MIA- not anymore. Elsita is Back!

Wow, this post is long overdue. So let me catch you up to speed. Here is a snippet of what the last couple of months:

CHRISTMAS TIME: 

To start the Christmas festivities, I invited a few of my students to my house to bake snow ball cookies. Its hard to describe how exciting this experience was for them. This was the 1st time they visited my house as well as the 1st time ever baking something. They did a great job. We had a very good time eating cookie dough, baked chocolate chip cookies and for lunch some peanut butter, jelly, banana and marshmallow sandwiches. They were all very full and sugared-out that they ended up using dad's exercise machines to loose some weight, haha. It was fun. They also kept calling my dad "Papi" (father in Spanish) which I thought was pretty awesome and a bit emotional. Most of these girls don't have a father figure in their lives yet they are in such hunger and need for one. This is so important in a young woman's life.

Also, got to visit the people at the Island La Calzada and brought them a Christmas basket. The basket included rice, flour, beans, 2 lt soda, salt, sugar, 1 lt juice, a whole chicken, chips and some cookies. Sister Magdalena, the key  leader at the Island, helped us identify who were the people that needed these the most. She found out who were the ones that didn't have any  livestock and who didn't receive a "remesa familiar". A "remesa familiar" is
usually referred to any money donation that families abroad send to families in El Salvador. Many families here in El Salvador receive "remesas familiares" from family members that have moved to the US or Canada (two main countries where Salvadorans move to) in search of better ways to provide for their families (promise to share more about "remesas familiares" on another post). Sister Magdalena identified 35 families that needed this special gift the most. A special THANKS to all of you who donated to help us put these basket together. These families were deeply thankful & touched. MUCHAS GRACIAS!

This Christmas was also filled with very special friends, some from out of town. I decided to have a traditional old times Christmas Eve. So I started this adventure around 6pm by visiting various family members and friends, then going back home to have a traditional Christmas dinner, fireworks, presents and cake with dad, siblings, nephews and nieces. And finally, ended the night (around 1am) hanging out with good friends. I used to do this every Christmas growing up. Well except "the going out after midnight part" which I only did after turning 16. Oh, growing up we started the Christmas Eve festivities with going to church around 5pm. The rest
was pretty close to what I got to do this evening. Grateful for this special time. I did find out though that my body no longer works properly after 1am. I was super sleepy the entire time and struggling to keep up with conversation and what was going on. Yikes, I guess someone is getting old.

It was also fun to think back to what Christmas' have been like in the past 10 years living in the States and compare how similar and different this time of the year is here in El Salvador. I definitely miss my immediate family who is now in LA, my friends, peppermint lattes, scarves and the smell of real pine trees. I miss mom's Christmas dinners & our movie/game times after opening gifts. However, the fireworks, aliveness and big groups of family & friends here in El Salvador is pretty great too. Im grateful to have experienced both.



THE NEW YEAR:
The new year brought new adventures, so I went on to doing some fun sightseeing around the country. I got to visit one of El Salvador's biggest and most beautiful lakes: Lago de Coatepeque aka Coatepeque Caldera. This volcanic lake is about an hour away from the city and it is surrounded by houses and small restaurants. I am very blessed to have a friend whose family owns a house there, so during the Christmas break, we got to go spend the day there. Click here to read more about the lake. It was a beautiful day of sightseeing, boat riding, tubing, friends and relaxing. So grateful for all of God's creation and the many beautiful sights of El Salvador.

On another of my adventures, I got to visit the Mayan Ruins of El Tazumal. According to Lonely Planet, this are the most important and best preserved ruins in El Salvador. The site was very beautiful and the history in this place was rich and enlightening. "Archaeologists estimate that the 1st settlements in the area date from around 5000 BC". Pretty cool right? I thought so. I especially liked our tour guide. He was full of information and gumption.

Also, the Ruins are located in a small town called Chalchuapa. This small town happens to be the place where my great grandparents first settled in when they moved from Palestine. Coincidentally, this tour guide knew my family and shared with me of the legacy that they left in that place. This was super exciting to hear. I definitely will be coming back to this place to find out more about my family and their history in that place. My fingers are aching for perhaps a short story on my family's immigration to El Salvador. Ill keep you posted :)

The new year also brought new challenges and lots of hard work. At Siloe School, the same school where I taught English last year, they offered us a classroom of our own, to teach our English classes (last year us teachers had to move around, this year, students move around). SUPER EXCITING cause we get to fix the room however we want to and also get to store our teaching materials and such. God has been so good and faithful. The only set back we've had with this room is that they didn't give us the room until a week before school started. And there were many repairs plus decoration that needed to be in place. Guillermo, another long term missionary has been the lead person in getting this room up and ready. A lot of people have helped but he has done bulk of the job. Starting the new year, he actually took over the English program "Speaking Hope". I am very grateful for him, his partnership and for the ways God has been working in his life. I am confident that God will use him in powerful ways to love and reach out to those little rascals God has entrusted to our care.

Before

After

Simultaneously to getting our English room ready, we had to get our new missionary house ready as well. A while ago, back when Pastor Javier came to visit me in California, we talked about starting a missionary house and how awesome that would be. Almost 2 years later, we retook this conversation. This time, and with the support of more people, the idea seemed more doable than before. In a matter of a couple of weeks, after praying, looking at numbers and to all that we would need, we decided to get the upstairs part of our office ready and set up to host small teams and short term individuals. Of course when we made that decision, we didn't realize how much work had to be put into it. There was a lot of painting and cleaning that needed to be done, plus lots of repairs. So for the last 3 weeks that is where I have spent most of my time and energy. Getting our missionary house ready for the 5 short term missionaries that were arriving this week. Yeap, 5 of them. Truthfully only through God's grace and strength has this project come together. Final details were finished that same day when the 5 arrived, praise God- at least for the main things. Details are still being worked out, but thankfully it all came together. The missionary house is pretty awesome- I want to move in, live there and run the house, haha. But Im not sure how wise that will be. Anyways, the place is pretty nice. Wish you could come down to see if for yourself :)

Top L: David (OH), Jimmy (KY), Ashley (OR),
DouaChe (MN) & Lauren (OH)

Well that is pretty much the update of the last couple of months. Things are busy with the new short termers visiting us.They are such a neat group though. We are very excited to have them with us. Next week we are expecting a team plus 1 more short termer. Plus plus my friend Jaclyn who is visiting me from Canada. I'm very excited. But in total need of your prayers. Just 2 days ago, after giving the new comers their orientation, I started with a sore throat and mild fever. In the last 48 hours my sore throat has progressed to a horrible cough, runny nose and lots of mucus :-( Im on antibiotics now, but definitely need your prayers for health and for God's strength to help me get through this super busy time.

Thank you for your partnership, prayers, love and support. I cant express how grateful I am for each one of you and thankful to share this journey TOGETHER!

Ps. Stay tuned for some exciting news... more updates coming pronto!