From Our Eyes--Day 6: Breakdancing Boys!

One of the activities at today's club was a breakdancing competition. These young boys killed it! They may not have many years on them, but that doesn't measure how much skill they have on the dance floor! 

Day 6: Student's Perspective (Sarah Smith)

Hello everyone! Today was our last work day of the week. We started out with the usual breakfast and devotional time. Then we had the opportunity to go visit an inactive volcano. It was awesome to see the crater the volcano left as well as hang out as a group and enjoy our morning. After the volcano we headed over to Jose's house to finish painting. It was amazing to be able to help such an amazing and loving family that truly helps the community. 

We also were able to go to the school and participate in one of their Young Life Clubs. It was really cool to be able to see the way they run their club and the reactions of the children. Today was really hard saying goodbye to the kids at the school. We met so many sweet kids who just wanted love poured on them. I really connected with Christopher, a little boy from the school. He was just so silly and loved us so much. He even told me "I love you" after I gave him a kiss on the cheek when I said goodbye.

I saw God's love a lot through this trip through many experiences. Enrique definitely showed God's love through his selfless actions and putting up with all of our craziness. Jose's hard work and caring for the community let God shine through him. 

On this trip I have learned a lot about myself and the love of God. The main thing I am ending this week with is that I need to get rid of the excess in my life and replace it with good. These people get by with so much less than us, yet they never complain or seem sad about it. I also realized I need to allow more time for God in my life. Having devotional time in the morning and journaling at night to debrief has allowed me to see how much I was missing in my day to day life and that I need to start and end my day with God. 

Being able to hang out with the kids has definitely been my favorite part. Two girls gave me a bracelet and one gave me a note in English. Just seeing their selfless behavior helped me realize that I take so much for granted when I am just going about my day to day life. I hope that when I return to the U.S. I will bring what I have learned back and am able to grow in my faith. I am so blessed to have been able to have this experience for Spring Break and am so sad it is coming to an end. 

God Bless!

Sarah Smith

Day 6: Leader's Perspective

Well, its begun to be said: "I am really going to miss those children when we leave." 

Today was our last day at the school in Popotlan, and it was eventful. Young Life (also known as Vida Joven) held club for the kids at the school for 2 hours in the afternoon. The first hour and a half were spent playing games, and tons of them. We divided into four teams, each with flags (red, green, blue, and orange) and did relay races on the basketball court. 

Shawn Petrunak and Ryan Huntziker got to have their faces covered in shaving cream while kids placed cheetos on them. Lucas, Enrique's son, and  another one of the young life leaders came out as gangsters to lead a couple skits and dances. 

There was actually a breakdance competition as one of the activities! After program was finished, Ethan Cahill got up on the stage and shared his life story with the kids at the school, while Lucas translated. He did an amazing job, and later told me it was a significant moment for him as well.

We finished off the evening back at the church, eating dinner with the entire El Salvador Young Life team. They have been incredible at providing our food and serving us so well. I will really miss them all. 

Tomorrow we head to the beach until Saturday morning, for a chance to debrief as a team and celebrate the trip we have just been on. Thank you for your prayers for our time this week. It is not over, and we will have more to post, but it feels as though a big segment (that of serving the kids here in Popotlan) has come to pass. We are all grateful for what this experience has done for us! 

We got to go to the local Young Life club today and some of our team even got to participate in the games!

Oh yah, and we also SAW A VOLCANO today

Local kids asked Jeff for a picture with him

Young Life donated new soccer jerseys to the school that we have been working at over these past few days! It was awesome to see the kids reactions to these super nice jerseys!

A photo of the whole team on the set of Young Life club!

From Our Eyes---Day Five: Crazy Van Rides and Painting a House

The first clip here is just an example of what happens when you have been in a van all week with the same people.. your truest self comes out. Mallory Spence shared a bit of her goofy side this morning.

The second clip is just us painting Jose's house in Popotlan. He was so grateful for us being there, but we are so grateful for the example he has shown us this week of being a servant! Here's the team working hard and enjoying it.

Day Five: Leader's Perspective

It was another day of hanging with the kids at the school and just living life together with the Young Life team down here in San Salvador. The highlight of the morning for me was playing another game of futbol against the El Salvadorians (on their newly painted basketball/futbol court!). I will say, our soccer skills have improved a bit, but we still lost. Fred Hamilton and Ryan Hunziker both found a useful skill as our goalies in throwing the ball from goal to goal (since the court was pretty small). They happened to make up 2 out of the 3 or 4 goals we scored today :) 

The second half of the day was spent painting Jose's house (Jose' is one of the Young Life leaders/ Enrique's helper here in ES). It was a special moment for me when Jose' told us that we were Jesus to him today in simply painting his house--- wow! I was humbled that he was so blessed by that. They have served us more than we could imagine, and yet his heart is so thankful for any service we could do for him. I have learned from these amazing men in El Salvador, as well as their families. 

We will visit the Young Life club for Popotlan tomorrow afternoon and get a chance to see Young Life in action down here. We can't wait. It is planned as a "megaclub," which they don't do very often, but everybody will be together for one big party and hang out time. I'm excited to show you that tomorrow through our own eyes. 

We celebrated Ash Wednesday tonight and took communion together. A part of it was revisiting Jesus' death on a cross, and His challenge to the disciples to surrender their lives to Him if they wish to receive life. We just worshiped, prayed, and reflected together. A month ago we barely knew each other as a group. Tonight it felt like we could be on this trip a lot longer. 

Hard to believe there is only one day left in San Salvador before we move into our debriefing portion of the trip. Be praying for continued health and safety, and a great last day with the kids in Popotlan. Your prayers have meant so much! 

Day Five: Student's Perspective (Mallory Spence)

Today was our third day working with the students at the school in Popotlan. It has been so overwhelming and awesome to see each of their smiling faces when we come each day. Every time we walk into the school, we are surrounded by crowds of joyful children who want to be known and loved. I have gotten especially close with a fifteen year-old student named Monica. She loves practicing her English by singing One Direction songs. It has been a blast getting to know her. I didn't realize how difficult it was going to be to leave until this afternoon. Monica and I both had tears in our eyes as we hugged each other and said "goodbye."

We spent the second half of our day painting the house where Young Life is held here. It was definitely  a challenge for our team physically and emotionally, but it was a great experience overall. After working hard, we ate another delicious dinner, which was prepared for us by such a loving and sacrificial group of women. These ladies work so hard to prepare these meals for us each day and night, and they always serve themselves last. They are truly incredible.

We ended our evening by honoring Ash Wednesday through taking communion as a group and singing worship songs, which was a precious time spent together. Over the course of our trip, we have talked about the life that the Lord is inviting us into and the things in our lives that we can give up as a sacrifice to better our relationship with Him. Being away from the routine and the chaos of my life in Orlando has given me the time to reflect on my life and relationship with Jesus. I am so blessed that I was given this opportunity to slow down, practice patience, serve others, share joy, and see how God is working here in El Salvador. I know that my life is being changed by this trip, and I am beyond thankful for that.