Key Giving Ceremony

 The key giving ceremony is always an emotional celebration for Salvadorans and Canadians. In just 6 short days the Lord unites us in ways we couldn’t imagine possible.  

The exchanges of words, hugs, tears and smiles fills all the empty spaces and can never be replicated or fully explained. 

Here’s a glimpse of some of the highlights:

One of two cakes the community bought to share with us 

Each family is given a Bible, the keys and words of encouragement 

Our team with our recipient families

Salvadorans and Canadians together 

EMCC National President praying for Clay Jones, CEO of Shelter 

One of four build teams

(Front Row: Christine, Karen, Sheema, Steve, Mike)

(Back Row: Deve, Amanda, Pat)

One Word - 2025

 At the end of the trip each person is asked to share one word. That one word is something that they can use to the inevitable question that will come their way when we get home: “How was your trip?”

The reality is that most people won’t want to listen to deeply. This one word provides an invitation for people to inquire further. 

Also by being prepared with this one word, each team member is able to share a little bit of what the Lord has be n showing or teaching them, while allowing them to continue to process some of the deeper things going on within them. 

Please take time to ask them about their week. Pray for the Lord to help them re-engage into daily rhythms as the process all they have experienced. 

One word:

Jim - grateful

Elaine - moving

Steve - togetherness

Bill - cooperation

Jamie - joy

Fletcher - peace

Zach - fulfilling

Logan - magic

Dylan - grateful

Monty - impressive

Lachlan - people

Nick - joy

Derek - accomplished

Byron- humility

Jesse - yearning

Luke - eye-opening

Christine - life-changing

John H - love

Pat - connection

Mike - Safety

Sheema - united

Amanda - family

Karen - hope

John C - lentos (glasses)

Deve- Amazing

26

 The first year we came, we struggled to build 4 houses. This morning we finished the last of 26 houses! 

26 families will be living in safe, secure and dry homes this Christmas. For most it will be the first time they have ever experienced these qualities that most of us take for granted. 

As our diverse yet united team shared tonight, we have so much to be thankful for. We have been humbled by the dignity, contentment and faith of the families with whom we have served. We have been blessed. We are blessed. 

Their lives have changed and so have ours. 

25 people from Ontario: 1 from Mississauga, 3 from the Ottawa area, 4 from Sarnia and 17 from Plattsville - together with Shelter staff, WGM staff and an incredible number of community members along with 26 families  some way, some how the Lord united us all, providing for all our needs and infusing our lives with Hope  

Amazing Grace

We are on our final build day. So far our team of 25 has built 24 homes. The recurring sentiment from the families is one of deep gratitude. Despite their living situations and lack of income/resources, the El Salvadoran families have taught us how resourceful they are. They have faced much adversity and still their countenance is one of JOY.


Last night while I was sleeping , the Lord provided a picture to me of a broken chain which was accompanied by the Hymn, Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone). I pondered on this the whole night.


[Verse 3]
The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures

[Chorus]
My chains are gone, I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love, amazing grace


It reminded me of one of the home owners, Dasye. She shared that she had been praying for years in Jesus’ name for a new home. She said to us “When I ask the Lord for things in faith, then I believe that God will bring the miracle. You need to ask in God’s name.”

We all need to believe and ask for things in Jesus Name! God is faithful and so we must be, too.


Sheema

Fathers

 At the end of today 24 families have participated in building 24 homes. Each home is the product of the love of God being displayed through generous donations of many people as well as the sacrifices of time, energy and comfort from 25 team members (and their families). 

In both of our team builds today we were humbled and amazed by the steady and loving presence of the father on each home. So often we find heart wrenching stories where moms are raising their children alone, often abandoned. Today was different. 

Edilberto is a single father of a beautiful 19 year old daughter. His wife left them for another man many years ago. The two them work hard together and they participate regularly ( 3 times a week) at their local church. His greatest desire is that his daughter would follow the way of Jesus all the days of her life. When asked about an important verse from the Bible, he shared from Revelation 21 - about the fullness of God’s presence and fulfillment of His promises for those whose names are found in the book of life. And then he prayed a prayer of blessing on our team, our families and our church communities.

The second father, Luis, is father to 5 engaging children. He and his wife, Leyda, have been married for 20 years! This is rare in any culture. More than that, he spoke of his children with words of grace and empowerment. And his children demonstrated honour to back to him. He and his wife spoke of being intentional to develop a sense of unity with their family and it shows. He also modeled a humility of spirit as he acknowledged that the process of removing their old house and building a new one has deepened his relationship with God.

Good men  Good godly men who work hard and love deeply are hard to find  today we found two because of the prayer and generosity of many  

Strength

 There’s a new way to spell “strength”; it goes like this: Y-A-N-E-T-H. 

Yaneth, is a single mother of 5 children. She is incredibly determined to provide and protect her children. She is full committed to being resourceful and hardworking in order to provide for the essential needs of her family. She would walk several kms to find corn to make $5. She collects cow manure in bags to sell as fertilizer to farmers. Each large recycled grain bag is $1. She will walk up the steep and rocky path to her home with 30 pounds of water in a container - on her head.  She will walk into town if she needs something: about 90 minutes each way. 

But these don’t make her strong. 

Her father left when she was young. Her husband died unexpectedly five years ago. Around that same time she underwent an emergency c-section during the birth of their youngest daughter. Two years ago her eldest son died in a tragic workplace accident. ( both deaths would be preventable in Canadian health and safety protocols). 

Despite so many reasons to be weak, to take the role of the victim, she instead chooses to find strength - divine strength that exudes contentment, grace and resolve. It’s a strength that refuses to be defined by circumstance. It’s a strength that rises above the material poverty of her day to day life. It’s a strength that inspires hope - the very hope we thought we were bringing. Turns out she’s got enough for all of us. 

Karen spent some time painting her nails, and those of her two sisters, and two little daughters. The joy and pleasure was unmistakable. Their expressions only enhanced the strength that was already evident. 

Yaneth uses quiet walks to find peace from God when life gets challenging. She enjoys telling her girls about the dad they barely knew: how he would work hard, and always wanted to provide for their family. She knows that God being her helper she can be dad and mom to her kids. Her one desire is for them to get a good education. With the provision of a new home, this becomes more possible. 

With a Shelter home, people are healthier because they are protected from the dampness. Students attend more school which gives them greater hope for the future. 

Thank you for your prayer and contributions to families like Yaneth. Your support is making a strong impact - on all of us. 

The Difference a House Makes

Today 8 families participated in building 8 new houses. It’s life changing. It’s hope instilling. It’s exciting and much needed. But it’s a hard choice to make. 

You and I, we might think it should be easy to say goodbye to old dilapidated homes. The roofs leak (like a colander as one family described it); the sticks and mud need constant replacing; and the black plastic doesn’t help too much in the wind or the rain.  The choice isn’t as easy as we would think. 

In talking to our families today we were reminded of the memories that have been made in their old houses. They’ve watched children grow.  They’ve shared gatherings and played games in their old houses. While it might have been in poor condition, it was home. 

The choice to take down their old home before a new home can be built isn’t easy for those reasons and more. One of the families shared that they know of other families whose homes are in worse condition than their own. However those families didn’t have enough faith to believe that a new home would come. They weren’t willing to let go of what they knew in order to experience what God would provide. And so they settle for the way it is instead of being renewed by the new way it could be. 

Shelter brings hope through the building of a house that becomes a home where new memories are forged, and new possibilities are opened as people are healthier, safer and protected from the elements. Often the realization of those possibilities involve the courage to live by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7).

Perhaps some of us also need to be reminded and encouraged to let go of something familiar in order to apply ourselves toward discovering the new blessings God has waiting for us.  

A Walk in the Clouds

 Four thousand feet above sea level sits a small, beautiful and historically significant town of Alegria (it means “joy” in English). 

After breakfast at the OEF hotel we made our way down the winding highway.  It has been a few years since we’ve travelled this road: past San Felipe, past Rio Frio and then across the bridge towards San Miguel.  We’ve built homes for hundreds of people on this stretch of road, up to the peaks of the mountains and down into the valleys that run along the picturesque Rio Lempa.

And today we would take those memories and use them to engage in hope filled connections with 26 families.  We played some games, shared some food and began to share our stories with one another. It’s a humbling and powerful time recognizing that God has been preparing us all for these days.

In the afternoon we had a historical tour of Alegria, visiting the homes of one of El Salvador’s most prolific writers (Alberto Montferrer), who championed the cause of the poor in the early 1900s.

We then drank in some of the rich beauty of this country, at the hundred step lookout and a visit to the Laguna Verde (a sulphuric lake nestled in the crater of a dormant volcano.

Dinner at Pollo Campero, a short debrief and we were all ready to get some rest,  as tomorrow the building begins.

ES November 2025 Begins

We never take for granted the idea of smooth travel to get us from our homes, across the highways, through the airport, into the skies and transportation to our hotel. It’s a long day. Today we also navigated some unexpected circumstances and an amazing provision of God. 

So much to say, but it will need to wait. 

Breakfast at 7. Then off to meet 26 families  

Your interest and your prayer is appreciated.

A Deeper Understanding

 Deeper understanding 

Steadfast Love: Encouragement in the waiting 

In November God introduced me to Rosa.

God showed me in November what His steadfast love means. 

He showed me the depth of His love and the unwaveringness of His love.  God showed me that nothing is to high or to low, to far or to wide to separate us from that love.

The one family we met was being watched by the gang, and they were moments away from being executed.  Everyday the gang watched them, and waited for a phone call to go ahead and execute them.  But the Lord Showed His steadfast love for them.

The mom prayed for Jesus to protect their family and she said daily that she felt Jesus' tangible protection.   They were protected like this for many years, as they continued to pray and trust in God's steadfast love. 

Genesis 39:21 says "But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison."

Even while Joseph was in Prison, the Lord showed steadfast love to him.   The Lord didn't forget about Joseph while he was in prison, just like the Lord hasn't forgotten about the people in El Salvador.   

The one family was trapped, similar to a prison, But God was with them daily, protecting them and showing His steadfast love to them. 

This specific family, the home we built for them is a safe place.  A place of protection.   

The roof and the floor of their previous home still remains beside their new home.   The mom told us that she is going to use the remnants of the old home for a safe meeting place for the community to gather.  To come together to pray and to worship.

She is blessed by God to receive the gift of a new home, and she wants to extend that blessing to her community and offer them a place for prayer.

What a beautiful testimony.   what a beautiful example of the steadfast love of our Lord!

In April we returned to Rosa’s house where she shared how she is using her old structure, and how it is now used as a meeting place, a church, for the people in the community.

God has blessed Rosa and she is spreading that blessing to those around her.

Then in April we met a new family, who also has been waiting faithfully on the Lord.

Maria Deisy and Jose were our final build.  The parents and grandparents.

Maria Deisy became a believer 8 years ago.   She faithfully purchased the land that many family members now live on and 3 shelter homes were built on.   

She had been growing in her relationship with the Lord.   She got baptized 6 years ago and she has been praying for her family to also believe.  She is faithful and is introducing her family to the Lord.   Some of her family have come to know Jesus personally, and some admit they only know of Jesus.   One being her husband José and one being her son Luis.  Two men we will pray that the Lord will open their hearts to accepting Jesus as their Lord as well.

Maria Deisy has been praying for her family and others to come to know the Lord.  She has been praying for her house to be a sanctuary, a place of peace.  A place where people will meet the Lord.   

On the day of the Key ceremony, Maria Deisy received part of her prayers being answered and after years of waiting she turned and gave God all the glory.

The Lord has taught me that Waiting on the Lord has its purposes.   It renews our strength, The Lord is good to those who wait and God will hear us in our waiting.

Isaiah 40:31

    [31] but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;

        they shall mount up with wings like eagles;

    they shall run and not be weary;

        they shall walk and not faint.

Lamentations 3:25

    [25] The LORD is good to those who wait for him,  to the soul who seeks him.

Micah 7:7

    [7] But as for me, I will look to the LORD;

        I will wait for the God of my salvation;

        my God will hear me.

As Romans 12:12 reminds us to

[12] Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

God is present with us in the waiting, He does not leave us not forsakes us.

His love remains with us and is steadfast, immovable.   

So let this be a reminder to all.

God loves you more than you know.   He is constantly watching out for you, protecting you and shielding you from dangers you do not see.   And even though the waiting seems long, God is answering your prayers.   Let us be reminded that as we wait, we grow in our faith and trust in God.  As we wait we are reminded that God loves us.  As we wait we anticipate what is to come with Joyful Hope and expectation!

God loves you and He is there with you in the waiting!

Lots of love 💕

Angela

In the Waiting

John 11:3-6

[3] So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” [4] But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

[5] Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. [6] So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

I heard a small message on this scripture today

- Jesus  loved Mary Martha and Lazarus

And he still stayed and waited 2 more days before going to them

Why?  

Answer is in vs 4

The sickness will not end in death For the glory and honor of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.

My pov …

Sometimes our waiting is for God to receive the glory.    

Jesus never stopped loving them, and could have answered their prayers instantly.   But he still waited two days.

(Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength)

Our waiting renews our trust and confidence in God!   It builds our faith.

And when He answers He receives more glory after two days of waiting, then if he answered instantly.

This is Giving me a new perspective of waiting…

There is this one mom (grandma) in El Salvador 🇸🇻  and At the key ceremony, our family had the privilege to pray for her and her family and hand the keys to this family. (Keys are a key to their home as well as a key to life - The Bible)

I had the Bible and the key in my left hand and I held her hand with my right hand.

I didn’t know what to pray, so I silently asked the Lord for words.

I began to pray

Lord I pray this home is a safe place, a place where people come to find shelter and find/meet the Lord.  I pray this place is a sanctuary and that many people will come to Christ in this house.  And I pray there will be a double blessing.

As soon as I said those words the grandma started bawling. And said that she has been praying those exact prayer for years.  

She then started to pray.   She prayed with tears, with passion and with heart.  Her prayer was too quick for the interpreter to interpret, so we stayed there listening to her passionately pray to the Lord.  Bringing tears to all our eyes.   Myself still holding her hand.  We stood there with her, one in Spirit as we listened to her outcry prayer to the Lord.   The interpreter told us she was thanking the Lord.

She has been waiting on the Lord for years for this home.   And her response was giving God all the Glory!

In this waiting, her faith and trust in God were growing.   

In the receiving, her outcry was of praise and thanksgiving.

Now going forward with her continued faith and trust in the Lord,  God will use her place as a sanctuary for people to meet Christ.  Specifically some of her family members that have yet to accept Jesus.

Praise God for our periods of waiting!   

Lots of love

Angela

One Word

 It’s time to come home. It’s an early start and a long day  

This is always a challenge after hearing, seeing, and experiencing the special things that God had prepared in advance for us. 

It’s a challenge too, after having been together for 8 days, 24-7, to leave the “family” we’ve become. 

Processing all of this continues for days, weeks and months. But we all have something to share and we have one word to describe it. 

Feel free to ask us. 

Samuel - Fun

Naomi - cultural

Pete - emotional

Angela - family

Jacob - excited

Garrett - honour

Albert - milqgros (miracle)

Micah - impactful 

Julia - successful

Tim - suave (slowly - take it easy)

Paul - satisfied

Deve - greatness

John 3:16

 Today was the key ceremony day. It’s always a powerful and humbling reminder that God is with us and with the families we have met. 

To walk away from that ceremony and the people is always hard, knowing that we have shared in something life changing for them and for us. 

Our team chose a verse to write in all the Bibles given to the families. 

John 3:16 iand then we all signed our names. 

Brenda preaching on - you guessed it - John 3:16. Neither of us knew what the other was doing. 

God did.

We all had the chance to present the keys and Bible and to speak to and/or pray with a family. 

Piñata for the children

Team photos

A last look brings a reminder that God met us, prepared a table in the presence of hopelessness,  and we have been strengthened with hope. 

An incredible time spent with the fabricators at WGM!

We made it to the top of the newly refreshed clock tower!

There is so much to write about just from this day that it can hardly be done, as the thoughts and impressions are so many. In fact, some of the most impactful moments don’t get captured by photo or video.  Your prayer, encouragement, financial support and interaction through the blog are significant assets as part of what God is doing. 

God loves us all so much!