So Jesse and I left El Salvador yesterday morning and made it safely to Montana last nighTt. It's cold here, but after being in 90 degree weather with humidity in El Salvador, I'm almost welcoming the cold weather.
The last six weeks or so in El Salvador, since there were no teams, Jesse and I got to spend a lot more time with the boys at the Casa and the after-school kids in San Martin. We helped the older boys in the Casa with their homework in the morning. Then in the later morning, I would bring toys over to the younger boys of the Casa. The boys loved it! In fact, they loved it so much, whenever they saw me, they would say "Juguetes?" (which means "Toys?") Their favorite toy, however, was none other than.... my camera. They loved taking pictures with my camera. Sometimes they would fight over whose turn it was with my camera. When I showed them how to record with my camera, they thought it was the best thing ever! A couple of the boys would record themselves dancing or playing. It worked out for me because I'd just give the boys my camera and they'd take all the pictures and videos for me.
The kids in the after-school program also loved using my camera and would take pictures and videos for me. A couple of the after-school kids, Axel and Kevin, would ask to use my camera and then taunt me with it and say "Es un robo, es un robo!" (which means "It's a robbery, it's a robbery!") just so I would chase them. Jesse and I got to teach Bible lessons each week to the after-school kids. It was cool being able to teach the Word of God in Spanish, even if sometimes I messed up with the Spanish language and wondered how much of what I said the kids really understood. But God is good and reminded me that it doesn't matter how well/bad I do with my Spanish-speaking abilities, but that in the end it's Him who is going to change the kids' hearts. Sometimes, I would just have to stand back and think about how awesome it is that God is using me to teach kids in another language.
It was hard to leave the boys at the Casa, the after-school kids, and the kids at the church, especially after taking the last six weeks and strengthening our relationships with them. But as hard as it is to leave the friends we made in El Salvador, I know God will continue the work He's been doing in El Salvador and in the kids' lives personally even though I might not be there to witness it. He's going to continue the work in their lives like He's going to continue in mine; and I personally can't wait to see what the future holds!
Thanks everyone back home who have been praying for me and the work God is doing in El Salvador. Please continue to keep El Salvador and the people there in your prayers. I'll be home in a month and I can't wait to be back! Until then.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of
peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
