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.

Update: 4/21 - 4/27

     So we’ve officially been in El Salvador for two weeks and are continuing to make friends; learn Spanish; and of course, serve God. Jesse, Shaquanah, and I have been continuing to serve in the Campos Blancos ministry on Sunday mornings, and we’ve started to help out in the church’s Sunday school which we do during the second service after we do Campos Blancos.

     During the week, although Shaquanah’s no longer watching the 2 ½ year old boy Rozel in the afternoons, she’s still continuing to help out in the school. There’s a young boy from the San Martin orphanage (La Casa) named Alexis who attends the school. He loves Shaquanah and she has completely fallen in love with him; and if adoptions weren’t next to impossible here in El Salvador, I’m sure she would have already adopted him by now.

     Jesse, Randy, Trevor, and I have been continuing the projects at the San Martin orphanage to prepare for the mission teams that will be coming to visit in a week or so. We’ve almost completed the concrete steps we’ve been making and have begun to prepare the foundation for the water tanks that will help increase the water pressure in the bungalows where the teams will be staying. Please keep Jesse in your prayers because he’s been sick with something for the past few days (possibly Strep Throat) and pray that the rest of us won’t get sick.

     That’s about it for now. Thanks for all your faithful prayers and God bless.

What's In A Name?

Sunday 4/22/12

                                                                                  What’s In A Name?

     “What’s in a name?” In perhaps his most famous work, Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare raises the question of the importance of a name. The next line of the play gives a profound response to the question: “That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." It might seem that if Juliet’s words reflected the author’s thoughts, Shakespeare would argue that a name has little – if any – importance at all. Or does it?

     …I was thinking and praying about him Saturday night. Would he be there? Would he be as sad and quiet as before or would he be as happy and outgoing as any of the other kids this time? Was the problem he was having last week something that would arise again this week, or was I blowing everything way out of proportion? (I was probably doing the latter.) But with all these questions, one question still intrigued me: What was the boy’s name?

    My ankle which I had hurt last week was feeling much better; and, unlike last time, once we got to the court where we held our Campos Blancos Sunday school, I jumped right in there and was playing soccer with the kids. Even as I was playing, I would still keep an eye out, glancing every now and then to the entrance of the court as a kid or two would walk in – seeing if one of them was the boy who wouldn’t tell me his name last week. I guess I must have been more engrossed in the game than I thought because after everyone was tired from playing and the game started winding down, I noticed that even though I somehow didn’t see him walk in, the boy had come after all.

     Of course, I went over and said hi to him and immediately asked him if he was going to tell me his name this week? But he still didn’t tell me his name. It was time for singing and the kids stood up and made a circle – except for a couple girls and, of course, the boy without a name. The teacher and some other kids tried getting him to join, but he didn’t want to. We sang a few songs before I went over to him and asked him if he wanted to sing. I told him that I needed help because I didn’t know the words (which I didn’t since they were in Spanish). He still refused to join. I noticed that he didn’t seem as sad as last week, but still pretty quiet and closed off. I wondered if it was just his personality and if he would be closed off this week too.

     The previous week, the teacher had asked me to lead a game next time. I had prepared a game and after the kids sang, I explained the game to them. When we started the game, the boy joined and played along. He even seemed to be enjoying it.

     After the game, we had the Bible lesson, and after the lesson, I attempted to ask the boy his name once again. Even though he wouldn’t tell me his name any of the other times, I knew this time would be different. I knew I was going to get his name. If he wouldn’t tell me, I would guess it until I got it right. Even though it might sound like guessing his name would be a challenge for me, the truth is, it would have only taken me one guess because by now, I had heard the other teachers and some of the kids use his name. However, even though I was ready to guess his name, I didn’t have to – this time he actually told me! I had finally learned this boy’s name! I asked him if he was sad last week and he nodded. Then, I asked him why, but he wouldn’t respond right away. Seeing that he was hesitating, I asked him if maybe he didn’t remember and he nodded. Later on, I asked him if he was feeling better today and he was. After the lesson, the boy even participated in the coloring and word search paper like the other kids.

     So although he was still very quiet (which is probably just his personality), the boy without a name that was so sad last week, now talked, participated, and interacted more with others. But as thrilling as those changes were, there was one change this week that was particularly special. And that is, this week, the boy had opened up enough to share something with me that he had refused to share with me the previous  week – his name.

     At first glance, it might seem as though Shakespeare believed that a name is pointless, but then again maybe that wasn’t the point he was trying to make at all; for the fact remains that even if you call a rose by any other name, it at least still has one – you just have to figure out what that name is. Perhaps Shakespeare’s words could better be understood in light of 1 Samuel 16:7 when God tells Samuel that the things man holds important such as outward appearances and perhaps even names is not the same as what God deems important. While man may stop at the appearance or at a name, God looks beyond – He looks at the heart. So whatever your answer might be to Shakespeare’s question of “What’s in a name?” or whatever your view is on the importance of a name, that’s up to you. But whatever the case, it’s indisputable that Shakespeare definitely raised an interesting question. But for me, I personally think that the point Shakespeare was trying to make was that a name in and of itself has little importance, especially when you don't take the heart and soul of the poerson or thing behind it into account. And as I look back at this story, I have to say that it isn’t, nor was it ever, about getting the boy’s name. The name itself wasn’t important; it was always about the boy behind the name. So while many may ponder with Shakespeare over what’s in a name, I know for me, that the name Anderson will always have importance – not because of the name itself, but because of the boy behind it for whom I will continue to pray as I did before – the only difference being that now I can pray for him by name.

(Thanks to all of you who have prayed for this boy and please continue to pray for him. Also, thanks to those of you who have been praying for my ankle. It feels fine now and I can run and play soccer again – YAY!)

Update 4/13/12 - 4/20/12

     Hola mis amigos. Jesse, Shaquanah, and I have officially been here in El Salvador for one week and we’ve been up to a lot. So below is a summary of the week.

     We safely arrived here Friday night on April 13^th and met the Gilbert family. There’s  Randy, Karen, and their boys – Noah whose 8 and Ben whose 5. They’re the missionary family that we will be staying with for the next six months while we’re here in San Salvador.

     On Sunday’s the central church that we help out here in El Salvador has a program called Campos Blancos which is translated “White Fields” in English. This program takes Sunday school to the kids in the surrounding community and the three of us have been able to help out with that program and will continue to help out with it for the six months that we’re here. We go to different neighborhoods and play games with the kids there, give them a snack, do arts and crafts, and of course give them a Bible lesson. It’s a great way to bring Sunday school to kids who otherwise wouldn’t be there.

    Besides campos blancos, Shaquanah’s also been helping out at the Christian school at the central church in San Salvador. She helps with three grades with the kids’ ages ranging from 2-5. There’s also a missionary couple from Honduras here who have a young 2 ½ year old son named Rozell. In the afternoons Shaquanah has been helping to watch Rozell so that his parents can attend classes for training and get some things done that they wouldn’t be able to do otherwise.

     Jesse and I have been working with Randy and another missionary named Trevor over in San Martin at the boy’s orphanage which they call “La Casa” (which means “The House”). We’ve been working on some construction projects to prepare for some mission teams that will be staying there in San Martin throughout the summer. There are two bungalows on the orphanage property where the teams will be staying. One of the projects that Jesse and I have been doing with Randy is building some concrete steps outside one of the bungalows. It’s been hard working in the hot humid weather here in El Salvador, but we’ve been accomplishing a lot – which is good because the mission teams will be here in just a few weeks.

      In a nutshell, that’s what we’ve been up to so far for our first full week here in El Salvador. It’s been great being able to serve God and doing all this for His glory. We all look forward to the next six months. Please continue to keep us and the work God is doing here in your prayers. Dios Les Bendiga. God bless you all. Adios!