Well thats done...

I deleted my Facebook account...and a few other things as well with that click of a button. It is a difficult decision to literally lay everything at the feet of Christ, your present, past and future, all your hopes, dreams, desires, passions and your love but that is what we are called to do...it is what we MUST do if we are to pursue a more passionate, intimate relationship with God. It is not something we can fake...it is also, I am finding not something that we can ease into as we feel more ready or prepared. No, this choice is one that must be made with eyes wide open, and a heart unwavering. It is an all or nothing decision that sets off a process of more such decisions, but it must have a beginning.

I love heights, perhaps because deep down inside I am truly fightened of them. But there is no other feeling that I love more than when you have gathered your courage to make a flying leap off a great height into a pile of snow, or water or just hitting the ground. That woosh as you leave the safety of the ground behind and take to the freedom of being suspended momentarily in midair always takes my breath away, leaving me giddy as I finally make contact with the ground below. It is completely terrifying and absolutely thrilling at the same time!

That first step of abandoning this world and mediocre Christianity is like that first jump off of a great height. Absolutely terrifying because of everything you can and will loose. And absolutely thrilling because you find yourself suspended in the hands of God, FREE.
You will return to earth, but on a higher plateu then before, and then it begins again, running to the edge, defeating the little sins in your life, speaking and acting out against the sin in the world, fighting and overcoming until there is only one more thing for you to overcome, another leap, not blind in any sense, but based on what you know to be true that He will catch you and carry you to the next height.

The adventure begins...safe return? Doubtful, I fully expect to die a martyr for my Lord, but advenuture? Promised!

There's no place like Home part 1

Mondays and Wednesdays from 9-2:30 I work at Esperanza Viva. It's been such an incredible experience, one that I hope I never will forget or take for granted. I have just gotten permission to take more pictures so hopefully the rest will be uploaded sometime next week.

So my first day at the orphanage had a slightly nerve wrecking beginning. I don't think I had slept more then four hours because I was so excited/nervous to finally begin! Excited obviously because I would once again be doing what I loved (working with kids) and nervous because my contact, Alejandra had informed me that I was a sort of experiment. Normally Esperanza Viva would have groups of small short term missions trips, usually no longer than one week come to work at the Home. But I would be working for a month. "We never do this." She told me about fifteen times. "You are the first person we allow this with, so we will be watching you and just so you know, we never do this." No pressure...

I arrived at the orphanage slightly early, and was given the run through of the rules by Alejandra. And once again I was told about the huge exception they were making for me to work for my time. I remember praying "Oh Lord please don't let me screw this up by doing something stupid." Most of the rules were things I had figured would be on the list, such as No Going To The Bathrooms With A Child, No Being Alone With A Child, things like that. Alejandra also told me I would not allowed to be taking pictures for a while, and I could not give the children any gifts, nor could I give them any means to contact me for the first few weeks.

"You will be working in the kitchen. For now, we are asking that you stay in the kitchen, and not interact too much with the kids. You are on a bit of a trial as we see how this works out, because we never do this and who knows? After a week or even after today we might ask you not to come back. I know that you wanted to teach a dance, and I don't want to be rude, but we love our kids and we have to protect them, so we'll first see how you do with this before we give you more." I assured her I understood. And with that I was sent to the kitchens

Working in the kitchens has been so amazing! I get to talk with the other girls who work there, (most of them are 19 as well) and they have been helping me to improve my Spanish. There were a few days when I did feel a little disappointed not to be working hands on with the children but I reminded myself that God was in control. I started using my time in the kitchen to pray for the kids as I was cooking and this grew my faith and my joy as I worked.

Then, last week I was taken aside by Alejandra. She told me she had been talking to the girls I worked with and they had told her I had been a great help in the kitchen. She said, "We are so happy that you have obeyed all of our rules, so we are going to let you teach the girls a dance."

I was so happy! I went home singing "Our God Is Greater" and thinking about the dance. Since that day I've been splitting my time from working in the kitchen to teaching about 15 girls a praise dance a long with a Bible study at the end of each practice. We practice outside in a spot where there is absolutely no shade for 2 hours at a time. It's hard on the girls who are not used to practicing so much in such conditions. But they are doing an excellent job! Please continue to pray for us!

For myself: creativity, patience, overflow of joy and wisdom as always as I teach the Bible study.

For the girls: patience (with me!), endurance, overflow of joy and understanding of the lessons

A wonderful praise note is that I am teaching the lessons half in English and half in Spanish. My wonderful helper Aurora is not completely fluent in English so we switch back and forth. Praise God! He is helping me bridge this language gap!

Below are some pictures I was able to take at the Inauguration of the new dormitories that were just built, along with some information on the orphanage itself. Enjoy!

These are the gates to the Home

The buses that take the kids to church

The older kids did a few traditional dances that a man from the Nation's Church (the church affiliated with the ministry) taught them

The new dormitories!

There are four bedrooms, each bedroom has six sets of bunk beds. All the blankets are the same, but each child has their own personal pillow. The kids are divided by younger boys, older boys and younger girls, older girls. The younger children live on the first floor and the older kids live on the second.

Quite a few of the single supervisors live 24/7 at Esperanza Viva and sleep with the children. The bed on the left is the supervisor's bed and the bunk bed set are for any smaller children that might need help at night, there is also a crib on the other side for any babies.

The Doctor's Office

The Offices where the administrators for Esperanza Viva work (the people were from the tour we were on)

Computers for the kids to do homework on are also in another part of their rooms

There are 4 bathrooms, 2 on each floor. In this picture of the tour, Kate (our tour guide and one one of the main administrators at Esperanza Viva) was telling us how all of the tile and sinks was donated to the ministry. "It is really top quality tile as well. We would have never been able to afforded it on our own, but it is truly amazing how God provides. These children are HIS children and he has given them the best."

These are the classrooms for the school. The children rotate, depending on their jobs and activities for school hours.

Desks for the older children that might be more independent

Teacher's desk

Desks for the younger children who might need more help one on one. Working in tents is not easy. In the summer we were told it gets so hot sometimes it's like working in a sauna and they have to do school outside in the grass. In the winter, or when it's raining during hurricane season it can be very cold and too windy to hear what the instructor is saying.

Laundry room for around 100 children.

One more thing that I want to mention. A correction on my part. While Esperanza Viva is referred to as an orphanage, it is not. The children who come to live at Esperanza Viva come to stay. Many of them have families that visit on the weekends. Most of the children have come to live at the Home because of poverty in their family. One of my friends from the kitchen told me that she has many brothers and sisters but only she, her sister and 2 brothers came to live at the Home.

It is a very difficult ministry, one that requires everything of the supervisors and administrators who serve in it. Please keep praying for them! The two pictures below are of the team of people who work at the Home on a daily bases.

Thanks for reading! I'll be posting again soon, my time here is almost up. God has been good! He has taught me many things about ministry, serving Him and quite about about myself as well. Hasta pronto mis amigos! Bendiciones a todo!

Forever and Always,

-Sarah

To The Orphanage I Go!

Hey everyone!

Sorry I haven't updated lately, it has been a little confusing trying to get a date nailed down for my first visit to the orphanage. But we finally have it! Mark it down: July 4, will be my FIRST official day working at the orphanage...we hope!

You see, I some how contacted a slight cold, which turned into a slight infection, but I'm taking medicine for it, however if I am not better by Sunday I'll have to tell them I won't be able to come for the safety of the children. Prayers are greatly appreciated as you can imagine!

I went to the grand opening of the new dormitories last Saturday and the benefit dinner on Sunday. I'll be posting pictures, it was so wonderful to hear the vision of the ministry! The hearts of the pastor and staff are so sold out to the loving and discipleship of the children they serve! It was so beautiful to hear them speak with such passion for their calling!

Sorry for this being such a short post, but it's late and I need to get my rest, but I will say one more thing, what I consider to be the most beautiful: The Garden of Hope

The Garden of Hope is a beautiful simple garden located just outside the new dormitories. There are 3 stone pillars surrounding it, and on them are written the names of the many people who have given $1000 or more to the ministry. There are names from all over the world! Churches, families, single people whom God has placed on their hearts to give.

The pastor said that the Garden of Hope was a very special place because it was the first place they would take a new child who came to the Home. They would take them to see the stone pillars and tell them, "Do you see those names? Those are the names of all the people who are praying for you. Those are the names of all the people who believe in you. You are no longer alone." Those last words touched me so much I started to cry as I looked at the beautiful faces of the children who were standing beside the pillars.

Jesus loved children! Oh how it must break his heart that there are approximately 100,000,000 children living on the streets around the world! If reading this small piece has moved your heart to give towards the orphanage financially here is the link by which you may do so http://www.lovehopemercy.org/giving.asp Also, only 2 of the pillars are inscribed so far, because Living Hope Community is not yet complete. The new dormitories for the children to live are only phase one of their vision. There is still MUCH to accomplish! But for $1000 or more, your name could be one of those inscribed on the third pillar.

I will be posting pictures tomorrow along with a little more information on the Esperanza Viva and their vision. Blessings!

Forever and Always,

-Sarah