Update 5-5 to 5-16

     So this past week (Wed. 5/9 to Wed. 5/16) we had our first group from the United States come and visit San Martin since we arrived. Jesse and I stayed with them at San Martin all week and got to know them really well. It was a college group from Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee who came down with their church (Pump Springs Baptist Church). There were fourteen of them – 2 guys, 9 girls, and 3 chaperones. In the mornings we would usually go to a place and do some kind of work project such as setting up a wire fence, painting, cleaning up a play area, etc. In the afternoons, we did some kind of outreach for the kids in the community (or mothers on Mother’s Day which is Thursday, May 10^th here in El Salvador). We usually did games, crafts, a Bible story, and a gospel message each day at the places we’d go.

     This week was especially cool for me for a few reasons. First, it was great making friends with this group. Everyone was so friendly. Second, on Sunday afternoon, we had a time to just hang out with the boys at the Casa and the team cooked burgers for dinner. It was the first time that Jesse and I really got to just hang out with all the boys and get to know them. Throughout the week, we also got to hang out with the older boys at the Casa a couple additional nights and play soccer with them. We had a couple games of soccer – Americans vs. El Salvadorans. They easily won the first night we played 5 to 3, but we redeemed ourselves the next time when we beat them 4 to 1 (granted, two of their players were on our team and we only played half the field, but a win is still a win). Violeta told us that no teams had beaten them before so we felt really proud of our accomplishment. One of the coolest things throughout this week, though, was how God was able to use me with my limited knowledge of Spanish. Only one or two of the team members that came really knew any Spanish, and many times they would have me translate games or a Bible story or something. Twice I even got to translate the gospel message to a group of kids. The team had brought a soccer ball with different colors on it, and one of the team members would explain in English the different colors on the ball, what the colors meant, and how it pertained to the gospel while I translated.

     All in all, it was probably the best week I had here in El Salvador yet. Lives were touched, friends were made, the Word of God went forth, and many salvations were witnessed throughout this week. Please continue to pray that the Word of God would go forth and produce fruit here in El Salvador and that the mission team that just left would continue to be a light for Christ back in their homes and communities as they grow closer to God.



Putting Words in Your Mouth

Then Moses said to the LORD, "O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue." So the LORD said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the LORD? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say."

-          Exodus 4:10-12

     I don’t know how hot it was, but it felt like it could have easily been over a hundred degrees Fahrenheit. The first missionary team had arrived from the United States the day before and today was the first full day in El Salvador. It was Thursday, May 10^th – “El Dia De Las Madres“ in El Salvador – and for the day, we went to La Angostura where we did some work projects in the morning and then prepared for a Mother’s Day celebration. In the afternoon, families started to come for the celebration. We had some games and contests for the mothers and their kids. Later, we split the adults and the kids. The adults went to go listen to a Gospel message and the kids went to play soccer. Before we played soccer with the kids, Karen called all the kids to gather around in the shade. She introduced Corey (one of the guys from the team from the United States) and said that he had to explain something first. (Violeta had asked Karen to translate for him since she knew some Spanish.)

     As she was explaining that she was going to translate for Corey, Karen noticed me and asked me if I wanted to translate instead, thinking that I would do better since I knew how to speak a tiny bit more Spanish. Immediately, I was excited and nervous for the opportunity. I love speaking Spanish, but I’ll be the first to admit that I am anything but fluent in the language. Knowing that there might be a word or phrase I didn’t know in Spanish that I might need help translating, I agreed to do it, telling Karen that she might need to help me if I get stuck. She said I’d do fine, and seeing the soccer ball in Corey’s hand, I figured that it wouldn’t take too much to explain how to play soccer to the kids. I mean, after all, it’s El Salvador – they eat and breathe soccer. So I figured we were just going to make teams or go over boundaries with the kids or something like that.

     As Karen continued explaining to the kids what Corey was going to tell them, I quickly realized that I wasn’t going to be interpreting something as trivial as the rules to soccer. Karen explained that the soccer ball Corey was holding had different colors on it and that the colors tell a story. Looking at the soccer ball, I immediately knew what the story was – the soccer ball had different colors which told the Gospel story. I was going to be translating the Gospel message to the kids! When I figured that out, I was even more nervous because of the huge responsibility. But as Corey told the story of the different colors on the soccer ball and I translated, God gave me the words to say in Spanish. It felt so cool to be able to interpret – especially since it was the Gospel.

     Near the end, Corey asked if any of the kids wanted Jesus’ free gift of salvation. At first, no kids raised their hands. I couldn’t help but wonder if maybe I hadn’t translated well enough and they were too confused by my Spanish to have understood the Gospel and what was being asked. But finally, one boy raised his hand. I was so excited! We asked him if he wanted to come forward and explained that he could pray to ask Jesus into his heart. Corey said a prayer in English, I translated in Spanish, and the boy repeated. I was so happy for him and we asked him his name and he told us it was Anderson (not the same Anderson as in my Campos Blancos group).

     It was so cool to have led a boy to the Lord. Even though I knew that technically all I was doing was translating the words that Corey was saying, I also knew that just as my role was being Corey’s mouthpiece, I knew that the both of us were the Lord’s mouthpiece. It kind of reminded me of how God would give His words to His prophets and they would say it to others.

     After that time, there was another day where one of the members of the mission team gave the same presentation to another group of kids and I again translated. God was so faithful and another boy was led to the Lord. It’s so awesome being used by the Lord in something that you love to do even though you know you’re not the best at it. For me, that’s translating English to Spanish. But whatever it might be for others, know this: God’s wants to use us to be His hands, feet, and mouth regardless of our skills or inabilities – all we need to be is willing.

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: "Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me."

-          Isaiah 6:8

Update 4/28 - 5/4

     This week, Shaquanah has been continuing to help out in the school at the Central Church. Although many of the young kids can be challenging at times, she is doing a great job mixing discipline and grace to show them the love of Christ. She’s also helping out Violeta in the office. For anyone who doesn’t know who Violeta is, she’s pretty much the “go-to” person for the Potter’s Field Ministry here in El Salvador.

     Jesse and I have been continuing to help Randy and Trevor with the projects at San Martin. We poured the concrete foundation that will hold the water pumps for the bungalows where the teams will be staying. We also continued working on the steps. They’re starting to look really cool now that we added bamboo railings! On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons, there’s an after school kids’ program at the San Martin orphanage. This week, Jesse and I have gotten plenty of opportunities to hang out with the kids that attend the after school program and get to know them as we play with them, talk with them (what little we can say in Spanish), and help them with their homework.

     This coming Wednesday evening is when the first mission team is coming. They’ll be here for a whole week. Jesse and I are going to be staying in San Martin with them and helping Aureli with cooking for them. We’re both excited to be working so closely with the team, but we’ll be having to get up quite early to help make breakfast every morning. So keep us in your prayers that we won’t go crazy from any lack of sleep.

     As always, thanks for all the prayers. God bless.

Want To See More Pictures?

     People say that a picture is worth a thousand words; and for many, pictures can do much more than just a simple description. So, if you want to see more pictures of what we're doing here in El Salvador, you can go to the Potter's Field El Salvador Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/67837400@N08/. For the past few days I've been posting some pictures there, and I'll probably be uploading new pictures every now and then when I get the chance. So please check that link often if you want to see the latest pictures.