Miracles in El Salvador

Today we had the key giving ceremony in Rio Frio. What a celebration.

One of the women who was receiving a home with her husband and child broke down in tears when she shared that they will now be dry during rainy season. These 10 families are so incredibly grateful for their new homes.

Ceasar, a deacon in the local Catholic Church shared that we as a team have planted the seeds and now Jesus is the farmer. We pray that the seeds that were planted this week will reap a great harvest and many will come to know Jesus.

The day ended with piñatas for the children and a delicious meal prepared for the team. God is doing miracles here in El Salvador and we were so blessed to witness some of them this week.

Hopelessness to Hope

We are finished the 10 houses in Rio Frio. 10 precious families, all with different stories and different tragedies in their lives now have a place to call home.

I was speaking with Pastor Pastor today ( yes, that is his name. He is a Pastor and his name is Pastor) and I asked him what it means for the people in the community to recieve a home and what do they really think of us Canadians. He shared that the people think that we are angels. They cannot understand why we would come and help them by building a house. The community has gone from being a place of hopelessness to the people feeling hope. I shared that we come in the name of Jesus and we want to tell them that God has not forgotten them. We pray that they will realize this as we work together building their new homes. We come in the name of Jesus and we want to share with them that their hope can be found in Him alone.

Day 3 In El Salvador

Four houses built today, four families blessed with shelter and security, The job site was located up a very steep hill, very rocky terrain, just imagine walking this on a daily bases. Farming is also done on very steep slopes. The local people are so quick to pi k up a shovel,pick axe, whatever necessary to pitch in. We all worked together in the heat of the  day. Interviews were done and life stories were heard. Many families have been waiting for over two years for this home, a gift from God.
Last evening a young lady from San Vincente shared her testimony. The team was moved greatly to hear her story of loss of both parents in different tragic situations at a young age, to endure lack of food, many hardships throughout her youth. She perserved,trusting andpraying for a miracle. Her desire for higher education was finally made possibld after four years of waiting upon the Lord. A sponsor came through and theLord is working in her life. What difference a sponsor can make in a perso ,s life. Consider it!


Posted by chris frere

Not Just Building Houses..

"So what are you going to be doing in El Salvador when you are there?"  Building homes I would say!  Not knowing what really was ahead!  We definitely are here to build homes, but oh are we here for so much more than that.   I had the perfect picture in my mind when thinking about this.. We would drive over to the not so far site where we were building, and all the houses would be built right in the same spot!   My thoughts and ideas of how this trip would look like are totally different compared to the reality that we faced throughout the day yesterday.

Starting with the drive to Rio Frio, we all climbed into the back of this truck and stood for 45 minutes or so while holding on to the bars around us while we drove.  Once we made it to the village, I was surprised by how much walking we would have to do.  Not to mention the extreme heat we were faced with!  The walking was nothing but challenging.  Large loose stone roads that were nothing but uneven and difficult to walk through most times,  none of the homes were "all in one spot" as I thought they would be, but rather spread across the side of a Rocky steep mountain side that we probably walked for miles to reach each home!   It was amazing to me how the people just welcomed us into this village as we walked through the spaces and parts of the jungle like mountainside that they called home.  Not questioning or looking at us funny but rather greeting us with love and open arms.  We were walking by a mother who's little new baby had the misquote  disease that we are to watch for , and we asked to pray for her little one and there was no hesitation! Yes come! That was not so easy for me as I pictured my own children and when they are sick and how convenient it is to give medicine  or make a doctors trip.   We were welcomed in to homes in the village of people who were not even recipients of the new homes this time, and they did everything to make us comfortable.. Here's a chair,  here is some shade.  It's amazing to me that the language barrier means nothing at all and that we are already building relationships with these beautiful people in El Salvador.   

So when I return and I am asked  what we did here in El Salvador, my answer will be different.  Yes we are building homes, but that is just a small part to the puzzle.  We  are giving love, building relationships, praying for sick babies, giving hope in Jesus name to the people here that they are not forgotten and that Jesus does love and care for them and that they have a hope in Christ. 

So today, the first day of building, I do not have expectations or any ideas of how it will be, because clearly things are not as I thought, but  to me that's a good thing and very exciting because I look forward to seeing what God is going to show me today and how he is going to use me while I'm serving the people of  Rio Frio!

Elaine S. - Bethany Team

Faces and Names of Poverty

When we are sitting in the comfort of our home back in Canada we can turn the t.v or radio station off or switch the channel if we see or hear something that makes us uncomfortable. Within a few seconds all is forgotten. Here in El Salvador, that is impossible. Poverty now has a name and a face. A single mom who has 4 children to provide for. She sells snacks and asks people if she can wash their clothes to get enough to try to feed her children. A husband and father of two girls who lost his arm when he was 8 years old falling of a horse.  He now farms corn and beans on the side of a mountain. Something we would struggle to do with two arms. These are a few of the stories we heard today when we met the families who will receive their new homes. Now poverty has a name and a face. This is not something we can shut off or ignore.

In 1John it speaks about the poor and our responsibility as believers to those who are in need. It actually uses very strong words.

1 John 3:17-19

17 What if a person has enough money to live on and sees his brother in need of food and clothing? If he does not help him, how can the love of God be in him? 18 My children, let us not love with words or in talk only. Let us love by what we do and in truth. 19 This is how we know we are Christians. It will give our heart comfort for sure when we stand before Him.

I pray that as we work alongside the families this week their stories will burn in our memory and that God's words will continue to convict us to help our brother in need.

Serving

This morning after breakfast we had a devotion about serving. There was no greater example of serving than Jesus. He left heaven, gave up His equality with God to come as a servant for all of humanity. No greater love than this has been shown.

This week we have been given an amazing oppurtunity to go and serve those living in extreme poverty. God has provided 10 homes for us to build. I pray that as we go to serve we also take on the heart of a servant to show God's love.

We are leaving in a few minutes to go and meet the 10 families and then we will be attending the local church in Rio Frio.

Reflecting Jesus

I am thankful that God has allowed us another opportunity to go and serve in El Salvador. Serve those living in extreme poverty. This week we will be blessed to meet and work alongside 10 families who will be receiving a new home. This is a great privilege. We have the privilege to serve.

 

Jesus was our great example of how we are to serve. He left his Father in heaven to die a horrific death on a cross. He served all of humanity in that He died for us so we could live. There is no greater act of serving than this.

 

I pray that as we go to serve this week we will reflect on the great price that Christ paid for us. I pray that we will be a light to those who are living in the darkness of poverty. I pray that we will share with those we meet that God has not forgotten them. He has heard their hearts cry. I pray that in everything we do God will be glorified and people will come to know Him. May we in serving be a reflection of Jesus. May we reflect the Saviors love.