Reflection

After a very long journey to arrive at our hotel, it is good to be in El Salvador (especially since there is no snow!!).
When our team was last here, in October we spent part of our last day walking through a new area, San Antonio des Caminos. It was an area that was more dilapidated than any we had previously seen. The road was impassable by truck, therefore we walked slowly past shacks made of sticks and plastic, people with little or no food & water, evidence of sickness and the stench of feces rose up as the sun dried away the little water that had previously covered it over.
As a group we felt genuine sorrow which was further heightened by Pastor Jorge's obvious heart-breaking compassion. So we gathered and prayed, cried and prayed and then left.
Today, we drove where we could barely walk, there are 31 houses built in that area and plans for more to continue. There is joy in the eyes of the people and what is more, many of them have started to attend the church in San Vicente because of the kindness shown to them (Isa. 58).
What a powerful message God gave through people, in our church service tonight, people of San Felipe (where we have built houses) and San Antonio (where we prayed for houses), together with us english-speaking Canadians and the people of San Vicente. The church was filled to overflowing, people standing on the sidewalks around the building, singing and praising the "God of this City"!!

We have all contributed to what God is doing here.

Tomorrow (Monday) we are heading off to see a new area, visit with a new pastor, and meet new people - in the hopes of discerning another region of El Salvador that the Lord may be preparing for us to be involved.

Thanks for your prayer...I'm praying for you too.

Deve

Ready?

I'm not sure if you can ever be ready to leave the comforts of home and the people you love. But when it's time to go you must go, no matter what. Here's one thing I realized yesterday: I have no clue how to manage myself day to day, on a mission trip. Yes I have been on 2 of them in the last 2 years. Yes, I have led the teams as a whole. I have organized and arranged details. I have handled finances and logistics. But actually knowing what to bring each day I'm gone is different. Amanda took care of all that. I just carried the backpack which she organized.

The other thing I realized is that it is not so much fun to leave without a group. I love the travel (right now I'm in a bus station in London, ON), including flying. But going with a group of people has been as awesome and fun experience - I miss our team, too.

With all that I miss, I do know this: the Lord has something for me to do, something for me learn, something for me to change and something for me to pursue. And maybe this time of solitude before meeting the members of this team will help me prepare to do be open to what He wants to do with my life. That's the way I'm praying...thanks for praying along with me.

Deve

Back ..........

Yes we are back..........Monday I headed to work and what a difference......Last year I remember feeling the same way....... Lost, like I had never done my job before. Out in left field.

What has God taught me? What will I take away from this experience? Questions that seem simple but are complex. We are all Gods' children and He loves us equally in Canada and in El Salvador. We need to do what He has called us to do. Reach out to those around us. All christians need to share their availablity and their time. By times I felt put to shame by those christians in El Salvador. Their sacrifice seemed so much greater than the small part we did.

Thanks to everyone on the team for showing Christ's love each and every day throughout the week. His spirit worked miraculously in everyone last week.

Let's remember each other in our prayers.

Julia