This was a long but ultimately rewarding day. There were two big events today that stretched us to our limits of patience as well as resources.

Today's entry will be focused on the highlights of our ministry activities as well as a preview of the tomorrow. I may not be able to blog tomorrow because we are having diner at Pastor Miguel's house and it may be quite late before we return. So, if you don't see a post just know that we are alright.


An Answered Prayer

The most talked about event of the day was how God answered yesterday's prayer regarding our Salvadorian Super Star, Marina and her disabled son. The guys were brainstorming yesterday how to replace the young man's wheel chair because the one he was using was decimated. Ideas ranged from having one brought from the US by an Enlace employee who is there right now to buying one in downtown San Salvador. God out did all of these ideas! Miguel on our team was going to go look for the chair in town when he ran into a woman for whom he had purchased a wheel chair 3 years ago. Miguel stopped to talk with her and ask about her disabled son. As Miguel told her what he was up to, she took him to 3 unused wheelchairs she had stored there because others had given her a chair as well. This woman lives a short walking distance from Marina yet the need has gone unmet for years. The woman gladly gave Miguel the chair and our prayer's were answered less than 24 hours later.




Thursday's Activities

Other happenings of note were another day of working with the kids from the local school. Today was the best day for this activity yet as James and the team have learned a lot each day about how to reach these kids. Next year's activities will be geared around what worked this year so we're happy to have found some success. More haircuts were given and lots of teeth were pulled today as well. Both of these ministry's have blessed the community because of their great need. Thanks go to Alicia and Jamie for their hard work and dedication in these areas. The women's team reported a breakthrough today. One local woman said that today was the first time in her Christian walk that she has experience fellowship. She wasn't even sure what it was supposed to be like because it was so foreign to her. The girls are literally walking the local women through how to live in Christian Community together. In order to grow the church the bible tells us "They will know you by your love for one another". Our continued prayer is that the women of Las Delicias would be known for their love. In the afternoon, the women went out on home visits again and were able to bless those in the community with blankets made by children from Kidzone at The Crossing. Way to go Kidzone! The impact of your work is being felt thousands of miles away.


"The Crossing Church - El Salvador"

Tomorrow may end up being the most exciting day yet and I think I can speak for the entire team when I say we're pumped up about it. Pastor Miguel has given over the entire church service for Friday evening to The Crossing. We organized our roles last night and I guarantee that no one living in Las Delicias has ever attended a service such as the one we're planning. We are trying to bring as much of The Crossing here as possible. We have assemble a creative arts team to perform a skit, a worship team, greeters, an announcer/m.c., a translator, sound & video, and a message from Patrick that hits straight to the heart of what we desire for these people and what they need - true community.

Please be praying for us tomorrow as we prepare and deliver these exciting service. We will need your prayers throughout the day to cover the set up time in the morning, the rehearsal in the afternoon, and then the service which starts at 4:30 (Pacific Time, 5:30 here in El Salvador). So on your way home from work tomorrow, please, please pray we are reaching the people with our message of unity, love, and friendship with each other.

Today some illnesses threatened to stop the team's ability to serve the community according to our plan. Even though we were down by 2 everything planned for today was executed. Praise God for a large team this year! Here's a rundown by activity.

The ministries activities our team was involved with today spread a wide net! It's a little overwhelming actually as I sit to write about today. I'd like to start by giving an overview of the activities for the day. Next, I'll tell you in more detail about the Compassion International Child Visits. Tomorrow more details of the great work will be posted for the other projects - and photos.

Activities for Today...
- Build Project
- Dentistry
- Haircuts
- Teen Outreach
- Women's Bible Study
- Neighborhood Home Visits
- Meeting Sponsored Children and their families
- Playing with Compassion International project children

Meeting Our Children
It's incredibly hard to put into words let alone summarize today's experience with meeting our sponsored children. The best way I can explain it is to tell you that the gratitude offered by these kids was one of the most genuine blessings I have ever received. Pat Detken and I were discussing how uncomfortable it was to sit and receive this gratitude when all we do is send $35 a month and write a few letters to a child. We agreed that we did not deserve this thanks from the kids but what was happening instead was that we were receiving the thanks for all sponsors. I feel that it's on us now to tell others that this investment in children's lives works.

The children we spent the day with, whether directly sponsored by member's of the team or not, were absolutely incredible. They were loving, open, intelligent, worthy, valuable, and beautiful precious gifts from God. I think I am forever changed by them.

Goodnight from El Salvador,
Steve

The work has begun in earnest here in Central America. Click on this blog link to see more details...

After naps and some down time we enjoyed a lunch in the hotel restaurant which is a covre patio with a hand made thatched roof. Ron Bueno spent time with us talking about the 16+ year history of Enlace and his story about how the ministry has been and where it is going. They are seeing huge growth in the number of churches wanting help reaching out into their communities. This year alone it's likely they will nearly double the number of churches they serve. We also met the church coach named Gershon that works with Good Samaritan Church and Pastor Miguel.

We took a small tour bus to get to the villiage area that we are to be spending our time in this week. It sure beats riding in the back of a pick up truck which is very common here - even on the highways. A bunch of guys thought it looked fun so they grabed the young men and hopped into Herson's truck for the final leg of the very tight dirt road. Ernie, Jeff, Nick, and Andrew thought it was the best part of the day.

Once we arrived at the Good Samaritan Church, Pastor Miguel shared his testimony with us and told stories of what God is doing in the local community. His story is one of incredible loss and suffering that shook the foundations of what he believed it meant to be a Christian. that he was to be a happy person all the time. Pastor Miguel's knows firsthand that isn't true and through his incredible faith and servant's heart he and his church are continuing to reach out to their community and to love their neighbor as themselves.

The Crossing's El Salvador team of 25 have left for the airport. They will be in El Salvador for 9 days. Please keep them in prayer as they work on a water project in partnership with Enlace and El Bueno Smaritano Church helping to bring fresh water to a community in need.

Check back periodically as the team will be posting updates.