This is the Day that the Lord has Made

We are always told to rejoice and be glad each and every day.  Some days are easier than others.  Today, we were so blessed because we met with three different people who wanted to donated amazing things to our ministry!  First, one organization was excited to hear about the community outreach that we do and was sure they could help us feed the children in the Platanillo community by purchasing beans, rice, eggs, juice, etc. on a weekly basis.  All the details are still in the works but what a great connection!  Second, we met with a new friend who just recently moved here with her family.  Her husband's business searched for one charity organization in the country to work with and they picked us!!!!!!  They are from the States and are interested in getting really involved with us by doing many projects and activities with the kids.  Today, they helped us improve our recycling program by replacing our homemade bins (which only made it look like we had more trash we weren't throwing out) with 5 new color coded matching containers that make a load of difference!  It was something we needed to do but was never in the budget.  Another American visitor who was a former special needs physical education teacher, came to visit his old friend Tonio.  Robert is great with kids and loves to invent fun physical activities.  He came this afternoon to build a stationary bike that powers a race track with cars and cables for Tonio to practice walking.  We were really blown out of the water by all of these blessings all at once.  Being a part of something special and watching others on the outside do amazing things to be a part of it as well just confirms that God works out all things for good and that he uses His people to get the work done, people of all sorts, shapes, sizes, talents and giftings, He just puts it all together into a beautiful web of giving and receiving that glorifies who He is.  I'm so glad that He chose us to receive these wonderful blessings today!

My Favorite Things

I keep telling myself I need to write down all of the things I love.  All the things I love about El Salvador, all the things I can't live without from the States (a little vain!) and my favorite lessons in 2011.  I know I'm going to miss some no-brainers but here goes:

What I love about El Salvador:
1.  pointing with your lips (one of the very few practical things in this country)
2.  the view of the volcano on my way to the home every morning

3.  of course, the beach!  palm trees, sunshine and 80 degree days and 65 degree nights, can't beat that!

4.  greeting kisses on the cheek
5.  my Salvadoran neighbors!

6.  pupusas with spinach and pork (don't judge!  you have to taste it first!)

7.  beautiful children and singing, dancing, playing, laughing, hugging, kissing and putting on pj's!!

8.  Viva Expresso coffee shop (and my favorite friend Britney to accompany me!)
9.  driving stick shift in gigantic cars
10. cuevana.tv and graboid.com (the only way I get to see Castle!!)


What I can't live without from the States (pretty vain, I know):
1.  Bumble & Bumble hair products
2.  30 day shred workout DVD
3.  jeans
4.  technology (my laptop is with me everywhere!)
5.  Kate from the Neck and Back Clinic (my friday routine after work!)
6.  bathtubs and hot water (i think i took 3 a day when i visited this past december)

The books I loved and my favorite lessons:
1.  DNA of relationships (Gary Smalley)
     Verses to meditate on each day and they will change your relationships!!!!
     Prov. 23:7
     Gal 6:7
     Eph 3:16-20
     2 Cor 10:5
     Phil 4:8-9
     James 1:19
     Romans 2:1

2.  When Helping Hurts (Fikkert and Corbett) - my verse of the year!
   
    "if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
     and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
     then your light will rise in the darkness,
     and your night will become like the noonday" 

*spending ourselves doesn't always mean just writing a check or doing it ourselves because we can do it better.  it's spending the time it takes to help develop change.  and that takes time.  probably more time than any American can fathom.  spending yourself is taxing, it won't be easy, it should be hard.  the work of Christ IS not easy - we are to "spend" ourselves.*


3.  Set Apart for God (John Mulinde) 
     "saturate yourself in the Word for at least one hour every morning and ask God how He wants you to 
      spend your day"  The Word leaped off the page and kept repeating itself over and over again.  Be 
      prepared to see yourself for who you are and to see Him for who He is! 

100% PURITY

When I left Nejapa, El Salvador in August of 2009 on the way to the airport I told Rachel that I was concerned about the teenage pregnancy rate of the country and how the girls that I had just cared for for the past two months would make it without becoming another statistic.  It seemed as though those who did were in the minority.  How do you help change something that seems to be a part of a culture for generations? 

I made plans to come back and hopefully share God's Word about purity with those girls and the girls in the community.  What I didn't know was that about 6 months later, God would call me to make a two year commitment to helping direct the home administratively. 

Now that the busyness of those transitions have settled I was recently able to sort through a collection of things I brought from home a year and a half ago.  I came across five books that I had bought in order to teach on God's call for purity for girls.  I suddenly remembered how motivated I was before to share this material with as many girls as I could.

This week is week 5 of the group study that developed at my house on Thursday afternoons.  I am so pleased by how it all turned out.  I asked the three oldest girls in our children's home if they wanted to read this book with me while we eat sweet bread and drink coffee.  All of them were open to it and every week they check in with me several times to make sure we are going to do it again on Thursday.

We are studying God's word on how to live pure in all areas of our lives.  I am impressed by the openness of the girls to express their opinions, questions and stories.  I thought they would be closed minded and maybe just laugh and giggle over some of the material but it has been the opposite.  We have talked about some uncomfortable subjects but when I know that I get a chance to share truth with them, it's a seed that will grow and hopefully multiply to all those who know them. 

I am so proud of these girls.  They are the same girls that I took care of 3 summers ago and to see how much they have grown to be wonderful girls who love and know Jesus makes my heart content.  God has really gripped the lives of these girls and has called them His own.  I can see the fruits of His labor in their lives and I'm just glad I get a chance to be a part of it!

Sewing

The Salvadoran school year starts in January and ends in November. The two months in between leaves much room for other learning experiences. During the break the tios and tias teamed up to create a series of workshops to teach the kids skilled trades such as cooking, sewing, car mechanics, knitting and more. Two of the girls even took an interest in cosmetology and are attending classes three days a week during the two month vacation.
Last week I had the opportunity to teach the kids how to sew drawstring t-shirt bags and jean purses on the sewing machine. Sewing is special to me because my grandmother taught me how when I was very young and I have been able to create my own clothing and quilts since then. The boys found an old t-shirts and the girls used old jeans to create their finished product. After millions of questions and crooked lines, there was a smile on everyone's face for having experienced something new.
I am impressed by the teachable attitudes of these kids. Everyone wants to participate, learn and have fun at the same time!