“Above all, love each other deeply,
because love covers a multitude of sins.”
– 1 Peter 4:8
Buenos dias from EL Salvador!
I’ve been here in San Salvador, El Salvador with my squad for a whole month now. Where has the time gone?!
Barely 24 hours had past since our flight landed and the teams were hard at work building relationships here and making their mark on this beautiful country. I have six teams spread out mostly throughout the city of San Salvador. One team is down by the Pacific Ocean. Not too many complaints from that team, ha!
These teams seem to have found their way into nearly every facet of life down here. Prison ministry, after-school ministry, preaching at church, leading worship, hospital visitation, teaching English, serving meals… You name it, we’ve done it. One team even has the opportunity to minister to the locals by playing American football! That’s right. Many El Salvadorans have been deported from the United States over the years and returned back here to their home country. While many of them were in the U.S., they fell in love with our version of football. Since returning to El Salvador, they needed to find a way to play again! So some ministries here have partnered with American football leagues and it’s growing in popularity. Just another unique way to reach the locals and meet them where they’re at!
If you follow the news at all, you might have heard of the rampant gang violence that plagues many a street here in El Salvador. It’s one of the reasons many have fled to the United States in recent years. One poor neighborhood in particular that I visited twice last week has been impacted to a larger extent. The evidence is clear with gang-member graffiti visible at nearly every corner. So it is here, in such a dark place, that the light is needed the most. The ministry we partnered with provided a discipleship class for adults while we were able to host an after-school program for the children. The following day we joined many of the locals and prepared a meal for the children, prayed with them, and even brushed their teeth! These were all simple gifts to give. But I’m sure it was just the right medicine.
These moments, among others, have prompted me to think many times of all that ails the world and what are some ways to get us back on the right path. One way is to target the evil and uproot it. Another way is to provide a little dose of something good. I think often times we can become so fixated on all that has gone wrong. Yet often times evil is just a perversion of a good thing. And the recipe for success is to ignite a good fire again! The way to fight a bad attitude is to bring in someone with a good attitude. You can combat self-centeredness with love and sacrifice. The pain of abuse is often subsided with a warm embrace. Shifting my focus from combating evil to doing good has given me a fresh perspective. And this is often the way Christ taught his followers as well. He spent less of his time wielding a sword against evil, and instead showed us examples of what goodness, grace, and love looked like.
As much as I’m able to pour out and encourage the world race squad that’s here, I’m learning so much more and being filled right back up! They are a joy to lead. I’m looking forward to all that this journey has in store for the months to come. Your prayers and support are coveted as always. I can’t thank you enough.
For His Renown,
Dan Lidwin
