September 2023

Hola familia!

Happy September! I bring to you a longer update (but will lots of news!).

Below you'll find:

• CDI News
• Mission group updates
• What's new in the youth group
• some personal news
  AND
• an important support update

Classes continue to go well at the CDI! Lately we've had low attendance due to sicknesses going around, which unfortunately struck almost all the teachers at the CDI, and Adonay and I as well. We are starting to make preparations in our space to start receiving all 85 kids every day of the week, which looks like cleaning up the outside area that we have and fixing up some dividers that we can use to make a make-shift classroom in the recreation area. It will be chaotic but I'm excited to finally get back to full-capacity and I know the kids are too. Please pray that the Lord will provide extra staff/volunteers needed to be full time with the kids!

As I wrote about in my update a few months ago, the child protection agency has been making their rounds to see what unsupervised children are out selling or by themselves. This past week we've started seeing them around La Libertad more often and we've been hearing lots of rumors from the kids and their families about kids getting taken, not only by them but kidnappers as well. Tensions have been high these past few weeks and I believe this is another reason for which our attendance has been low recently. The majority of our kids in attendance have parents who work during the day and therefore a lot of kids come and go on their own before and after the CDI. A few weeks ago we had a parents meeting to talk about the importance of dropping off and picking their children up from our program, because as much as a risk as it is for the families this can also be a risk for our program if the police see young kids leaving the CDI alone. Please pray for the safety and protection of these kids!

Conexión Youth Group 

Conectados (Connected- the combined youth event) was a great event, which we really enjoyed! We had 16 members of our youth group go and our worship band from La Libertad was asked to play a set for the time of worship. We'll be doing something similar at our next Connectados event on September 30, except that our local worship band will be playing the main set!

Another event we have started planning for and looking forward to is the Conectados Retreat at the end of the year. We started planning for it early in the year knowing that it was going to involve a higher cost, which for our youth group in La Libertad is a little more out-of-reach. This year the retreat will be the 28th-30th of December, and will involve our youth staying at the houses of hosts from the San Salvador church, similar to what we did last year. It worked out great, so this year we have extended it by one day. The cost of the retreat however is much higher ($40/pp) and knowing this we've starting fundraising with the youth group by selling chocolates and assorted candy as well as raffling off a smart watch and headphones. Our hope for that the retreat is that anybody in the youth group that wants to go is able to, regardless of the cost. 

On a personal note...
 

At the beginning of August I had the opportunity to take a brief trip to Ohio where my sweet friends threw me an incredible bridal shower. I felt so loved and it was an amazing moment of reflection for me, seeing friends of all ages from so many different places come together to help me celebrate my upcoming marriage. 

Ado has started working as a bank teller at a nearby bank, which has had its ups and downs. We are so grateful for this opportunity that the Lord has given him to work, and we've seen how the Lord will not put to shame those who are unashamed of him! Employment here looks quite different, and the job and stress are taking their toll. He works from 7:30am-6:30 or 7pm most days as well as finishing up his final year of college and serving as youth and worship leader. The youth group and worship band are his true passions and doesn't want to give them up, no matter how tired. 

The next few months are full of band rehearsals and church events, as we prepare for a combined anniversary service that our church will participate in along with the churches in Soyopango, San Salvador, and San Miguel, as well as the Conectados events in September and December. Please pray for us (especially Ado) these coming months, that he would find moments of rest to recharge and be able to serve well.

Housing

These last few months we've been praying that the Lord would provide another house for us, since my contract will be up in October and we wanted to be closer to the city center once we're married. After months of praying and searching, we've landed back at square one. As I've alluded to in many updates, La Libertad has been undergoing rapid development and many changes, and as a result tourism in the area has increased exponentially. This, and the fact that La Libertad is safer than it ever has been before, means that any available apartments and houses previously for rent are now being rented out as Airbnb's (it's not just in the states that it's happening!). This has lead to a frustrating and fruitless search for somewhere closer and a little bit less expensive. After lots of prayer and continually giving up control to the Lord, we are at peace with the decision to stay in the house I'm in now, (God willing the owner wants to keep renting it😅).

Ado's Visa Update

I know that you have been faithfully praying with me and asking the Lord to grant Ado a tourist visa. He went for an interview at the beginning of August, but unfortunately he was not granted one this time. Although we are saddened at the thought that we'll be unable to go back to the states soon, we have peace in Christ and know that He is in control. In God's timing we'll have the opportunity to travel together! We will apply again and I will keep you updated when his next appointment will be scheduled. It will probably be in the springtime, seeing that tourist visa interviews schedule 6-7 months out.

Financial Support Update

Words can't express the gratitude I have in my heart towards the Lord and for you for the consistent financial support and prayers that you've given me these past 3 years on the field. I've overwhelmed by the Lord's faithfulness and goodness and am convinced that I'm right where the Lord wants me in the season. 

After much prayer and discussion with Reliant and trusted friends, I've come to the conclusion that in order to continue serving here in La Libertad in my full capacity I will need to increase my support goal. I've made this decision based on a few different factors:

• My upcoming marriage means that our living expenses will increase. Unfortunately, because of the economic climate in El Salvador, Ado's salary is not enough to compensate for this change. 
• As it has all over the world, the cost of living has dramatically increased here from what it was just 3 years ago. Particularly in El Salvador, I've seen this change come as a result not only from the world market, but from the drastically improved safety and growth that El Salvador has experienced this last year. Due to the growth, La Libertad is experiencing a large increase in rent, but this location is very necessary as this is where my ministry is based.

After taking these factors into consideration as well as looking at how being married will change our finances, I'm praying that the Lord will provide an additional $1,300 in monthly support. This will help us close the gap in living expenses, allow us to save towards future home assignments (aka furlough), and compensate for a rise in cost of living. Another factor I'm taking into consideration is the considerable time that Ado invests in the church and ministry as well. I've been so blessed that Ado is passionate about serving in the church and furthering God's kingdom here in La Libertad as well, and this increase in support is necessary to allow us to continue to serve at total capacity. 

1. What family and friends do you have with whom you can connect me? I am praying that the Lord provides us with 13 people who could support us at $100/month. The Lord continues to change hearts and do miracles here in La Libertad, and you can help us share their testimonies!

2. THANK YOU for being my prayer warriors all these years, I ask that you please don't stop! Lift this new support goal up to Jesus on my behalf and ask him to intervene for us so that we can continue to serve him here in La Libertad.