Community

So a lot of you are probably thinking, “I’m glad you’re learning more about God, but what are you guys really doing to minister to the people?”
 
Barrios:
 
In English, barrios mean neighborhoods. The people in these places live in shack-type huts and some have close to nothing. Walking down the muddy, a garbage-filled street breaks my heart. I take even the most miniscule things in life for granted. The one thing I have noticed a lot in that these families, even though they have little, love to give of what they do have. Women will just come out if their homes and say hello and ask us to come in and sit with them. Their hospitality is encouraging to me as I think of all the times I feel like I’m too busy to do something or too tired. They continually want to give of themselves everything that they can.
 
For my team specifically, I feel that we have been called to certain people and are growing closer to families in the barrios. This sense of community has helped us as a team and to reach that out to the surrounding area is an amazing opportunity. Although none of us are fluent in Spanish, we went to hang out with some ladies from the church and their families. It was great to see God show up and allow us to communicate with these people. We all learned the most Spanish in that house since we’ve been here.
 
Another person we have met is Yury. She is a beautiful young woman who loves to make bread. She actually has a bakery in her home. Seeing her come to visit the church has been wonderful. I can see how the girls on our entire team will be able to help her grow in her walk with Christ as we continue to go to her house and spend time talking with her. We also love her passion for making bread…okay lemme explain…this bread is like nothing I’ve ever had before. It is just FABULOUS! Wish I could send some to you all!

Yury cutting our bread for us 🙂

 
Senior Center:
 
Another place we have visited quite a bit is the senior center. The first time we went we didn’t really know what to do with the lovely elderly people, but this last time we brought a guitar which put smiles on their faces and they danced along to the songs. It’s so fun to talk with them and try to ask questions in the broken Spanish that most of us have. (My Spanish is coming back I know it!)
 
I really enjoy going here because I get to sit and talk to my friend Francisca. She is 98 years old and turns 99 on October 4^th. Other than a car accident, which she lost some toes and had stitches, she is pretty healthy. I’ve been able to talk about my family and hear a little bit about her family. She loves to show us her little treasures and she loves her necklaces and scarves that she wears. I just love seeing her smile and every so often she’ll raise her hands up and says something about Heaven or God. She is a Christian and I told her why we are here and she just loves it.

   

 Francisca, she always puts her hands like that when she talks. We got to see
her walk too! I hope I can be that healthy when I'm 98.

That’s a little bit about what’s going on here! There’s a lot more that we are involved in throughout the week, but just be patient and I’ll tell ya bout some more next time! Check out my living arrangements on the video on my facebook status (if you can)..it's made by Brittany…pretty beautiful place we got here.
 
LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!