Joy and sorrow in El Salvador

We are nearing the end of our work week (today is the last day of work) and it’s easy to see all the relationships that have been formed – between us as a team, with the Habitat folks and with the community.  It makes another day of hard work, a real joy to wake-up to. 

On the other hand, with new relationships comes feeling the pain of others.  Our habitat translator and new friend, Juan, lost his sister to a heart attack yesterday.  She lived in Oregon with her husband and she was only 36.  It was tough for us to see our new friend in so much pain but we (and he) were both thankful we could be here for him.  

Juan was met with warm hugs and prayer from our team.  Juan Cea Marti is the one on the right end of this pic.  Please keep him and his family in your prayers.  

We are looking forward to this afternoon when we will have the dedication ceremony (of the new homes we worked on) with the community.  There's no doubt in any of our minds the impact Habitat has made and will continue to make by coming along side to further develop this community.  

Love & blessings,

Eli, Ross & Team El Salvador

Hard work in paradise - Team El Salvador

Hard work in paradise

Day two started with at the cathedral in San Salvador where the Bishop said the mass.  Today we met more new friends from Habitat including Juan and Anna Maria.  They surprised us with an amazing welcome lunch in a residence (former coffee plantation) high in the hills that overlooked a enormous mountainous valley where El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala meet. 

Jonathan Good has joined us and our entire team has fully bonded already.  Days 3 & 4 were rather focused on the two houses we’re working to finish.  Only two days working in the heat and the team is pretty tired but in great spirits.  One team is digging a septic pit that has to be 15 feet deep and 5 feet wide.  The other team has leveled floors, dug dirt, painted and will begin laying cement tomorrow.

We fell asleep to the sound of a constant, soaking, rain last night.  The days are like paradise.  Hot , but paradise.  As we embark upon day 5, we’re a little bit more sore and a lot more grateful for this experience with our friends from Habitat!

Blessings,

Eli, Ross & Team El Salvador

CPC & Habitat in El Salvador

We made it and everyone connected without a hitch!  ...And it was so nice to finally have us all together for the first time.  Our pre-trip, team meetings could not be scheduled when everyone could make it so some of us were just meeting for the first time today.  Such a blessing to have a team of Spirit-filled, flexible, people on this adventure!

We are all very excited to learn more about Habitat this week and see what this new partnership has in-store.  We did a little shopping in the crafts market today and had a great dinner of Pupusas (an authentic El Salvadoran dish) with our new friend Luis.

Tomorrow it's off to mass (we even practiced a song - just in case) followed by lunch and then our two hour journey to Ahuachapan (the area we will be serving) begins.  Not sure what kind of WiFi will be available (if any) so posts may be limited but we'll do our best.

Feeling blessed to have the opportunity to experience El Salvador's culture together!

Blessings,

Eli, Ross & Team

We’re baaack!

Well, sort of.  Very tired and not ready to be thrown back into our respective realities so harshly but we’re all home safe, nonetheless.  For me, blogging is a challenge with an overwhelming amount of thoughts to process – not to mention no Internet connection for the majority of our time away. 

Our daily team debriefs have been amazing and emotional.  The team seems to have come away with much to think about and process.  Personally, I am thrilled to be a part of this group of new and thoughtful friends as we truly bonded over the last couple weeks - we’ve seen and shared so much together.

Packages from CPCers to our sponsored children to be delivered across miles of Moyo hills and countryside within 30 days.

While I continue to process and sift through an amazing amount of wonderful pics, please check out these great posts (and pics) from the trip by someone who does a great job capturing and sharing her thoughts… Laura Crosby. 

Thank you for sharing such inspiring thoughts, Laura! 

http://awakemysoulblog.com/2013/11/03/sitting-with-dirty-hands/ 

http://awakemysoulblog.com/2013/11/07/how-you-are-part-of-her-story/   

http://awakemysoulblog.com/2013/11/07/what-really-breaks-gods-heart/

http://awakemysoulblog.com/2013/11/09/heavy-lifting/

Many thanks for the prayers for a safe journey!  No one became ill and everything went extremely smoothly which is no small feat considering we were traveling with 13 huge duffels. Amen!

Speaking of overwhelming, the World Vision Moyo ADP office was beside themselves when they realized the amount of work they had ahead of them.  

Blessings,

Eli

A Few Thoughts About Today – From The Team

A Few Thoughts About Today – From The Team

As I sit to write this blog post, I’m realizing that I’m a bit too emotional and moved to put this entire story into words just yet.  It’s impossible to summarize what it was like to see Levincent (a boy born with paralytic polio) in his wheel chair smiling once again – let alone meeting his little brothers (Omega, Odrine and Omiza). 

Thanks to World Vision, Brian & I now sponsor Omega, Odrine is sponsored by my Aunt & Uncle and Omiza is registered (awaiting sponsorship). Levincent and his family have grown dear to me since I met them on the Moyo Countryside 3.5 years ago. I owe great thanks to World Vision for making it possible to make a difference in his life and I owe even greater thanks to God’s grace for the strength and courage Levincent has taught me. In May 2010, he was put in my path “by accident” and he has been upon my heart ever since – this past year, as I battled cancer and won I see now how he has done so much more for me than I could ever do for him.

God bless,

 - Eli

We saw the incredible impact that clean water has on a community. We visited a spot where a family had been gathering water prior to the bore hole coming to their community. World Vision is doing marvelous things in Moyo and across all Zambia.

 - Kip

The Word says that wherever two or more are gathered, the Lord is with them. Over the last week, we have been surrounded by hundreds and hundreds of brothers and sisters in Christ and the Word has truly come alive as the Holy Spirit has moved amongst us. It’s a blessing to see the many facets of God reflected in all the people made in His image. I will forever remember this experience.

-       Rebekah

We have had several great days in Zambia, and most recently have seen the wonderful works World Vision has done for the Moyo community …..a new secondary schools, clean water, a goat sharing cooperative etc.  Today is the day I’ve been waiting for! Judy and I get to meet our sponsored child, Mercy Simuyamba.  Mercy lives with her parents and 4 siblings.  Her father and mother are farmers.  They struggle to provide for their family.  Despite their efforts it is difficult for them to meet family needs.  It will be a dream come true to finally meet her in a couple of hours to tell her in person that we care for her and pray to Jesus that He will provide for her family and He will bless them with peace and comfort during difficult times.

To Ted and my family:  I miss you and can’t wait to see you!

-       Meg

It is amazing to see the smiles and joy being shared in the community.  There is so much celebration in the communities for what they have.   The CPC and World Vision partnership is truly transforming the community with the participation of the community working together.  I am surprised to the degree of the impact with the opportunity for kids to go to high school, for villages to have clean water, and for bicycles to go to school or work.  There is so much love and joy in this community, and now there is a high degree of hope.  I am so glad to participate, and see the great work firsthand.

- Ryan

This trip has been amazing.   We have learned so much about ourselves as well as the people in the rural village of Moyo, Zambia, We have spent several days visiting them,  assisted by our guides at World Vision, who work hand in hand with them, day to day.  Although the ADP is in the early stages, the progress is noticeable and measurable already. It is so impressive to see these people so filled with love, hope, and gratitude, despite the extreme poverty and hardships they face everyday.  It is very humbling for all of us.  I am looking forward to meeting my Meg and my sponsored child, Mercy, today, and developing a relationship with her, and her family.  

I do wish they had diet mountain dew here.  I did not realize how much of my energy is tied to it!  LOL 

 - Judy

Even in this most distant location, the boundless glory of God shines through. The beauty of the land and people never cease to amaze me. And even through all the difficulties of their lives, and while they are grateful for the assistance provided by World Vision, they are the first to pray for our well-being, for the safety and prosperity of our families, our businesses and our safe journey home. How people who have so little, can remain full of joy and hope, is truly a lesson for us all. God be with everyone.

 - Brian

Another great day in Moyo!

As another day comes and goes, we are again struck by the daunting challenge of putting into words the experience we are having here in Moyo. Here’s another feeble attempt. 

Our entire team has been fully engaged, very eager to ask questions of the community and World Vision as well as sharing their thoughts during our evening reflections. Every day seems to open up new horizons of insight and discovery, both general and very personal. It’s really only been a couple days in the ADP but it is already evident that the hearts of the trip participants have been forever touched.

This morning we arrived to joyful sounds of children singing in a clearing near the grade school.

The Crosbys had to leave this afternoon for Livingstone, en route to the World Vision International board meeting in Tanzania; but before they did, they had a great visit with their three sponsored children.

Glo’s had the privilege of meeting Clayton, the child she sponsors through World Vision. What she was not prepared for was the surprise she encountered when she arrived at the home. The family had been tipped off to the fact that today was her 76^th birthday, and they treated her to a beautiful rendition of “Happy Birthday to You!” She was overwhelmed with joy and awe. 

Watch Glo's birthday video here:

https://vimeo.com/78800756

Later, over 100 primary school children also sang to her.  Mike & Becky Montgomery also visited one of their sponsored children, and they said it was a wonderful experience.

Another highlight of the day was the chance to meet with a group of pastors who have formed a pastor’s fellowship, with the aim of uniting the approximately 80 worshipping congregations in Moyo around a unified vision for caring for their community. It was an encouraging experience for all of us.

Well, that’s it for now folks!

Eli & Paul

Moved and Amazed

I think I speak for the team when I say it’s almost impossible to summarize the events of this day and how much it meant to us.  Some of us are first timers to Moyo and some of us are returning – but we will all leave more tightly bonded to this place, its people and each other after today.

Our first day in the hills of Moyo was both moving and amazing. Our focus for the greater part of the day was on the dedication and celebration of the Ndondi High School.  To see this project reach completion compared to the days when we first visited (2010) when there was but a mere cinderblock outline on the ground, was surreal.  A bore hole, the science lab, boys and girls latrines and teachers housing has all since been completed. Being there alongside World Vision, government officials, Chief Moyo, teachers and students for this historic event made us feel honored and proud to be a part of such a giving community as CPC.

The remainder of the day was spent witnessing the impact of the ZWASH project (Zambia Water/Sanitation/Hygiene).  This was very important for us to see since CPC will now switch our focus from the high school to the impact of clean water in this community for the next three years.  For more info about the five life changing things World Vision is doing with the ZWASH program in Moyo click here.  http://www.theesmgroup.com/2012/what-a-differe…ish-rack-makes

But probably the most amazing part of the day was the relationships that were formed.  Greeting the Chief, meeting the World Vision staff, dancing with the locals, playing with the children and praying over Ruth (a woman living with HIV/AiDs) will not soon (if ever) be forgotten.  

We retire tonight with mixed emotions and much to ponder before our two-hour drive into the community again tomorrow when we start anew.

Please pray with us that God will do amazing things with this experience in our lives.  

Thank you for following our journey and God bless,

Eli