The Special Needs Homes - Joy and Simplicity

Blog post written by Grace Higgins (age 17)
Coto de Caza, California

On Monday we had the opportunity to visit two special needs orphanages. We spent the day painting their faces, painting nails, doing crafts and dancing together. It was so humbling seeing them with such bright smiles on their face despite their disabilities.  I felt extremely comfortable and at peace with these amazing people, especially coming from a home with a special needs sister.  I have spent my whole life trying to get more people to understand that while these people have different learning styles, they still understand that God loves them and that it's important to love others.  You can see this by they way in which they care for each other and through the ways in which they interact. 

It was so touching to see how happy the residents in the orphanage were even though they don't have a lot materially. They are richer in spirit and love than so many other people, especially people that I observe in Orange County who are "rich" in possessions.  The kids in these special needs home have a deep love in their hearts, a treasure that most people long for. We were privileged to help feed dinner to some of the kids.  During this time I was really struck by how we take so many things for granted.  We do so many things that these orphanage residents would love to be able to do on their own.  It was heartbreaking knowing that none of these kids have a "mother" figure in their lives, but heartwarming to know that the simplest things made them so happy (like a visit from a "Gringo"). 

Supernatural Love

Blog post written by Lauren O'Brien (age 17)
Orange, California

I am continually amazed by how God blesses me in new ways each time I come to El Salvador.  This is my third year serving here.  Today I got to see a lot of old friends (and make some new ones, too). I personally believe that the greatest reward Christians have on earth is in finding a place in the body of Christ. Having spiritual brothers and sisters to encourage you as you grow in your faith together is so fulfilling. It reminds me that God designed us for a community-based purpose, and that is the purpose we are living out with Sus Hijos.

"Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." (Galatians 6:10)

This morning I saw the faces of many of my Sus Hijos/translator friends for the first time in a year. Memories of fellowship from the past summer overwhelmed my spirit, and I was reminded of the beauty of God's community of believers. The high you get from being with other people who found their lives on the rock of Jesus--people that you love beyond explanation--is better than anything. Amazingly, God can miraculously create those bonds between people who have just met, and that's what I experienced at the boys' orphanage.

God breaks my heart for these boys in ways I don't quite understand. Maybe it's the fact that I can't relate to them as easily as I can with girls, or maybe because I don't always know what to say, but even the simple conversations I managed to have with them brought smiles to their faces. One boy played soccer with me while we talked about our favorite months of the year. We were both smiling and laughing and enjoying our new friendship. It's amazing how God can work through the smallest things. 

There was another boy at the center that I talked to a little bit. I watched him for a few seconds before he turned around and we accidentally made eye contact. I knew immediately that he was the same boy I had once played cards with my first time in El Salvador.  I felt a lot of emotions in that moment. I was happy he was still alive (and safe in the center), I was thankful that I was presented with the chance to  speak with him again, and of course, I was heartbroken that he was in this situation. He seemed almost completely closed off and didn't want to be a part of the group when we all sat down to listen to a team member's testimony. I could feel that there was a hole inside him that could only be filled with Jesus. The hardest moment of the day was leaving the center.

I know, however, that God has His own timing. Even though I was upset that I couldn't spend more time with the one boy, I remembered that Christians are called to love, not to convert. I pray that God will soften the hearts of the boys and heal them of everything they have struggled through, but I will do as I am called and leave the rest to Jesus. God asks us to be comforted in trusting our plans, our lives, and our hearts to the Lord. At the end of the day, I am overjoyed that I was able to go at all. Connecting with the other boys filled me with joy. Serving and sharing the hope of Jesus is the purpose I came with. Now, I can give the rest to God let him do immeasurably more than I could ever think, dream, or imagine.

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin." (1 John 1:7)

Leaving the Ninety-Nine

Blog post written by Jamie Mathisrud
Newport Beach, California

If you read my previous post about the girl who didn't want to come to the quinceanera, you've surely been praying for her. Thank you. I believe with all my heart that God raised up an army of prayer and did what only He could do in her heart that day.  We'll call her Mary, but that's not her name...

The day of the quinceanera, Sus Hijos sent buses throughout the country to the orphanages we had visited. They brought the squeaky clean, excited and perhaps a bit anxious girls to the beautiful hotel. I had asked our team to please find me immediately when the girls arrived from Mary's orphanage so I could seek her. I had told her that I would be searching for her first on the day of the event. When I heard that she had arrived, I was halfway through giving a special girl her "colochos" (curly hairstyle) and asked her if she wouldn't mind waiting a few minutes. I then ran out of the room, and as my eyes scanned the group, almost at the very back, I spotted her. I SAW HER! My heart burst within, but God gave me the strength to play it cool and not burst into tears. Mary wouldn't want attention drawn to her. Climbing to the top of the stairs, my eyes locked with hers (except when she looked around, seemingly certain that I was headed toward someone, anyone, but her). As I reached the final step, I opened my arms and hugged her, telling her that we'd been praying for her for the past two days, as promised. I told her that I had cut her dress and had it sewn to the length she might prefer. And I quickly went back to finish the hairdo I had begun...

Soon after, I was summoned to the dressing room to help dress Mary. I presented her with the dress and she hesitatingly began to allow me to help her change. But the moment the dress reached its place, she shook her said no and quickly started to remove it. My estimation of how much shorter it needed to be was off, and it was a good 6" longer than she wanted. She removed it, and my heart sank. And then it dawned on me - perhaps the greatest life hack of all was at my disposal: duck tape! I laid the dress on the floor, folded the hem to the right length and enlisted help to make the repair. She smiled doubtfully, then put the dress on. I helped her choose from the many pieces of jewelry our supporters had donated, and watched later as she sat to have make up applied, ever so sparingly, to her face. She was stunning in her simplicity and vulnerability. She certainly didn't feel like a princess, but she had come to be celebrated and that was cause enough for me to rejoice. The one out of one-hundred orphans that had touched my heart the most had come!

Just as I finished my final hairstyle and headed to the ballroom to watch the girls be announced and escorted into the ballroom, Lilly, one of our missionary partners, rushed to find me. Her eyes said it all. Mary would not be going in. My supposed miracle hack repair job had come undone, and she was embarrassed and hiding behind the men's bathroom. At this point, I knew the enemy was relentless and doing all he could to keep her out. Fired up and Spirit filled, I told Mary to wait there. I sprinted (in my evening gown --quite the sight!) down the stairs, and back to the dressing room, where I quickly grabbed a handful of mini safety pins, and began the long, sweaty sprint back. I pulled her into the men's room, ripped off the duck tape, and began pinning the dress up. I could hear the roar of applause as each girl's name was announced. I was sweating and flustered, and as embarrassed as I am to admit this, I was sad to not get to see the faces of those ninety-nine other girls as they entered the ballroom. At last, we finished pinning the dress. Mary was satisfied, and she walked into the arms of her "chambelán" (escort). I watched from behind as Mary entered the party and was announced, the last of the one-hundred girls to enter the ballroom. 

I crept in from the back of the room and found my place. Tears filled my eyes and my pounding heart seemed to reverberate throughout my body. God had allowed me the privilege of loving and caring for the one, his precious princess. Watching that one victory had amazing power, and it was just a glimpse of the way God pursues us even when we are in pain and wanting to flee. Mary danced the night away and even allowed me to hug and snap photos with her throughout the night. As the evening came to an end, I handed her our gift, a Bible and other items, and watched as she sauntered away...looking more and more like the daughter of the King we believe she truly is.

"If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish." - Matthew 18:12-14

Leaving the 99

Welcome Crean Team!

Blog post written by Jenni Ramsey

The team from Crean Lutheran High School in Irvine, CA has landed in El Salvador. Tonight we had the privilege of preparing meals and delivering the food to men, women and children living on the streets of San Salvador. The kids were overcome with emotions as they encountered poverty and brokenness along with deep gratitude and joy.  It's going to be an awesome week with so many opportunities to serve, learn and grow.

Quinceanera Reflections from a Missionary to El Salvador

Blog post written by Kathy Knepper
Iglesia Gracia Divina (Divine Grace Church), Santa Ana, El Salvador

I have had the joy of being part of many quinceaneras throughout my life as a Latin American woman.   This beautiful celebration of value is as significant for a Latin American woman as her own wedding day.  The party represents the moment of transition when a little girl turns into a young woman.  It's the stuff that dreams are made of for every Latin American girl and I remember dreaming of my quinceanera as a young girl growing up in El Salvador.

From the time we are little ones, we fantasize about the color of our dress, who we'll dance with and all of the festivities.  This event is an incredibly important coming of age celebration. Yesterday I had the immense privilege of being part of an unforgettable quinceanera that celebrated the life of not just one woman, but one-hundred.  The girls that were celebrated live in orphanages.  They come from difficult backgrounds and a quinceanera celebration of this grandeur is but a distant dream for them. Last night their dreams became reality.  These precious young women were showered with care and attention by a group of North American short-term missionaries who came with the express purpose of blessing their lives.  They truly made the girls' quinceanera dreams come true and it was an honor to be a part of it.

The Lord called my family to serve in El Salvador almost ten years ago.  My husband and I brought our four young children from California to El Salvador, the country of both of our families.  We have been honored to partner with His Hands His Feet for the past seven years, serving in orphanages, building homes and ministering to the homeless community together.  Being part of their quinceanera celebrations has been one of the highlights of my many years of ministry.  

My entire family has enjoyed being part of all six quinceaneras that have been organized by His Hands His Feet and Sus Hijos.  Last night my husband David had the honor of praying over all of the "chambelanes" (escorts) who ushered the young girls into the night of their dreams. When the girls were presented, I was overcome with emotion at the joyful expressions that were undeniable on every face.  The girls were welcomed, celebrated and embraced throughout the evening. Their heard a powerful messages of hope.  They received wonderful gifts of a Bible, devotional and undergarments. They enjoyed a delicious meal and cake (with nail polish decor) and danced the night away with a DJ and live music (a traditional "batucada" drum line team).  It was truly a night to remember!

It warmed my heart to see the girls giggling throughout the evening, dancing their hearts away on the brightly lit dance floor, laughing and celebrating every moment together.  The team visited each orphanage in the days preceding the event for dress fittings and shoe selections.  They heard moving stories from our team members about how Jesus had healed their hearts from the pain of their pasts. Our team told these sweet girls that they were all princesses to their Heavenly Father.  Last night their chariot arrived, they danced at the ball and transformed into princesses.   Happy Birthday, girls. We celebrate your lives!

"You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.  You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy." - Psalm 30:11

Meet Carlos

Blog post written by Aidan Ramsey (age 14)
McKinney, Texas

Let me tell you about Carlos. Carlos is the most loving, kind, caring, and emotional person you could ever meet.  Today we went to the San Martin, a special needs orphanage, which I've visited before. At the beginning of the tour, we heard this loud screaming. One of the translators told us that someone was saying, "I have no family and I have no friends." When we walked into the room, we realized it was Carlos. When Carlos saw our group he changed from crying and sadness to the biggest smile I've ever seen and his tears became happy tears. Then he said, " Ah, here is my family, and you are my friends" and followed with a song. Just after that he gave us the news that his parents had passed away,  he was an orphan and he felt lonely.

When I saw Carlos, he remembered me.  He wouldn't stop hugging me, smiling at me, and telling me how much he loved me.  He kept telling me to be careful and to stay away from bad things. I have known Carlos for three years and the first time we crossed eyes three years ago he told me how much he loved me and that he knew God loved me, even though we'd only known each other for about ten seconds. I encourage anyone out there to love the unloved and touch the broken hearted. God loves Carlos, me, and each and everyone of you with all His heart and He made you special, the way you are.