It’s MONTH TWO already! How crazy is that?
This month we are staying just outside of San Salvador, the
capital of El Salvador. Unlike last month when we were paired with another team
on our squad, this month it is just the six of us girls. Plus the amazing women
that we are living with!
Our ministry here is very different than in Guatemala since
we are not living full time at the mission location. Instead, we are living in
a house with a handful of other people. First is Aldonis and Altagracia, a
married couple expecting their first baby in April! Also living here are our
contacts and ministry partners: Cindy, Suzy, and Jenny. Also part of the
ministry but not living here full time are Bea and Amy. All of the girls are
college aged and are simply amazing. They claim that their purpose is to serve
us and make us fall in love with El Salvador, despite our best efforts to claim
that we are here to serve them.
So what exactly are we doing this month? Well, on Tuesdays
and Thursdays we go to a home for people with Cerebral Palsy. There are about
100 patients there, not all of which live there full time. There is a large age
range as some are full-grown adults and others are little children. We will be
assisting with feeding, therapy, school, and other various tasks. I’m not
exactly sure yet since the first day we were there was Valentine’s Day so we
just had a party with cookies and a piñata, and the second day we just played
soccer with the men that work there.
On Thursday nights we have church, as well as Sunday morning
and afternoon.
We are also trying to get permission to go to the cancer and
burn floors at the children’s hospital, but we aren’t sure about that yet.
Aside from those specific things, I’m not entirely sure what
we are doing. I know a few days will be spent in the city ministering to people
on the streets and helping to care for the homeless. I think we will also go to
multiple schools and put on Christian “dramas” and share our stories with the
students. Our hosts told us that our focus is on children this month.
Everyday will be slightly different, but already I am
falling in love with the women here. They are just so excited to get to know us
and to love us and have fun with us. Two of them already fought over who was
going to get to paint my nails, and another bought us all popsicles.
Casey Holding one of the kids at the home for those with cerebral palsy. This little boy is about 4 years old.
A group of kids at the home for those with cerebral palsy. They were the cheering section while the others were hitting the pinata.
