Chicago meets El Salvador!

We´re in El Salvador! My team arrived on Saturday afternoon, and since then we´ve had the chance to go to the community church, work at Tia Ana´s orphanage, conduct a Vacation Bible School for about 60 kids, tour the city, learn about its history, help build a new house for Tia Ana, hosted a barbeque for the community, sing Karaoke (Man! I Feel Like A Woman....!), and develop relationships with the people of El Salvador. Coming here has opened the eyes of our team to question our own habits of our every day lives and strive to serve more like Christ. We´ve come to learn about a new culture (where people don´t flush toliet paper in the toliet?), but ultimatley, we´ve discovered that universally, people all strive for the same things: love, community, friendship, and happiness. Our team has developed friendships with these people that we know will last more than the time we´re here, and we´ve really come to love this county. Complete strangers are the friendliest, and everyone is very compassionate and willing to give, even when they are giving out of their own poverty. This is such a beautiful and warm county, and we know the things we´ve learned will stick with us for a lifetime. Praise God for giving us the opportunity to come here.

Peace out los grinos.

In Christ,

Amber and Kristin (students of the Lombard Bible Church Team)

a picture is worth...

The interns threw Mario Salvador´s family a graduation dinner. Probably the nicest restaurant they´ve ever been to before.

Happy graduation Mario!

This is our neighbor... he´s so nice. When we gave him his shirt he was literally slobbering bc he was so happy!

Nena the cook is sporting her new apron.

Adoarable kids from Tia Ana´s orphanage.

Prayer

I would like to ask you all to be praying especially for the teams down: for safety. We really NEED your help in covering the Pastors in prayer (Mario and Juan Carlos) because the enemy is out to get them especailly during the summer when they do so much ministry with us and lives are being changed because of their ministry and what God has called them to do. the other day Pastor Mario was robbed at gun point so that shook everyone up because it was in the neighborhood where we live. The enemy is always OUT TO GET US so we ALL need to be covered in prayer!!This year more than last there has been more theft and such because people are so desperate for money with the bad economy. There is no need to be afraid because we are in the hands of God but we do need to be cautious. YOU must pray. YOU GUYS are each part of the link that keeps us all going with your prayers...please dont stop prayer or ever think that your prayer is not needed!!!The teams are doing well connecting with the locals. Yesturday the first team left and the tears began for the load of goodbyes that there will be this summer...but God is always good and he always brings the gringos here to Zacamil for a great purpose: To impact the lives of the people here and in turn have their lives impacted in such a way that they will never be the same.I asked a guy from the group, Phil, "What is the one thing that you will remember forever from your trip?" He answered, " the FACES!!" That answer made my heart happy and filled with joy because i know that this kind of stuff makes God smile!!God is at work in every area and sometimes we don't even see it until it is well on its way but I sure am glad that i get to be in the very middle of what God is doing here in Zacamil, El Salvador!!grace and peace to you all :)

pupusas and coke in a bag- only in el salvador

This is the lady that makes "tortillas" outside of our apartment... they taste nothing like what you're expecting- a little "chalk-ier" and thicker, yet still satisfying. 

Buenas!  Man we're stoked about the teams coming down... if I have to sweat so should you ;)  No, really, things are going really well down here.  Tonight we had dinner with an El Salvadorian family; we cooked homemade salsa, chicken, and veggies.  We also watched as the niños lick the brownie pan... I'm guessing they don't get them to often.  In actuality, it was really cool to be able to bless these people with a "feast."  Many of them don't eat three meals a day, and sometimes just a tortilla or a bag of chips is all they eat period.  

It's incredible to think that if I just stopped eating out for two months, I would probably have enough money leftover to feed a family for three months!  This morning the interns prayed that when we leave here, we leave here changed.  It's so easy to forget about a world that isn't part of our everyday environment.  But to forget about those in need certainly isn't to love them.

So, about my title... pupusas are what's up down here.  They're like a quesadilla with beans and cheese, and the best part is, they're like 40 cents a piece.  I like to put "chimol" (basically pico de gallo without the pico) and eat it like a taco.  It's a culinary masterpiece, and if you're coming down, you'll get your share of the goodness.  And, if you have any leftover coke, they keep the bottle, give you a straw, and put your coke in a bag.  It's hilarious.  

I've been thinking about how taking care of the environment is a commodity.  These people are, for the most part, in survival mode.  They care about where their next meal is coming from or how they're going to pay their $100 rent.  Consequently, the shabby cars they use fill the air with pollution, they throw their trash all over the neighborhood instead of purchasing trash cans or bags, and they don't think twice about not recycling.  It makes  me think of Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs.  Even knowing that surviving is THE priority, it's painful for me to watch, especially after just finishing a book about how to love God through taking care of the environment.    

Anyway, we're getting up early to spend the day with the Pastors' families.  Peace out.

Christian the intern (commonly called "sexy gato" down here for some strange reason)

"How about Methuselah? That's a nice name."

So. the first intern to arrive is... Aram!!! As I was telling the Pastor's wife, Mimi, about all of the names of the interns, she was telling me the Spanish equivalent. We got stuck on Aram's name. Her son, Joel, suggested giving him a new name. We jokingly mentioned some pretty obscure names and then Mimi chimed in with "How about Methuselah? That's a nice name." So funny. But, I think we'll stick with Arám.

Hometown:
Boone, NC

Hobbies:
Playing Guitar, rock climbing, biking, skiing, backpacking

Funny/ Interesting things about you:
I lived in Ireland for a while, and my fourth toe is longer than my big toe.

Favorite food:
Definitely Menudo!

If you could have any superpower you would have:
Flying, how awesome would that be? I would fly everywhere!

You are stuck on a desert island. Besides the Bible, your family and friends, what three inanimate objects would you take with you?
My guitar, An iPod with tons of music on it, and some water.

What does it mean to “Love God” to you personally?
It means to be crazily devoted to his word, and passionately love all his people. Your life should bring him praise, everything else is a waste of time.

Why is “Loving Others” so critical?
They are God's creation, and he loves them more than we can ever know. If a perfect God can see past people's faults, than why would we ever judge??

Please join in Aram in prayer for:

(1) Quick language acquisition

(2) Sensitivity to God's teachings in this time

(3) Impacting the lives of the youth that are coming here on missions trips

introducing "rico suave"

mario salvador... aka rico suave

Mario has been a rockstar helper to the last five summer intern teams in El Salvador. This year, he feels God tugging on his heart to join the team. Here's a little bio on him:

Hometown:
San Salvador , El Salvador.

Hobbies:
I play baseball, soccer and stay with my friends

Funny/ Interesting things about you:
My all-time favorite movie is "101 Dalmatians." Also, I like know about a lot of people, and to make friends.

What is your favorite food?
pupusas, beef with tomatoes, and rice.

If you could have any superpower you would have:
"fire power" just like Super Mario

You are stuck on a desert island. Besides the Bible, your family and friends, what three inanimate objects would you take with you?

1. a water bottle
2. a stick of deoderant
3. a tooth brush

What does "Loving God" mean to you personally?
For me loving God is everything because I will never have anybody who loves me like Him.

Why is “Loving Others” so critical?
It's so important to be united with those around us, show them we care, and be peaceful.

meet the bakers.

The Bakers will be joining us in El Salvador this summer as interns! We're pretty much psyched. Their wicked cool... some people even call them "The Blazin' Bakers!"

Check out their video!