El Salvador!!!!!

Hey Family!

I have been here in El Salvador for about a month and a half and have been able to work with God and an amazing YWAM staff to further the kingdom. Just to give you guys a little update on the happenings here at the YWAM base, we have had three mission teams from the United States so far, who have done incredible works in the community, such as painting buildings, planting gardens, building houses, feeding the homeless and so many more blessings. The staff and I have a ministry schedule that we follow every week rain or shine, so here are some of the things we are heavily involved in (I could not get pictures of all of the individuals that we work with, because I want to respect their privacy):

-We work with kids at risk in a local boys orphanage twice a week. These boys have been taken from neglectful and abusive lifestyles that put them at a high risk for entering a life of crime and poverty. Many kids in these situations end up joining a street gang.  We aim to reach these children before they make a decision to enter this lifestyle. We have goals of developing relationships with these children and giving them options for a better life. 

-Once a week we have a homeless ministry we call The Lighthouse; it is named this because we want to be a light in the darkness of the lives of those who live on the streets, trapped by poverty and addictions. We meet with them to provide a safe place to take a shower, have a hot meal, get a clean change of clothes, build relationships and hear a reflection from God’s Word. We have had some recent success with this ministry, in which several of the men have been willing to go through a rehab center to change their lives for the better!

This is the shower that we set up for the men and women 

This is an area that we have for the guys to play games when they first arrive and then later to sit and hear a devotion

-We also meet with the prostitutes who work on the streets around our base as they are also trapped in a life of darkness and hopelessness. Here we share cookies, coffee, and a devotional, giving them a safe place to build relationships and ask questions.

-Weekly we make and distribute a hot meal to the men, women, and children living on the streets of San Salvador.

We fill up the back of a truck with about 150-200 hot meals and juices to pass  out.

We travel down the streets in search of the needy

Some of the areas we ask them to form lines because the areas are so heavily populated

-Every Saturday morning we go to a squatter’s community. Those who live in this community live in deep poverty. They have lost their homes as a result of natural disasters, or because they couldn't pay their rent. As a base, we have adopted this community. There are gangs involved in this community as well and our ministry is geared towards 6-12 year olds with the aim of introducing them to Jesus Christ and discipling them before they enter the gang lifestyle. We have a VBS type environment with these children, we dance to worship music, play games, make crafts and share a bible lesson with them.

After songs and games, we split the kids up into 3 groups. We have around 65-75 kids come every week.

This is an example of what some of the houses look like.

Please keep these lives in your prayers and be a part of the beauty that God is doing here in the people of San Salvador.

Soon the DTS (Discipleship Training School) will begin! This school is designed for students to take a time out from life to have an amazing adventure with God. This is an intense training course designed to help individuals grow in their own relationship with and understanding of God and to prepare them for cross-cultural ministry. It begins with a 12 week lecture phase which focuses on topics dealing with our relationships with God, others, and the world. It will be taught by staff members as well as visiting speakers from other parts of the world. Lectures focus on personal growth, as well as training for cross-cultural ministry. During this time, students will participate in the ministries that we run at the base on a weekly.Then there is an 8 week field assignment, putting into practice everything that was taught in the classes.

Before I came here I felt from God that he wanted me to pursue this school, the more I am here and getting involved I really want to take this opportunity while God has opened the door. 

I am still raising support for the remainder of my time here.

I need about $2000.00, or you can support monthly, for me to be able to attend the DTS school. I am so excited and blessed to be a part of the amazing things God has building here! if you feel led to give, you can support me here:  http://www.gofundme.com/jz6ag 

Thank you all so much for your support and love :)

Miss everybody so much and I'll be seeing you soon

LeAnna!