Update #3

Hey family! I am sooo sorry I haven't updated. I haven't had the chance. It would have been a good decision to bring my own computer, but I didn't. Oh well, lesson learned and next time I will know to do that! I never can come up with a bunch of stuff to say on the fly, so I would like to simply share a journal entry with you! I wrote it yesterday the 24th of July. It is the day after our last day of ministry with the churches and schools in El Salvador. We do have one service we are doing in Cojutepeque, but other than that, we are done here! So here goes nothing!

7/24/09

Well, the last day of ministry was yesterday. Not that we aren't doing a lot of ministry for the rest of our lives! Right now it is 10:20 am, and we are in the van heading to pick up Sylvia in Santa Ana. She is so amazing. A very wonderful girl of God. As I reflect on these 3.5 weeks of being here, it just brings up such amazing emotions ad memories. The people in El Sarten accepted who we were and embraced us as we were. They treated us just like we were family. My heart will always be with them. They have left such an impact on me. Harland, Carla, Junior, Luz, Alba, Juan, Blanca, and many more. Lord please protect them. All the beautiful children, including Brian and Lily! And Antonio, my precious baby boy!

Our week in Perulapia was one that was trying. With miscommunications and a slight division in the team. And ALL the pupusa parties. Man! They feed us ALL the time! ;-) If I gain weight it will be because of those! Although I was sick one day, you absolutely blessed me! I got to learn a spanish song with a pastor. Cool! And, being able to connect with the school kids. The teen girls brought me letters they had written. They are so beautiful and very loved by me and God!

Then, the church I felt most connected to was in two separate places actually. God just really blessed us in the church. They are young, fresh, vibrant, and very annointed. They are so much more than conquerers and they are victors in Christ. I met Jefferson, who is the pastor's kid. He plays piano very well, and God's hand of favor is on him. He has a great voice and it was a privilege to sing with him. He taught me the chorus "There is None Like You" in Spanish. I got to sing it at the close of two services on Tuesday and Wednesday night. What incredible services!!! God's spirit is moving in that church and community SO much. 9 people were saved last night! WOW!! God YOU are SO good!!!

I do want to talk about this beautiful lady I met yesterday. Her name is Carmen. She is very old. Very ridden with osteoporosis. She said that last week, she began to have tremors and they were so intense she had to grab the kitchen table and they lasted for a really long time, until about 9 pm. She said she went to the doctor, but they never told her what was wrong. They just gave her medicine and sent her on her way. She is still really suffering. She is probably 85-90 years old. She deals with all of this while taking care of her 50-something year old son named Carlos. At the age of 14, he became very ill with a high fever. It lasted a good length of the time and it mentally and physically disabled him. He was sitting in this chair that would be uncomfortable to just about anyone, especially to someone who couldn't turn positions to get comfortable. He had a dirty rag on his lap to catch dribble, but there were flies all over him.. like tons of flies! He had no head support, and he didn't talk at all.

There house was in a very beautiful part of the community, surrounded by trees bearing coconuts and bananas. Many flowers, too. Of course, the house is like we always see in this country. They are all very similar in design. When we got to the house and greeted her, she went and changed her apron, began pulling out chairs, and she wet her hair and began to pull it out of the braid. She was taking things off the clothes line. She was trying really hard to make everything look really nice and neat. We told her she needed to just sit and try to be comfortable!

She began talking to us and she said when she had heard that a group of Americans were coming from Convoy of Hope she wanted desperately to walk to see us, but her body wouldn't allow it. She said that us coming to visit her was as if Jesus Himself came to her house. We meant that much to her....

--There is more to this story, and sometime I'll finish it. But I think what I've already written will pierce your soul. Think about all you have, because I can almost guarantee you it's more than what she does. But, in Christ, she has everything. :)

xoxo Kayla

Update #2

Hey hey mi familia! Buenos! I miss you all very much, but again I will say that I am having an excellent time here in El Salvador.

This morning was really the first time I have felt sick to my stomach, but resting today is helping with the nausea.

Friday was our last day in El Sarten. We have developed great relationships with the pastor and his family as well as the people of the village. Mateo dedicated two precious babies today. One of which was only 10 days old! His name is Ruben and he is the most precious child. I specifically connected with a little baby that was 3 months old, and his name was Antonio. He was so chunky and beautiful. I love that his mother trusted me to hold him. What great progress!

Yesterday we went to another town in El Salvador to meet a beautiful 15 year old girl named Sylvia. What a story she has! We all enjoyed Pizza Hut together and afterwards went to her house where she shared some precious items with us. She had made us beautiful necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. HOW sweet!!

Today we drove back to El Sarten for a church service. It lasted 2.5 hours! God moved in amazing ways! Glori a Dios! (Glory be to God!) My spanish is not good at all. I speak very little. Although, it's not as difficult as you might think to get your point across in another language. LOL. I can order food and ask a lot of questions. "Como se dise..." means "How do you say..." and then you just point to an object and they will tell you. The children will also ask you how we say it in English. Like this, "Como se dise en ingles?" I love them so much.

This coming week we will be in a different village working with different people. I embrace this change even though it means leaving those I've already befriended. I really feel God used us to make an impact in El Sarten.

For those that supported me: You have done an amazing thing by sending me here. No gift was too small, and all will share in the same reward given by God. I can't wait to see what is after El Salvador!

much love!! xoxo

The blog you've all been waiting on!

Hey guys! Man, I know it has been awhile since my last update. It has been because I haven't had wifi or a chance to get on a computer until now! :-) I basically want to share what I have written in my journal from a day or two. I just want you to see my heart and be able to share my experience. My heart is so broken right now. Here is my journal entry from today. I hope it moves you as it moves me. 

July 7th, 2009

Today! oh my goodness, what a day! It was our first day in a smaller village here in El Salvador. No joke, I am absolutely tired. My body is exhausted, as is my mind. Although, what incredible need there is here in this village. The children are straight out of what you would see in a compassion international child sponsorship picture. They are barefoot, malnourished, and starved for attention. When we arrived, we were greatest like they had never seen other people before. The pastor's wife talked to us about a vision she had last night about us coming into a dirty cesspool of water and just cleaning it up. I have to realize that I am going to have to get dirty (emotional, physical, and spiritual). I have to dive in and give all of myself so that God can use me to make a difference in this country.

While the children were learning, an older woman was holding a boy. He was very weak acting and then our translator told me he was burning up. I felt his forehead but his hair was wet because the woman had taken him and tried to lower the fever. i had a thermometer (disposable) in my first aid kit, so I put it under his arm and waited for 3 minutes and then checked it. He had a fever of 102.2 and that in after being doused in water. I went and made him a rehydration drink and got more information from his mom about his change in behavior and physical condition. He had been throwing up for several days and had diarrhea. This combined with the fact swine flu is on the rise, I 'diagnosed' him with the "influenza porcina" aka swine flu. I was so sick to my stomach with nerves and anxiety, but I knew that God was with me and the team. I also listened to the pastor's son's lungs. He had wheezes in his right lung, and had been coughing up green phlegm. I know this is sign of pneumonia, but the parents said he has been feeling better. I will continue to monitor him for signs of worsening conditions.

Today, Matt asked if anyone 'feels sick right now?' to the children and to the adults. So many people raised their hands, but all we could do was pray. Not that it in itself is bad. i just feel terrible knowing that I can't do anything without medication. And, it is heartbreaking. I really care about the people's health.

There are so many more things I could write about this day, but I am so tired. I really must turn in for the evening. Lots more to do tomorrow. 

Prayer requests:

-The health of the people and this team. Swine flu is spreading rapidly here in El Sal.

-My heart to continue to break for God's people.

-A clear and concise way to portray God's love for these people. (70% of who we met today do not know the Lord.)

I love you all!

xoxo