its main currency since 2001…yay!
The country's minimum wage is US$120-150 a month
It's made up of 14 States/Departments
It's the only Central American country that does not have a Caribbean coastline. *DRIVING ME CRAZY! I NEED TO SEE AN OCEAN!*
The biggest Shopping centre in all of of Central America is located in El Salvador's capital, San Salvador…see? Feeling poor in El Salvador!
It was involved in an infamous 100 hour war with neighboring Honduras in 1969, after a soccer game
It has a total of 21 Volcanoes
One of these Volcanoes had a minor eruption on October 1, 2005. Spewing up clouds of ash and rocks, its effect reached nearby villages and caused two deaths…I know it would “not be cool” if it happened again this month… but….I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT! Ha.
El Salvador has the largest airport in all of Central America
Gained its independence from Spain on September 15, 1821
Is frequently hit by earthquakes, the last big one being on January 13, 2001. Earthquake was marked at 7.6 on the Richter Scale
Is part of CAFTA (Central American Free Trade Agreement) which has trade with the USA…and, as I heard it on the streets…Americans can get serious tax breaks for opening/bringing business down here! Hmmm!
Has some of the best surfing beaches in the world…I just personally have not seen them…yet. Sigh..
90% of Salvadorans are mestizo (mixed Amerindian and Spanish/European)
Its the most densely populated country in all of the Americas
Unlike many countries that have four season ever year, El Salvador only has 2. The wet and dry seasons, which run from May to October and November to April, respectively
The country name, El Salvador, literally means "the savoir" in Spanish
El Salvador is part of what was the Mayan Empire. The Mayan Empire didn't go any further south after El Salvador
It has many Mayan and Pipil ruins including some pyramids
El Salvador's national dish is called a "Pupusa"….and they are DELICIOUS. I am learning how to cook them so Justin and I can have them… OFTEN when we get married… so excited! 😀
El Salvador has a missionary named Amy Colley there who still needs $3000 to stay there. (And Honduras!) So, feel free to pray and sponsor me today!
Sources: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070829150036AA70ffM
