Deve

Tonight we were asked for our initial feelings on arriving here in El Salvador. Yes, I see the poverty, I see the signs of defense against violent crime everywhere and yet I feel as though this place is no different than others I have seen before. The desparate compulsion to help is no different than I felt yesterday.

My response, my initial feeling is that this is where I belong today. My prayer is to be "all in" for the short time we are here. All my heart, all my soul, all my strength and all my mind. I want my love for Jesus to be alive to the people of El Salvador and our team and I want to see God´s transforming work. For me today, there is no culture shock (that may change tomorrow) because desparation and needy lives are around all of us, we just need to lean in and look closer to see it sometimes...and then be willing to get close enough to recognize the activity of God through the eyes of a complete stranger.

My prayer is for God to give me a clue to the "what next" of my life and I believe I may learn that here through leaning, looking, getting close and learning to love in a whole new way.

Joy

Its been a long, tiring, and surreal day. As I'm writing this I can see the tiniest lizard in the corner of the wall, I'm sweating in 30 degree weather, and I'm in El Salvador. Driving through the city from the airport was heartbreaking. Poverty screamed out at us wherever we looked. Children materialized from holes in crumbling down walls, animals were in the oddest of places and garbage littered the streets. The backdrop to all of this is the most beautiful, lush scernery. A mountainous volcano, blanketed with a thick canopy of cloud cover followed us the entire drive. Palm trees, sprawling hills, rock walls and formations-- all of it takes your breath away.
Our God is here in El Salvador and He has given them such wonderful gifts. I'm so thankful I can be here to experience His pleasure and the love of these wonderful people.

Karen

We landed safely in a lush green beautiful country. I am excited to get started and see what God has planned for the upcoming week. It is interesting to see the magnitude of God in his diversified creation. I want to experience God in a whole new way this week and beyond.