El Salvador was a month of many surprises. We had Unsung Heroes month which meant that we didn’t have a contact but we got to find new ones for WR to partner with.
We look for churches, organizations, people, schools, etc. Anything with a Christian back ground and focus that needs help in the way of people coming to them.
Which finding that stuff is easy in the states. But just walking up to a church and asking questions when only one of our team mates speaks the language fluently makes things difficult. It is also not her job to be a translator, she is our teammate who also speaks Spanish.
We need to be able to talk and ask questions and explain who we were. I saw an even bigger need to practice Spanish and learn more. I had the desire, the ability, and the drive now. Things were easier and I was picking up new words every day.
But this month wasn’t just great because I learned more Spanish. We met some of the most amazing people.
From pastors, to community workers, to teachers, to nurses, to YoungLife leaders, to a people and a country that I want to stay in touch with and comeback to one day.
To all the amazing pastors we met, Gracias por invitarnos a sus ministerios. Esta es muy bonita el trabajo qué haces. Continúe amando a las personas y Jesus Cristo.
To YoungLife en general
Todo palabras por pastors. Y gracias por siendo nuestros amigos.
Y’all really made us feel like we weren’t just random people but that we have been friends for such a long time. We may have had a hard time communicating at times but you taught me so much. It wasn’t just about learning languages but also to love unconditionally even when you know time is short.
Lucas/Martinez family: literally a family full of
saints. You brought us into to your ministry and made me feel like I was back home. You showed us the country and we got to see people in the paiz and know who they are thanks to you. If your ever in my side of the country I can only hope to be as half a hospital, welcoming, or anything that you are. You are walking little Christ(s) on this earth. Buscando por más del señor todo días en vida.
Josseline: Gracias por seguir practicando español conmigo. Pero también por ser una persona asombrosa y graciosa. No puedo esperar para seguir aprendiendo y mantenerse en contacto. Gracias por todo.
Wendy, Frabrecio, Danielle, Matthew, Rafa, William and everyone else. Thank you for being people that really did care for us and become our friends. You have given me many reason to seek out if coming back one day is possible. Yo sigo prácticar español si ustedes prácticamos inglés, jajaja.
Young Life was our first contact and they lead us to Miriam, her daughter Katie and her great family.
Gracias por invitamos sus casa. Ustedes prepararon excelentes comidas y ayudaron en muchas cosas. Gracias por todo pupusas, jajaja, serio gracias por todo. You all served us like Jesus and cared about us as people. We may have made your lives hectic for the month but you gave us everything.
Gonzalo: my man! Dude thanks for letting three random strangers stay in your house. You showed us your awesome church that had a deep desire for growth and people. You loved me so well by helping us watch the Cubs game in English and being so hospital. You have a huge heart and continue to love people the way that you do. Tu tienes un corazón de oro. Gracias por todo. Si/cuando yo vuelvo te veré por supuesto!
For everyone reading this that doesn’t speak Spanish I wrote the thank you’s in their language as a way to thank them and to show some of my new found ability.
From practicing with people in El Salvador, duolingo, and a lot of help from google translate I was able to write it. My conjugations aren’t great and I may have used the wrong form of words, but I have learned more in the process of doing so.
This miracle has not just given me the ability to ask directions, about food, or just count numbers. It has give me the desire to grow deeper in things that are hard and know people in a deeper level.
Young Life has a saying that I have kept with me for year and Lucas talked about with my team when they experienced YL for the first time. It is “you have to earn the right to be hear”. Before you can effectively communicate the gospel sometimes you have to have someone that wants to listen to you. If you are talking and no one listens then you are doing more harm than good.
By me trying to learn Spanish I was doing this without even realizing it.
This month and these past few months have been a lot of about that and it will continue.
