El Salvador 2026 wrap up

 Time moves so incredibly fast!! We have been home a week already. It was so strange to walk into my house that had been harboring tools and supplies and excitement for over a month…only to find it clean. And silent. Just like that. It is all a memory.

Just some final thoughts and pictures that I wanted to share from my time on the ground in El Salvador.

Teamwork…

A concept created and ordained by God. He talked about it often in the Bible. 

Our team met for a one hour zoom meeting a few weeks before we left. We knew what our skill sets were and what we could bring to the table. When we showed up, we all had a common goal…to serve the people in El Salvador. It’s crazy how seamlessly it all fell into place. It also never ceases to amaze me at how quickly and easily it is to embrace and befriend people when you are on the same team, each working in their gift for a common purpose.

But the team didn’t consist of only the people in the pictures…the team also consisted of those who answered the call to provide supplies, hand over cash and checks, and those that were faithful to pray over the team, the work being done, and the souls we encountered. God orchestrated His church to function like this as well!! In the capital C Church, we are working together on a team full of people that we haven’t met yet…as well as serving with team members that we know and love. We all have different jobs to do…but our goal is the same…to serve others in the name of Jesus and to make His name and His promise known. 

First world problems.

 I find that each time I return from El Salvador…or even from inner city Dallas…it takes me time to reintegrate into medicine and cultural life. For 8 days I have not been able to flush my toilet paper. Paper towels aren’t a thing. I can’t rinse my mouth or my toothbrush from the faucet. And you don’t dare forget that for even an instant. Air conditioning in a tropical area isn’t normal. Health care is difficult to get. And medications, tho there are pharmacies on every block, aren’t easily attained by most of the people we care for. 

So it often takes me a few days to resume being a compassionate human when people are complaining about trivial health problems, having access to care and medicine but choosing not to desire any changes other than adding another pill to a long list of chronic daily meds, or complaining about social and cultural woes that most of the rest of humanity knows nothing of. 

I’m always schooled in REAL joy..like the joy of a little girl and a pretty dress…or an otherwise forgotten inmate having undivided attention for 5 minutes. I’m schooled in REAL problems…like no access to clean water and losing your children to gangs. I’m schooled in REAL world poverty and suffering. And I’m completely schooled in the fact that WE have sooooo much…and THEY have so little…reminded  that we use our money to pour upon frivolous things around us that won’t last (thinking the latest fashions, proms and graduation parties-both of which are coming up in my world, and a million other first world things). One statement that has gained a permanent place in my soul is this…7-8 year old chatty boy that I was talking with. I asked him if he rides his bike to school. DUMB. Innocent eyes furrow a moment. He cocked his head and looked at me a little sideways…”Bicicleta? Yo no tengo,” and continued to answer my question. But I didn’t hear the answer. Because all I could think was BICYCLE…he doesn’t have one!!! Of course he didn’t. Neither did any of the other little ones. Not where we were. It didn’t phase him though.

He was just stating the facts. To the crazy curly headed gringa who, for a moment, automatically returned to first world economy. No bicycles, but they were stoked about the new sunglasses…

And a frisbee that they didn’t have to leave at the school. 

I think about this precious servant of Christ that works every day seeing patients in an un air conditioned office in a tough part of town…economically and physically. He has no back up help. If he wants to be gone he closes his clinic. He has a small supply of medications to dispense from his office that are provided by generous donors from somewhere else. He provides it for very low cost. He has some testing…but very few can actually afford the $5-20 it might take to get the lab. Same things I would order for $900 here in our country. Unfortunately, I can’t even imagine not being able to do diabetes testing on the regular. Or any type of testing to tease out what type of problem we are treating. Crippling in some cases. But it’s what he knows. And it’s what he is used to. And he shows up every day to care for the bodies and souls of those people that seek him out for help. God reminded him this week that he is doing good work. That He sees him there. And that He supplied people to help ease his burden a little bit last week.

Hear me say this. I don’t believe that it is wrong to enjoy the blessings that God has bestowed upon us. BUUUT…I believe there are things that we can do better to alleviate the hardships incurred by others. We are in a crisis of people coming to our country illegally…but when nations see how frivolously we live…is it any wonder that they might dream about it for their families. Is it? 

My heart is always left longing for the day when Jesus makes all things new. When there is no corruption in leadership and government. When there is no oppression of the poor by the rich (and by rich…I also mean each of us right here right now…are we using our assets and resources to lend to real world needs (not wants like uniformes or cookies). I long for the day when there are no more tears, no more sickness, no more death…and the day when we will eat only the food God provides that will truly nurture our bodies. But until then, the question is, how can we help today? I’m certain there are many ways we can. 

The reality is…

I feel the sting of my perceived injustice of it all…but, just as I have done in the past, I will slowly fall back to sleep again too. Lulled to lethargy by my own desires for stuff, comforts, and my own selfish way…until the next time that God jolts me awake. My plea is that I would continue to be rocked by the realities in a way that would keep me motivated and mindful to be intentionally working to do my part to do the things Jesus has tasked me to do. 

It’s one of the reasons that I won’t rest my burning eyes each night as I journal the day. Sleep is all I want…but I know that with each hour that passes, and each circumstance that stacks on top of the one before…I am more likely to miss the moments that God needs me to sit with. I want to see and understand what He is doing. And I believe that I have also been tasked by God…to soak it up, process it, and put it into words for whoever reads along. WE ARE the TEAM!! God has blessed you as well…to do something. I don’t know what that looks like. But my prayer is that you will. That each one would ask God what He needs from your experience with our story here. How can we make a difference? 

Simplicity. 

Medicine in a third world country is also more simple. My office in the balcony of the treetops was pretty refreshing. All the tools I had fit in that red bag. My charting system was a quarter piece of scrap paper. My medication choices were limited to a two sided page of listed options. 

I’m the queen of making things harder than they have to be. But for a work week, the simplicity of the system was refreshing. Looking out my office window this week left me longing for falling mangoes, sweat rolling between my shoulder blades (I know what you THOUGHT I was gong to say), and longhorn bulls meandering between the pharmacy table and an exam station. Only in Gods world could simplicity be such a paradox of emotion…simplicity makes medicine harder but easier all at the same time. Maybe it’s because the priority is caring for and loving people…and when I can get beyond the details and the unknowns, I can care on a different level!

I’m so very humbled and glad that God has offered me opportunities to serve in a capacity such as this…and I want to steward the opportunity for the glorification of what He is doing in me…through me…and in those people that I serve, and serve with!!

Gods economy. 

At the end of the day, God has created our bodies to heal. He has given us ways to exercise our bodies, ways to rest our bodies, ways to feed our bodies, and ways to nurture our bodies. Sickness is rampant across the world. Why? Because we have left the protection of the umbrella that God sheltered us with. We have decided that frozen pizzas have to be consumed because we don’t have time to cook…that Oreos and Cheetos are better nourishment than oranges and celery…that water “doesn’t taste good” (in your best whiny voice) because it doesn’t taste like Pepsi or chocolate milk or apple juice.

We don’t exercise because we don’t have time, and many of us have jobs that require us to move one finger on the mouse all day long, and little else moves.

Furthermore, we are ingesting toxins on the regular from our food, from the new carpet in our house, from the traffic in our streets and the chemicals flying through our air. 

And if that isn’t enough, our bodies are chronically in fight or flight mode 24/7…not knowing that we aren’t running to avoid becoming dinner for a lion…we are just running 15 minutes late for the next appointment on our obscenely overpacked schedules. 

It’s. Too. MUCH. 

But in Gods economy, He doesn’t force us. Choices are ours. Satan is the master crafter of adulterated food, distracting schedules, and our 50,000 reasons we can’t care for our bodies. For those of us that have accepted Christ as our savior, these bodies are NOT ours. We are borrowing them for a lifetime of  service to the One who owns them. When we are sick. When we are distracted. When we are spiritually lethargic…Satan is winning. He helps us get our eyes focused on ourselves…and that takes them off of Jesus and the things He created us to do.

In a world that is becoming more and more complicated, the answers are surprisingly simple. Our health…the health of our country…the health of the world around us…could all be improved with the awareness of the danger we are in…and the mindfulness that the choice is ours. The choice of health in many cases is OURS!! We just don’t choose well. And in some cases, we aren’t in a position to choose well. 

But more than anything else from this trip…

I know that THAT God…the One who designed color palates like this…the One who tells the ocean how far it can go…the One who tells the sun when to come up. That God wants to use me…and He wants to use YOU for things waaaay bigger than ourselves. Will you seek His face for those answers? Will you obey when He says to pack your bag, cook a meal, make eye contact and speak, or write a check? 

God doesn’t need you to go across the world to answer this question. He just needs each of us to listen in our here and now. 

Again, I appreciate so much the way God has used many of you in my life…for the financial support, the prayer support, the kind words spoken to me and the interest shown in our trip. Thanks for following along as I used this space to process out loud what God showed me through my week in El Salvador. 

I know that this isn’t the rest of my story…nor is the rest of your story. May God use my observations and personal lessons and journaling to spark an awareness in your mind, that will ignite a fire in your soul. One that opens your eyes and your mind to what God might be calling you to do or be part of!! And if He does, I do hope you will share your story with me!! Until next time!! God bless!

El Salvador 2026…Day 7

All good things must come to an end right?? We have had the best week filled with teamwork, compassion, open hearts, and working in our gifting for the good of the masses. 

This morning we met over a typical El Salvadoran breakfast and spent some time sharing what things impacted each of us. It was really good to listen to each other.  After breakfast we loaded our big van and headed back to the city square.

We were planning to shop the market (a place I had not yet been to) and sight see a bit more in the buildings. We said goodbye to Dr Steve. He was a special part of my first ever medical mission trip…and of this one too. He thought Molly and Cami made a great pair, and he enjoyed interacting with them! Actually, the older guys enjoyed teasing and harassing the girls throughout the week. It didn’t take them long to figure out that the girls can be pretty spicy and weren’t backing down and that they could dish it right back. So it was pretty much Game ON!

This is just a photo of a typical side street!! There are tiny shops and vendors in and along the streets!! Lots of blind people hawking dulces (candies) on the street corners, as well as street vendors selling fresh fruit, candy, breads, beads, and flowers.

A few vendors on the corner before we hit the market. I got one picture of the girls walking into this mall…but I’m telling ya, once we were inside it was all over for thinking about photos…Think Walmart sized store, with much skinnier aisles…there are goods as far as your eye can see—overwhelming thing #1. Shoes, trinkets, clothing, toys, blankets, hammocks, purses, bags and hats. Each little cubby of a store sold different versions of the same thing. BUT, once you hit the outside of the store, women were at your elbow touching and telling you all the things they had, which was overwhelming thing #2…it was completely overstimulating to shop and be kind and not get bullied…Before we went in, I heard Marvin teaching the girls two words…Solo mirando…just looking…which we ended up using!! Cami bought me a hammock for my birthday (which was today)…and we got a couple of sundresses and a gift for her dad (whose birthday was also today). Molly found an adorable summer bag…and Sarah came out with some bags…and Ronald came out also carrying some of Sarah’s bags!!

Larry got a notification first thing this morning that the RO system on the island wasn’t working and he insisted going back to fix it. Monica insisted on going with him (he is 86 and she worries about him). So that meant Ronald was in charge of his American friends. He had been hearing about a nice steakhouse right where we were, which is where we decided to eat! It was hands down THE best food we have had…I had ceviche as well as an aguacate ensalada con pollo (that BEAUTIFUL avocado and tomato salad with palm of hearts and chicken). We had a very leisurely lunch and enjoyed trying everyone’s food. And drinks. With the same straws and utensils. At this point of the week, germs seem irrelevant.

The first church we went to see had mosaic pieces of glass ALLL over the buildings, a bit like windows but different. Unfortunately for us, there was a wedding and they wouldn’t even let us peak. 

The cathedral was having mass yesterday, so we couldn’t go in…and today the doors were all shut up…strike two. 

So we went back to Starbucks. (The sign says our matcha is your matcha). We sat around chatting some more. At some point in the last two days, we have morphed into caring, sharing, I got your drink or snack team. Such a beautiful comfortableness we have transitioned into. It’s always amazing to me how close people can get after a few days of sharing a common project, community wins, and making vulnerable the stories and their hearts. 

As we headed back to the van, the girls and I hit the supermarket for Monica’s recommendation on coffee, as well as to the first little shop we stopped in to pick up the chocolate we didn’t want to melt earlier!!

One of our teammates wasn’t feeling well, so we dropped she and her husband off and the remaining 7 of us left with Ron and our driver up to another volcano. We were still pretty full from lunch so we had cocktails and appetizers.

Linda Vista Gardens (translated Nice view) is magical. It’s a little ironic that I ate there on my 49th birthday at the beginning of my first mission trip…and I celebrated my 53rd birthday at the end of my 3rd trip. It didn’t disappoint this time either!

We were afraid we would miss the sunset but we were JUST in time!! A beautiful gift from God.

We have really enjoyed getting to know Dr Marvin and Dr Paul.  They will head out with us tomorrow morning. Paul flies out shortly after we do and Marvin will spend one more night on the beach before going home on Monday!

Adding to our picture here is Alfred who is 81 years young and his sweet attitude was such a joy. He is very laid back and was always looking at ways he could help us!! Sarah was also such an asset. She always kept us laughing!

My FAVORITE bird of paradise flower!

This restaurant is different levels of gardens and lights and water falls. We climbed up into the treehouse…for a better view!

Looking down into a level.

Sooo may beautiful tropical plants. I could have spent the day in a wicker chair with a coffee or cocktail…or both. 

This was our dining area…you can see Ron posing for me!! Cami and I decided that the junior class did pretty good designing and executing their prom theme “the enchanted forest” last year. This was the real version of that!!

After dinner we returned back to our retreat…we said good bye to the Millers and Sarah as they will be leaving around 4 a.m. to catch their plane!! The rest of us will leave around 10. We are praying for favor in Houston as their TSA lines have been 3-4 hours with government funding to TSA being halted. We have a two hour layover and we really just want to make it home in one day!!

The girls and I have had the most amazing time. There are things that have been said and seen that will remain in our hearts forever. We trust that God will continue to speak into our hearts over the next few weeks as we settle back into our normal lives. Pray that we can make space to hear what He has to tell each of us!

I want to do a wrap up post for my own processing purposes, and I have also saved some special pictures to share!! It won’t take me more than a week to get that done!! I also plan to verbally process the prison day for myself and anyone who is following along the story!! It’s been a little more difficult!

Thanks for sharing this adventure with us!!

 

El Salvador 2026…Day 6

Prison. 

It’s a place that might elicit different emotions from different perspectives. A place of punishment for some…while providing protection for others. A place of consequence for poor choices and outright rebellion...A place that, unfortunately, also offers consequences to those that love someone who lives there. A place where sins are many and grace is absent. 

Santa Ana women's prison

I have had my own notions about what prison is or what I think it should be like. And I'm not sure that my perspective is right or wrong. I'm finding that, after seeing more clearly from the inside, there is more of a tension in my heart about a firm stance on how I SHOULD feel about all of it.

There is a little decal at the top of the van that says IN GOD WE TRUST. It's parked outside the prison.

Friday, we drove for about two hours to get to a women’s prison outside of Santa Ana El Salvador. It was the same one I worked in 2 years ago. This experience was the same and different all at the same time. 

There are more than 13,000 women locked in this large white compound. They are divided into 10 sectors. Last time we visited the sector with the sickest women. This year, we worked in the roughest sector. This sector has many still-active gang members. And plenty of tattoos to prove it. On their faces, their fingers, their necks, their arms...all branded with who they belong to. 

We had 5 American doctors and 7 El Salvadoran doctors. Between the dozen of us we saw about 450 women in 6 hours. It was exhausting, but more so because by then, my head was already as tired as my body. 

Google map overhead of the prison complex-courtesy of the Cami and Molly

The layout of this sector was different than my previous experience and you could see so many more things in this sector. Last trip you could barely see into their cells, and what you could see was a mass of chocolate faces. This time, we could clearly see into the cells. The chocolate faces all had two big eyes that were focused in on all of us. No doubt we were the most exciting thing they had seen recently. They were still dressed in white shirts and white long pants...a sea of fallen angels.

Because we were in their building, they had to be in their "rooms." There were 9 caged areas that were approximately 40 by 40 feet. I wouldn’t be able to guess how many bunks were in each, but they were stacked in some cases and some were singles. They were quite close together with not much room for women to stand and move between them. The bunks were a bit shorter than a twin bed in the states but about as wide. Each bunk was shared between 2-3 women and in each of those 40x40 spaces, there were approximately 125 women living in there. There were no pillows…and the thin pads covering the bed was no more than 1 inch thick. Someone later said that the women turn over in tandem at night. 

The doors were unlocked but someone stood at the door. It seemed that many, if not all, had their own white knapsack or basket of things that were tied to the ceiling wires or the walls. The rooms were separated by wire panels…think livestock fencing. Like canary cages really. No walls, just fences within that entire complex.

Many of them stood looking out at the action all day. They were eager to make eye contact. Their smiles came easily when I held their gaze, and often times they would offer their hands up in a small wave. 

And they were grateful. Grateful to be seen and heard. As we left, I was slowly walking, making eye contact, and waving...a lady from the middle of a pack of women was yelling in English...God bless you. We are so thankful to God for sending you all to us to take care of us. We appreciate you. Thank you God for sending these people. Thank you. 

It was a goosebump moment. And a reminder. Sometimes you just have to show up. One held glance. One wave of acknowledgement that screams I SEE YOU...People can exist on this moment. And you don't have to leave your passport at the gate in another country to do that. 

Most of these women have children whom they haven’t seen or heard from since they got there. Many left small children and know they are missing their growing years. Often times they have no idea who is raising them either. It is rare for there to be any outside contact for these women. Abandoned. One woman told me that she was sure that they all had stomach problems because they were worrying about their kids. Most of them have NOOO idea how long they are in there. One woman that I saw has been in there for 20 years of a 40 year sentence. Twenty YEARS. I looked back in those cells after she said that, wondering how a person can survive that. The hopeless feeling of every day being the same as the last and the same as the next. No room to move your body, cry to yourself, or think. Overcrowded and overstimulated 24/7. Literally. For 40 years. The bible tells us much about an eternal place just like this...called Hell...but then I digress...

 

The complaints were many. Headaches, constipation, heartburn, and stomach aches were hands down the top complaints of the day. And their diets lend to those issues. They rarely eat any meat. Molly heard someone mention that they all get a soy protein powder. They rarely get vegetables either. This leads to so much constipation. They get mostly food like mac and cheese, cereals, breads, and eggs. Most of them drink lots of water though, between 2-4 liters of it daily. 

Several of them had much deeper problems though, and issues that we didn't have the tools to deal with. Each time I told them what I could help with and advised that they would have to seek more help with the local doctor...Oscar interpreted to me that appointments were often made...and canceled. Tests were ordered...but never completed. And it was obvious that I was in a no win situation...and so were they. I asked a few of them why they were there...extortion, homicide, and gang activity were the answers. I asked more of them about their children. Sons and daughters-babies to young children to adults...but now unseen to these women...the four year old they last saw is now nearing teenager stage. Torture for their souls all day, every day.

Oscar, an interpreter that worked with us all week, was a phenomenal man of God. He had come with Pastor Coto (the director of CFCI in El Salvador) to the church on Sunday. And on Monday, he came to me and said "You are like a preacher (based on the words I spoke to the church body the day before). I am tasking you to be checking on the spiritual needs of the people you meet this week. Many of them need much more than physical solutions." I agreed that they did...And I told him I would do my best to cover that too. 

The problem (or maybe an excuse) was that we were so short on interpreters, that they were running among all of us, trying to help where they could. That left no time or resources to dig into the deeper questions...because getting the answers that took time and energy that was unavailable...BUT by Friday, we were bottlenecked together and less people needed an interpreter...so Oscar and I were able work together consistently that day, and had the opportunity to talk about Christ with several handfuls of women. 

We had one woman who accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior...She was listening and crying. Oscar, in Spanish, led her through a prayer of repentance, and I prayed over her while he interpreted. We wrote her name down for the pastor so he can connect with her later. 

A second woman had a friend in the prison that is a Christian. One friend. She talks to her about the bible and Jesus. The woman gets up at 4:00 AM to go to the church service in their sector, just to listen. She knows that she will eventually trust Jesus and give her life to Him, but she wasn't ready that day. We urged her not to wait, and I hope she doesn't. We also had another who was not interested, but was actually deeply interested. She asked some very legit questions about her rebellious nature and forgiveness issues. Those were answered, but she wore a very stoic facial expression. Her eyes, however told a different story, if that is at all possible. I can't explain how I could feel that there was a hunger within her...it had to be the Spirit. She said at the end of it all, that she wasn't interested in what Jesus offers. But seeds were planted there...and I pray that God will continue to draw her to Himself.

Another woman wasn't interested in hearing about Jesus at all. Oscar laid it all out, but there was nothing behind her eyes. Hardened heart. 

I was questioning Oscar later about the woman who was asking the questions...he reminded me that they are in prison. All those women were watching...watching the faces and interactions of each woman that saw a doctor that day...and there were many potential consequences of the women in the prison seeing you "weak." Seeing your tears, your interest, you making a change to be different.

 Just like in many places, if Jesus is a taboo subject for the people in your life, accepting His sacrificial gift, is unpopular...and can create a more unpleasant atmosphere for the person making the decision. Even though Jesus said that you must give up everything you have and everything you are to follow Him...most of us don't take that literally when we really think about it. Most people reading this aren't in a position of isolating themselves from loved ones or creating stress and friction in their environments from their choice to follow Christ. The woman was potentially counting the cost before making the choice...and at least on Friday, the cost was more than she was willing to pay.

The whole experience that morning reminded me of 1 Corinthians 3:5-11 which reads...

What is Apollos, really? Or what is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, and each of us in the ministry the Lord gave us.[g] I planted,[h] Apollos watered, but God caused it to grow. So neither the one who plants counts for anything,[i] nor the one who waters, but God who causes the growth.  The one who plants and the one who waters work as one,[j] but each will receive his reward according to his work.  We are coworkers belonging to God.[k] You are God’s field, God’s building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master-builder I laid a foundation, but someone else builds on it. And each one must be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than what is being laid, which is Jesus Christ. 

Oscar and I WERE doing the work that God had sent us to do...We were planting seeds and watering seeds that had been previously planted by someone else. God was also gracious to show us some fruit as we watched a woman in the prison ask for His salvation to be granted to her.

The whole day wasn't spent like that...There were 500 women to be seen. We were only able to speak to a few, but we are confident that God chose those women for whatever reason, to get those words on that day.

And back to the tension in my own heart...these women were all sinners, on unimaginable levels in some cases...yet, they all were created in the image of God...and they all have the capacity at any time, to turn from their sins and turn toward Jesus. And that makes them valuable in the sight of the Lord. The living conditions in this prison, from both experiences that I have had...is literally abuse and neglect and is creating chronic health problems for these women that will ultimately cost their system more money, or take years off of the lives of these women. 

You are entitled to your own opinion, but don't be confident that your opinion is correct until you have listened to their stories and cried with their broken souls. I'm actually pretty certain, that if there was a prison like that around here...that would be my thing. It's a field ripe for the harvest...but the workers there are few! 

There is always much for me to consider after we leave one of the prisons...and I was glad for a fun night ahead to take my mind off the heaviness. That's why I couldn't really process that day until now. I needed to have time and head space available to think through it all. And I'm not fully convinced that I have it all figured out yet. 

The drive back was uneventful...still lots of traffic. They have really outgrown their transportation infrastructure. They are doing a lot of construction, but the sheer volume of traffic is insane. There is a lot of trucks like this...El Salvadoran ride share. 

It makes sense, but it is always so shocking to see so many people standing in the back of an open truck getting to work. It was also common to see how the street vendors transport their goods. These ladies were, no doubt, heading to their street stand or corner spot.

We celebrated the finished work week at El Atico, a pupuseria on the side of a volcano, looking at the volcano that we would eat at on Saturday night. I had insulted my own metabolism enough by now, and I didn't think I could, in good conscience, eat another pupusa. Fortunately they had more things on the menu, and I had a grilled chicken with pico and avocado. There is something about the chicken in El Salvador that is unforgettable...not because I can't forget the sight of chickens in peoples houses, or unsee the crazy long necked turkey-chickens around every corner of the Island...but because the taste is PHENOMENAL!! 

I have also started to notice, that no one rushes to get the checks, no one is in a hurry to be in and out...People here linger. Meals seemingly take for-EVER. But I believe it is good for the soul to just enjoy good food...and sit. Noticing what God has put around us...whether that be the people, a mountain vista, or your own dead yard plants. The experience of just being still right in the moment of nourishment is priceless. There were plenty of Burger Kings, Wendy's, McDonalds taking up places among the small groceries and pupuserias. But everywhere you looked there was a tiny restaurant, filled with people at all times of the day. They were just sitting over food. My guess is, that their culture will soon be screaming at them to be as busy as our culture...as more people rush into the American fast food restaurants to get out and get on with their day. I hope they can resist. It was refreshing to be forced to linger. 

My biggest regret of all, is that, in the hurry to get on the road from the prison, is that our El Salvadoran team members, didn't get out of the prison at the same time we did...and the opportunity to say Thanks...and Until next time was taken away. Our job this week was small compared to theirs. We may give up our own lives for a week, but they are the heros that work in the trenches here on the daily. And they need support and encouragement!! We are a blessing to them too as we work together to care for their people. I was able to get small love offerings from me and my people back to the team via Ronald. I pray that God would bless their lives through that.

Tomorrow will be our free day to explore, shop, and eat. I'm excited to turn 53 in a foreign land. I hope God allows me more opportunities in my minutes left on earth to serve Him, not just in my own sphere...but also to serve Him in other lands. 

Thanks again for reading along!! A few more posts will follow, so stay tuned!! I love hearing your comments...they are encouraging to me and my own journey! Just remember to sign your name if you don't want to be anonymous!