Team Lion Song: Chase, Robin, Mark, Dani, Hayden, and me.
We were strangers in October but with kindred spirits. It’s amazing to see what God has done in just a few months. This is not only my team, but my family. We begin, walk out, and end each day together–24/7. Each one of these people are so unique and bring God in my life in a new way. I’ve experienced true friendship here. We do bible studies together, minister, preach, worship, pray for others, share our struggles and life stories, edify and encourage one another, and laugh and goof off. It’s friendships of laughter and of depth. I’m encouraged and challenged by each friend I’ve made here on my team and squad. I feel loved by each of them, free to be my true self, and challenged to be all who God has called me to be.
The bathroom is an adventure on the World Race. It could be a toilet, bush, a cement seat over a pit, or just a hole in the ground. A challenging part is to remember that toilet paper is not allowed in the toilets.
Between our travel from Guatemala and to our next site in El Salvador, 3 teams from our squad along with our squad leaders met at Playa El Sunzal, El Salvador. We had about 2 days to rest and enjoy some time together before we parted ways. The scenery was stunning! One night we climbed a cliff to watch the sunset and worship together while overlooking the ocean.
I love and hate going to the orphanage. I love the kids we have met and how we can pour all our love out on each child. But I hate leaving them. This little girl, Angeline, stole my heart. She has the biggest smile and the best laugh…but she will make you work for it.
This month it is just our team living together, but last month we were partnered with Team Cherished. I’m seeing what it means to truly live in community with brothers and sisters in Christ. This picture was taken on our last day in Guatemala in front of our house.
This lady came up to us while we were doing some worship outside city hall. She asked for prayer and so we gathered around her. I loved her boldness to ask for prayer and was challenged by it. I’m challenged to live, speak, and pray boldly at all times. A.W. Tozer says of David, "He put himself in such a position that if God did not come though, everything would be lost." I desire to live like David lived. I want to live in a place of no trust in myself and perfect trust in God.
We have the privilege to go to areas such as the city dump. Here we played music, performed dramas, shared the gospel, played with kids, and talked with the adults. These kids usually stop going to school by the age of 11 so they can help support their families by digging through the city’s trash and collect anything recyclable. This is their home, work, and playground. The atmosphere at first felt hopeless. But we can bring light and love the forgotten.
I have never seen so many parks in my life. It’s a great place to begin to build relationships. We would go there to play sports, music, and hang out with the people. There were some dancers there that I felt never left the park. They taught us some dance moves and we taught them some music.
We also get to go into schools. We do a program of games, music, dramas, share our testimonies, teach English, and preach. We work with ages from 5-17. This picture was at a special needs school in Guatemala. This is Sandra. She loved to be tossed in the air, spun around, and hung upside down. One game she loved and we played OVER AND OVER was for her to ‘hit’ me on the swing. I would stand in front of the swing and when she got really high, her feet would hit me and knock me on the ground. It never got old…to her. I felt sore the next day.
We get to experience the culture by living with host families. This month we are living with Guadeloupe, but we call her Mamma ‘Lupe. She treats us like her own grandkids. She is so proud of her country and takes us all around to give us glimpses of the El Salvadorean culture. She has taught us how to hand wash our clothes and make the traditional Papoosas.
This month we live and work with people who do not speak English. Many things get lost in translation. We could choose to either be frustrated or trust God and be open to the surprises and unexpected opportunities.
Here is an example: One day we were told to bring our swimsuits because in the afternoon we will take some of the elderly people from the senior shelter to the pool for hydrotherapy. We realized when we got to the pool that this was not the case. We were at a waterpark. Since we are ‘Gringos,’ we attract a lot of attention. We had the best time at ‘hydrotherapy.’ We have many examples of times we find out last minute that we need to share a message or teach an English song or do a drama. This kind of life keeps us on our toes and relying on God. Can’t wait for the next surprise!
We usually don’t know how we will get around town. Sometimes we walk and sometimes it’s a questionable form of transport. In Guatemala it was a ‘70s panel van. This month it is a back of a truck. It may not be the safest, but we get the best view while seeing the city, mountains, lakes, and volcanoes!
This month we spend some time at a senior shelter. This shelter is for the elderly who are thrown out onto the street when their families don’t want to take care of them. We clean the rooms, bathrooms, outside, dining room, and family room. We also help serve them their meals, play bingo with them (I guess this is the universal elderly game), and even dance with them.
At the shelter we also get to spend time with the residents. It’s sometime a challenge when we don’t speak the same language, so sometimes it’s a conversation or just sitting with them. This is Rosa with my teammate Robin. Rosa knits hats and loves to talk to us. She lets us know what is good to eat at lunch or to 'save' to feed for the birds.
Everyday in Guatemala before dinner, a few of us girls would walk over to the neighbor’s house for soccer. We also went on walks with them around the neighborhood, had dance parties, and talked with their families. At the end we were able to bless them with a real soccer ball, have a goodbye party, and pray with kids and Kendra’s mother. They were such a blessing to me. I miss those faces. Please excuse my crazy hair…It’s hot and humid. Be jealous….
We get the opportunity to go into hospitals and share the Gospel as well as pray for the sick. This picture was in the NICU. This little baby boy was 4 days old and nameless. I didn’t preach, but got to pray for him, his family, and show love to him and the nurses. The time is now for bold prayers to our God that is Healer.
This is Mark preaching and Chase translating at a church. Some churches are grand while some are an open shed in the middle of the neighborhood, but all proclaim that Jesus is Lord. We have the opportunity to share our testimonies, lead worship, pray for people, and preach sermons at these churches.
Our team split up into pairs for an afternoon to visit different families in a community near San Vicente. We are welcomed into their homes and spend time talking with them, playing with the kids, sharing meals together, and praying with them. It astounds me how people open their lives to us.
I love what we have done, are doing, and will be doing. I’m not sure what the other months will look like, but I’m excited.
