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