Onto El Salvador

"And  when they realized that the Lord had seen their misery and was deeply concerned for them, they all bowed their heads and worshiped." Exodus 4:31

Today, more so than ever, I am aware of the hurt and suffering in the world. The scripture above says God sees, that He in fact saw and saw it all. Saw not just "misery in the world" but Their misery. Saw the unrighteousness done to them. Saw the unrighteousness they did to others......and.......what? Judged? Condemned? No, "was deeply concerned for them." "God is willing that none should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

Whatever is your misery right now God sees it. He doesn't just see it, He cares. He doesn't just care, He is deeply concerned. His heart breaks on behalf of those He loves. He died for each of us. He loves us all. These aren't just words, they are the truth and they are the life. If a heart is opened to these truths you will be amazed.

So, here I am now in Soyapango, El Salvador. I arrived Oct 4th and when I stepped outside of the airport the heat was overwhelmingly HOT! Let's just say to an extreme HOT!!! I am growing to love this small suburb of San Salvador that is 17km (10 miles) radius and approximately 1/2 million people.

I have gotten settled into my "home" while I am here until Dec 1st. I will be starting some new opportunities to minister this week and I am super excited! My first week here I helped, I guess you can call it that, in two different locations where English classes are taught. While the time with the kids was great my soul yearned for a different ministry while I am here. Like always God never fails and new doors have been opened!

This week I will start working with Barbara Rowe, she is a Christ for City International (CFCI) missionary. Barbara is heading up The Faro Project which is establishing youth centers in San Salvador where pre-teens and teens can gather together in a safe environment, where they can learn vocational skills, get help with homework, and enjoy healthy and fun activities. Most importantly they can learn about God. Many of these kids are challenged by poverty, broken homes, and a sense of hopelessness for their future. The word, "Faro" in Spanish means "beacon" or "light," and these centers are beacons in the inner city that can guide the young people toward a more hopeful and productive life.

Yesterday (Saturday) I went up in the mountain area known as Jicalapa. Argentina, a small village, is within Jicalapa....my next blog will be totally dedicated to my Jicalapa trip. I have always heard and seen poverty in the states, different places I have traveled and here in El Salvador but I can honestly say this was my first time ever in the presence with people living in "this" kind extreme poverty. 

Sileo School Kids

                                                   Altavista English Students

Love ?

God's greatest command "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind". This is the first and greatest commandment. The second similar; "Love your neighbor as yourself."

I am filled with God's joy at every attempt I make at reaching one of the girls of the Foundation. These girl have no idea what Love is or how to Love. My deepest desire has been to serve the people here in Colombia in compassion and Love so that they can experience transformation, restoration, freedom, healing, love and joy just as I have.

I must be honest and tell you that I have questioned myself in a sense of what can I really be accomplishing. As I began to get involved in the lives of strugglers, (I  think it is safe to say each of us "struggle" with something in our life or have in the past) as I began to realize the true condition of their lives and just how much work there is to be done I felt a sense of hopelessness.

I had really been thinking about what sort of difference myself was making in seeking to serve and Love in Colombia at Open Arms Foundation. I forgot to consider that it is only because of God's power and Love working in and through me that I can accomplish even the smallest victories. The Bible does not say that with God, we can accomplish most anything within reason. It says that with God, ANYTHING is possible (Matthew 19:26). 

Luke 6:32 "If you Love those who Love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners Love those who Love them."

It does not say to Love as long as it is comfortable, it says to Love in ways that are naturally uncomfortable. So yes, I have been discouraged at times and this brought me back home to 1 Thessalonians 5:16 "Rejoice Always."

 I desire my faith only to be found in God and in what He can accomplish through me, for His Glory and Honor. I want to Love so much like Jesus that hearts would be set on fire, so much like Jesus that lives would be transformed by His light shining through me.