thanks, again

Well, it’s been a crazy few months! I’m finally settling back into life in El Salvador. I haven’t written in a while and thought I would say hi. HI EVERYBODY!

Gratitude:
First I need to document some thoughts about how very thankful I am. Truly God continues to be so near to me and provide over and above all that I need. Truly, truly, truly. Again, I feel the need to share a just few of these things with you:

• Time Home – My time home in May/June was simply a delight. I got to spend so much great time with family & friends and ate so much great food. I got to explore some of Oregon’s beauty and got to drink my share of Stumptown. I even got to work at Cathy’s store, Olio United and earn some cute clothes. And of course, although I was teased a bit by friends, I was happily able to go to River West for all three services almost every Sunday I was home. It was soooo good to be surrounded by friends, to worship together, hear Guy & Adam preach live and in person and to just rest in my home church. Thanks to all you River Westers for just being such an amazing family of faith to me!
  


• New Roomie – While I was home, I asked folks to pray a lot for my sense of loneliness—it has really been weighing on me over the last couple months. Barb & Gerry Friesen said, “Tina, you need a friend. Someone to hang out with, that really loves God, is strong in their faith, etc. We are going to pray for that!” And this week a new roommate came way. Ashley is a young woman from California from Vanguard that has a huge heart for Central America (she lived in Costa Rica for 3 years after high school!) and is helping us out with our teams for the summer. She is sweet and funny and loves God and has already been a real joy and blessing. So, that is one more friend in El Salvador that is in a similar space to me. So cool!
  


• The Voice of Jesus by Gordon Smith – I have been in El Salvador 9 months and my initial commitment to ENLACE was for 1 year minimum. As I get closer to that date, I am praying a lot about what to do. Two weeks ago, I looked on my book shelf for something to read and saw The Voice of Jesus jump out at me. Many River Westers will have already read this great book on discernment and hearing the Spirit speak in our lives because Guy has praised it for a few years now. Well, this was just the right time to re-read and be reminded of the hope and joy that I get to live in and how to keep hearing God amidst all the other noise in my life. Truly it has been the perfect book at the perfect time. Thanks again for the recommendation Guy & Jonathan for the study guide!

Prayer Needs:

• Decisions -As I said above, I am trying to decide if I want to remain in El Salvador past this October or return home. This is a difficult decision and I find myself at times feeling quite overwhelmed about it. Please pray that I continue to listen for whatever call is on my life and that pride, fear and distrust would not cover the truth of whatever step I have ahead of me. One thing I can be thankful about is this—I have two wonderful options: 1. Stay in El Salvador and continue to be a part of God’s heart to transform and empower communities here or 2. Return to Portland, find a job and be part of God’s heart to transform and empower communities in Portland. Heck, maybe there is even an option where I get to do both! Wouldn’t that be something?! Anyway, your prayers, emails, etc. really help encourage me, keep my eyes on God and not myself and trust enough for each day.
  


• Spanish - I have come a long way in my Spanish, but still have such a long way to go. It’s hard to stay motivated at times and hard to stay disciplined to keep myself in the books and having the courage to just speak. I could really use your prayers in this area, as well as your help in staying accountable. If you think of it, email me at some point in the next month and ask me if I studied every day. Ask me if I really focused. Ask me if I had any kind of conversation with someone totally in Spanish. Ask me if I stepped out of my comfort zone again and just trusted God to provide whatever I needed in that conversation. Or better yet, email me in Spanish. That would be super rad!
  


• Project Milagro - This month I spent a little time in the community of Las Delicias and was again touched by the gracious love that we see in that community. People here just treat one another differently--with a common love and respect that I admire and try to replicate in my community. This is the community where ENLACE has been trying to raise funds for a very large water project. So far we have been raising money, but not at the rate we hoped. And yet, we see God so active in that community, that we are confident that he will bless this effort of so many faithful people. It would be so huge if all the folks on this list committed to pray for this project and for Las Delicias. To learn more about this amazing project and maybe even donate something, visit http://www.projectmilagro.com/ . Truly we have seen God produce amazing results with donations or any size, commitment to prayer and hearts that believe how very big our God is and trust him to accomplish great and beautiful things!

Thanks again for all of your support along this journey!

pantaleon

I don't have time to tell you how amazing this guy is! But he is definitely another hero to me. Let's just list a few of his qualities quickly:

• musician
• servant leader
• father
• joker
• great soccer player
• christian for one year

To hear more about Pantaleon, check out Guy's sermon after he returned to River West on 5/11 http://www.riverwest.org/teaching/index.htm

Also, to check out a video of photos from the trips, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEBqW6pm9Us

gaby & kevin update

Well, I am more then a little behind the times in photos, stories, etc. But fortunately, I was able to see many of you while home and tell you face-to-face about what an amazing time I had with the River West team in Nuevo Renacer. Following will be a series of blog entries focusing on a few different aspects of the trip.

Of course I have to start with Gaby & Kevin. Many of you will remember my two special friends that I have seen literally blossom from painfully shy, timid kiddos on our first visit to two of the most out-going, smilingest, huggingest children in the community today. And our bond still stands. About 4 times of every day, Gaby would come up to me and hug me with all she had and then give me the hugest toothy smile. I would say, “Te amo!” (I love you) and she would say, “Se. Te amo tambien!” (I know. I love you to!) And then she would run off and play with the kids.

Kevin is getting big and turning into a boy and less of a little kid. He is more reserved and definitely seems to be testing his coolness wings. And yet, he would still sneak a moment and give me a hug and smile—but only when no one was looking!

These two little lives are kind of a marker of “success” for me in the community. Every visit I ask how healthy are Gaby & Kevin? How happy? How much do they know about God’s love for them? And every trip I am blown away by how beautiful these two children are. I know I only see them a brief time out of every year, and yet the health and growth is undeniable. Just look at these photos.

After every trip, I update photos of Gaby & Kevin in my house and every day I pray for them, for their parents Alfonso & Marta, their siblings, Maira, Carlos & Claudia and for the community of Nuevo Renacer. And every day I thank God for drawing us together under His banner of love.

kids rock my world

OK, so one day I was playing with playdough with about 6 kids. Adilson, the cutey in gray and orange pictured here, kept making me jewelry out of playdough and I would wear each piece as long as they lasted. But then I was called away and head to help with something else and handed all of my doughey jewelry back. About 20 minutes later I return and Adilson is directing all of the kids to craft various letters. I wonder what he is spelling out and approach with curiosity. Then I look down and see "Tina es mi ami..." and then the "g" and "a" get slapped down and they all say outloud, "Tina es mi amiga." (Tina is my friend.)

Yea, my heart almost burst. I really do love those little ones! And continue to be amazed at their great gift of loving me. I always go visit the commuity with the thought that I will be loving them--but honestly, they always seem better at it then I do! Thank God for each beautiful one!

trees

There is always someone that is asking, "Great to hear about the kids, but what did the team DO?" All kinds of stuff, but the primary project was to dig large holes and plant trees around the "traffic" circles to privide shade.

I was always running around, helping the ladies with errands, playing with kids, shooting photos, translating, etc. So I was busy, but I have to be honest to you all--I did not dig a single hole. May the team and the Lord forgive me...

my hero Larry

I met Larry & Ginny Rodriguez about a year and a half ago. At that point, I had prayed to God that I would move to El Salvador but had created a list of "to-do's" that God would have to meet before I got on a plane. One of those was that I would need to learn some Spanish. And not two days later, I happen to start talking to Larry and he said, "I used to be a Spanish teacher and I was wondering if there might be interest at River West for a Spanish class?" I laughed and said, "Yes, I know for a fact there is!"

And thus began one of the richest new friendships that I have experienced in years. Larry teaches a weekly Spanish class at River West and folks learn spanish, sing songs, read the word, etc. And every bit is good for Spanish training. But more than that we laugh! Larry and his amazing wife Ginny have a gift for bringing joy to a group and making each person feel special and loved. Before Spanish class I had the pleasure of having dinner with Larry & Ginny every week and their love, kindness and humor was always a gift.

But Larry refused to come to El Salvador. He just didn't want to--it seemed hot and hard. He was much happier teaching a class in LO. But through a series of miracles and much prayer, Larry was on that plane coming to San Salvador in April. And from the moment he set foot, he made his mark. He may have had reservations, but they certainly didn't show once he got here. At the welcome ceremony we sang a hymn that Larry & Ginny taught us in Spanish and many of the villagers knew it, so they sang along. It was soo cool. (See attached photo.) Larry translated, taught impromptu English classes and generally, was his sweet, loving self.

And I guess I just have to say that one of the reasons that I so firmly believe in the Christian church is that it brings together people like Larry, Ginny and myself. God draws us together over shared interests--like Spanish. Which is cool! But more then that, God draws us into relationship together. I know that Larry & Ginny pray for me. And you can bet I was praying that Larry would come to El Salvador! And every time we are together that bond remains solid and encouraging and just a little bit of Jesus in my life. And that is so awesome. I hope that you have a Larry & Ginny in your life to!

so much to tell...

... there is no way I can write down all of the stories of how God worked in April in Nuevo Renacer. Let's just say that we were all touched by God's hand of love and kindness yet again! Our God is good. A few highlights:

• playing music with Pantaleon
• smores!
• making pupusa's with the ladies
• Donna reading the Bible with Pantaleon's son, Jose
• emotional and ownderfully teary goodbyes