Written by: Chloe Iliff
Wow. What God is doing in El Salvador is so special. The way that He cares deeply and so much to be intentional about so many details is remarkable. The Lord is near, and His presence is unending. This trip was and is such a beautiful picture of how the greatest thing we can have and encounter is Jesus Christ.
Throughout the week we had many opportunities to play with youth and kids. This could look like soccer, games, basketball, more soccer and just sharing intentional time with one another! These opportunities were not only so special in building relationships, getting to understand culture, or just having fun with one another but it also opened a chance for our team to share how we have experienced the Lord and how He has shown up in our lives.
Towards the beginning of the week, Jaide boldly shared her testimony in Sunday morning church service! Klotzy then passionately shared a message of "when you say yes to Jesus, your missionary journey begins." This was so powerful as that is exactly what Jesus commands us to do in the great commission! Jesus is not meant to be hidden, nor can He be hidden. He is light. Even the darkness is not dark to Him. Living into who God has created us to be is such a blessing and will produce much fruit.
Shortly after the service, a woman began to share her circumstances and struggles she has encountered. Her kids joined us and shared in that pain. This was devastating to watch, but wow it was incredible how the Lord was written all over and in every moment of her story as well as in that moment. We were able to encourage her, read Scripture and pray over her and her family.
Quickly after service we walked down the street of the neighborhood to meet with a deeply loved woman. Her name is Matilde and to this day, her age is still questioned. Yet, each day she praises the Lord, welcomes strangers on her porch and eagerly awaits when she will be kneeling before the Kingdom of Heaven.
It was such a joy to sit with her, ask her questions, sing, and listen to her share wisdom and her faith. One thing she shared stuck with me. I immediately wrote it down because it was so powerful. She shared "He is the only one who takes care of me day and night." She then added that she cannot wait to be in Heaven with the creator. This contentment, dependency and reverence for the Lord was so cool to experience. We had planned to bless her, yet the Lord used her to bless our team through our interaction with her! I will never forget that moment.
As the week went on, God had revealed Himself in so many vast ways. Through testimonies, tiny details and relationships built. Community was a big aspect and highlight of this trip. Much of our time was spent blessing Sports Impact International (SII). We helped paint their building, coach training sessions, played basketball and soccer with the community, and hung out with kids inside of a school building!
One night that will be stained on my heart was when Klotzy led in washing the SII leader's feet. Humberto, Mirna and Hilda work so hard day in and day out to spread the Word of God and have stayed faithful in the desolate times. Jesus led by example in washing His disciples feet and praying over them. He then encourages His followers to do the same, and Klotzy obediently led our team to participate in that beautiful picture. Community in Christ's name is powerful. To live in love, encouragement and accountability is a huge blessing and is not meant to go unnoticed.
To wrap the trip up, our team was able to visit the beach and reflect all that God had done in and through the team, and how He is working in El Salvador. To begin the night we stood on the beach and watched the sunset and worshiped the Lord. The word "awe" is all I can say. The idea that what we were experiencing wasn't heaven made it unfathomable to imagine what heaven will be like. His creation is beautiful, yet the fact that we get to have a relationship with the creator is such a blessing.
We then finished the night off with an Ebenezer. Each person wrote a word or phrase on a rock and we threw it in the middle and prayed over it. One major verse that was highlighted throughout the entire week was 1 Corinthians 3:6-7. It says "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow."
God is a God of restoration. He is a Father who cares. He is in everything. Creation speaks of His majesty and we get to be witnesses of it. We have been called according to His purpose to share His name and His goodness. To love His people and to seek Him first in all things. It is not by our works, but faith in Christ that He will do what He pleases and that is good.
