A few photos from when mommy was gone...

Apparently a new little buddy was brought into the house while I was gone... hanging out in MY kitchen.... 

 Danika had a school performance... she was pretty excited about it! 

 SUPER Auntie Sarah who came out to stay with Steve and the girls while I was gone... she was such a blessing, and had to jump right into mothering!

Brother and sister... don't they look like it!?

 Steve took the girls to the beach at Beacon Hill Park...

 My beautiful girl... she lost her FIRST tooth while mommy was gone, but she saved it until I got home before she gave it to the tooth fairy!

Adessa... SO FULL OF LIFE!!! These girls are my JOY and I missed them so much!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy4HCdUHY-A&feature=youtube_gdata

Day 6

This morning we had a bit of a sleep in and then met the missionary couple for them to take us to Isabelle and Lizettes home. What a sad experience. We pulled up into a very nice area outside of San Salvador and then pulled off on a dirt path and parked. We got out and walked a bit to an area of  'squatter homes.' Wow... It was a street lined on both sides with Shacks made out of Tin and garbage, right next to beautiful homes- the contrast is so drastic. Ron and Sherry led us up to the girls home and you had to squeeze sideways to get in. You entered into the backyard and there was garbage everywhere- and the 2 beautiful girls sitting on chairs with the most beautiful smiles and they showed us around their home with so much pride, as you could tell they had taken the time to tidy it all up. Like all the homes we've seen there are dirt floors, an outdoor fire area and three beds in one room. They told us the story of the torrential downpour last year, 5 feet in a day, and how it came pouring down the hill behind their house and started flooding the house. The girls had to get evacuated and they lost most of their possessions. Since there mom left they are raising themselves as there dad is a security guard and is gone for 48 hours and then home for 8 hours, time enough just to sleep. The girls go to school at different times so that one is always home with there stuff so it doesn't get stolen as there are no windows or locks on their doors. It broke my heart.. It broke everyone's heart. The fact that these 2 little girls had so much on their shoulders, had to cook all there own meals, had to find food, sleep by themselves and get to school by walking, it just doesn't seem fair. We had asked what we could bring them and we got a list of some practical things such as bags of beans, rice, containers to store them so the rats didn't get the food, towels- and a few other bags of stuff. The girls just started to cry and said there was no way they could repay us. Which made us all cry, we wished we could have given them so much more!!! We asked the missionary family about giving them money and she really recommended once again that we read "When Helping Hurts" a christian book that Rosemary recommended we read before going on the trip. Basically  saying that we don't want to take away any of their Dads dignity and that he still needs to work hard to provide for them, it sounds harsh but there are just so many crazy stories and how hand-outs don't help, but can often make situations worse. I just wished I could have taken these two beautiful little girls home with me. I just felt so helpless, I wish we could have done more. These 2 little girls were so sweet and so loving and invited us into there home with so much love even when they had nothing. We got to pray with the girls and hug and kiss them and then had to leave.

We went back to the Corinto church for their CPS program put on by Compassion for mothers and their babies. It was mothers day here in El Salvador which is a national holiday  and they don't even have fathers day! We were able to go up and share in this program and celebration of mothers day. We had been up a few times to this church, so felt very at home in this church with these ladies. There was a little program for the kids, and while that happened I went out and saw the corn being milled at one house, which is where the whole community gets their corn milled for a quarter each time. I had a really good talk with the missionary family about the church, it's struggles and the compassion program. At the CPS program we were able to hand out all the blankets and stuffed animals my sister had had donated from her Calgary friends. And we had bought roses for all the mothers of the church for mothers day. Oh and this morning when Jhonny and Nancy picked us up they both had roses and balloons for us mothers! It was such a nice treat, these 2 have been such a blessing on this trip. After the CPS program we walked down the hill aways to a families home who both have home based businesses. The wife makes jewelry and we were able to go buy some. It was all so beautiful and such good prices so we all bought a lot to support her. Then they showed us her husbands carpentry shop, it was unlike any shop you have ever seen, but he made the most gorgeous furniture. I wished I could take it home! The most beautiful stools made out of teak wood for 35$. It was pretty unreal. The area their home backed onto was a little valley filled with so many other homes, absolutely no privacy for anyone, I can't imagine. But this family is making it work, and they do such wonderful things. 

On our way back to the hotel we were taken out for puposas...finally! I had been hearing about these things since Canada so we had to go for them since they are a salvadorian thing. It was quite the experience! There was a live band that night and they were playing all English songs and were quite good. And the Puposas were quite tasty, a corn tortilla thing, made kind of like a pancake filled with cheese and beans and then fried. Apparently everyone eats them. We we supposed to be doing our debriefing with the group, but it was way to loud, so we just had fun. Then they took us down the road to the observatory area where you can look all over San Salvador, it was amazing at night, something you just couldn't capture on film. What a beautiful area, very dirty and extremely poverty stricken but beautiful all the same.

 Day 7
This morning we had breakfast with Ron and Sherry to debrief our trip. They are such an amazing couple with such a passion for the ministry here in El Salvador. Ron is a pilot and Sherry is an RN nurse, both well educated people but both felt called into ministry and spend there days serving others in some of the worst conditions. They have been down there for 5 years now and plan to stay. They said we were unlike any group they had ever had, us being a group of 11 ladies aged from 14 to 83. We then talked about our favorite things, what we would change, what we would not. We all agreed the people interaction was the most important to us and that even though we all enjoyed painting that that could have been done by anyone and we would have loved to have more days doing carnivals with the kids. There was one thing that we feel we missed out on.. Being billeted out to a family in their community. Ron said it is unlike anything you could ever imagine. So next time we will have to billet out for a few nights!!! But for this trip and with this group of ladies I think what we have done has been perfect. As for some this is there first mission trip and health issues and such. But there is always next time....
 We have all been so blessed and look forward to see how God uses this trip to change, shape and mold us to be a bit more like Him. I know for in my own life I am looking forward to seeing how God is going to use this in my own life. I have heard so many stories of prayer and of hope, even amongst all the suffering and hopelessness. God is so good, even in the darkest, dirtiest places. We then had to pack up even though we feel like we could have done more mission work. As we headed out to spend the last couple of days at the beach, just to talk as a group and 'regroup' before we left in our separate directions. We all felt guilty about heading out to the beach, as we have seen so much and then just to leave it all, without being able to do more than we did. But God blessed us once again by Jhonny our driver, who shared his story and testimony with us. Such an amazing powerful story filled with the power of prayer.

Day 5

Today was wonderful... Much like every other day, but also very hard, being taken to places in which you feel so helpless to help. Today we were taken across the valley to the 2 other transition homes that were built with room to build 8 more of these homes on the back of the property. A group from Canada came up to build them and had almost finished painting them. We were able to go in and add our touch to the walls like around the trim and a few walls needed to be finished. These 2 homes both have composting outhouses and a large cook and wash station, they are beautiful, but I still could never imagine having to live there. It might be fun for a night or too, but that's it! The community is about an hours drive up this crazy mountain road and over a river. They just recently built a little suspension bridge because I guess in the rainy season the river gets so high that people get stuck on the one side and can't drive over, so they needed a way to get food. Can you imagine having to find food per meal and the main thing you eat is beans and tortillas? Many don't have fridges so there is no way to keep anything fresh. We heard many sad stories today. Ron told us about these 2 young girls who's mother had remarried to a very sexually abusive father. So the girls decided they needed out so they found land across the village and started working while going to school to build this shack, it took them 2 years and they had to hire out there step dad to finish the work. When it was all done the girls mother came to them with her new son and asked to move in because she wanted to escape the violence. The girls reluctantly let her, but shortly after she let the abusive step dad move in as well. Such a hopeless situation, the older daughter picked up and moved an hour away to escape it all and they aren't sure how she is doing. There are stories of hopelessness everywhere, and that is the reason for the transition homes. A safe place for people like these 2 girls to move into where there are strict rules and people to protect them.
 In the afternoon we went to the market and got a few souvenirs, we were told to bargain with the people and we did a bit, but we felt so guilty as this is the way these people are making an honest living. After dinner we went back up the mountain to the church we have been going to, to put on a service that was made up of mainly youth. We sang with them and then Sarah and myself went up to share our stories. Sarah has a pretty sad story and she is still such an amazing, strong, joyful woman. When most people would complain and find reason to give up on God, she has clung on to Him and his promises that He has a plan for our lives, plans for hope and a future. I am truly honored to have met her as she encourages me so much to find the positive in each and every situation and to be thankful for the lives God has given us and some things we have no control over. After Sarah is was my turn to stand up and share. God filled me with such a sense of His peace and I was able to share with confidence my testimony. About my struggles in my relationship with Steve while dating and about getting pregnant. And even when you make a decision that isn't part of Gods will that if you seek him with a repentant heart that he is willing to forgive you and you can start over. As Gods grace is so amazing and a free gift. Ron my interpreter had the crowd laughing a few times (not sure why!?) haha and I tried using a few of my Spanish words. After I was done Linsey and Melody stood up and sang Amazing Grace, without any practice at all. It was AMAZING. I felt the Holy Spirit in that little church and afterwards they all came up and layed hands on us and prayed for us... What an amazing experience, why don't why do that in Canada?? At the end each person came up and gave us a hug, and a kiss on the cheek. Such love shown to us, it blessed us all A LOT. We had the opportunity to stay and mingle and I was able to have a few conversations with my little Spanish. We met these 2 young girls ages 10 and 14 named Isabelle and Lizette- their mother took their younger brother and left them about a month ago. We get to go see their home and hear there story in the morning...

Day 4

Today we were up bright and early once again and headed out to the first transition home to paint it. We spent a VERY long time in the paint store picking out colors to paint the home... 11 girls trying to make a decision takes a little while! We headed up and a few of the girls began the work on the outdoor mural while the rest of us painted inside. The homes are made with cinder blocks so the paint didn't go on quite like we were hoping or turn out like we wanted. It was a very long, HOT day painting away. For lunch we took a break and I rode to San Salvador in the back of the truck, very crazy that we could do that, but everyone does. And some pretty insane driving too! We went to Polo Campero for lunch which is a large chain in El Salvador very similar to a KFC. We headed back up to finish painting and spent the rest of the day finishing up and getting children's hand prints on our murals. We also had stickers and painted Aztec symbols inside, I think it turned out pretty good, but we couldn't tell because it got dark and we were rushing to get packed up and still having to walk down the mountain because we couldn't get the van up there due to the amount of rain the night before. It was a gong show! We got to the bottom all covered in paint and a few buckets dumped and got everywhere but our driver Johnny and Nancy wanted us to go because it is very dangerous to be out late at night and at this point it was pitch black. Thankfully we got in safe and arrived safely back at the hotel- literally covered in paint. But it felt like such a productive day! Tomorrow we go across the valley to the 2 other transition homes that were built, to finish painting them and to add a 'woman's touch' on them. And then tomorrow night we are speaking in a church for a youth group and I was asked to share my testimony- please pray that God can speak through me and that there are some there that need to hear what I have to say because I feel quite nervous about it. But may God just use me and the girls on our team for His purposes and His glory alone... It is not about me!!!

DAY 3

Today we woke up bright and early and left the hotel by 8:15am. It was the day of the carnivals, we were all so excited. We started the morning at the first church we visited in the countryside called Corinto. It was a very hot and humid morning. There were only about half the kids there as the area had no water. We set up our different booths of face painting ( huge hit), coloring, bubbles, pin the tail on the donkey, animal games and the giant parachute. It was a little chaotic as we were trying to explain everything in each group with only two translators to help us out. But the kids didn't care about the language barrier they laughed and had so much fun!! It was such a blessing to serve these beautiful children. By the end of it we were all soaked with sweat as it was so hot and humid, and we played so hard! What I didn't get was that most of them were in jeans!!! We met a few little kids that weren't yet sponsored by compassion, and boy did I just want to sponsor them all! The program is so Amazing and helps the families in such practical ways. If you don't sponsor a child I would HIGHLY recommend it... It changes lives. After the carnival we headed over to a families house that was in the program, they had 3 children and the mother was only 23. They welcomed us warmly into their 'home' - which was made out of old tin roofing. There was 3 beds crammed inside and an outhouse in the corner, no running water - they had to buy it only when it was available. Can you even fathom that? Their house and yard was very tidy, even though there were dirt floors it was all swept meticulously. They told us how Compassion has helped them so much. The land they live on was for free, they lived there but the husband did not work as his job was to take care of the land, and then they stay for free. They have just recently started going to church and God has really softened the husbands heart as the wife originally made him go. We then headed over to Ron and Sherry Lapka's- the missionary couples house for a delicious lunch. From there we went to the second church to put on the other carnival. We were all pretty exhausted at this point, but God gave us the strength and this one went so much better than the other. It was such a joy to play with the little kids and see there eyes light up at the toys, games and face paint. Nancy our translator did such an amazing job with the kids- it was so fun watching her play the animal games- right in her element. After the amazing day we went out for ice-cream and then all crashed for an early nights sleep. Such a long, wonderful, fulfilling day!!!!

El Salvador

I spent a good hour last night detailing my trip to El Salvador and how it came to be along with our first few days, however when I went to check this evening and add to it, it was gone! How frustrating! I am feeling quite upset as I detailed everything, but don't have time right now so will give a quick overview. A few months ago I was asked if I wanted to go on a mission trip to El Salvador with 4 ladies that I have grown up with and their daughters, along with my mother and sister. I instantly said no it wasn't possible. However as I told more and more people about the opportunity it seemed like my answer was going to change to a tentative yes. My sister instantly said yes as she had never been on a mission trip, but my mother was in the same boat as me. After Seeking WISDOM from many around me the consensus was yes, so I took a step of faith, not sure how all the details would turn out... But God sure did. A couple in my life group had a brother who had just married a Salvadorian and she lived right in San Salvador where we would be staying and could act as our translator, I felt like that was the first step in God affirming this decision to go. Then my in-laws said they would send out Steve's sister to help out with the girls for the week I was gone. And finally my pastor made a video of me detailing the trip and played it at church for 3 weeks. During that short period of time all the funds and then some were donated towards the trip... Wow God sure blew me away!!! I really felt Gods blessing and hand upon this trip. We also were able to raise 6 sewing machines and 1 serger for the translation homes we are going to help paint.

Day 1 
Was traveling. Arrived in Vancouver Friday night and left the hotel at 4:30 am to catch our 7 am flight. We arrived in Houston for our 5 hour layover and then were in San Salvador at 8 pm. Very hot and humid, we were picked up by our auto bus and all squished in there and taken to our hotel.
 Day 2
 We woke up bright and early to be taken out to a countryside church amongst the homes built of scrap metal. It was such an experience, one I won't forget. The countryside is gorgeous and the people are so loving and beautiful. We were welcomed into the church service with hugs and kisses and spent a few hours worshiping God. Aunt Greta the 83 year old that has come with us and was my roommate the first night spoke and shared her testimony. And then As soon as she finished the torrential rains began. You couldn't here anything over the deafening sound on the tin roof. But God is amazing- as soon as we watched the 3 baptisms that took place in the courtyard the rain stopped and we were able to go. The ride down the mountain we got stuck in a ditch and had to get out and walk, but everyone just had so much fun, and Gods peace was with us all! After lunch at pizza hut (it is very Americanized here!) we went to another church which had 200 woman waiting for us to put on our woman's seminar. We had so much fun and each got to share our testimony. Today we did the children's carnivals, but I will share that tomorrow, I am much too tired to keep my eyes open any longer... All I can say is that God is so good and has been in every moment here... Please continue to pray for us and the people of El Salvador!!!