Day 13: Last day with the kids

On day 13, we spent the morning at an orphanage and the afternoon back at Goldtree school.

We got to the orphanage a bit late in the morning, but still had enough time to interact with the kids. We set up a face painting station, music with Vanessa, games, and another part where Mr. Day showed the kids some pictures from the last 2 years that we've been there. They've all grown up so much! The kids were a bit shy at first, but after we started talking to them a bit more, they started talking and walking around the stations also.

At the music stations, Vanessa started playing some songs on her guitar. We always try to sing songs that have a Spanish version to them so they can sing along. A group of boys came over and sat down with her and started singing. Some of the boys were learning / already knew how to play guitar. At the end, Vanessa decided to donate her guitar to the orphanage. The boys we all so happy that they'd have a guitar to practice on!

After the orphanage, we went out for lunch quickly and went back to Goldtree. All the students were so happy to see us once again. We gave our talks to all the classes and played some games, talked to the kids. It was so much fun. Once we had to leave, we were all really sad. The students were sad that we wouldn't be coming back after that day!

- Gabriela

Days 12: Back to Goldtree!

Hey everyone! Sorry for not updating you, but we had some very busy last days. 

On day 12, we went back to a school in Aguilares where we had been in earlier that week. All the kids were so happy to see us again! Some of us did our talks and then played some games with our classes. My class ended up having an intense soccer game, which we decided to stay out of. Salvadorians are violent when it comes to soccer! We stayed at the school for a few hours, and left later on. It was sad to leave the school because its become pretty special to us. We've been there for the past 2 years, so we've some little friends there. 

We quickly drove to get some lunch and then go back to our favourite school of all time, Goldtree! Goldtree is a school we were in last year for almost a full week. The whole team from last year made friends with the students there, so it was exciting to go back there and see our little friends. Our time there was a little different. We just sat with the students, playing games, talking to them, giving them salvation bracelets, just hanging out with them. Not all of them were there because there were parent/teacher meetings for progress reports. 

After we left the school, we drove up to "La Puerta del Diablo" which is a whole bunch of mountains. We climbed up and the view was absolutely beautiful. We stayed up there, took some pictures and just took in the amazing view. After that, we went to go get some dinner. The area we were at is known for its great view and delicious pupusas, so we had to get that for dinner! 

It was a great day, and definitely an awesome way to start wrapping up our 2 weeks.

- Gabriela 

Day 11: Painted faces, singing, sun and games.

We spent the day at the Aguilares church today. The kids looked like they had a lot of fun playing catch with water balloons, soccer, and building a pyramid out of plastic cups without them collapsing.

Gabby was in charge of the face painting. Some people got flowers, butterflies and some vines. Other kids got a pair of glasses, a painted nose and a beard or mustache of some type. They looked very cute. Hopefully, you will see them in some photos.

There was a church service later in the afternoon. Jessica, Allan and Carla (of the YFC El Salvador Team) gave testimonies. Vanessa brought out her guitar and played songs and Sara, Jessica, and I joined her in singing the Revelation Song, Mighty to Save and Came to my Rescue. Towards the end of the service, the pastor prayed for Jessica and all those who were struggling with issues or health problems.

The theme of spoiling Karla and Stephanie continued today. Stephanie started crying when we were getting ready to leave. She hugged several people, possibly everyone on the team and we hugged her back. Karla also gave some hugs but chose to leave and stayed in the background. We still knew that she was crying along with her sister.   Even Karla and Stephanie’s mother showed emotion as she said thanks as we got into the van.   I am looking forward to hopefully seeing them and the rest of their family again next year.

- Debbie

Day 10: Schooled in Aguilares

What a wonderful day!! We headed off at 8AM for a school in Aguilares where many of the children and youth from the Aguilares Church attend.

We were greeted at the gates as we got out of the van by Stephanie, the older sister of Karla, the little girl who lives next door to the Aguilares Church and who I have grown so fond of over the last 2 years. I was hoping to also see Karla but we were told by Stephanie that Karla does not go to school because she was having problems. I later had a discussion with their mother and found out that Karla has a learning problem likely caused by an operation that she had when she was younger. Now she has hard time writing and is not able to read and is teased at school. Please lift up a prayer for Karla that she will get the help that she needs and that she will be able to return to school.

We started the morning with the primary classes, grades 3, 5 and 6 and later we spoke with grades 2 and 4. We had to change things a bit for the younger kids and the salvation bracelets went over great. All ages liked the bracelets and were able to recite the meaning of the 5 colours; even the teachers got into the excitement and wanted them.

About 11:30 we headed out for a quick lunch so that we could be back at the school for 1:00 and the senior grades 7, 8 and 9. The teachers said that we could have the older kids as long as we wish but as soon as the rains start around 3:00 that they send the kids home. This sounded strange until almost right at 3:00 the rain started and it came in so quick, then we understood as the hard rain bounced off the tin roofs and you could hear nothing in the classroom, our afternoon was finished. 

 We decided to treat Karla and her sister Stephanie to an evening with the team. Not sure who got the most out of it, the younger girls or the older ones.   We took them out for dinner, then shopping for a few items that they needed and then came back to the hotel for an evening swim. I don’t think I saw two young girls get too excited about an evening of activity and they were so tired by the time they settled down for the night. 

It was such a blessed day, I am so lucky to be part of this experience ... Thank You God for allowing me to be able to serve in this way.

- Allan Day

P.S.        Please keep the team in your prayers as we enter into the last days of this trip ... Our emotions are high and the experiences keep on coming.

Day 9: Sticky heat

Today was my first day visiting the schools. I joined the rest of the team in El Salvador Saturday night after 12 weeks of intense army training. It was a bit of a difficult transition, going straight from military life to a Christian missions trip, but today I was finally starting to feel settled.

In the morning we went shopping for souvenirs at the market, and in the afternoon we visited a school in Aguilares. We visited the same school last year, so it was nice to go back. We watched a school assembly and then gave talks to the classes. I had absolutely nothing prepared, which was scary but exhilarating. Before I went on the trip last year, I was terrified of talking in front of groups, and if I did I had to have everything written down and planned out. Something that God really taught me through that was how much I actually enjoy speaking in front of people about God and what he has done in my life. I realized that when we trust the Lord, he gives us the words to say that are tailored to the hearts of those who are hearing them. After that, I was able to have the courage to prepare for my talks less and less, and instead just speak from my heart and let God speak through me. It was really exciting and powerful, and since then, whenever I have to talk in front of people, I let God lead my words.

So, thinking about how scared I used to be of public speaking, it seemed crazy to me today when I stood in front of the class with no idea of what I was going to say. I started talking, and completely trusted God to speak through me, and it went well. Afterwards, I knew that God had led it in the direction he wanted.

The principal of the school asked us to stay longer, so we also led the classes in the "trust fall" activity and handed out Bible verse promises. Some of the kids really seemed to respond well to us being there. 

We left the school, drove back to San Salvador, went out for dinner at Bennigan's, and then had our nightly meeting. It was a great end to the day, and it's so awesome to be back in El Salvador doing missions work! I'm excited for the rest of the week.

- Vanessa 

Day 8: Bye bye Santa Ana, hello Aguilares!

On Sunday, we had the oppertunity to go visit two churches. The church we were at in the morning was the same church we had been working with the whole week. I'm pretty sure everyone from the team would agree with me if I said, "The worship there is so amazing!" Everyone from the church looks like a big family which is surprising because the church itself has only been running for one year. We made so many awesome friendships with the kids there, so when it came time to say goodbye, it was pretty tough.



In the afternoon, we went to another church. The church's pastor is actually two YFC El Salvador team members' mom. The pastor's passion for reaching out to youth and children is so great! You can really see it by the amount of children that show up to church.

- Gabby 

Day 7: Family time!

Hellooo everybody!

First of all, I would just like to apologize for all the updates we've missed. We've been pretty busy and tired, but we're back to let you all know what's been going on down here in El Salvador!

This past Saturday we had the whole day off which meant relaxation at last! We finally got to sleep in, and we headed downstairs for some breakfast by the pool. It was such beautiful weather with a nice breeze and cute little birds singing (this sound super cheesy, but its true).

After breakfast, my whole day was already made. My grandmother and uncle from my dad's side came to visit me!! I hadn't seen them or had the opportunity to sit down and have a nice chat with them in almost two years! It was so exciting to be able to see them both and catch up. Not only that, but they brought me some pan dulce (sweet bread). Basically every Salvadorian's dream. They both left after a while, which I'm not gonna lie, made me pretty upset. But there's nothing a little shopping can't fix, am I right?

We did some shopping around the mall near our hotel. It was nice to have some time to just relax and have a girly day and go shopping together. Plus, we all actually got something! We had some lunch and drove back to the hotel. That afternoon, some other family members from my mother's side came over, along with some members from my grandmother's church. We held a church service for them at the hotel, gave them some snacks and coffee, of course, you can't forget that! Mr. Day spoke for all of us, and the whole congregation was so happy! Everyone was telling my how happy and grateful they were to have been invited to some visit me and also hear what we're doing here in El Salvador, and Mr. Day's talk as well.

After the church service, we went to a restaurant that's just full of typical Salvadorian food and it was absolutely deeeeeeelicious! We finally got to eat our precious pupusas! After our delicious dinner, we went back to the hotel, but some of us went back out to finally get our Vanessa!!!

We are so excited to have her join us once again, it didn't feel the some without our Vanessa.

Overall, this day was amazing! I had been looking forward to it all week and it definitely went above my expectations and for that, I have to the the man upstairs. So thank you, God!

- Gabriela