Adios

We are at our hotel in San Salvador and we are leaving today. We have to say adios to all our friends old and new that we have bonded with this week.The team truly had an incredible week with lots of God moments. Our hearts are still processing all we have seen and felt. It really is a lot to take in emotionally in a week. We have seen poverty up close and personal. We have heard the stories of the incredible suffering that the people of El Salvador have to endure every day. We have looked into the eyes of the children who have seen more than they should at their age.

On Friday we held the key giving ceremony. It is always so bittersweet. The familes are receiving the blessing of a new home but we are having to say our goodbye`s. I have made many close friendships with some young teen`s in the village of San Felipe as we have built homes there for a few years. Two of my close friends Adonai and Hennry were at the key giving ceremony so I asked them if they wanted to come with us to hand out the food that we had purchased to give out in San Antonio Camino. They said they would love to come. I loved hanging out with them and walking through the village of San Antonio sharing this friendship that God blessed us with. I asked them if they had been to the village previously and Adonai had not been before. When you live in poverty you cannot afford to travel or see your own country. He had never been there and it is only about 30 minutes from his own village. I am counting the days when I will see my special friends again. I told them that there will be some day that I will not be able to return to El Salvador (when I get too old)but that I will never forget them. They are in my heart and there is not a day that goes by that I don`t think and pray for my amazing friends in San Felipe. They said they felt the same way. May God use these special young men to impact the world for His kingdom.

The first year Dennis and I were in in El Salvador we built a home for Yanira and her family. As many people know Yanira was raped and murdered last year. Her daughter Esmeralda was 18 years when her mother was murdered and she is now the main caregiver of her 4 younger brothers. She also has a son of her own named Kevin. Through Trent and Stuart and their wives Dennis and I have been able to connect with them again. They are living in the house the Bethany team built. We were able to visit them and in Las Brisas and bring them pictures of their mom that I had taken. We were also blessed to have the family come spend the day at the beach with us. I can`t explain the joy I had reconnecting and having fun together at the beach with this special family whom I love so much. I was devestated when Yanira was killed and when I was told that the family had moved away it my heart broke. I prayed that God would look after them and that they would come to know him as their personal Saviour. He heard the cries of my heart and answered my prayers. They are attending the church in San Vicente and they are being cared for. God is so faithful.

Well this is a sad day for me. I have to say adios to this amazing country that God has called me to serve in and has given me a burden for. I am counting the days until I return. Dennis and I have had the honour of serving alongside this amazing group of people on the Bathany team. Please know that we have seen a lot. Be patient with us as we process it all. It is not easy coming back to the land of plenty and seeing the abundance we have when we just left a country where people are suffering. November is especially hard as back home every one is beginning the preperations for Christmas. May God work on our hearts and may we never forget what we saw or experienced this week. May we never go back to life as normal!!!! May we use our time, resourses and gifts to help the poor and suffering.Jesus said to whom much is given much is expected. We have been given so much.Now He expects us to give much back.