How do I even begin to express what has happened over this month?
This month was the best surprise gift from the Lord that I have ever received.
Let me tell you why:
We worked with a family all month that loved us from beginning and still loves us today. They not only welcomed us into their church family, but into their immediate family. I feel like I have more grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, etc. Not only did they show us the life of their family, but they allowed us to become a part of their stories.
Then, they extended that family love to us through the community that we were around. The church family came around each one of us in different ways that showed us the love of the Lord each and every moment we were with them. Not only did we have our host family to love us but we had neighbors, youth, and children come around us Americans all month. I know that if (or when) I come back, I will have so many family members to come see.
Now you have to meet the guys that we grew very close to this month. They were our translators! Meet Cris and Dani. They are amazing men of the Lord that made us laugh and were the hardest to say goodbye to. We were able to build real authentic friendships with these guys that pushed us and challenged us. They both attend the church that we were placed with and we got to see the joy they carry when they walk into the building. I was always so excited when church was about to happen (which was pretty much every night) because I knew I would get to see them! They came with us on our adventure days and loved us throughout the whole month. I could not have asked for better guys to hang with all month. Thanks Cris and Dani.
Now I want you to know a bit more about Dani.
He has encouraged and taught me so much over this month! He is the nephew of our host, Mireya! He has an older brother and lives with his father. Dani attends the University in San Salvador and is studying Business Administration with an emphasis in English. When I asked him about his story, he told me all about being a skater and getting into some things he shouldn’t have. He then started attending his uncle’s church and started meeting the youth that were in the church. That’s when he started playing the guitar in the worship band and let me tell you, he is really good. That’s when Dani wanted to fully live his life for the Lord and now he is an incredible translator and friend. One of the many things that I appreciate about Dani is the way he loves and encourages people. He did tell me that he didn’t really want to be our translator and didn’t know what to do with us at first, but throughout the month he hung around us more and started warming up to us. By the end of the month, he translated for us all the time, laughed alongside us and encouraged us. One of my favorite moments with Dani was the last night with our ministry. I was sitting on the stage of the church just soaking in the place then he came and sat right next to me. I started complaining and explaining how I didn’t want to leave San Salvador but especially him and the community around us. Instead of him saying things that would fuel my fire of irritation for leaving, he softly started encouraging me. I was not thinking about anyone in the next months because I was sulking in my sadness, but not Dani. He started talking about how the people and youth in the next months need my team to go. Dani said, “There is a guy right now in the next country that needs to hear the Gospel and you need to go tell him about it.” I don’t know why, but in that moment I knew that Dani had a heart for others but especially for the Lord. He was sad for us to leave, but he was thinking of the people we would meet in the next few months. He has big dreams, and I really feel the Lord is going to bless him in so many ways. He is going to do big things for the Lord.
That is where I want my mind to go. I want to be thinking of who I can share the Gospel with next. I want to have such a heart and passion for the Lord that I am so excited to see the way He works next. The way Dani spoke to me was so loving, soft, and passionate because he was speaking from the Lord. Dani is just one example of the many people that impacted me here in El Salvador. He loves others so well and is always smiling. He is one who was hard to say goodbye to, but I know for me, it is just a “see you later”.
How do we want to live our days? Do we want to live with sadness in each moment or with an expectancy that the Lord is going to show you something incredible that day?
That is what Dani showed me. He showed me that we have to look to each day with an expectancy of hope and excitement that the Lord is going to do something great that day. Just like the saying on his shirt in the photo above “Enjoy the Ride”, this life is a crazy ride and we have to choose enjoy it through the process. Dani, Cris, Mireya, Joshua, and everyone that we came in contact with this month showed me a different way to love others and the Lord. I could go on and on about how this month was incredible and my favorite one. This month was truly the best gift on the Race. The Lord knew that I needed a month to feel incredibly loved and He loves me enough to give me what I need.
I now live each day with hope and expectancy of that the Lord who loves me is going to open my eyes to the surprises he has for me that day. If I ever forget to have hope, then I think of Dani and it reminds me to look for the good in each and every day. Thank you to Dani and everyone else who has come around us and loved us throughout this month with a true sense of the Lord.
Also, my team of all ladies (team beloved daughters) has changed into another team of girls! Meet my new team for the last three months! I cannot wait to see what surprises the Lord has for us these next three months!
