Great things in February

It's a true honor and joy to share with you all the latest update since last month! The most exciting thing is that this week we began the first ever volleyball ministry! It is called "Escuela Formativa de Voleibol" (Volleyball Training School), in keeping with our already established soccer school. This volleyball ministry is located in the same area where our main/big soccer school is (Altavista), however is only offered to the girls of the community. As of now we have two groups, ages 10-12 who practice M & W and 13-15 year olds who practice T & TH. We had about 16 girls, in total show up and are praying for more girls to get involved. As I mentioned, nothing like this has ever been available to girls in this area and it is super exciting to provide a new opportunity to these young ones. We hope to create a safe and open environment where the girls can not only learn the sport of volleyball, but most importantly learn values, positive life applications and encounter God's love for them. Please pray for wisdom for Becky and I, so that we may lead this girls in the right direction toward God, and be more than just volleyball coaches, but coaches for life. I also ask that you could be praying for a local woman(women) who actually live there in the community that would be committed to helping us, and caring/investing in these girls on and off the court. Below are some pictures from our first day!

The time is getting closer to receiving our teams! I have been really really busy with coordinating and planning all the details for the short-term teams that our base will receive. I'm very excited to work with the teams as they are a big blessing to the local base and provide opportunities to go outside of the normal ministries and put on special events or other activities that we may not always get to do. As exciting as it is, planning and getting things set up also requires lots of work and time. Please pray for the energy and peace to not get overwhelmed if things don't line up in the exact timing that I may want. God has for sure been teaching me through this role, how to rely on Him and not get anxious about the future-just take one day at a time because "today has enough trouble of its own". 

Our base has received 2 missionaries who will serve for 2 and 3 months, perspectively. Their names are Emily and Malachy, and we are very grateful to have them here. Below is a picture of them (along with one of our local missionaries, Cristian). Its our prayer that God would grow and mature them in Christ and that they can play an important role in the big picture of what God is doing here with the people we serve.

I want to thank you all for your constant support, love, encouragement and intercession. Please do not think that it is simply a small or insignificant thing. You have no clue what a HUGE part of the story you play in God's kingdom here in El Salvador. Praise the Lord, He has kept me safe and allowed me to do what I do...and I know it is because of the prayer that you all are covering me in. Words cannot express how grateful I am. Lately, I have been missing family and being home a bit, but knowing that I have the greatest support system ever...I find comfort in that alone-so, thank you!

My last prayer request is for El Salvador in general. This country needs peace and restoration that only God can bring. Please pray for God to touch peoples hearts and turn them from bad to good...that the violence would cease and all would come to know God's amazing and redeeming love.

Please, please, please let me know how I can be praying for YOU! It really is important to me to be praying for you as well, so don't hesitate to send me an email so I can know how you are and how I can be supporting you too!

Love you all so so much!!

Lauren :)