Woohoo! I’m in El Salvador! We flew in yesterday- a long day of traveling! But we made it, Lord and I can’t wait to see what you have in store for us today. We (gals) will be working on getting stuff ready for the kids camp, while the boys will be heading down to the Men’s Juvenille detention facility. Lucky Dogs! I pray that you’d be with them this morning, Lord, guide their words and actions, protect them physically and spiritually as they go out to do your work.
Lord, be with those who are speaking today- wether at the jail or at the festival later today. Give them the words to speak, calm their nerves and let them focus on you and all you’ve done in their lives. Speak through them, Lord- less of them and more of you!
Kyle giving his testimony
Courtney giving her testimony
Lord, be with us dancers today as we go out to worship you in front of hundreds of people. Calm our nerves and help us to focus on you. Let our every movement be about you and directed to you. Humble us Lord, let all the glory be yours and yours alone. We are yours and you alone deserve the praise for anything we accomplish because without you- we are nothing.
The El Salvador Dance Team
Doing our Hip Hop dance at the first festival
Gaby’s (my interpreter friend from Guatemala) friend gave her a verse this morning. 1 Kings 11:38-40 and she said to exchange “Isreal” for “El Salvador”. So, it reads, “I will build you a dynasty as enduring as the one I built for David and will give you EL SALVADOR to you.” How cool is that?! You are so good, Lord, so faithful and generous. I love you!
————–Later that evening—————
Lord, I’m giving my testimony at the festival tomorrow and I need you to help me organize what I should say. I have so many life changing situations that have happened, it’s so hard to figure out what to bring up and what to leave out. Will you help me figure out a general guildline?
- I grew up knowing Jesus and fell in love with him at an early age. I was baptized at 12 years old.
- Not realizing that Jesus could supply my every need, I began filling my need for attention with everything else; boys, friends, dancing and dieting.
- All these distracted my from Jesus and I fell so far from him- all those “harmless distractions” soon turned in to: sex, smoking, drinking, partying, cutting and using my dancing for attention.
- I eventually moved in with a really great guy who loved and accepted me for who I was- even this didn’t satisfy the God-sized whole in my heart.
- After being invited to church with some friends, I finally recommited my life to Christ and found the one thing that could satisfy my every need.
- I married that man, he too commited his life to Christ and we are going on 11 years of marriage on July 17th. We have 3 beautiful kids and now use my dancing to bring God glory instead of myself.
- Life is not easy, though, just this last year we forclosed on our house and came extremely close to becoming homeless. But our God provides, sometimes even at the last second when life seems hopeless.
- I know that whatever happens or whatever need comes up, all I need is Jesus and he has promised to never leave us or forsake us.
- Closing verse: ” Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33
Thank you, Lord- use my story tomorrow to touch the lives of those listening and bring you the glory and honor you deserve!