EL SALVADOR

Today I am heading out to El Salvador on a two day trip. In Discover this is known as the RECON trip (Research, evaluate, conversational, observe, numbers). It is a time where one person from each team (+interns/directors) go scope out the practicum areas in El. Salvador. I was picked from our team to go. I will meet the people in our practicum areas, ask many many questions and help my team prepare for practicum in April. Pray that God helps me ask the questions that need to be asked so my team can do their best and that he keeps us safe while driving. I am very excited to go experience a bit of El Sal and meet new people! Adios!

thank you God!

I’m continuing to be amazed by this country and this city. The culture {colors, city, people, beliefs, languages, nature, and architecture} is not failing to impress me. Last night I had a full night sleep. A whole eight hours of uninterrupted goodness. The streets of Antigua may have not slept but I slept soundly on my springy bed. My quilt [from gramps and gran from the Lethbridge] is my security item for the next 2 ½ months. Thank the Lord for the familiarities and comforts of home [i.e. blankets, ice cream, random Guatemalan fake Oreo cookies, McDonalds] I thank him also for rest. Our days are consumed with language school and walking. Tons and tons of walking. We walk everywhere; which is potentially excellent and healthy for a body but slightly hard on mine at times. Tuesday was our second day of walking around this city and our first day at the market and our second day of language school. Combining these three together it only affirmed me that:

a) I love, absolutely love God’s preeminent creation: us. I especially love us [humans] in our youngest, perhaps most honest vulnerable stage of life. I love the innocence and love that children withhold. Children, specifically in third world countries hold a resilience and durability that is next to none. Children here range from going to school to walking the central park shining shoes. They can and are just like any other child anywhere; they are just in a different situation. Learning life lessons very early and learning to make do with what they have.

b) I potentially could survive here, or anywhere they speak Spanish if I could speak Spanish. I enjoy walking the markets and bartering. Now only if I could complete my newly found dream of creating conversation and learning about their lives.

c) The food here isn’t half bad at all. My stomach is handling it just fine. Today I discovered I strongly dislike papaya and I don’t mind chocolate pancakes. :)

Espanola!

Overwhelming it was being in Spanish language school from 8-12 a.m. on Monday morning. They are throwing this Spanish at us from the left and right and from above and from below. This afternoon we took a tour around Antigua where we are staying for the next three weeks. I have had mixed emotions about being here. Debating whether I can actually handle it all. However, I know I can’t do it. I can only do it, get through it, manage it with God. I can’t do it alone. I can’t. But with him I can do everything and anything.

I serve a big God.

There was a moment today that it just felt beautiful. We were touring Antigua, walking the uneven sidewalks small stores on the both sides of me, colourfully dressed people and then there was a gust of wind then a chicken bus (local transport bus) drove by, and all of a sudden it was hard to blink from stuff in my eyes, dirt on my lips and exhaust in my nose and life was *calm+beautiful* In the moment of busyness, chaos, a broken past and a country that is full of violence I felt at home. It felt normal to have that grind on my lips and my eyes barely open. Amongst it all the sun shines, music plays and I breathe the fresh air. And I say thank you God. Thank you for food that fills my stomach and isn’t actually that bad. Thank you for universals. Laughter is universal. Smiles are universals. Sneezing is universal. J