What have I learned – a month into my race?
1. Jesus Talks More Than I Thought
I can’t even count the number of times I have told someone, “God is being silent in my life” or questioned God why He is not speaking to me. I got so frustrated at God for being “silent” in my life. Truth is, the question isn’t whether He’s speaking, it’s whether or not I’m listening. God is constantly talking to me, I just don’t take the time to listen to Him. These past few weeks, I’ve heard more from God than I have in my entire life. It’s not that He has more to say to me, but rather that I am taking the time to intentionally sit with Him and wait for His voice.
2. God has Blessed Me with Gifts & Talents
Honestly, when I first started living in El Salvador I didn’t see a place where my “talents” would come in hand. I say “talents” because I would consider it things I’m good at than an actual talent. That would be the love of planning and organizing! Nothing gets me more excited than planning something out, knowing details, and having things organized. But how was that going to come in hand on a trip like this? I was taught before I left not to have plans because they would change, to be okay with things not going as I thought, and dealing with ciaos in ministry. I’ve come to realize that there’s a balance in planning & organizing; it’s great to have a schedule, but I cannot be angry when it changes. God has blessed me the gift of planning and organizing, so I will bless others with it.
3. Seasons of Life Have Prepared Me for This
I remember sitting in a teaching listening to a pastor; he said that every season in his life has prepared and helped him for the next. I knew that was true, but I didn’t know how true it was until I got to El Salvador! At home, I was a leader in the children’s ministry at my church. It was something I was super passionate about and loved doing! I knew that my love of kids and experience of leading would be helpful while on this trip, but I didn’t know how it would look. Turns out, the most helpful part is the knowing how to lead a bunch of kids and planning out lessons! I’ve been able to put together lesson plans and help my team with some of our ministry assignments that deal with leading kids. Along with that, a few months before I left, I was an intern at my church. Since I’ve been in El Salvador, I’ve been able to bring a new perspective to my team that I learned during my internship. I am so thankful for the things I learned during that time because I am now able to notice areas in ministry that lack, where we can improve as a team, and how our language affects our perspectives. All of the seasons of my life, good and bad, are helping me on this trip!
4. My Body is SO Important!
I learned this month that taking care of my body needs to be a high priority. I spent 4 days being sick. This sickness wasn’t completely in my control, but I realized how vital taking care of my body is. I need to exercise, eat well and drink lots of water to ensure I stay healthy and able to do the things God asks of me. I learned the valuable lesson of rest during those sick days as well. It was incredibly hard to lay down and do nothing for a few days while my team was going all around doing fun things. I had to decide to take care of my body and rest. Oh! I also learned that sometimes Googling your symptoms and asking your mom is better than going to doctors in a third world country.
5. Language Barriers Suck
I have begun to make relationships with people in the community and church! It’s such a blessing to be here for 3 months because I have time to invest in people and truly disciple them. The only down fall to all those relationships is the language barrier. Everyone speaks Spanish and very little English. I never understood what frustration was until I was surrounded by orphans who I so badly wanted to get to know. It’s not just orphans though! I want to talk to the kids and adults at church, the artists on the street, and order my food without being laughed at. It’s so easy to sit back and give up on talking to people because speaking Spanish is frustrating. But here’s the thing: I can’t give up on speaking to these people because I don’t fully speak their language. I believe that if I partner with the Spirit, He will lead me to the right people and allow my words to be heard, whatever language it may be spoken in. Love does not have a language barrier. I don’t need to know Spanish in order to love the people in my community.
6. I Get Out What I Put In
This is so important to remember! I get out of this experience what I am willing to put in it. If I don’t try to talk to people and make relationships, I miss out on amazing people and amazing ministry opportunities. If I don’t try to speak Spanish, I won’t learn. If I don’t face fears and do crazy things, I won’t have super cool memories and adventures. Do you see the pattern? If I stay in my bubble, doing only the things I know and feel comfortable with, this experience will be terrible. I promised myself to make this the best year yet and I will do just that!
7. My Team has been Blessed Greatly by Our Host
My team and I have been blessed beyond measures when it comes to our host, Andrea. We are working with a church in El Salvador and Andrea is part of the family who runs the church! She is amazing. No joke. She is beautiful, funny, talented, caring, and has a heart of pure gold. There are truly no words to describe how great she is! It’s like having an older sister on the team; she is fun to be around, brings so much joy, and cares for us. The team could not have asked for a better host to serve alongside and get to know. Shout out to Andrea for being the best!
8. My Team has been Blessed Greatly by Our Location
Yet again, my team has been blessed greatly by the place we get to call home! It is a small surfer town right on the coast. Beautiful doesn’t even begin to explain this town, the people, the ocean, the sunsets, the surfers!!!! Every bit about this small town is beautiful. The people who live and work here are so welcoming to gringos (white people), which makes our lives much easier. This town is beginning to feel like home: saying hello to friends on the street, playing games with locals, and going to our favorite places to hang out. I am so thankful and blessed to call this place is my home, even if it is just for three months.
9. My Team has been Blessed Greatly with Our Ministry
This one took a while to learn. When we first arrived in El Salvador, we were surprised to find that our ministry is not what we thought. Then we realized that we would be making our own schedule, living at the church, and not doing ministry all day every day. Like I said in my first blog from El Sal, it would hard to deal with that. The team decided to pray about what our ministry should look like while we’re here: we all got a variation of “preparation”. Meaning that our time here is going to be preparing us for what is to come. My team and I have the opportunity to make our own ministry on some days: going out in the streets talking to people, discipline each other, and supporting Andrea in her work.
10. Card Games are Lifesavers & Could Bring Death
You may say, “Bailey, that doesn’t even make sense. How can games be lifesavers AND bring death?” Card games are lifesavers because when you are bored and have six other people around, it’s the best option. However, having several super competitive people playing cards can get a bit sticky. When Team Dauntless plays cards, there is no relenting, lots of singing, and words slinking. But honestly, we love to play cards together!
These are just a few things I have learned in my one month in El Salvador!
Thank you for those who are praying and supporting me; it means the world to me!
Much love,
Bailey
