We arrived back from Honduras and rested one night... the next day we began the exhausting task of cleaning out La Esperanza... for the arrival of 58 people, including a film crew from the Discovery Channel and security guards for the equipment. Fifty-eight is twice as many people as the largest team La Esperanza had ever seen. Understandably, Mike, the missionary was pretty stressed out.
For you see, on this particular trip, the Dugger family from The Learning Channel was visiting. I wasn’t sure how it’d all work out, and to be honest, I was a little more than a bit anxious, because I didn’t exactly like the idea of doing ministry that may have ended up on national television. Of course, I needn’t have worried, because the Lord always provides, and the Lord is always faithful.
We spent two days preparing and cleaning La Esperanza. It was exhausting in the dry heat, but even with all the stuff we had to do, I was able to meet up with two local youths, Adiel and Reynaldo yet again. Neither of them have accepted the faith at this point, but I pray that through our continued friendship (and my pitiful attempts to play soccer with them), that they will come to know Jesus as I do.
By the way, in case you were wondering, my favorite moment of cleaning up was when we found a mother scorpion behind a couch... and on it’s back? Oh about 50 billion baby scorpions just ready to scatter about the property. It helps me sleep better at night knowing the little things like that. (I try not to dwell on it).
On Wednesday, the team with the Duggers arrived, and soon the camera crew was scouring the terrain and recording everyone as they unpacked. I nimbly dodged most of the shots, although I think they still may have caught me. I’ll find out when I watch the show when it comes out in February.
En route to La Esperanza, Mr. Dugger brought a large quantity of expensive food supplies to give to all of the families we visited personally. At first, I thought they’d bought all the food for themselves until they loaded up the supplies to prepare for the house visits, I quickly changed my attitude from disappointed to impressed.
Our first and only stop of the evening after everyone was settled was with the extremely poor family located behind the church. It was a fitting visit: the Duggers now have 18 kids, and this family has eleven. It was neat watching their faces as we brought the gifts in the name of Jesus Christ. On the path there and back, I was able to talk with several members of the family, and I grew more and more relaxed about the trip. The Duggers are a great family, and I’ve never seen the show, but you can be certain that they are both genuine and Christ centered in person. Not once during the trip did I see or hear any complaining, arguing, or fighting. They’re not perfect, but it was refreshing to know that they are on national television, living loudly their faith.
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We continued our tradition of ministering in the orphanage, visiting it twice. The kids ran up to Dan and I when we approached, calling us by name. It’s an incredible honor to have these kids look forward to seeing us like that. The second time we came, the nuns asked if we could bring lunch for the kids. So we brought hamburgers for them and sat down and ate with the kids. I don’t know if words can express what it’s like to share a meal with orphans, but I would rather share a meal with orphans than with kings, dirty fingers, mess, and all. After lunch we played with the orphans for at least an hour
A group from a local corporation showed up while we were playing with the kids. They had piñatas, loud music, balloons, and a lot more things than our group had to offer. Still, the kids stayed with us up to the moment we left, clinging to us. It’s no offense to the other group, who were doing a good thing, but genuine love is what these orphans really need, and no amount of gifts and special effects will change that.
Unlike times past, I can’t wait to go back. God is still working on my heart with children, and I really feel like I’ve finally developed relationships and rapport with the kids there... and with relationships comes trust, and with trust the opportunity to do even more good for the kids.
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The primary reason why I refuse to miss a December trip is the village ministry. A family from the States has headed up gathering and preparing hundreds of Christmas gifts every year... so we can present each child in three villages with a Christmas gift. This family never asks for anything in return, but selflessly makes sure there’s gifts for the people of El Salvador year in and year out. For many of these kids, the gifts we bring are the only Christmas gifts they’ll receive. It’s not much, but the kids are grateful.
The three villages are each unique, with their own character. My favorite is El Peradon. It’s a village over the river and through the woods... and up a hillside just for good measure. We begin by heading down a narrow road that follows a cut through a hillside. Deep down in the cut, I try not to think about how much fun a rockslide would be at that particular moment. But we quickly pass that, and down the other side, we cross the river... and the crossing for the river’s the best part, as we have to drive the truck through the water and rocks. It reminds me of a safari or something. Maybe someday I’ll start a missions themed amusement park... hmmm...
Once at the villages, we wait until the townsfolk are gathered in the square, and then play some music to welcome everyone. After that we’ll entertain the kids with some goofy skit. It’s a pleasure to see them laugh at our foolishness. But the skit always has significance. The next speaker explains the significance, and also explains the true reason we celebrate Christmas, namely, Jesus Christ come in the flesh for us. And then... comes the gifts. The kids line up, and we give out hundreds of gifts while entertaining them in the line. Then, afterwards, we watch and laugh and play with the kids... which usually involves some type of soccer game where I get schooled (and that schooling has nothing to do with a place of learning, either).
Destroyed at soccer or not... I love the gift giving, the presentation, and the time with the children in the village.
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One breezy, beautiful afternoon while the rest of the groups were out ministering, we went out with a few translators and walked the streets of the village, looking for children to invite to the big Christmas party at La Esperanza. While we were out, we also had the opportunity to share with a woman and her granddaughter who were out putting up Christmas lights.
We shared with her about how Christ came to give us new life here and now on this earth, and about how He was part of God plan to bring us redemption and resurrection. As we shared what we could in Spanish and the rest of it through a translator, we all watched a smile spread across the old woman’s face. She’d never heard the gospel like this. We left her, a cherished old woman, smiling and pondering the hope and promises of God.
Sometimes I think we’re so focused on the judgments of God that we fail to mention the promises and hope of God. When the apostles preached, sometimes it was indeed fire and brimstone, but other times, they would merely talk about the hope and promises and redemption come through the Messiah. The hope that God offers is so much better than any empty promise from the world. It’s redemption we need to preach... repentance from sin, turning to God and the promise of something better, not just the fear of something worse.
I’ll always remember the smile on the woman’s face. Our translator from El Salvador said she’d never heard the gospel preached like that... that her church always preached in a very canned and manufactured manner. As a result, I’m pondering the idea of hosting a conference on preaching the Gospel at La Esperanza, because people need to know for themselves and for others what the gospel really means. And for us in the states, I hope we’ll remember that the gospel is exciting news. We should be excited to share it... not because we have to, but because we want to.
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Our final day together as a large team, we hosted a huge Christmas party at the church. It’s been carefully planned for weeks, and Alex, the local medical worker keeps track of all the children, their ages, and their names up to a few days before... just in case another baby is born. So after a grand party and the Christmas service, we gave out the gifts. It was incredible to see it... we called each child by name to receive his or her gift. They all waited in eager anticipation... waiting for just the right moment to spring up to the stage and receive their gift and a set of hugs. You watched it on their faces. Then, we’d call out their name... a huge grin would spread across their face, and they’d go dashing to the front, and give everyone on stage a huge hug. It was beautiful. We called each one by name... it reminds me of how Christ knows us all by name, and he calls each of us by name.
Although I’ve been to El Salvador in December before, this was my first time with the big Christmas program in the church, and it won’t be the last time. I’ll go out of my way just to be there... For me, Christmas day was December 14th... with the children of El Salvador.
Despite the fact that our team had 58 people at its largest point, and the fact that we only had a little time to get to know each other, even the non believing film crew noticed how unified our team was. One said that he’d been on all kinds of volunteer organizations, and he’d never seen a team gel so quickly. Yes, it wasn’t perfect. Nothing this side of heaven is, but we know why we had such unity, because there is unity in the body of Christ. The love we have for each other goes beyond any worldly love. We’re not just people of the same religion, we truly are brothers and sisters... and that is powerful.
So as you read this, pray for the Discovery crew... that they could know Jesus. He’s the only one who brings real change in our lives. Sorry this was a bit scattered, but there was just too much to share in so short a time...
The show should be on TLC sometime in February, but I’m not sure about the date. I’ll be sure to post a quick blurb once I find out. Until next time... God bless! If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail or comment!
