A day with a squatter's camp community...Meals and VBS for over 800



"Today we were greeted by smiling faces at the entrance of the Squatter's Camp. The Squatter's Camp is a community where people live in houses made from sticks, plastic, and old pieces of tin. They had set up a tent and plastic chairs for our program. They were so excited to see us. We gave the people donations including toys, treats, hygiene products, pillowcase dresses, and flip flops. We also fed the people. We prepared enough food for 750. We worked in shifts passing out donations, preparing food, painting faces, telling Bible stories, and making balloons. They loved it! I was asked so many times if we were coming back or when were we coming back. I was hugged and kissed goodbye by so many children and adults. I know they must have felt loved....but so did we!" - Shannon Wilson

 

"Today at the Squatter's Camp I was awestruck by the people's generosity. They have only what they need to survive, and yet they are not selfish. They helped unload the truck and even brought us chairs to put our food on while we ate. There was one gentleman who asked me to play the guitar. As I was tuning it, a string broke. He started trying to fix it right away, but we needed pliers. He went away for a few minutes and came back with some. Even though I couldn't communicate with him very well, he knew what I needed, and he made sure those needs were met. I came on this expecting to fulfill someone's needs, and we accomplished that. What I did not expect was for someone to do that for me. These experiences taught me that even if you have nothing to give, there is always a way to give more of yourself." - Nolan Brelsford

"The hope of suffering. As I look back on the week, I question how so much suffering can be allowed by a God that tells us that every perfect gift comes from above. If God is so good, why must innocents suffer unjustly? In my limited understanding, it makes no sense. Then I realize that His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. However this over quoted verse is little consolation after witnessing such terrible atrocities. He makes things work together for good for those who love him, but what of the orphan, the widow, or the homeless? From the outside, we remain unable to see the bigger picture, but glimpses of it may be seen if we look hard enough. In the great commission we are commanded to be his hands and feet, touching an ever worsening world with the gospel. He has given us the opportunity to be an extension of Christ: feeding the hungry, touching the sick, and loving the unloved. God allows these evils to exist not because he is not just, but because he understands things we do not. In a world devoid of pain, how would we be able to truly know and accept love? We could not and would not. If everything was perfect, we would remain unaware of our need for a savior. But the world is fallen; our only hope is love. It is this love that heals all hurts. This love transcends pain. It gives hope for the raped, abused, and abandoned. This love is the reason we are here. If we can affect one child with the love we have come to know, our trip was more than worth it. Watching the children bask in our affections assures me that this trip is not in vain. At first, the task appears too daunting, the need appears too great. We must understand that we cannot change every life, but we can change one." - Nathan Allison

Wednesday, A change of scenery...

For many children children who grow up in orphanages around the world, they rarely see or experience much outside the facility walls. For several years, Starfish teams had been visiting a center where there were murals of the ocean painted on the walls. We realized that while they had grown up very close to the ocean, many of the children had never experienced the beauty of God's work and had no idea what the painting was! Today the team had the privilege of taking more than fifty children to play in the ocean!



"God is at work in San Salvador. The vastness of His ocean was seen by over 50 orphans today and some for the first time. God's grandeur is rarely seen as plainly as in looking into the eyes of a smiling, joyous and loving 9 year old boy. His name is J**, and as his tiny hand clutched mine, I was filled with a peace. How could this little boy, without any family to love and take care of him, smile so big! From every shell he picked up to each crashing wave, J** smiled and laughed. We serve an inscrutable, immeasurable, incredible God, and although this little boy may never have loving parents, today he had 25, and God certainly has a plan for him."---Josh Hancock

"I had a really great day in El Salvador! We got the opportunity to take the CIPI teen girls, teen moms with their babies, and the children to the beach. It was such a neat experience because, for most of the girls and children, it was their first time seeing the beach. One of my favorite parts of the day was helping the teen girls and moms find the perfect swimsuit. Before we left for El Salvador, we were able to round up swimsuits from various people and stores so we could bring them for the girls. Well, when we got to the beach we dumped out a suitcase full of all the bathing suits we had collected. We then helped the girls find one they liked and fit. They loved this! They would find one and run into the bathroom to put it on. They would come running out of the stall, giggling, and saying "ooh and ahh" at each others swimsuits. What was so special about this is that we got to see the girls act like regular teenage girls. They put down their walls and barriers and opened up. We were able to see past their tear stains. They really had a great day. My prayer is that God will watch over them, and that they will know that they may not have parents that care about them or love them, but at least they have a Heavenly Father to look to. That they will know that their Heavenly Father will never leave them or forsake them. That His love is unconditional."------Maddie Morris (thank you to those who donated swimsuits!!)

 

"Today was a wonderful release from the difficult situations and suffering we have been ministering to. We loaded sixty kids and staff from CIPI on buses and headed to the beach! When we arrived at the beach house, Shannon W. asked if I would take pictures. When the kids and the mission team first went for a swim in the pool, it was a true blessing to capture photos of the laughter and smiles and splashing! It was also a blessing to watch those, who for whatever reasons, were reluctant to participate at first begin to soften and ease in and eventually blossom and smile! After a great fried chicken lunch, I was ready for the surf, and was privileged to accompany beautiful eight year old C**. We held hands and waded into the ocean, and at eight years old she was fearless in the surf! She laughed jumping the small waves and dove under the big ones. She did not want to return to shore until they finally called us all in for the day! I will sleep well tonight! Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."---Steve Bloemer



"Johnny has been telling us all week to get out of our comfort zones. After loving on those with special needs, trying to get past language barriers, and listening to all of the incredibly sad stories of children while trying to smile instead of cry in front of them, I thought I really had gotten out of mine. Today, God showed me otherwise. I noticed that one of the translators, Abby, had been talking to one of the teen girls for a long time, so I felt the need to go sit with them. Although I couldn't understand what was being said, I continued to hear "Jesus" in Spanish and the translator, Abby pointing to her heart. My own heart jumped when I saw the girl say "Si". Despite the language, I knew that she had just admitted that she needed to receive Christ into her heart. Abby asked me to be the one to help her pray and ask Jesus to be her Savior. I was very nervous because I've never done that before although I've witnessed it many times. I was so glad that Abby was there, because I was so overwhelmed that is was hard to put all of my thoughts into the prayer. It was one of the biggest blessings I have ever received. I thank Jesus for using me, an undeserving sinner, to bring honor and glory to His name. It is so exciting to take part in furthering the kingdom of God!"---Mandie Hodges

Sisters Carrying Sisters!

Please continue to pray for the team as they continue throughout the rest of the week. On Thursday, they will be serving more than 700 residents at a squatter's camp.

What an honor to organize a Bible School for the children and serve meals to the entire community! Please pray that God's love will be shown to these families who are living in daily desperation. Pray for open hearts, open minds, and much healing!