Our day began with painting the trees at the school where we had been working. This sounds weird, but here they paint their trees from the ground up to about 6 feet and it helps keep the ants off of the trees.

A lot of our day consisted of hanging out with the kids and being present. We played soccer (fútbol), arm wrestled them, and just hung out with them in general! 

This is the local club director's house, part of our mission work was painting his house, as his house is where they have the Young Life club at here, and that first impression of the type of house can really make a big difference!

This was the finished product of the front!

We finished up our day with hanging out and admiring the hard work that we had put in!

From Our Eyes--Day Four: Hat Tag (Mi Gorro!)

A a few of us guys were wearing hats today, and the young boys at the escuela found it to be a fun game stealing them and playing keep away. We played along and had an awesome time with them. Through our eyes, this is some of the joy we have been experiencing together with these youth at the school. 

Day Four: Leader's Perspective

"Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6: 33-34 

The kids at the school were a living example to me today about how God provides. We spent another day at the school, and I have actually come to realize that our mission here this week has had less to do with construction and more to do with bonding with the children. The guys were planning to lay compost this morning in the garden, but due to it not arriving yet, we instead spent time introducing ourselves and playing games with half of the classrooms in the school. It was tough not being able to speak spanish, but I was again humbled at how little that actually mattered; every kid was excited to see us, and just hear "my name is Jeff.. Fred... Ryan.. and I like basketball." We did get to plant some trees for the rest of the morning, which was great work. 

I had heard from one of our hosts that it is special for us to be there just so that kids get a break from worrying about the streets, gangs, violence, anything negative in their lives. It reminds me that they, who have far less privileges than I ever did as a child, are still being provided for. 

Most of our workday was spent repainting the basketball court where the kids also play futbol and handball every day. There were more workers than their were paintbrushes, so several of us just spent time playing with whichever kids came by to say hey-- and there were many of them! 

Perhaps the most memorable part of our day--our trip even-- came after the workday. We rushed back to the hotel to change out of our work clothes and were planning to rush to dinner and a bible study with the young life group in Popotlan. On our way back we got caught behind a major accident that blocked off all lanes of traffic. It became a 3 hour adventure of traveling just a few miles. I prayed earlier in the day for us to have stronger community and bonding as a team, and well.... it looks like God has a sense of humor :) We had the most incredible time just singing, laughing, and sharing our last life stories with the group. We eventually made it to dinner, had amazing food, thanked Enrique so much for his patience, grace, and his family's service, and made it back to the hotel in time to worship and debrief the day together. 

We are getting deeper and deeper into this thing. With God's leading. So thankful! 

Day Four: Student's Perspective (Cale Maddox)

Today was a great day! We were really able to spend a lot of time with the kids at the school playing tag, giving piggy back rides, and just enjoying each others company. It was really amazing to see the love these kids had toward us and how much they just wanted us to show them attention. It was really amazing to be able to get to know these kids without being able to speak there language. Later, the group was heading to bible study from the hotel, but missed it due to being stuck in traffic for three hours. It was cool to see God bringing us closer together through this kind of circumstance. I personally never thought I would have that much fun in a van with 11 other people for that long. This experience really showed me that we cant control are lives and we just have to trust in Jesus that he will lead us through what ever complications come about.  

Got to visit with kids in their classes today and introduce ourselves!

They think we're the coolest

The majority of our day went to repainting this basketball court. This court actually doubles as the courtyard of their school!

Again, the kids think we're the greatest!

This picture came when we got stuck in traffic for 3 hours today. In three hours, we drove approximately two miles.

We planted a ton of trees today

Here is a market near the church where Enrique is the Pastor.

Really cool street art that we found

Summing up today in one big picture!

From Our Eyes--Day Three: Hanging with a Hoola Hoop

Toward the end of the afternoon one of the El Salvadorian girls was showing off her hoola hooping skills. In this courtyard, about 2 hours earlier, there were 50-60 kids all hanging out with us! In this video are Sarah Smith and Mallory Spence.

Day Three: Leader's Perspective

We are really starting to get settled in here as a team. I have been so humbled by the service, and gratitude that our hosts and their families have shown us. Not to mention all of the kids we have met and played with. Today was our first day of work, and we spent it at one of the schools in Popotlan, San Salvador. We were first introduced to the principal, who brought us into his office and shared with us how thankful he was to have us there. He also mentioned that he loves Young Life, and the Young Life team has done a lot for the kids at their school already. 

The girls spent time working on baskets which are to be planted in a garden at the school, and the guys dug a few small trenches to place bricks in and create a new garden. We all worked close by each other and were working while school was in session, so in between classes we would be met by the kids and had a chance to hang out with them. It is overwhelming to be a "gringo" at the school, because we stand out so much. The kids literally swarmed us saying "hola" and asking our names. But it feels very special to be welcomed there with such enthusiasm. 

(Girls with some of the kids)

(Fred and Jose' doin work!) 

After our work, which ended in the late afternoon, we played futbol and basketball at the court in the school (they had soccer goals attached to basketball hoops on both sides. This game seemed more serious than the one we played last night, and they even had a referee! We got smoked (again) in futbol, but we held our own and won in basketball. Callie Lazja and Jessi Tobin held it down for the ladies in the basketball game, and Ryan Huntziker drained a three at the end. The El Salvadorians were impressed :) 

We have been learning from Enrique about the civil war that took place in this country 25 years ago, and the overwhelming gang activity that has been present ever since. It is cool to see so many kids just showing joy while they are inside the walls at the school. We are so happy to have the chance to be with them in person. Already there are a couple El Salvadorian girls attached to Jessi, Mallory, Sarah, and Callie. We will be back at the school tomorrow and can't wait to spend more time with all of them. 

We had a great time together tonight as a team and have been laughing a lot. So praises for joyful attitudes and hard work!