Hey Peeps!
I'm writing on my last day here and actually its already Sunday here. I'm really sad to leave El Salvador...I really do love El Salvador, primarily the people. I've built relationships here that are going to be ever lasting. I can't wait till I come back.
The past couple of days I've mainly chilled and hung out with Victor Raul and Silvita. I also finally finished the missions website. I'm really going to miss hanging out with Victor Raul and Silvita :(
As some of you may know God has really put it on my heart to possibly come to El Salvador for a longer period of time and so on Wednesday morning, Victor, Silvia, Christina and I went out to breakfast to discuss my future in El Salvador. After talking with Victor, I've decided to apply for the 1yr missionary program through GCM!! I would deeply appreciate your prayers!! Then I said goodbye to Sarah(she was leaving to go to the States that night). Then I just hung out the rest of the night with Victor Raul and Silvita. Thursday I ran some errands and did some other stuff. Then we had my going away dinner with the Turcios family and Christina. We went to this nice Mexican restaurant and sat outside and there was this guy playing saxophone(Alexa I totally thought of you right away!!) It was SO great, I've been SO blessed to be able to stay with this family...I'm going to miss them a lot!!
Friday I finished up the missions website and ran my last couple of errands that i needed to run and finished helping Christina move into her other room.
Today, Saturday, was a great day!!! I speechless, God has blessed me SO much with all my friends here! I went to lunch with Luis and Gloria and then walked around Galerias for a while and then went to La Zona(which is the youth ministry). That was such a good and encouraging time, Jorge gave a very good message on becoming a influential leader. It was also a sad time because I had to say goodbye to people :( Then we left to go to La Red! La Red was chivo(this is awesome in Spanish slang)!!! They put up a sweet going away sign for me and then we got everything ready and played a sweet icebreaker game. Then Jorge gave a good message on finances. Then they went around the room and people shared encouragement and words with me about my time here in El Salvador...I was touched deeply. I love the people in La Red, they are like my family!! :)Then after we order pupusas of course :)great last meal in El Salvador!!! :)However, then I had to say goodbyes to everyone, this was REALLY hard :( I really don't want to leave, i'm going to miss everyone SO much!!! but I will return to El Salvador!!
God has done amazing things in my heart in my time here and I just want him to be glorified!! I'm excited to see all of my peeps in Ames again. To my El Salvadorian friends, I'm going to miss you SO much and I can't wait till I can see you again y Dios te bendiga!!
Well, I have to get up in a couple of hours, so buenos noches!! Te quiero El Salvador mucho!!!
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Mas El Salvador
Hola amigos!Que Ondas? (this is What's up in El Salvadorean slang)
Sorry I haven't blogged in a week. Things are going well down here. Did I mention that I love it down here! ;) The more time I am able to stop and reflect on my time here in El Salvador...I just can't believe what a blessing this trip has been. Being down here with the saints down here has been an encouragement and a huge blessing! I've started to build some good relationship bonds here.
Wednesday I went to the offices again with Sarah, Jorge and Kumar and I continued to work on the website that I am doing for missionaries. One thing that I have learned when working on making websites that it does take quite a bit of time but I really like doing it! :) Then later that night we met up with Eddie, Vanessa, Roger, Patty and Luis and we went to Gran Via. First we went and had dinner at Buffalo Wings, which was SO good! Then we went to see a movie and I don't remember what it was cause the name of the movie was in Spanish, but it was a good movie. Thursday was kind of a chill day, worked out with Sarah in the morning and then chilled. I worked on the website more and I worked on making a going away sign for Kumar since he was leaving on Sunday...I cut letters out using foam paper and putting it on string, it was sweet lookin! and then of course played some Wii with Victor Raul:) Friday Sarah, Christina and I ran some errands and then went to the University to go meet up with some people and then had lunch over at Sarah and Jorge's house (Sarah made delicious tacos again!) Then Friday night we had a going away dinner for Kumar. It was Victor and his family, Christina, Sarah, Jorge, Kumar and I. We played tag and some futbol with Victor Raul and Silvita and then had an amazing meal prepared by Sarah!
Saturday we went to play paintball! This was so sweet cause I had never played paintball before. We left at like 8:30am and got there about nine...we had a group of about 18 people. We went to this place just outside of San Salvador and it was up in some mountains which was SO sweet! Playing was so much fun, we played for like 3.5hours. We might be going back this Saturday so that will be sweet! Then Veronica and I chilled at Sarah's house for a while and then went to run some errands with Sarah. Then we started to set up for La Red and decorate Sarah and Jorge's garage for Kumar's going away sent off. We put up the sign I made and balloons. Then we had an awesome time at La Red! :) It was such a great time of fellowship! Sunday we went to church and Victor's message on how Jesus is the only was to heaven was really good!! Then the girls had another futbol game! :) It was SO much fun and my team won!! I really am going to try and get people together and play futbol and use it as an outreach tool once I get back to the states.
Last night we had a 2.5 hour soccer practice which was awesome! I seriously love playing futbol!! :) Then this morning Sarah and I did a sweet Tae Bo workout! God has really been working in my heart. I have a deep passion for the people here and I am so very grateful for the relationships that I have built. One thing God has really put on my heart is El Salvador and regards to my future. God is so awesome in how he works and I completely trust Him for what will happen in regards to my future in El Salvador! God continues to revel himself to me and is opening my eyes to things. To him be all the glory!
Dios Te Bendiga!!
Adios amigos
Sorry I haven't blogged in a week. Things are going well down here. Did I mention that I love it down here! ;) The more time I am able to stop and reflect on my time here in El Salvador...I just can't believe what a blessing this trip has been. Being down here with the saints down here has been an encouragement and a huge blessing! I've started to build some good relationship bonds here.
Wednesday I went to the offices again with Sarah, Jorge and Kumar and I continued to work on the website that I am doing for missionaries. One thing that I have learned when working on making websites that it does take quite a bit of time but I really like doing it! :) Then later that night we met up with Eddie, Vanessa, Roger, Patty and Luis and we went to Gran Via. First we went and had dinner at Buffalo Wings, which was SO good! Then we went to see a movie and I don't remember what it was cause the name of the movie was in Spanish, but it was a good movie. Thursday was kind of a chill day, worked out with Sarah in the morning and then chilled. I worked on the website more and I worked on making a going away sign for Kumar since he was leaving on Sunday...I cut letters out using foam paper and putting it on string, it was sweet lookin! and then of course played some Wii with Victor Raul:) Friday Sarah, Christina and I ran some errands and then went to the University to go meet up with some people and then had lunch over at Sarah and Jorge's house (Sarah made delicious tacos again!) Then Friday night we had a going away dinner for Kumar. It was Victor and his family, Christina, Sarah, Jorge, Kumar and I. We played tag and some futbol with Victor Raul and Silvita and then had an amazing meal prepared by Sarah!
Saturday we went to play paintball! This was so sweet cause I had never played paintball before. We left at like 8:30am and got there about nine...we had a group of about 18 people. We went to this place just outside of San Salvador and it was up in some mountains which was SO sweet! Playing was so much fun, we played for like 3.5hours. We might be going back this Saturday so that will be sweet! Then Veronica and I chilled at Sarah's house for a while and then went to run some errands with Sarah. Then we started to set up for La Red and decorate Sarah and Jorge's garage for Kumar's going away sent off. We put up the sign I made and balloons. Then we had an awesome time at La Red! :) It was such a great time of fellowship! Sunday we went to church and Victor's message on how Jesus is the only was to heaven was really good!! Then the girls had another futbol game! :) It was SO much fun and my team won!! I really am going to try and get people together and play futbol and use it as an outreach tool once I get back to the states.
Last night we had a 2.5 hour soccer practice which was awesome! I seriously love playing futbol!! :) Then this morning Sarah and I did a sweet Tae Bo workout! God has really been working in my heart. I have a deep passion for the people here and I am so very grateful for the relationships that I have built. One thing God has really put on my heart is El Salvador and regards to my future. God is so awesome in how he works and I completely trust Him for what will happen in regards to my future in El Salvador! God continues to revel himself to me and is opening my eyes to things. To him be all the glory!
Dios Te Bendiga!!
Adios amigos
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Futbol y mas
On Saturday La Red was great! We are going through a series on the value of a cent. Which was really interesting. So Jorge proposed a challenge for the group...everyone was given one cent and they have a month to try and see what they can get for a cent. It's going to be a sweet and interesting challenge. Then after well all went out to pizza hut for dinner. Then on the way back we packed seven people into Jorge and Sarah's Honda Civic. I've come to realize that you try and fit as many people as you can in cars, you find room...haha.
Sunday we went to church and Victor started a new series called to believe or not in the Bible. The message on Sunday was on the Bible is the word of God. The message was really good. Then after the service I helped Sarah with the new members lunch. Then we went over to Sarah and Jorge's for lunch and just chilled for a little bit...then it was time for the girls to play some FUTBOL!!!! I was so excited to finally play a real game of futbol...it had been awhile. However, I got locked out of the house so I didn't have any shoes to play in. So I decided to play barefoot on the turf field...not one of my smartest ideas in the world but it was totally worth it so I could play. It was SO much fun to play...oh how I've missed playing futbol!! I for sure learned that here in El Salvador the girls do not play as aggressively and rough as we do in the states, but it was a great time and I can't wait to play again. I did end up with some pretty big blisters on my feet and it was kinda hard to walk after the game but once I got back to the house I iced my feet and put some band aid with bacitracin on them and they are now healed.I totally went to bed at 10pm and that's the earliest that I have went to bed since like last Wednesday, every other night I had been out till like 12:30am, and I wake up at 5 or 6am automatically so you can imagine that I have been tired.
Monday the morning was relaxing and then I went to the University with Kumar and Sarah. This was sweet cause I really hadn't been to the University before other than to drop people off and when we had our first La Red meeting on campus. Sarah showed me around the campus and then we saw Julio who just prayed to receive Christ on !!!and Sarah started talking with him. Then I just started talking to this guy named Daniel(at least I think that was his name lol) and I had a conversation with him and it was completely in Spanish. I was pretty excited to be able to have a conversation and he actually understood what I said...haha. Then Sarah, Kumar and I met up with Anai and talked with her about her faith and coming to church and such. Which was sweet. Then I tried what is called Yuca it was really good I can't really describe it but it was good. Since I'm not with the mission group I get to try any food I want but Sarah has told me some foods to stay away from like cortido because that like rips apart your stomach. Then after we went back to Sarah and Jorge's house to have lunch. Then we went to go to the offices and on the way we stopped by this street vendor that was selling ice cream! That ice cream was amazing! Its different than regular ice cream you get in the states, it didn't have as much cream in it! It was just so good! So I got some work done and chilled at the offices but I started to realize that my body it kinda sore from playing soccer. I guess that's what happens when you don't play for a while ;)
Anyways I'm off to the University again in a little bit.
Adios Amigos
Sunday we went to church and Victor started a new series called to believe or not in the Bible. The message on Sunday was on the Bible is the word of God. The message was really good. Then after the service I helped Sarah with the new members lunch. Then we went over to Sarah and Jorge's for lunch and just chilled for a little bit...then it was time for the girls to play some FUTBOL!!!! I was so excited to finally play a real game of futbol...it had been awhile. However, I got locked out of the house so I didn't have any shoes to play in. So I decided to play barefoot on the turf field...not one of my smartest ideas in the world but it was totally worth it so I could play. It was SO much fun to play...oh how I've missed playing futbol!! I for sure learned that here in El Salvador the girls do not play as aggressively and rough as we do in the states, but it was a great time and I can't wait to play again. I did end up with some pretty big blisters on my feet and it was kinda hard to walk after the game but once I got back to the house I iced my feet and put some band aid with bacitracin on them and they are now healed.I totally went to bed at 10pm and that's the earliest that I have went to bed since like last Wednesday, every other night I had been out till like 12:30am, and I wake up at 5 or 6am automatically so you can imagine that I have been tired.
Monday the morning was relaxing and then I went to the University with Kumar and Sarah. This was sweet cause I really hadn't been to the University before other than to drop people off and when we had our first La Red meeting on campus. Sarah showed me around the campus and then we saw Julio who just prayed to receive Christ on !!!and Sarah started talking with him. Then I just started talking to this guy named Daniel(at least I think that was his name lol) and I had a conversation with him and it was completely in Spanish. I was pretty excited to be able to have a conversation and he actually understood what I said...haha. Then Sarah, Kumar and I met up with Anai and talked with her about her faith and coming to church and such. Which was sweet. Then I tried what is called Yuca it was really good I can't really describe it but it was good. Since I'm not with the mission group I get to try any food I want but Sarah has told me some foods to stay away from like cortido because that like rips apart your stomach. Then after we went back to Sarah and Jorge's house to have lunch. Then we went to go to the offices and on the way we stopped by this street vendor that was selling ice cream! That ice cream was amazing! Its different than regular ice cream you get in the states, it didn't have as much cream in it! It was just so good! So I got some work done and chilled at the offices but I started to realize that my body it kinda sore from playing soccer. I guess that's what happens when you don't play for a while ;)
Anyways I'm off to the University again in a little bit.
Adios Amigos
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Pupusas and more
Wow I can't believe I have been in El Salvador for a week already..time is just flying by. I'm still loving El Salvador!!!The past couple days I've had pupusas and they are so great!! They are seriously my favorite food!!
On Thursday I chilled and worked on the English website for the church and worked on backing it up as well as doing some other little things of work. Then that night I hung out with Luis and we went to Buffalo Wings at this outdoor mall thing that they have in El Salvador, which was really sweet. Then he showed me all these sweet sights around San Salvador...like we went to this place called Antiguo Cuscatlán and its a famous part of the city and there is this park there that looks out over a big part of the city...its near the massive US embassy....then he showed me downtown San Salvador (like where all the national buildings are like the national palace, national theater and the national cathedral). So it was cool to be able to see some of the parts of ES I haven't seen before. So it was sweet but tiring.
Then on Friday I chilled that morning and played with Victor Raul and Sivita. Then in the afternoon I went with Sarah and Jorge to the offices and Sarah gave me some more sweet ideas of what I can do to help out with La Red (like I'm going to part we are going to have a sleepover for the girls in La Red and I'm going to spend some more time just building relationships with the girls down here, we are also trying to coordinate with the University so our church team can play against the University team and use that as an outreach tool.) to get some work done on the Spanish church website, but I ended up running a lot of errands with Sarah, which was awesome, cause we just got to talk more about the culture and I shared my testimony with her. Then once we got back to the offices we did some more work, but then the band was going to have band practice.
So then I went with Sarah and Jorge to go have dinner over at Jorge's sister's house. First we picked up Jorge's mom...she is totally awesome!!! She welcomed me into her home and was like this is your home also...it was just really touching, how she welcomed me like part of her family like immediately. The hospitality down here is amazing. We also picked up his adorable niece!!! His niece is an amazing singer!!!:) Then we got to his sister's house which was beautiful!!! They have an adorable little girl :) We had pupusas for dinner and they were great!!! Did I mention that I love pupusas lol :) We had some great conversation and it was just fun hanging out with Jorge's family. Then his niece sang for us and it was totally awesome!!!! Then Jorge's niece, Sarah and I showed everyone else how to do the hokey pokey...it was quite entertaining. I have to say that hanging out with Jorge's family was totally awesome and one of best days that I have had in El Salvador...it was just great!! :)
I've realized that it has been hard to adapt to a couple of things here...the fact that unlike in the US where you can't go places by yourself especially walking. This has been hard for me because in the US I'm so use to being able to go where I want and not really have to worry about how dangerous its going to be. With this it results in having to stay at the house quite a bit unless I can get someone to give me a ride. This has for sure been a hard thing to adapt to because I really don't like having to stay in the house, so every chance that I get I leave the house, even if its just to the store or to go pick something up. Another cultural thing that has been interesting to adapt to is that here being out at 10pm is considered really late, which is far from the view in the US. However, here the big reason is that it is just not safe for people to be out that late...for sure an adjustment from living in Ames.
Other than that God continues to revel himself to me. God just continues to open my eyes to his amazing love and grace!! I again ask you to pray for my time here, but more importantly for the church, the people of San Salvador...that we could share Truth with them, and for my building of relationships with the women of La Red.
Well off to La Red!
Adios Amigos
On Thursday I chilled and worked on the English website for the church and worked on backing it up as well as doing some other little things of work. Then that night I hung out with Luis and we went to Buffalo Wings at this outdoor mall thing that they have in El Salvador, which was really sweet. Then he showed me all these sweet sights around San Salvador...like we went to this place called Antiguo Cuscatlán and its a famous part of the city and there is this park there that looks out over a big part of the city...its near the massive US embassy....then he showed me downtown San Salvador (like where all the national buildings are like the national palace, national theater and the national cathedral). So it was cool to be able to see some of the parts of ES I haven't seen before. So it was sweet but tiring.
Then on Friday I chilled that morning and played with Victor Raul and Sivita. Then in the afternoon I went with Sarah and Jorge to the offices and Sarah gave me some more sweet ideas of what I can do to help out with La Red (like I'm going to part we are going to have a sleepover for the girls in La Red and I'm going to spend some more time just building relationships with the girls down here, we are also trying to coordinate with the University so our church team can play against the University team and use that as an outreach tool.) to get some work done on the Spanish church website, but I ended up running a lot of errands with Sarah, which was awesome, cause we just got to talk more about the culture and I shared my testimony with her. Then once we got back to the offices we did some more work, but then the band was going to have band practice.
So then I went with Sarah and Jorge to go have dinner over at Jorge's sister's house. First we picked up Jorge's mom...she is totally awesome!!! She welcomed me into her home and was like this is your home also...it was just really touching, how she welcomed me like part of her family like immediately. The hospitality down here is amazing. We also picked up his adorable niece!!! His niece is an amazing singer!!!:) Then we got to his sister's house which was beautiful!!! They have an adorable little girl :) We had pupusas for dinner and they were great!!! Did I mention that I love pupusas lol :) We had some great conversation and it was just fun hanging out with Jorge's family. Then his niece sang for us and it was totally awesome!!!! Then Jorge's niece, Sarah and I showed everyone else how to do the hokey pokey...it was quite entertaining. I have to say that hanging out with Jorge's family was totally awesome and one of best days that I have had in El Salvador...it was just great!! :)
I've realized that it has been hard to adapt to a couple of things here...the fact that unlike in the US where you can't go places by yourself especially walking. This has been hard for me because in the US I'm so use to being able to go where I want and not really have to worry about how dangerous its going to be. With this it results in having to stay at the house quite a bit unless I can get someone to give me a ride. This has for sure been a hard thing to adapt to because I really don't like having to stay in the house, so every chance that I get I leave the house, even if its just to the store or to go pick something up. Another cultural thing that has been interesting to adapt to is that here being out at 10pm is considered really late, which is far from the view in the US. However, here the big reason is that it is just not safe for people to be out that late...for sure an adjustment from living in Ames.
Other than that God continues to revel himself to me. God just continues to open my eyes to his amazing love and grace!! I again ask you to pray for my time here, but more importantly for the church, the people of San Salvador...that we could share Truth with them, and for my building of relationships with the women of La Red.
Well off to La Red!
Adios Amigos
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Ongoings
Hey Peeps!
El Salvador is still amazing...I love it here! On Monday and Tuesday I just kinda relaxed and hung out around the house. I've played a lot of Wii with Victor Raul....he absolutely loves that I play Wii with him. Also on Tuesday I started giving English lessons to Silva, Victor Raul and Silvita.I've also done some errands with Christina, but for the most part, I have just chilled and played with Victor Raul and Silvita.
Wednesday I just chilled in the morning and then Christina and I went over to Sarah and Jorge's to have lunch. We had this amazing chicken soup...it was so good! We talked a little bit about how I can work with La Red while I'm here. Then once we got back Victor gave me a task to take the stuff off of the church website and put it all in files and back it up so they can redesign the website with out losing the information, this has for sure kept me busy. Then I went over to Sarah's for dinner (we had awesome tacos with beans, meat,alvacado and cheese they were SO good!) and we talked and started watching a movie. Then we went with Jorge, Luis and some other guys to go watch them play some futbol.It was a good night! Then this morning Sarah and I did an awesome Tae Bo workout video.
I've been learning so much about the El Salvadorian culture and what its like to live here. God is really teaching me what it is like to live in a culture that is very different than the one that we have in the states. I'm continually reminded of how I am so very blessed with everything that I have. In the US we are so blessed! One praise that I have noticed since I have been here is that not only have I been able to eat anything that they have made for me foodwise and I haven't had ANY stomach problems...for those of you who know me well...you know this is huge for me because I've had problems for awhile now...I guess that just means I'll have to cook El Salvadorian food all the time when I get back ;)I'm SO excited for what God is going to do while I am down here.
That's all I have for you now!ps I have epically failed at taking pictures...sorry.
Hasta Luego Amigos
El Salvador is still amazing...I love it here! On Monday and Tuesday I just kinda relaxed and hung out around the house. I've played a lot of Wii with Victor Raul....he absolutely loves that I play Wii with him. Also on Tuesday I started giving English lessons to Silva, Victor Raul and Silvita.I've also done some errands with Christina, but for the most part, I have just chilled and played with Victor Raul and Silvita.
Wednesday I just chilled in the morning and then Christina and I went over to Sarah and Jorge's to have lunch. We had this amazing chicken soup...it was so good! We talked a little bit about how I can work with La Red while I'm here. Then once we got back Victor gave me a task to take the stuff off of the church website and put it all in files and back it up so they can redesign the website with out losing the information, this has for sure kept me busy. Then I went over to Sarah's for dinner (we had awesome tacos with beans, meat,alvacado and cheese they were SO good!) and we talked and started watching a movie. Then we went with Jorge, Luis and some other guys to go watch them play some futbol.It was a good night! Then this morning Sarah and I did an awesome Tae Bo workout video.
I've been learning so much about the El Salvadorian culture and what its like to live here. God is really teaching me what it is like to live in a culture that is very different than the one that we have in the states. I'm continually reminded of how I am so very blessed with everything that I have. In the US we are so blessed! One praise that I have noticed since I have been here is that not only have I been able to eat anything that they have made for me foodwise and I haven't had ANY stomach problems...for those of you who know me well...you know this is huge for me because I've had problems for awhile now...I guess that just means I'll have to cook El Salvadorian food all the time when I get back ;)I'm SO excited for what God is going to do while I am down here.
That's all I have for you now!ps I have epically failed at taking pictures...sorry.
Hasta Luego Amigos
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