Day one of a mission of this kind to El Salvador is a day to get acclimated to Central America and also to familiarize ones’ self with the Castillo Del Rey campus. Sunday is the day we get to attend church out in the country. Andy Smith told me that the tent under which service is held reminds him of the tents used back in his youth when he would attend revivals. There were three giant tents on site in all. One is for worship, another is for the youth, and the third one is for infants and toddlers.
Banana, mango and almond trees grow to within a few yards of the church entrances. Due to a death in the congregation earlier this week, the service was subdued this morning. However, the band leading the worship service today was among the most talented church-groups I have seen or heard; the lead singer’s voice was incredible. The speaker was Don Triplett, and he urged the audience to make salvation a priority. None of us has as many days as we might imagine.
After service we boarded the bus and came back to campus. At the end of the day we gathered for a devotional time. Mark Giles led the discussion. We need these times to process our day’s experience. For many people this is there first time either out of the country or travelling as a servant, and it can be overwhelming. We then went to a warehouse to prepare the parcels of food we will be distributing throughout the week. By the end of the bagging process we had a highly efficient system, driven by some very high-energy people. Caitlyn Houvener is a first timer to El Salvador and she can do the work of about three men.
I am surrounded by tireless and beautiful, dedicated, driven people. I am blessed.
albaniacalling 