My God Saves

Today we finished building the house we've been working on. The family we are building it for is a family beyond brokenness. This is a family that has been torn apart. The mother is pressing charges against her brother for sexually abusing her young son. She can't talk to any of her family because they are all mad at her for pressing charges. She and her son had to move away and cut ties from their family. She is the bravest woman I have ever met. It is extremely rare for a parent to press charges in ES.

When we build houses I tend to get distracted by the children. Today was no exception. I grew to love this boy we were building for. He is funny and sweet and always willing to help. He stole my heart.
As we left, his mom ran after us to tell us goodbye. She began to tell us that her son had been angry and violent lately and she believed it had something to do with the abuse. She told us that his grandma once told him he shouldn't have been born and he only brought problems to the family. I was overcome with sadness and pain for this boy and I asked if I could pray for him. I was already holding his hand, and I wrapped my other arm around his shoulders. I began to pray that he would realize how much he was loved and wanted. I prayed that he would continue to grow into the strong man that he had been for us. And for the third time in all my trips down here, I cried. The translator took over praying and as she prayed, he began to pray too. He prayed that God would take away the anger that he was feeling. And he prayed to accept Jesus into his heart.
We had to leave and I was hit with how powerful God is. I know that sounds dumb, but it's easy to forget that sometimes. I will never forget him or his fearless mother. Tonight I go to bed satisfied because God let me be His hands and feet, and He let me see Him touch lives in the moment. But I also go to bed with a heavy heart for all this boy will have to deal with in the future because of sin.

Thank you all who helped us give these two a home with beds. God is definitely at work.

Sunday- from Bethany

      "Imagine going to church on a Sunday morning in the back of a pick up truck while having to duck branches. You're going down a hill then you hear music. You don't know what the singers are saying, but you know it's meaningful by the way they are singing. Then you pull up to a little concrete block with a giant square hole. No door. Just air. Thats where the music is coming from.
       I had no clue what they were saying. I had no clue who they were. They had no clue who I was. We were complete strangers. They speak spanish, and I speak English. How could i understand them or them me? In that situation, I just put my trust in music. Everyone singing and clapping. The lady in front of me had a tambourine, and she just chimed in with the band. I knew they were saying something really important when my translator would throw his head back and shout the lyrics. Although I had no idea what they were saying or what they thought about me, I knew we were alike when we were with God. All around me, I felt and saw how much they believed He was there.
       Sometimes I have doubts that God is there. Don't we all? I live somewhere where things are easy. Where I don't fear for my life everyday. They live in a house of fear everyday, yet here they are... singing and shouting out to someone they couldn't see. Then we went to Sunday school.
       I have never seen my mother that passionate in my whole life. By the end, I was in tears along with two girls. We had only talked about Feeding The 5000. A story I've heard 5000 times. Why hadn't I cried about it before? Maybe it was because I hadn't realized how it affected people today. I don't know. The girl who I saw crying first was a beautiful girl named Rebekah. I will never forget her... God has surprised me with tears that day. God has surprised me with a lot on this mission trip."
-Bethany




(The rest is from me-Lydia)
Yesterday was a huge day for me. Not only did I get to see my family members touch lives, but I got to hear my little sister ask not to leave one of the orphanages. Today we began building a house and tomorrow we get to finish it! Please keep us in your prayers!

Year 5-Let's go!

I can never sleep the night before I head to El Sal... I'm too nervous and excited. I never feel as if I'm fully prepared. But if there's one thing I have learned after all of these years it is that God has a plan I could never imagine, and if I just trust Him then everything is going to work out.

This year I had to plan for 6 other people, which was definitely a new experience. I'm excited to share what/who I love in El Salvador with a few people I love from the States. I also just found out that my dad will be coming down for a few days over my birthday weekend! That means that this year I get to share El Salvador with the majority of my family!

I love El Salvador. I love the country- it is beyond beautiful with its volcanoes and beaches. I love the people. I love the food... And I am so thankful that God has given me so many opportunities to go to the place I love. I have been able to watch a few kids grow up in the past few years, and I have also made new friends each year. Every day in ES is quite the adventure. I am very excited to get this years adventure started.

I have to leave for the airport soon so keep us in your prayers today as we travel! Also, let's pray I don't get another parasite this year :)