Global Aid Network Mission Reports

This morning the GAiN El Salvador 09 team travelled 2 hours by bus to visit a public school in San Jose El Naranjo.  In this school we split into groups and shared our testimonies and the Gospel using the Gospel Bead Bracelets.  We also did skits, magic and balloon animals and face painting for the kids. Numerous children raised their hands indicating they had invited Jesus Christ into their lives. The team  travelled 45 minutes to reach our afternoon assignment, Quebracho school. The school staff graciously provided lunch for us. We repeated our program for the students, grades K-9. 

Many of the roads we travelled we’re unpaved and the going was slow. But after a hard, hot day’s work we had some r & r time down a scenic route to our dinner on the coast.  After dinner the team invested time in concerted prayer for the students and school staff we have visited so far, the those we will visit tomorrow.  We also prayed for the team to work at the Holy Sprit’s direction and by His guidance, and for God’s work in the hearts of the children preparing them to hear the Gospel.

Today we started off like a shot!  The first day of ministry was spent serving at  a local church. When we arrived  we split into 3 groups.  The first group was involved with the adult in the worship service, the second  group spent time working in the Sunday school, and the third group went into the neighborhood inviting  neighbors and kids to a small program put on by our team so they could learn more about the local church and God.  Today was a wonderful day where we experienced the hospitality of our host country and got to worship with our El Salvadorian brethren.

CIUDAD VICTORIA, El Salvador, July 30, 2008 — Today was a day of travel for our team as we moved from San Salvador to Ciudad Victoria and Sensuntepeque. When we arrived, we dropped our bags and headed out for some ministry. We went to a school outside Victoria. Being a public school, it was incredibly poor. And being in one of the poorest countries in Central America, what we saw at Escuela Santa Marta was pretty grim. Things were a little crazy, but we did distribute little mice stuffed animals with Gospel Bead bracelets on them. The kids enjoyed them a lot, and we had a chance to mingle with the kids. Our group leaders got an opportunity to minister to the school principal. Though there were no immediate results, a very important seed was planted. Please continue to pray for our last few days in this lovely country.

 SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, July 30, 2008 — A member of our group felt it on her heart that we need to purchase bibles in Spanish to give away as we go on our trip. She told the whole group and said she felt called to purchase 100 bibles. We took a collection and got $350. When we got to the International Bible Society´s store, she went in to purchase the bible. Amazingly, the price of 100 bibles was exactly $350. God had truly blessed our team with a vision and fulfilled it. Even more amazing, the Int´l Bible Society gave us 1000 free Bible comic books in Spanish and 500 free Bible Story books. now we can give a lot to the children. God provided a calling and a way to fulfill this calling. We plan on giving most of the bibles away when we meet with local officials and other important people at a banquet on Friday. They are the ones who have the power to make a difference in this country. Praise God for his faithfulness!

CIUDAD VICTORIA, El Salvador, July 31, 2008 — Today started extra early. We were supposed to board the bus at 6:00 a.m. Of course, my roommate and I woke up at 6:01 and were on the bus at 6:04. We both knew this was God´s way of saying, ¨Sit this one out guys, I´ve got it taken care of.¨ We went to the first school, Escuela San Antonio, where we got to work in small groups for the first time. Everyone seemed to enjoy it more as it became more personal. We had a great opportunity to hand out Gospel Bead Bracelets and Care Packs to children who could never afford it. At our second school, Villa Victoria, we did the exact same thing. At both locations, several kids were very open that they had prayed for the first time to receive Christ as their savior. This is always encouraging. This is the Lord´s country, as the name implies, and he is taking claim to what is His.

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador July 29, 2008 — This morning we woke up and travelled 1.5 hours to San Vicente, El Salvador. Once there, we went to one of Juan Bueno’s Christian schools. 45 years ago, Juan Bueno established Christian schools all throughout Central America. Today, we also had the pleasure of meeting Bob Bueno, Juan’s son. At the school, we played with the kids and were given lunch. For some of the kids, the warm meal that they receive at school (the same meal we received today) is the only meal they will receive that day.

After leaving San Vicente, we drove to a town called Soyoponga and visited an orphanage. It was established for children found beaten and neglected in the streets. When we pulled in, there was a deathly thin dog sleeping in the driveway, and a young woman cooking meat on a skillet over a fire in a trash can. The orphanage was called Ministerio Jehova Jireh. All of the children there had an awful story. We had an opportunity to speak with the couple who ran the facility. The husband told us it was on his heart to take in the children he saw on the streets. He discussed it with his wife and she also felt this calling from the Lord. They knew they did not have enough money, but would do anything to follow Jesus. They sold vegetables on the sidewalk for 2 years in order to raise enough money to rent a house to hold the children. The house was in a part of town that at the very best could be called run down. Most of it didn’t have a roof. The married couple slept outside under the stars initially because there wasn’t a wall around the facility to keep out dangerous people, and they knew they had to watch their first 5 children. Eventually, the government agreed to put a roof over their heads, and they received several benches and tables from a local, popular chicken restaurant. They now hold 26 children, and are raising the kids in an environment that preaches the greatness of Jesus Christ.

God is always faithful to those who follow his calling, as he proved here in El Salvador.  

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador July 28, 2008 — Today our group made it to 3 sites. The first was a school established by missionary in Santa Ana, El Savador. We spoke to a large group of school kids who really enjoyed what we had to offer. The next 2 sites were indescribeable. The first was a refugee camp which was privately owned. The people living here were all displaced by a volcano 3 years ago. All the houses were made of tarps and sticks surrounded by barbed wire. Nobody was close to being clean, and very few had access to clean water, but the spirit moved in our group to reach these people. We prayed with many, played games with the kids and had a very successful gospel bead presentation. The third site was a government owned refugee camp. We delivered clothing to 200 families and had fun with the children. It was a blessing to see these hopeless people smile and take delight in our sharing the message of truth.

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, July 28,2008 — Today our group had the opportunity to go to 2 refugee camps. The amount of hopelessness was awful. We can give these people clothing, food, medical supplies, but what they really need is hope in something eternal. The food will get eaten, the clothing will rip or get too small, and medical supplies will run out, but the love of Jesus Christ and the hope in eternal salvation will never go away. Those who drink of that fountain shall thirst no more. Any organization can deliver food and supplies, which are wonderful, and many secular organizations are doing this. Being one of the few Christian organizations these people will ever see, our group has really felt the conviction of needing to spread hope above all other things. If we never showed up, the food would eventually be delivered, and the clothing might eventually keep them covered, but they would not receive hope. Every member of our group has hope in eternal life. That is what we seek to spread. These people will most likely never be offered anything from the world, but they have been offered a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. They just need to be told about it. The harvest is certainly plentiful, but this field needs more workers to tell them the joys of eternal life and salvation.      

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, July 28,2008 — Today, GAiN got to work with Convoy of Hope again at both of the refugee camps we visited. At both sites, there were hopeless people who were displaced by a volcanic eruption 3 years ago. The first of the two was privately owned, and was operated very cheaply. Most of the houses were not much more than tarps and sticks, while a few had sheets or corrugated aluminum. Recently, a well was dug at someone’s house to provide water for the community. The water was so bad, most of the locals could barely drink it. The COH international director told us that 80% of the people in El Salvador’s hospitals are there from drinking unclean water. He showed us a very simple device. It was a large plastic box with a hole in the bottom. In the bottom there were pebbles, topped with rough sand, topped with finer sand. It was filled with water 2 inches above the top of the sand. This amazingly simple device can instantly clean the 60% of the contaminants from the water, and as the good bacterias form over the following weeks, that simple filter will remove 98-99% of the contaminants. and the beauty of it is, as long as the plastic remains intact, it will never need replacing or servicing. I was able to witness first hand as the COH director poured dirty, tinted water in and crystal clear water came out of the pipe. It was truly amazing. There is a great need for more of these in this country!

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador July 27,2008 — Today our group woke up early, ate breakfast and started ministering to people early. When the day began, we knew it would be very demanding as we would be going to two different impoverished communities to spread supplies, love, and the truth of Jesus Christ. At both locations, a magic show was performed, a skit was perfected and supplies and goodies were handed out. The joy the kids took in simple face painting, stickers, and balloon animals was breath-taking. At both locations, the spirit was alive and moving through the people. It was very encouraging to see how much all of these people feel blessed despite having nothing.

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, July 27, 2008 — Many of the amazing things that happen during a missions trip happen to the volunteers. A volunteer today told us the story of one child that truly touched her life today. As she was handing out food supplies to families, she gave food to one woman and told her “Dios te bendiga” (God bless you). The woman kindly returned the phrase and told her toddler son something that the volunteer did not understand. The child leaned over and kissed the GAiN volunteer on the cheek. Our volunteer stated “she was about to melt” and “wanted to pack the kid in [her] suitcase and bring him home”. While it may seem that we do a lot of blessing people, it does not compare to how God blesses us in return. Having the opportunity to see people who have nothing pour out love to others is a blessing that truly touches the heart.

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, July 27, 2008 — Part of our message today included a short sermon by one of our team members who happens to be an ordained pastor. At the end of the sermon he felt compelled to ask the people if they believed that Jesus Christ could heal people if they had the faith. A few replied and he asked them to approach the front where we were standing. While the GAiN volunteer was praying over the few individuals, our translater continued to call hurting and sick people to the front so we could pray for them to call out to God with them and see that he is a mighty healer. A couple team members stated that they felt their hands burning as they were praying for the people. Our group’s pastor told us that when that happens, it is where faith and life come together. Faith that the Holy Spirit can move and heal us meeting the life that includes so much pain. Our translator told us that one of the ladies had lost her chronic back pain. Our translator also told us that she loves seeing this from people who come. Many humanitarian organizations come and give food and supplies, but the groups from the Global Aid Network and Convoy of Hope come and bring the message of truth that can heal a wounded soul.

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, July 26, 2008 — The partnership that the Global Aid Network has with Convoy of Hope is truly a blessed one. Today, our group had the pleasure of meeting several national and international directors with COH. The first person we interviewed was Enrique Martinez, a national director with COH. He told us the main goal was to supply aid to an exceptionally poor part of El Salvador known as “the belt” by the river. They tend to find Christian schools in the region and provide the basic needs of life to the children to take home to their families. What they are able to give to children depends solely on what is donated to them. Enrique told us that there is a desperate need of food in the area. for many, the food they provide is the only food that people will eat. He also told us that local pastors have a huge passion to serve the people, but simply lack the resources.    

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, July 26, 2008 — A new and exciting ministry opportunity is coming alive in San Salvador. While working in the Convoy of Hope ministry warehouse, we had a chance to interview International Director Bob Bachman and his wife LeAnn. Their main reason for joining with COH was to train people in impoverished countries to use water purifiers. Upon their arrival, a new ministry was just forming called Seeds of Hope. LeAnn was thought to be perfect for the job by the previous program directors as her and Bob are retired farmers from North Dakota. They have received seeds mainly as donations from Global Aid Network. LeAnn has always had a passion for teaching others to garden, even before joining COH staff. She has had enough time now to explore different ways to store and ship seeds as well as the difference in impact of using hybrid vs. heirloom seeds. She told us about one of the most rewarding experiences that happened just this past week, as they drove by one of the local Convoy of Hope sites and saw a man who had already raised enough green beans for his family, and was able to sell his excess. Also, LeAnn told us that she is starting to see more and more community green houses being built. This ministry has a very strong impact because it both fulfills the peoples great need for food and gives Convoy of Hope an opportunity to minister to the local people. LeAnn told us that¨”there is certainly room for a ministry in canning and preserving food” as another potential way to reach the area. God is definitely using the Seeds of Hope ministry in powerful ways to reach people who are often overlooked.