Today is Thanksgiving but it sure doesn't feel like it but that is because they don't celebrate Thanksgiving here in El Salvador.I have to admit that the day was a bit strange for me, but I thoughly enjoyed it. I work up at 5:30am this morning just like I do every other weekday to get ready to go to up to Guayabo, normally on Thanksgiving I sleep in a lot. I spent my whole day getting to work up in Guayabo and it was such a wonderful time and I am so thankful for the time I get to spend up in Guayabo.
I have to admit that I really missed my family and friends today. I miss the part about Thanksgiving that brings people together to just share what God has done in our lives in the past year. I did get to celebrate a little bit today, because the Turcios family wanted to celebrate and so we had a little bit of foods that you eat at Thanksgiving for dinner and on Saturday we are going to make Pumpkin Pie because I brought stuff for it when I was in the States (I'm excited for this because Pumpkin Pie is one of my favs).
I have to say that this year I have a lot to be thankful for, even though A LOT has changed since last Thanksgiving, I can't thank God enough for what he has done in my life. I thank God for his steadfast and unfailing love, I thank him that he has taken care of me and through every situation he has been with me. I thank God that he has brought me to El Salvador and for the friends and family that I have made here. I'm also so thankful for my friends and family back home, I love them and miss them so much!! I can't thank God enough for what he is doing in my life and that I get to serve him here in El Salvador!
My God has blessed me beyond measure and so as this Thanksgiving comes to a close, I just thank God that he saved me and redeemed me from my sin. I also love the fact that giving thanks is something that we should do everyday, not just on the holiday. Thank you for taking the time to read this! I love you all and I hope that you have all had a very blessed Thanksgiving!!
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Trip back to the States
Hey All! I am now back here in El Salvador. I had a wonderful time in the States. I have to admit that all the things I had wanted to do I wasn't able to accomplish, but God for sure blessed my time at home. I got to spend a lot of time with my family and just hang out with them and that was so refreshing and enjoyable. I have missed my family quite a bit, especially my nieces and nephews. I wasn't able to visit my friends in Ames, because my car wouldn't start so that kind of dashed a big chunk of my plans for my trip back home, but like I said it was stil a great time.
I got to MN late on November 5th and when I came out of the airport, my niece Evie (who is almost 9 months) stopped crying and gave me this huge smile it was adorable and was the best welcome home I could have recieved. Then we went over to my sister's house to celebrate my mom's birthday the next day, when I walked in the door my nephew, Cyrus, was so excited to see his auntie. It was like I had never left and we continued to play all sorts of games and such like we would before I left. I know this seems like something very simple but I think that one of my biggest fears when leaving for El Salvador was that I was leaving my nieces and nephews and that they would not really understand why I was leaving them. I praise God that although my plans for my ten days didn't quite work out I got spend a lot of time with them.
I spent most of my time during the week actually still working on things for the Community Center, because somethings with the website still needed to be worked on. I also got my fingerprints done again and sent them off to the FBI, so hopefully they will get processed correctly this time. I also got to have two of the things that I miss most from the US, Caribou Coffee (although ES coffee is still better, I just love Caribou Coffe) and Macaroni and Cheese from Noodles and Company! These were for sure treats of being back in the States and I even got to see some light snow fall, I was hoping for at least an inch but never the less I got some snow. I am really going to miss the snow, this year, especially around Christmas time, because I have never had a Christmas without snow.
On the Saturday before I returned here to ES, my niece had her birthday party. She had her birthday party at a place called Adventure Park, it is this huge playplace ( imagine the playplaces in McDonalds or Burger King on Seriods). It was great and since my nephew is still to small to climb through the things by himself, I was his partner and we crawled all over that thing and it was a blast, but I do have to admit that one it was almost more of a workout than going for my run and my knees hurt so much after that from crawling through all those plastic tubes (note to self bring knee pads the next time lol).
Overall, it was such a wonderful time and I am so thankful that I got a chance to see my family again, I have missed them! I do admit thought that I missed being in ES so much and was ready to come back. I do truly believe the statement a friend told me once, no matter if you are in the US or in ES you are always going to miss people from the other country. Well, that's about it, thank you for all your prayers for my time in the US, I really enjoyed it!
I got to MN late on November 5th and when I came out of the airport, my niece Evie (who is almost 9 months) stopped crying and gave me this huge smile it was adorable and was the best welcome home I could have recieved. Then we went over to my sister's house to celebrate my mom's birthday the next day, when I walked in the door my nephew, Cyrus, was so excited to see his auntie. It was like I had never left and we continued to play all sorts of games and such like we would before I left. I know this seems like something very simple but I think that one of my biggest fears when leaving for El Salvador was that I was leaving my nieces and nephews and that they would not really understand why I was leaving them. I praise God that although my plans for my ten days didn't quite work out I got spend a lot of time with them.
I spent most of my time during the week actually still working on things for the Community Center, because somethings with the website still needed to be worked on. I also got my fingerprints done again and sent them off to the FBI, so hopefully they will get processed correctly this time. I also got to have two of the things that I miss most from the US, Caribou Coffee (although ES coffee is still better, I just love Caribou Coffe) and Macaroni and Cheese from Noodles and Company! These were for sure treats of being back in the States and I even got to see some light snow fall, I was hoping for at least an inch but never the less I got some snow. I am really going to miss the snow, this year, especially around Christmas time, because I have never had a Christmas without snow.
On the Saturday before I returned here to ES, my niece had her birthday party. She had her birthday party at a place called Adventure Park, it is this huge playplace ( imagine the playplaces in McDonalds or Burger King on Seriods). It was great and since my nephew is still to small to climb through the things by himself, I was his partner and we crawled all over that thing and it was a blast, but I do have to admit that one it was almost more of a workout than going for my run and my knees hurt so much after that from crawling through all those plastic tubes (note to self bring knee pads the next time lol).
Overall, it was such a wonderful time and I am so thankful that I got a chance to see my family again, I have missed them! I do admit thought that I missed being in ES so much and was ready to come back. I do truly believe the statement a friend told me once, no matter if you are in the US or in ES you are always going to miss people from the other country. Well, that's about it, thank you for all your prayers for my time in the US, I really enjoyed it!
Friday, November 4, 2011
Life is a Pair O' Ducks
Hey all! I am sitting writing this when I really should be asleep since I have to get up in a few hours to head to the airport but I can't sleep so I thought I would share a few quick thoughts.
I can not count the number of times I have applied or used things that I learned at SPLICE. It was such a blessing to be equiped with cultural things as well as everyday life things that I really didn't even think to think of. One of the biggest things is the yay duck and yuck duck, this has been so amazing to have and I praise God that they talked about this because it helps put into words a little bit more about how to describe situations in life.
As I sit here, I am for sure experiencing a big Yay/Yuck duck moment. I am excited to be going back to the States, because I miss my family and I can't wait to see them, especially my nieces and my nephew. I am also super excited to see my friends, because I miss them so much also. However, at the same time I am sad to be leaving El Salvador, even if its only for ten days, I can say that I actually feel at home here. The people here have become like my new family and the children in Guayabo, I just love those children and not to see them for ten days is going to be hard. I can't describe or put into words how much the Lord has taught me and how much He has blessed me since I came here. I also can't tell you or thank the Lord enough for the Turcios family, they are amazing. They have not only welcomed me into their home but they treat me as if I was always a member of their family. It has been a true blessing. The past couple days I've been reminded of the fact that life is a pair of ducks there are moments that are exciting and sad at the same time. I've learned that I am going to miss people where ever I am, when I am in the States I miss people from El Salvador, SPLICE, etc and when I am in El Salvador, I miss the people in the States. It's for sure a paradox but that makes me all the more excited for when we get to Heaven. Then we will all be in the same place at the same time and we can all hang out together for eternity!!! :)
I just praise God for all that he has done and all that He will do!! To Him be the glory!!
My next post will be from the States, please pray for safe travels! Adios!
I can not count the number of times I have applied or used things that I learned at SPLICE. It was such a blessing to be equiped with cultural things as well as everyday life things that I really didn't even think to think of. One of the biggest things is the yay duck and yuck duck, this has been so amazing to have and I praise God that they talked about this because it helps put into words a little bit more about how to describe situations in life.
As I sit here, I am for sure experiencing a big Yay/Yuck duck moment. I am excited to be going back to the States, because I miss my family and I can't wait to see them, especially my nieces and my nephew. I am also super excited to see my friends, because I miss them so much also. However, at the same time I am sad to be leaving El Salvador, even if its only for ten days, I can say that I actually feel at home here. The people here have become like my new family and the children in Guayabo, I just love those children and not to see them for ten days is going to be hard. I can't describe or put into words how much the Lord has taught me and how much He has blessed me since I came here. I also can't tell you or thank the Lord enough for the Turcios family, they are amazing. They have not only welcomed me into their home but they treat me as if I was always a member of their family. It has been a true blessing. The past couple days I've been reminded of the fact that life is a pair of ducks there are moments that are exciting and sad at the same time. I've learned that I am going to miss people where ever I am, when I am in the States I miss people from El Salvador, SPLICE, etc and when I am in El Salvador, I miss the people in the States. It's for sure a paradox but that makes me all the more excited for when we get to Heaven. Then we will all be in the same place at the same time and we can all hang out together for eternity!!! :)
I just praise God for all that he has done and all that He will do!! To Him be the glory!!
My next post will be from the States, please pray for safe travels! Adios!
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