Happy New Year! I can’t believe that it has been one year since I moved to El Salvador. I left thinking that I was making a six month commitment and now I am here more long-term. God definitely works in mysterious ways! Victor and I also be celebrated our six months anniversary as a married couple!
I am ready for God to do new things this year! To start off the new year, Victor bought me a puppy! I have always grown up with a dog in my family. Even when we lived in Africa, we had a dog. I begged Victor until he finally gave in. Now I find myself regretting the decision as I pick up dog poop and pee, and awake to crying in the night. I feel like I have my first daughter…what did I get myself into? Thankfully my little Riley is learning and hopefully she will be a well trained dog soon!
Victor and I also moved! January 2nd we moved into a different house. I was very excited to actually have kitchen cabinets and counters! We are so thankful that we have been living in a free-living situation for the past six months, but were given notice a few months ago that we had to move out. Thankfully God provided a house just in time. Rent is $200 a month which is pretty cheap for a three bedroom one bath house. But it is a heavier burden for us financially. We are trusting God to continue providing for us.
Victor is working with a Canadian organization that is called Shelter. Every week a different team comes down from October till April. They build houses out of aluminum in the poor communities. They can build anywhere from 8-20 houses in one week! Victor really enjoys working with them as their driver and translator. He also has the opportunity to sell his paintings to them. We are so grateful that God has provided this avenue for financial income.
I tutor the Canadian children that live in our nearby city twice a week. I have built a close friendship with the Canadian missionary, Carie. I thank God all the time that there is another woman here that speaks English and can understand me! We meet once a week for breakfast and zumba.
I am still teaching music to about five students. I am thinking about sending out more fliers. There is a church three doors down from us that turns up their sound system really loud. Every time they have service, Victor and I look at each other and wish that I could just give them a few voice lessons. So we possibly might start there with our fliers!
I also have the girls night on Monday nights, which I enjoy. I am still trying to build closer relationships to the woman here. The language and cultural barriers make it really difficult. I want so badly to connect and feel like I belong. Sometimes I feel like giving up and shrinking into my shell of comfort. But I know that I will never learn or grow that way. So I have to push beyond the awkward and discomfort and try to learn.
Please pray for Victor and I as we continue to ask God where and how we are meant to serve the people of El Salvador. Pray that God will help me build friendships and better understand the language. Pray for God to bring in more financial support as we have a new burden of paying for rent. Also prayerfully consider becoming a monthly supporter to our ministry here in El Salvador.
