Today was our first day of actual ministry so we woke up and were out the door by 8:00am for everyone back home that’s 10:00am. We met at the teen challenge center to pick up Shaun he stayed with the guys and had our morning team meeting. All is well with us we talked about the day and such. We then had quiet time for about 40minutes.
My quiet time was awesome I felt so good starting my day out after it. I read 2 Corinthians 4:7-12 my bible opened up to it probably because it’s the last thing we talked about at church but it really touched me today. I felt it was perfect for myself and the teen challenge guys. It was perfect for me because I was feeling so weak adjusting has been an adventure to say the least. Not physically weak even t
hough I am already tired but spiritually I didn’t know how I was going to do everything these people wanted us to do and there was one thing I was weary about but not anymore. Gods power is definitely dwelling in me. I was reminded how I need to allow others to see that and not keep it inside of me, I am completely broken, but its because I am broken that God can use me for all the people here. It is even more of a reason to be his hands, feet, and heart and allow his light to shine through me. God is going to use me his broken jar of clay to tell about Him he will give me power and strength to shine. Though we may be at the end of our rope at times we are never at the end of our hope.
God will never abandon us, he will protect us even if it is on the streets of San Salvador where guys look at us like meat, people think we are rich, we stand out because we are white Americans, or the streets are dangerous at night. I have to remember that no one can take away what God has accomplished in me, and that no suffering is as big as His suffering for us. All of my suffering will only make me stronger.
I also read Hebrews chapter 1 if Jesus created this universe then there is nothing in my life that is out of His control. I was battling with things going on at home; my grandpa fell and broke his arm banged up his face and knees, obviously this was out of my control but I am very much someone who feels they need to be at home when something happens. This also means that my mom would be taking care of him checking on him every two hours and helping him with his daily routines. I am an old soul, I feel like I need to help her and be like mother goose, however God made it clear I cant worry about this its in His hands I need to focus on what is happening here, I am not going home to help, I have a strong mother and grandpa will be ok. It also reassured me that I have to go first to God I cant depend on myself I have to go to him for advice and pray to Him for help and clarity he can sustain me in times of stress. Christ is my only security in a changing world. I need to focus more on Him and less on me or else I will lose sight of Him.
Because I realized all of this it made ministry much easier today, I was very worried going out into the 
streets. To be honest I wasn’t comfortable at all and I didn’t want to however God covered me with peace. I loved going into the streets it wasn’t what I expected at all, teen challenge provided us with tracts mine was basically the book of Romans basically one of the best chapters even though they’re all great. People wanted to know what we had, and what we had to say. We got to hold sign along the street saying Cristo Te Ama which means God loves you. It was so powerful and here if they honk twice they like it, three times is basically saying F You. Ehh. We got many two honks yay. We got to pray over people provide them with truth and Shaun even met two guys who have a Christian band, cool!
We then split up, the girls and a contact went to the Childrens Cancer Hospital in San Salvador, it was very hard to say the least. We got to pray over the precious hearts and with them, it was so great to be blessed enough to spend time with them and love on them. If you didn’t know cancer is my weak spot, ive lost many loved ones to it and I know others with it, it makes my heart hurt. The kids were so good and cheerful I love them! Seeing the little children smile when theyre going through such awful pain is such an encouragement we can make it through any battle God will provide us with strength and hope. The hospitals here will have two kids along each wall, so six kids in a room, and theyre chairs are like lawn chairs and their cribs are metal bars, sheets have holes and stains, and pillows are rolled up blankets.
Its hard and was a smack in the face because as soon as we got in the elevator a sick kid was cramed in with us people would be touching him and breathing on him. However, God is such a healer ive met many kids going home today praise the Lord how glorious. The Lord has smacked me in the face providing me with much joy, comfort, protection, and teaching me soooo much! We would walk in and I don’t know much Spanish its more like Spanglish but just smiling at them and getting to know their names would make them smile J Please continue to pray for these children.
Were about to leave now to go back to teen challenge and lead their church tonight so were going to do worship and then Dustin and Shaun will be talking, be praying about that, thanks for staying tuned and reading this! J
Oh yeah and while we were in the hospital the guys were doing street evangelism a young girl accepted Christ so please be praying for her.. how wonderful!! 
Love you all! Grace and peace
Stephani
