The first week has been adventurous.
Day One: Unpacked
The flight went well. The very first thing that shocked me about being here was the customs form we had to fill out. Instead of the spanish being in smaller letters under the english, it was opposite. I also learned that they don’t take left turns, so there are round-a-bouts everywhere.
Day Two: Discipleship Training
~Discipleship is a lifestyle~
I learned that discipleship is not a hobby something that you do occasionally. He wants us to take ownership of making disciples. As Jesus went, he made disciples. This is what we are called to do.
~Jesus didn’t see people as interruptions, he sees them as invitations~
Christ wasn’t too busy to save us, so I should make time for others...right? Problem is, I don’t...haven’t. Too often I have put people aside to do things. They could’ve been potential followers. Or I would attempt to show them, but I never knew exactly what steps to take, because they were “beyond” my level. Never again will I make this mistake.
We learned how to make disciples and how to start conversations that can open the door. I have always known how to explain the gospel, but never this way.
What is really cool is that the things I’m learning aren’t El Salvador lessons. They are life lessons. This is preparing me to lead not follow.
Day Three: Discipleship training and prayer walk
Second day of discipleship training where we went through the scriptures and prayed that God would open homes (Luke 10:5-7), open hearts (Acts 2:17-21), open heavens (Isaiah 64:1), open hands (Matthew 10:7-8), and open highways (Proverbs 15:19).
After reviewing how to present the gospel and how to start a conversation, we went to the area around La Iglesia and did a prayer walk where we split up into groups, each with a translator and asked God to do what only he could do. When we all reunited, we came back with some cool stories and things we prayed for. In the group I was in, there was a lady standing at her garage door. When she initially saw us, she seemed very closed up and hard. I decided to go up and ask her, “If God could do a miracle in your life. What would it be?” At that, she lit up. A smile came across her face and she shared, “My son is dying and I am struggling with hypertension.” She basically asked for physical healing. She also expressed that she does go to church. So, I prayed over her and my group and I moved right along.
It was incredibly simple. No miraculous things happened that night, but I know seeds were planted and I know God takes pleasure in the simple steps of faith.
Day Four: Beach Day
BEACH!! Do I really need to say anything else ;)
Day Five: Volcano
We literally drove up the entire volcano. It shocked me to see people living on this volcano. Children, animals, families. It wasn’t like Kennesaw Mountain. This thing was massive. It was a testament to God and all of His glory.
We can actually see a volcano from our roof, which I still haven’t gotten used to.
Day Six: Church and English Church
La Iglesia was...interesting. I hate to say this, but we sat completely clueless throughout the entire worship experience. I can’t wait to start spanish classes (we start Sept. 11th). On the bright side I did get a chance to talk to a few of the members closer to my age and they said they’d help me :)
Later on we did “English Church”. We went through 2 Corinthians 1:1-6. Step by step. Verse by verse. Meditating. Savoring.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort…
If HE is the God of ALL comfort, then where else could comfort possibly come from??
Most often we find our comfort from worldly things, but any comfort outside of God only gratifies the flesh, therefore its effect is only temporary so it doesn’t solve the problem. It only masks it.
...who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
He comforts us in ALL our troubles. It is always available. We just have to accept it. And then, that same comfort we receive is to be an example to comfort others with the same struggles.
For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
The level of our sufferings will always be met by Christ’s consolation.
If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.
I praise God that I have struggles. If I didn’t have struggles, then I probably wouldn’t feel a longing need for Him. He would no longer be my Father and personal Savior, but He would be a so called “divine being” that “wrote” a book. I would no longer have a personal relationship with Him, but there would be an aching gap between us. Thank you my Heavenly Father for the struggles I have. For with every struggle, I draw nearer. With every problem, I pull closer
Day Seven: Orientation
The culture here is very...helpful. In America, society tells us that you help yourself and if you need help from other people, then you are less of a person. In El Salvador, people love to help. It doesn’t matter how busy they are, if you are in need they will drop everything to help you.
While I was standing on the bus, this lady literally took my backpack off my shoulder and sat it in her lap. I was flabbergasted to say the least. In America, you help yourself. In El Salvador, it’s a group effort.
P.S. Every post won’t be like this. I was just letting you guys see what my first week was like.
Day One: Unpacked
The flight went well. The very first thing that shocked me about being here was the customs form we had to fill out. Instead of the spanish being in smaller letters under the english, it was opposite. I also learned that they don’t take left turns, so there are round-a-bouts everywhere.
Day Two: Discipleship Training
~Discipleship is a lifestyle~
I learned that discipleship is not a hobby something that you do occasionally. He wants us to take ownership of making disciples. As Jesus went, he made disciples. This is what we are called to do.
~Jesus didn’t see people as interruptions, he sees them as invitations~
Christ wasn’t too busy to save us, so I should make time for others...right? Problem is, I don’t...haven’t. Too often I have put people aside to do things. They could’ve been potential followers. Or I would attempt to show them, but I never knew exactly what steps to take, because they were “beyond” my level. Never again will I make this mistake.
We learned how to make disciples and how to start conversations that can open the door. I have always known how to explain the gospel, but never this way.
What is really cool is that the things I’m learning aren’t El Salvador lessons. They are life lessons. This is preparing me to lead not follow.
Day Three: Discipleship training and prayer walk
Second day of discipleship training where we went through the scriptures and prayed that God would open homes (Luke 10:5-7), open hearts (Acts 2:17-21), open heavens (Isaiah 64:1), open hands (Matthew 10:7-8), and open highways (Proverbs 15:19).
After reviewing how to present the gospel and how to start a conversation, we went to the area around La Iglesia and did a prayer walk where we split up into groups, each with a translator and asked God to do what only he could do. When we all reunited, we came back with some cool stories and things we prayed for. In the group I was in, there was a lady standing at her garage door. When she initially saw us, she seemed very closed up and hard. I decided to go up and ask her, “If God could do a miracle in your life. What would it be?” At that, she lit up. A smile came across her face and she shared, “My son is dying and I am struggling with hypertension.” She basically asked for physical healing. She also expressed that she does go to church. So, I prayed over her and my group and I moved right along.
It was incredibly simple. No miraculous things happened that night, but I know seeds were planted and I know God takes pleasure in the simple steps of faith.
Day Four: Beach Day
BEACH!! Do I really need to say anything else ;)
Day Five: Volcano
We literally drove up the entire volcano. It shocked me to see people living on this volcano. Children, animals, families. It wasn’t like Kennesaw Mountain. This thing was massive. It was a testament to God and all of His glory.
We can actually see a volcano from our roof, which I still haven’t gotten used to.
Day Six: Church and English Church
La Iglesia was...interesting. I hate to say this, but we sat completely clueless throughout the entire worship experience. I can’t wait to start spanish classes (we start Sept. 11th). On the bright side I did get a chance to talk to a few of the members closer to my age and they said they’d help me :)
Later on we did “English Church”. We went through 2 Corinthians 1:1-6. Step by step. Verse by verse. Meditating. Savoring.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort…
If HE is the God of ALL comfort, then where else could comfort possibly come from??
Most often we find our comfort from worldly things, but any comfort outside of God only gratifies the flesh, therefore its effect is only temporary so it doesn’t solve the problem. It only masks it.
...who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
He comforts us in ALL our troubles. It is always available. We just have to accept it. And then, that same comfort we receive is to be an example to comfort others with the same struggles.
For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
The level of our sufferings will always be met by Christ’s consolation.
If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.
I praise God that I have struggles. If I didn’t have struggles, then I probably wouldn’t feel a longing need for Him. He would no longer be my Father and personal Savior, but He would be a so called “divine being” that “wrote” a book. I would no longer have a personal relationship with Him, but there would be an aching gap between us. Thank you my Heavenly Father for the struggles I have. For with every struggle, I draw nearer. With every problem, I pull closer
Day Seven: Orientation
The culture here is very...helpful. In America, society tells us that you help yourself and if you need help from other people, then you are less of a person. In El Salvador, people love to help. It doesn’t matter how busy they are, if you are in need they will drop everything to help you.
While I was standing on the bus, this lady literally took my backpack off my shoulder and sat it in her lap. I was flabbergasted to say the least. In America, you help yourself. In El Salvador, it’s a group effort.
P.S. Every post won’t be like this. I was just letting you guys see what my first week was like.