A Little About Last Week

I have been in El Salvador a week now, it seems to have flown by. Yesterday I had a day of rest and relaxtion before the next team comes in, which is today. Last week we went to schools and communities and shared about Jesus and distributed food. We visited about two places a day. At each location we had the opportunity to pray for people about salvation, healing and the economic crisis. Countries like El Salvador depend very highly on the United States, so when we hurt financially, they hurt too, maybe even more. El Salvador even actually uses the US dollar.

The team that I just worked with came with alot of passion for Jesus and people. I enjoyed hearing how God worked and changed them during the week. For some of these people it was the first time they really saw poverty like the kind that exist in much of the world. Many members of the team left clothes and shoes behind to be distributed. My prayer is that they continue to let what they saw here in El Salvador influence their life. That they don't let the pressures of home get to them, but that they continue to see the importance of telling others about Christ - and the importance of compassion in ministry. Compassion being helping the poor, the orphans, the widowers, the prisoners and so forth.

God is great! He has mercy and compassion for each on of us! Let us let this change our hearts. Let us remember to have mercy and compassion for those around us. Let us live lifes full of humility, confidence in who we are in God, forgivness and grace! I am reading the book "Lead Like Jesus" by Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges. I have been reading about the importance of these four traits in our daily lives. So, soak HIM in today!

Claire Balch

Pictures from El Salvador

Hi - I wanted to share some pictures with you from El Salvador!

Just Checking In...

I just wanted to check in and give a quick update.

I am in El Salvador. I arrived on Thursday. It gave Bethany (another MA with Convoy) and I a chance to set up everything for the first team. Jack Belin's team (a missionary with Convoy) came in on Friday and we got them working in the warehouse bagging food right away. Today we began the first day of ministry. We went to a school and to a community. In both places we did a presentation and distributed food. It was a long day, but a good day.

El Salvador is a pretty country. It is very green. Flying into San Salvador is pretty cool looking because it looks a little like a green bowl. There are alot of volcanoes here that make the land interesting to look at - you have big volcanoes, some crater lakes, and so forth. You also have the ocean here, which I have only seen from the air.

This morning we went to the warehouse to put the groceries in the truck for distribution. I decided that I needed to "powder my nose". When I returned just a few minutes later the warehouse was empty as I walked closer to the exit I realized the gate was closed and then as I got even closer I realized it was locked! I had been locked in the warehouse. I still needed to buy a sim card for my phone, so I couldn't call anyone, so I sat there for a minute trying to figure out what to do. Then I decided to hop the fence because at least then I would be able to get outside and maybe be able to call someone. So, I jumped the fence (in a skirt) and then waited until someone came along. There is a restaurant called Biggest here that allows Convoy to use part of their warehouse, so they had people working. Finally, an El Salvadoran offered me coffee and a phone. Eventually the group realized I was not in the bus and sent our truck driver to come get me! I made it safe and sound to the school, in time to practice some Spanish and eat lunch =) It was an adventure to say the least. I survived and better me get locked in the warehouse than a team member. =)

If you have a chance please pray that all the details will come together for the teams and things will go smoothly. Pray for strength for Bethany and I and for the nationals working with us. These days are long and there is alot to plan. Pray for protection and that God will work through the teams this summer!

I haven't taken any pictures yet, but they will come =)

Food for Thoughts

During lunch today I read my bible at Subway. I read Acts 17. There is a passage in Acts 17 that is very important in living missionally. I first studied it at Vanguard, while taking a missions class with Greg Austring. Ever since that class I never saw this passage quite the same way. Paul is in Athens after escaping Berea. While, there he notices that the city is full of idols. He discussed it with "Jews and other like-minded people" and "every day he went out on the streets and talked with anyone who happened along". Then at the request of some of the citizens of Athens he speaks downtown about Christ. He makes his message relevant to them by noting the fact that religion is important to them. In his study of the culture he found a statue of a god that was titled "To The God Nobody Knows". He tells the people of Athens that he is here to tell them about this unknown God. Then later Paul quotes one of their poets who says, "We're the God created". Paul uses this to say, "Hey if we're God created, then why do we need to chisel gods?" At the end of his oratory some people laugh at him, but others believe.

I took three major points from this passage:

1) This is an ideal example of understanding the group/culture you are talking to. If you understand the culture - the religion, the artwork, the literature and so forth you can intelligently and discerningly relate to them. Once you know culture, you know what is important and unimportant. In essence, this not only makes you more effective, but shows the people you work with that you understand and care about them.

2) Paul went where the people went. He engaged people into conversation and relationship. He went downtown Athens and spoke. He didn't hide away in his home and church. His coffee shop of choice was were the people who needed to hear the gospel went. He never expected them to come to him, but he went were they where.

3) Paul was laughed at for speaking about Christ. When he ended with the fact that Christ was raised from the dead, people laughed at him. BUT people were also saved because he spoke the truth! Leading others to Christ might mean ridicule and persecution, but we can take heart that in the process we might gain brothers and sisters.