Upon initial mental preparation for this trip to El Salvador I was nervous, and avoided thinking about how it would be. Last time I was in El Salvador my Dad passed away and did not come back to the states with us. This was a hard moment for everyone involved, and it made me block out memories from the trip and my Spanish learning became something that I could not keep doing.
I had to surrender and give it over to the Lord, and understand that God does good things, and he was about to make a redemptive trip. It did take me praying and not avoiding emotions, so that God can turn what I was feeling into motivation and gratitude. When we landed into El Salvador I was excited, and ready to be back, I felt at home.
I have been to El Sal twice before this year (making this the third time), and every time I have came with my Dad. My Dad loved serving here, and I was reminded by friends and family how passionate he was about serving the people of El Salvador, now I too could serve like he wanted to. This trip I got to even serve in a health care assistant role, I have had a calling to the Lord about being in public health, something my Dad did. He was called to both teaching and had his masters in Public health care. I just know I made my Dad and my heavenly father proud this trip as I lived out my Dads legacy and serve the amazing precious people of El Salvador. The kids in El Sal deserve so much and have gone through much more than I can even imagine, and I’m glad God brought me out of darkness and into the light, where I can now shed hope and light onto these kids who need the Lord.