El Salvador- Day 5 (June 29th)

Lord, yesterday was awesome! We got up really early to head over to where we would be doing kids camp (which got moved from our original location due to roads flooding), when we got there, we found that it wouldn’t work out either so we moved it to one of the local churches. The kids were already there waiting for us when we arrived. We all went in and started high-fiving them and getting to know them. We did some goofy things to get them excited- I started doing the moonwalk (I didn’t realize what a hit that would be), Taylour did the jerk and we did a wave all around the room. It was a lot of fun and the kids loved it! For the next 6 hours we played games, did stations with activities and crafts, we had lunch (a very interesting and not-so-appetizing hot dog with cabbage, mayonaisse and some red sauce) and did some more games and relay races. It was cool watching our students make a difference in these kids lives. They had so much fun and the kids were so blessed.

At the end of the day we had a change in the plans (that seemed to happen a lot on this trip- God was definitely the one in control). Because of all the rain, the government declared a code red- there were quite a few landslides up in the hills. This meant that schools would out… which meant our 3-day kids camp would be canceled.  Instead, Brett was trying to get us in to the shelters where people were staying who had to leave  their houses in the landslides. As Brett was telling us this last night, you clued me in that the last year of families life was preparing me for “such a time as this.” I lost it! I had to leave during worship because I was sobbing uncontrolably- the rest of the time I stood outside so I wouldn’t be a distraction to everyone else.  Lord, you amaze me with how your providence works out! If my family had to endure all that pain and frustration so that I could experience just a glimpse of what these people are facing right now and have the compassion for them and be able to witness to them and share your hope with them- then so be it! Use the ugly parts of my life to bring yourself glory and turn it in to something beautiful! Lord, I pray that you’d give me an opportunity to share my families story and preach your good news of hope. If you give me that opportunity, please also give me the strength not to mess it up with too much crying- a little is okay- but I want them to remember your hope most of all, not my blubbering mess. Ya know? Prepare me for what you have for us today, Lord, use me for your glory today, Father.