Day 7

Today we wrote the final chapter to our week long mission trip in El Salvador. We concluded our trip with a day of rest… some souvenir shopping, a scenic hike to the top of a volcano, and eight hours at the beach, playing volleyball in the pool, napping in the hammocks, breaking bread together, and sharing by a bonfire on the beach. All in all, it was a perfect ending to an amazing week.

The week has changed us in so many ways.

This week Mr. Dave (Scimio) led our devotion time each evening. He walked us through chapters 12-16 of the gospel of John. We learned about Christ and the promises he makes us... promises of honor, blessing, peace, and joy. We also learned about the three als... the vertical, the horizontal, and the personal... we learned that we must continue to work on our relationship with God (vertical), with others (horizontal), and with ourselves (personal). Through our discussions we discovered that the realization of these blessings and the three als grows out of service... as Christ served others so shall we.

This week we worked as a team. Not only did we bond, but we developed life-long connections and friendships... and we tackled some incredible challenges... moving 1,000 pounds of sand, gravel, and dirt. Everyone pitched in and encouraged each other.

This week we will remember...

We will remember Kevin... the five year old boy who left his family of 9 to work... who gave .25 of the .75 he earned washing buses back to his mom so the rest of his family would have food to eat... who was given booze by his boss for entertainment... who smiled and hugged us when we came to spend time with him at CIPI.

We will remember a 17 year old girl... who was abused by her father... who became pregnant... who was forced to give up her baby... who wants desperately to be reunited with her child... who was happy that we took the time to make her feel important.

We will remember Stanley… who we met at CISNA last year… who was abandoned by his family… who ran away this past year and tried to make it to Mexico… who got caught at the border and was sent back to CISNA… who will be kicked out of CISNA in a few months when he turns 18… who was thrilled to see us… who showed us his art work… who is talented and smart… who we pray will get an opportunity.

We will remember the pastor and his wife... who have seven children... who make 1-2 dollars per day... who lead a congregation of 100 plus people in his small rural town... whose house and connecting church (barn) was damaged by the recent mud slides... who cried when he told us his story and gave us a flag of El Salvador… who has been praying for the clothes and shoes we brought him… who dreams of buying his wife a dress… who hugged us as we left… who gives people in his community hope.

We will remember the homeless... who we fed one evening… who ran up to the truck from their hiding places… who thanked us for a meal… who are going through some difficult times… who need a helping hand.

And we will remember Christ… and what he did for us… sacrificing himself on the cross so that we may live… who desperately wants us to love others as he loves us.

We are changed and we remember.

Dave