We’ve been in El Salvador for 19 days now. At the beginning of the month as our host outlined what she would like to see from us and what the responsibilities would be this month I found myself disappointed, naively thinking that it would be hard to connect with people here as our ministry was more administration than interaction.
I finally settled into my role, realizing that just because this month didn’t look like what I thought missions work would look like it didn’t mean that it wasn’t valuable. The team quickly acknowledged that we were doing work just like what we’d be doing in our home churches, it would allow for us to get to know each other better as a team, and it would allow us to encourage and give rest to our ministry host as she prepares for marriage and a new ministry of her own.
Now I sit here thinking about what I want to share with you and I realize that we have built so many relationships here in such a short amount of time. I knew saying goodbyes once a month would be a challenge. A challenge I didn’t expect to experience this month, but I was wrong.
I want to share all about the two year old that stole my heart with a cookie. About our sweet English students who greet us excitedly each class and whenever we see them during the week. The mothers we have met and the locals who greet us warmly as we walk by each day.
I want to tell you about the joy we see in all of them. About the orphanage that we visit where we’ve played and taught. About the town of Majahual and the poverty, unlike any I’ve witnessed before. How our hearts break for them while we pray and hope for their future.
Mostly I want to tell you about the abundance of joy, faith and spirit that I witness in these people everyday. The children love us so easily. The parents and locals greet us as friends.
We’ve been so blessed to be here as we are starting this journey.
I don’t know if they see God’s love in me. I hope they do when I laugh and play and teach and encourage. And again when I smile and laugh as I try to communicate in my limited Spanish. But I see God in them. I see God’s lessons all around me. Lessons of love and humility and strength.
I already know that there will be many days ahead that I will look back and reflect on how God moved here, in myself and my team. I’ll reflect on the beauty and joy that surrounds me and it will carry me through hard days. I’ll remember the people and how they lived with joy and love and community everyday.
“The joy of the Lord is my strength.” These words have new meaning now. I’ve seen this in action here and I’ll carry it with me always.
The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and myheart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs ofthanksgiving.
Psalm 28:7
With Love,
Sara
