New Year, New Hope

Bethany El Salvador Team -  January 2020

Did you know that 60 percent of people make New Years resolutions?  And likely many more have thoughts of it, but won’t admit it.  (Okay, that’s me!)  It’s a great time of year to think ahead to goals for the coming year – personal growth, health and exercise, getting finances under control.  These are all great things, especially after probably eating too much and spending too much over the holidays .

But this is the first year that we are bringing a team to El Salvador in January, and so my thoughts have been about planning for this trip and getting everything ready to go.  We just received pictures and some brief information about the 36 families that we will be building homes for (which always brings me to tears and reminds me of why we do this)   And suddenly it struck me how New Years resolutions are a thing of privilege.  It is only people who have opportunities and resources to make change, that can actually set goals for change.  The people we are going to build homes for in El Salvador are the ones that most need change, most need opportunity for growth, most need better health; and yet are the least able to do anything about it.  They lack the power and the opportunity to change anything about their circumstances.

And so as we go to build homes I am impacted by the thought that we get to be part of something that will change their year ahead entirely.  We get to bring the hope and opportunity that these families so desperately need and so entirely lack.  What an incredible privilege to bring that to someone else. (pun intended 😊)

We are so thankful for the many people who are a part of this adventure – a team of 30 people going to El Salvador, many donors who have contributed to make this possible, and many who are praying for these families and for our team.  We so appreciate that many are a part of this greater team!

As you look ahead to the New year, I would encourage you to make part of your plan helping others who are in need of hope.  I would encourage you to use your privilege to further someone else’s opportunities who don’t have the capability to do that for themselves.  And that is truly a privilege!

Check out www.sheltercanada.ca for more information on how to get involved or contact Eldon & Rose Loewen by email at loeweneldon@gmail.com to join a team from Bethany Community Church in St. Catharines, ON.

36 Families will receive this home! ❤