If you're reading this it's likely because you either have a previous connection to our relationship with the people of El Salvador or you have a connection to the people involved in this next trip/adventure/learning experience.
Let me tell you two (of many) reasons why I'm excited about what the Lord has in store for our church family this week:
1. This trip is a tangible expression not just of "giving" but of "generosity". Over the course of the last five years, people in our church family have been sponsoring children in El Salvador (and other places) through Compassion Canada. How many kids we never really knew? But each year when our work team would head down, those who remained would sponsor children, making a monthly monetary commitment to a Christ-centred care ministry. There is a team of 16 people who will have the opportunity to meet their 14 sponsored children!! More than that, there are an additional 12 children that will receive a gift box from their sponsors!! The Lord is at work moving us from being a "giving" church family to a "generous" church family. Sacrificial generosity reflects the character of God and it's humbling to see it in action. Many of the people on this trip wouldn't necessarily be able to participate in a "work team". This trip allows them to continue to feed our desire to enter into the mutually beneficial cross cultural global relationships. I look forward to learning from this team!!
2. This team is an intergenerational team. It's reflects one of the consistent themes that we have been addressing over the course of a number of years: At the SEMC we do life, together!! There are people in their teens, 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's and yes 70's part of this team...what a testimony to the way in which Our God is seeking to reveal His love for us and others. They will go through the week together, pray together, share together, experience so many new things together and have a lot of fun in the process.
I could go on and on...but let me invite you to pray consistently and earnestly for this team; they are unique people called together for a unique purpose and God will not only bring change to their lives, but will also use them to continue to change our lives to glorify Him!
Lord willing, you will hear/read a little of their experiences throughout the week in this space.
May the Lord bless you for sharing the journey with us,
Deve
