Equipo Numero Uno

We dropped our team off at the airport to go home today.  It was an amazing week with the team from New Life Assembly in Circleville, OH.  We had the opportunity to travel to San Miguel in the eastern part of the country to minister to the children there.  We had a team that was completely prepared to have more than just an experience.  They were on a mission.  They were packed and ready to go with cookies, candies, balloons, toys, and hygiene products galore (along with all of the suitcases they came in).  They were ready to bless this community in every way that they could.  

They ministered to children and youth alike.  It's hard to forget some of the faces of the teens that were at those schools.  I'm pretty certain they impacted me the most, just seeing the pain in their eyes.

It was also quite awesome to see the young children who were so open to the word of God and to accept Jesus into their hearts.  They are so genuine.

And of course we made time to have a ton of fun with our nationals.  ;]  They are all so awesome, constantly ready to serve and meet the needs of those around them.
Overall this team taught me what it is like to truly have a heart of worship.  Every free moment we had we were either worshiping with music, praying, or having a devotional time.  It was wonderful to be able to meet all of our team.  They are very inspiring, and they are all going to do awesome things for their city.

Bendiciones,

Claire

I get my first team tomorrow!  We've been training other teams in the mean time and going to the prayer fortress.  But tomorrow I get to go with a team of my own.  We're going to talk to our national leaders and find out all of the details.  It will be my first time staying off the campus.  It will certainly be a new kind of experience because we are not sure of the conditions of the area we will be staying...  So it should be interesting.  We've had really awesome experiences in the prayer fortress the past few days.  It's been really great to be able to hear God so clearly and to be able to minister to the youth groups that come in.  I would be lying if I said there weren't times when I've gotten frustrated with the behavior of some of the teenagers that come in.  But I know that God has plans for each and every one of them.  He's been reminding me that even if I feel as though I have more wisdom in a certain area it doesn't mean that I should be upset at someone or think that they are lesser than me.  Instead I need to be able to lovingly show them better solutions.
More updates later.  :]

Bendiciones

First official day of training (when I wrote this part) and so far so good.  Don't have a super huge amount to say just yet, but I'm really excited about what God is going to do and what He is already doing this summer.  It's going to take a lot to keep focus and truly lay everything down for God this summer, but I'm up for the challenge.  Whether it's bonding with my intern family, mentoring youth groups, or reaching the children of El Salvador I can't wait to see God's planning.

Goal:  Let the summer not be about me.  It's not about me or my plan, my goal, or the fact that I'm doing what I think I should be.  It's about remembering that it's not doing this for myself.  I'm serving God without thinking about my 'obligations' or expectations.  It's about complete and utter humility.
With that said, if you wish to be one of my prayer warriors, here are a few requests.  :]

1. Los Niños- The children in El Salvador that we are going to meet while here.  So many of them come from broken homes where they experience neglect and abuse.  We are able to reach them and show them the love of God through our Evangelism Teams (as well as others areas, though this are the teams I shall be a part of).
2. Los Jovenes- The youth groups and teams that come down from the U.S.  We have the opportunity as interns to pour into their lives as mentors and motivators.  We pray that their hearts be open to God and what He has planned for them.
3. Humildad- One thing that God has pointed out to me recently is just how much I need to gain a sense of humility.  I am unable to fully experience the things that God wants me to do if I'm letting my own emotions and ambitions getting in the way.  I need to be able to fully put away my selfish desires.

There's much much more but that is where I am so far...

Btw, tons of team building activities yesterday, all of them super fun and challenging.  It was very good to learn more about my fellow interns, push through difficult situations, and learn to rely on one another.  

Biggest lesson learned from those activities was from the wall.  There is nothing to grab except a rope, and your whole team has to make it to the other side of the wall where your teammate is waiting to help you at the top... Did I mention the wall is around 15 feet high?  Needless to say it's pretty challenging for someone that is 5'2'', nonathletic, and afraid of heights.  But before I knew it my team had me.  They were willing to do whatever it took to get me safely over the wall without any fear.  Within seconds I was already over without having to put forth any physical effort.  I simply trusted them that they would help me through that situation.  

Today we learned dances and dramas that we will use in the street programs.  It's been quite fun and exhausting...  I can assume by the end of the summer I will be quite fit.  :]

Rewinding a little

7 days and counting, until I am on a plane and out of the country.  Things are slowing down quite a bit, spending time with the family and getting things together for the trip.  (I'm pretty proud of myself for having a suitcase that only weighs 36lbs...and yes I've already packed.)
But today I want to rewind a little bit and talk about my graduation.  I can honestly say that for now it was the absolute best day of my life.  It sounds a little silly to me because it's a long drawn out ceremony that tortures you with the constant pomp and circumstance (if that's the correct spelling) played over and over again just to walk across in from of a bunch of people that you don't know (save for a few family members of course), but it was actually quite enjoyable.  As much as ceremonies are not my thing I had a lot of fun, mostly because I sat next to people I knew and cracked jokes the whole time.  I was also pretty proud of my accomplishments.  School isn't everything, but I was still pretty glad to have made it through quite well.  But the most remarkable part of the evening was being able to have dinner with my family.  All of their sincere words were... well they simply left me speechless.  It was wonderful to see how proud they were of me and how much they supported me.  Of course I had a lot of grad school talk but for the most part my family has begun to understand my passion for people and missions.  Though some of them still don't understand that it is motivated by a passion for God that's okay because I know that day will come.  Their understanding of me has already come leaps and bounds and for that I am thankful.  It was also pretty lovely to see Nick fit in so nicely with the family.  I'm pretty certain everyone loves him.  I think he has become more popular with my family than me. ;]

Though the most touching moment of the evening still has me caught up if I think about it too much.  My dad sat me down at the end of the table and talked to me about the "VERY" distant future.  (hehe)  And told me about how when he has grandchildren that he WILL be a part of their lives.  To some people that may not be a big deal or it may be something that is a given fact, but when I felt God calling me to missions the most heartbreaking part of it was the fact that I would be thousands of miles away from my family.  I grew up within walking distance of almost all of my grandparents/great-grandparents and they were a huge part of my life and so are my parents.  I value the relationship I have with my parents but even more than that I value the relationship that my parents will have with my future children.  My dad was very stern when he spoke that night.  He assured me, "I WILL be part of their lives... Even if we have to travel across the world, as long as we can afford it...Even when we can't afford it.  I will be a part of their lives."
It's just a reminder to me of God's faithfulness.  He's just waiting for us to say, "I trust you, even if it's going to hurt, I trust you.  Not my will but yours, Lord."  In the grand scheme of things, the things that I will have to give up are nothing in comparison to most.  I have a wonderful life, a wonderful family, and a wonderful home.  I'm very thankful for the things that I have and am allowed to keep, and I am grateful for the things that I have to give up in the process of answering God's call.  Though there were moments of cold feet towards this summer I am very pleased to be moving forward.

And it begins... With only a week after graduation I am heading ever closer to what people like to call, "the real world."  Though I am a little concerned that it is very different than the schooling that I've known for so long and held so near and dear to my heart (I am not the biggest fan of change, by the way), I am quite pleased to be moving on to bigger and better things.  And the first stop?.... El Salvador!

I had that opportunity to travel to El Salvador last May to team up with a ministry called King's Castle.  It was a short ten days that positively changed my life.  This year I'm going back for their two month internship and couldn't be more excited for the plans that God has in store for this summer.  I will get to see familiar faces and new ones as well as formally meet people that I'm already facebook chatting away with about our new adventure.  I can't deny that it will be a little difficult being away from family, friends, and my boyfriend for two months with very limited communication, but I know that this is where I need to be this summer.  I feel very privileged to be used by God to reach out to the children of El Salvador.  We will be doing street programs and school programs.  We will be interacting with the children and showing them the love of Christ through our words, hugs, and smiles.  We will also have the opportunity to lead teams of U.S. citizens who are also traveling, just like I did, to help the children in impoverished areas and to unlock more understanding of what God has called them to do.
With all of that said.. Blogging away!  I figured if I am unable to stay connected through other forms of communication I would attempt to keep a blog and post about once a week on my adventures in a foreign land.  It seemed fitting enough.  Just as a disclaimer that I felt may or may not be needed, I'm not a writer.  I never was and I never will be.  I'm sure by now you have figured this out, but just in case this is all public and people I don't know read it I wanted to insure you that by no means did I assume I had skills.  :] Just a warning ahead of time.

Bendiciones,
Claire