Reflections on our trip

Hello everyone! This is Jessie :) I really can't believe how fast this trip has gone. At the same time, some things from last week seem like a month ago to me! One major thing I've taken noticed on this trip is how we've become a family. Honestly. I think I could talk to anyone of these people on my team about anything and I know they would listen :) I really love them all and I'm so blessed that God chose me to be apart of a team this amazing! I don't speak for everyone but my favorite part of the trip (other than how close our team is now) was the deaf school is Sonsonate! Those kids, as soon as we got there, just wanted to be loved by us and feel God's love too. All the little ones would just stretch their arms up to us, wanting to be held; and they were ADORABLE! I learned a lot about being bold this trip because having to go up to strangers who neither can speak our language or hear is no simple task! However I found it easy the second and third day, after seeing all the kids laugh and smile with us. They wanted to just hangout with us and talk which I found to be awesome:) I made especially good friends with some boys, Jaime, Manuel, and Carlos, and with two girls, Ana and Milena (who turned 16 while we were there!). It was so evident that they value education and work so hard to get the best future at they can and I admire that. I loved playing soccer and basketball with the guys and doing our skits! I was really worried about how those would go but God calmed all of my nerves and my team was fantastic! We had so much fun with them :) Yesterday was a day of reflection for all of us and I chose these 3 words to describe the trip: relational, perspective, and transgressing. Relational: not only with the kids at the orphanage and deaf schools but with my own team. I've never felt this kind of bond with any other group and I love 'em all to death :) this trip was mainly about making friendships which will last forever :) Perspective: no matter where you come from, when you go somewhere new to serve God you are always placed in new circumstances and culture that opens your eyes to new things. We talked yesterday about how culture influences faith and in El Salvador or anywhere where you see poverty it is always different to see how the Lord works. Especially at the deaf school I saw so many smiles and bright faces despite the struggles the kids face. Lastly, transgressing: double language barriers. That was broken the first day we were there. I've learned that soccer and love are two languages that need no words; they're universal languages and I loved seeing how literally EVERYWHERE we went, the first game we'd play would be soccer. And I really do mean every place we went! Though I didn't speak a word of Spanish other than, "hola" or "gracias" I've actually really loved learning new things this trip, especially the El Salvadorian sign language, LESL. Everyone taught me new things that I put to use to form my relationships there. Of course I think that everyone had worried over not being able to communicate effectively but the Lord certainly took care of that and put our fears to rest! Even the skits I was worried about but, especially the first day at the disabled center, our team was super flexible even when we weren't prepared for what we would face. We overcame the difficulties of language and boldness and overall had an amazing experience. It's quite difficult to put into words what I ended up feeling for these kids and I love that I had this opportunity to serve and learn new things, growing closer to Him and my team, thank you to all who supported each and every one of us!! Micah 6:8, "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"

Team Arrival Time has changed!

Parents - you should have received an email from the office with the new arrival and flight information for this evening.  If you have any questions or did not receive the email, please let us know and we will forward the information.

We look forward to hearing from the team as they return and pray for their safe return this evening. :)

Wrapping up the Trip

We're getting ready to head to the Deaf School for our last day there. We are looking forward to the time with them, and already sad we have to leave. This morning we hope to finish painting the bathrooms at the school. We will also do skits and crafts with the kids. This afternoon we will have some more time with the older kids. Our devotion this morning was about finishing strong. Please pray that we would not grow weary in doing good (Galatians 6:9), and that we would serve the students, teachers, and each other with joy. We will have a tem debrief day tomorrow. Please pray for us as we spend time reflecting on what God has done in and through us in El Salvador. We probably won't have internet access again before we come home, so parents we'll see you at Dulles on Friday!

At the Deaf School

We have had two days here in Sonsonate serving at the deaf school and we are having a blast and a half! Monday we performed our good Samaritan skit and it went swimmingly. We made bracelets and necklaces with a cross bead and the kids are super fond of the color red! So we got to hang out with the little kids playing basketball and soccer in which we proceeded to get creamed, but it was really fun! After lunch, the small kids departed for their homes and the older kids, who were our age arrived. Basically we just exchanged questions about what we like to do in our free time, what we want to do when we grow up, etc. and it was really encouraging to see what they had planned for the future. Everything was interpreted by Oscar whom we met the first day with the handicapped children in Cojutepeque and one of the teachers who works at the deaf school. It was a really fun day getting to communicate with the kids there despite the double language barrier, but we communicated more than we thought possible, which was great! Tuesday we did similar things and we were able to do a different skit which involves a group of people searching for God's love but running into a wall that represents the sin we are all born with. But God comes and opens the door in the wall and the people knock and God answers. The skit went great and we wrapped it up by doing a craft that involved drawing and writing on a cross. Embarrassment commenced as we did some pretty funky dances that the kids loved! It was a lot of fun. So we did more basketball and soccer and talked more with the kids. We love getting to know them and they are all so enthusiastic and happy! " -Ashleigh and Micah

Work in Progress

We are settled in at our hotel in Sonsonste and getting prepped for our ministry at the Deaf School. We are looking forward to being with the students and teachers for a few days. We have not had internet access so we have been unable to write long posts. It has been good to be together here in El Salvador. Our different ministry opportunities So far have had a common theme, joining a work already in progress. At each place we have served it has been encouraging to see how God is at work meeting the specific needs of each individual community. On Wednesday it was good to see how God has laid the handicapped and disabled on the heart of two sisters. Their weekly ministry to children and adults with disabilities is a vibrant ministry and encouragement to the participants and their families. We joined in on their games, did a skit for them, made balloon animals, and obeyed the instructions of a clown. Most of the volunteers at this ministry are teenagers from the church youth group. It was fun for our team to serve alongside other teens. We also played the first of many games of futbol with them, we think they were being merciful when they didn't beat us too badly. On Thursday we visited a small orphanage in a very rural part of the country. From our materialistic American perspective they have great needs, but the essential things they have in abundance. They have food, shelter, people who care for them, and are aware of the love God has for them. The love and joy in the orphanage was evident even though they lack material resources. We spent time talking to the kids and hearing their dreams for their lives. They are the future nurses, teachers, mechanics, and soccer stars of El Salvador. On Friday we visited the Christian School for the Deaf in San Salvador. God has richly blessed this school that was started 25 years ago with $19 and a dream to educate deaf children. They now provide education for students in preschool through 6th grade. In 7th grade the kids are sent to mainstream schools with translators. The parents of students are required to learn sign language and attend other classes about caring for deaf children. One neat aspect of this ministry is that we the students learn about God at school they are sharing the gospel at home and eniter families are coming to saving faith. We had a great time playing with the kids and figuring out creative ways to communicate across cultural barriers. Saturday morning we visited the church across the street from the home we were staying in. They have a music program on Saturday mornings with youth. Many of these youth come from pretty difficult backgrounds. They are learning to play instruments at the church and being disciples by the pastors. They sang a few worship songs for us in Spanish, and we sang a couple in English. Joey did a great job sharing his story of how God has worked in his life and provided in the midst of very difficult times. A couple of kids in the group recently lost their father and it was neat how God used Joey's story to encourage them. The kids also shared a drama they had prepared to the song, Set Me Feee, bu Casting Crowns. The song is about being released from the chains of sin that entangle and separate us from God. In the drama a girl is tempted by money, the pressure of looking a certain way, a boyfriend, and partying. All of these things put chains on her that weigh her down. Christ comes in, fights the sin for her and takes the burden of her sin on himself. Joseph talked about the message of this song, and encouraged the kids to trust God with their struggles and temptations. In each of these very different contexts it has been extremely evident that God is at work. It has been a gift to see the different ways that God works, and good for us to remember that he will continue to work long after we are gone. We are excited to start our time at the deaf school tomorrow. Hopefully I'll be able to post an update tomorrow evening. Thanks for your prayers for the team! - Kara

Friday and Saturday!

Friday we visited a Christian school for the deaf in San Salvador. We were very impressed by what they are doing for the kids and families at their school. We had a great morning hearing the story of the school and visiting classes. It is amazing how God helps us to communicate across language and cultural barriers.

Today (Saturday) we visited with some youth at a church. These students are coming out of difficult lifestyles and are involved in a music program at the church. Tomorrow we will head to Sonsonate for our ministry at the deaf school there.

A few of us were not feeling well a couple of days ago, we're all good now :)

Update!

The team doesn't have internet access for a few days, but are doing well.  Here's their latest update:

Wednesday we went to a program at a church for people with disabilities. Thursday we spent the day at an orphanage. Today (Friday) we will visit a Christian deaf school in San Salvador.

Please pray for our health, we have a couple of students who are feeling a little under the weather.  Thanks for your prayers!  More as soon as we can...

In El Sal and on the move!

We arrived safely last night and looking forward to visiting a home for handicapped children today. Please pray for our week and we will write more as soon as we have internet access. :)

2012 El Salvador Team!

We are in "prep mode " and look forward to our time in El Salvador next month!  Please remember our team in your prayers as we work on the preparations.

Our team: Micah, Michael, Meredith, Joseph, Joey, Sarah, Ashleigh, Jessica, and Judson and team leaders, Kara, Cannon, and Ariel.

A few prayer requests:

*  For our team to grow in our understanding of the gospel and what God is doing
   around the world.

*  Our ministry partnership with Tirzah International.  That we would be an
   encouragement to our ministry partners as we join them in their work.

*  Our work with the Deaf School in Sonsonate.  That we would communicate clearly and
   effectively and be an encouragement to the students, teachers, and families as we
   share the hope of the gospel.

Thank you for your support, we appreciate each of you!