July Update

So I am a little behind on this months update but I will be able to give you a good recap on the entire month.

As I talked about in my last update, these summer months have been extremely busy for our base as many mission teams come down from the US to serve with us. It has been such a blessing to host and lead these teams and I have enjoyed even more being a bridge between the two cultures (something that I hope to always be able to do). I have enjoyed seeing my fellow brothers and sisters from my own country come down to El Salvador and watch the growth they've experienced, see eyes being opened, and the beauty of 2 cultures serving each other. It was a special treat for me towards the end of this month becuase a family that I know well was able to serve down with CFCI for a week. It was definitely a special time since I personally knew them and was able to be part of their first mission trip.

As great as these months have been, I'm definitely glad that it is only a season because I could definitely use the break. Myself and other coworker, Josue, have been non-stop with teams since the beginning of June until yesterday. I am certainly looking forward to the break and back to my "normal" schedule.

Some really exciting news is that my parets are coming down to visit me for the first time, starting tomorrow!! Although it will be a short trip, I am BEYOND excited to share a few days with them here in El Salvador and also be able to celebrate my 25th birthday with them this Sunday. To say I have missed my family would be an understatement. I thank God for allowing them and providing the way for them to come and visit me.

A quick update on the status of the country: El Salvador could defnitely use you constant prayers. Although God is so faithful in protecting me and our entire organization, ES has had an increase in the "war" bewteen the government/police and the gangs here. It saddens me to hear and see all that is going on in such a beautiful country, filled with lovely people. This is for sure a miracle that only God can pull off, but we are praying for peace in this country..that God would intervene in peoples hearts to turn towards Him and bring about change from the inside out. I know that this country is not lost and it just makes me want to bring a smile, a hug, a word of encouragement all the more to the hurting people. Please pray for the kids/youth of this country...that they would be protected and find/follow the good path that God desires for them. Pray for the adults in this country, that they would be good examples to those around them and turn their faces to God. Pray for the gangs...that God would intervene in their lives and change their ways. Pray for the government leaders...that they would be wise in their decisions and truly put this country's best interest ahead of anything else.

I can't think you enough for your generosity in supporting me. God is so kind and has been taking care of me in more ways than I can even grasp. Thank you for your interest and investment in my life and what God is doing here in El Salvador. I will leave you with some pictures that I have taken during this month.

May God bless you in abundance!

Lauren :)

Gringo Season!

Happy Summer to everyone! As my title describes, we are in full swing with our mission trip teams as school is out and the "gringos" are taking the time to come serve with us here in El Salvador. This has left me extremely busy as I help oraganize and lead the mission teams that our base receives. We will have 3 teams in the month of June alone with 10 days being the shortest time frame. It's a blessing to have people come down to share their passions and skills with the people we serve here and also relieve the local team as well. We have been able to do a few medical campaigns in much needed areas, various kids activities and outreaches. Here are a few pictures of some of the teams in action.

An update on our volleyball girls: every practice they not only are improving on their volleyball skills, but more importantly in their attitudes and behavior. I have really seen a difference in these girls from when we started in February. They more easily forgive, don't fight/get mad nearly as often and teamwork is increasing. Through the generosity of a good family friend, we were able to purchase uniform tops for the girls. Although there are no girls volleyball leagues where they could actually play a game against someone else, having a uniform makes the girls feel like they are really part of something special, boosts their confidence, and also can help us to show the community and other girls that we exist and have something great to offer for them. Thank you for your generosity and prayers!

I would really appreciate your prayers for myself and coworker, Josue during these summer months. We have a really large amount of teams and people coming to serve us and it is a lot of work on top of our normal ministries and service. There are really no days to rest for us and one team comes in right after the other and it has already been exhausting for us. Please pray for the strength, energy, and joy to serve these mission teams and the people of El Salvador. Here is a picture of me and Josue as we lead the group.

Thank you a million times for helping me to remain here in El Salvador and serve God in this way. It's a true honor and I never would have thought I could love El Salvador and the ministry more than I  already did. I feel blessed every morning to be here and I could not continue any of this without your constant support. Thanks!

With much love,

Lauren :)

Happy May

Hello!

Lots to update you all on...so here we go:

Volleyball: Our girls finally earned their "All-nighter/Pajama Party" that I wrote about in my last update. Words cannot even describe their excitement. I think the thing that caught me off guard most was that many of these girls have never swam in a pool before and some had never even been in an elevator...things that we do very often in the States are luxuries for some of the girls that we coach. Thanks to our last team, the Northrup family, for donating tons of backpacks! We were able to give these out as rewards for participating on the team and working hard to earn the party. Here are a few pictures below. Prayer Request: Our 13-15 year old age group has been a little tough for us to keep interested and has dwindled down to 2 girls...although we know God doesn't care about numbers, but quality, we are praying for wisdom to know how to attract more girls to the program and if we should change things up to what would better suite the community and girls at this age. Once girls hit about 13 years old they start turning their focus away from innocence and it's much harder to reach out to them. Please be in prayer with us for them and for wisdom.

Short-term teams: We currently gave our 3rd short term mission team in this week. Tracy is studying to be a Physical Education teacher and has been helping us out in varying ministries to show that sports/physical activities cross borders and can break down any barriers. We have had a lot of fun playing games with the kids and their smiles are priceless. Below is a picture of Tracy with the Kindergarten kids. As June and July approaches we have a lot of short term teams that will come down and it is a lot of planning and many details and energy that go into hosting a team. Prayer Request: For wisdom in how to best plan each and every team...for their hearts to be prepared to serve and for open hearts of those children, youth, and adults who will be able to share time with these teams. 

My life: As some of you may have heard or seen on Facebook..I was able to come home for a few days to celebrate my Dad's big 60th birthday. For those of you who know my Dad, keeping secrets is not one of his strengths...however, he managed to keep it from my Mom and youngest brother, Thomas. It was so cool to be able to spend a few days with my family and some friends. I wish I could have visited with all of you but it was such a spur of the moment trip and so short that I wasn't able to do so. However, I'm so grateful that God allowed that door to be open and it was an awesome time. Here was a picture we took of the family at the Lake. Prayer Request: For wisdom in decisions and not getting stressed out about small things.

Please continue to pray for peace in El Salvador. New laws have been passed in order to help deter the violence and such, so pray that the government can make good decisions but more importantly that God takes control and draws people close to Him.

As always, please contact me to let mw know how you are and how I can be praying for you! It gives me great joy to be able to catch up with you all! Thank you for your consistent prayers and support for me! Forever grateful!

Big hugs,

Lauren :)

Monthly Update

As I sit here reflecting on the past month since I last wrote an update...2 words can sum everything up...God's Faithfulness.

From a financial standpoint, God moved in a few people's heart to generously give in what was the perfect timing. I am so grateful that I have truly never been in need as I rely on God to sustain me while living as a missionary, as He nudges people to sow into what I'm able to be part of in El Salvador. It just astounds me to see how God can truly take care of you when you just entrust Him with everything, and it humbles me to have so many wonderful people surrounding me that are right by my side as we partner together. Words cannot express how grateful I am to those of you who are diligently praying for me, concerned for me, and financially give.

Another example of God's faithfulness has been with our second team that we received. A Father and 3 of his daughters spent the week with us during Semana Santa (that is Holy Week, leading up to Easter). They put on soccer clinics, taught guitar, and spent time in community with the volleyball girls and other local missionaries. It was so evident to see what a positive impact this family had on not only the people we serve, but also the local missionaries that are part of Christ For the City El Salvador. God used their talents and heart to bless our ministries here tremendously and I am so privileged that I get to be part of the action and see the blessings unfold before my eyes. It really is unexplainable. God is so faithful in how he orchestrates timing and the interaction of His children.

One last update is that we have implemented a "rewards" system within our volleyball school and it's been awesome to see small changes in the values of these girls. We have 6 categories of values that we are daily reminding the girls to focus on: Working in a team, Encouragement, Participation, Positive Attitude, Paying Attention, and Responsibility. These were the six areas where Becky and I could see after our first month of practices, that the girls needed work in. It's been so awesome to genuinely see the girls change and be better in these areas. We believe that these are Godly values and our prayer is to train these girls up in the ways of the Lord. There is however, a bit of a motivation. If the girls complete the entire page of blank boxes with stickers, then they win a Pijama Party! We are so close to completing our goal and I can't wait to share with you next update how it went!

Here are a few prayer requests of mine:

-Pray for a local woman or women in Altavista (where our volleyball school is at) who would have a heart to be part of the school and make an investment into these girls lives alongside Becky and I.

-Prayers for myself to not get overwhelmed with all of the planning and work to do in preparation for the many many mission teams that we will receive May-August.

-Pray for God's peace and healing in the country of El Salvador.

-Pray that all of us here at CFCI would be bold in proclaiming God's wonderful love and salvation.

Please keep me updated on how YOU are doing! I love hearing from you guys!

Blessings,

Lauren

Here we go....

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this month's update! I absolutely love sharing with you guys the things that God has been doing in my life and through the lives of others. I know that without your love, prayers, support, and encouragement none of this would be possible. So I thank you for sharing in this adventure with me. Not a day goes by without being so grateful for what God is allowing me to be part of.

So what's new with the girls volleyball ministry? Now that we have a month under our belt, we are really starting to see the girls warm up and be more open with us. Becky (the other American missionary who coaches with me) and I are doing our best to also be open with them and gain their trust so that we can be an influence for good in their lives. It's exciting to see this start to happen, but also just astounding once we start knowing them more. What some of these girls home lives are like just baffle me. Often times behavior is directly connected with the home life...and it makes total sense on why some girls may have attitudes, or get frustrated easily, etc. We have already heard comments of parents who hit them when they do something wrong, or one parent is in jail because they were part of a gang, and other difficult situations. The reality here that these young girls have to deal with is astounding and something no one should ever have to go through. We are grateful that God has been allowing us to find teaching moments within the trainings. Although volleyball is the reason why these girls come and one of our goals is to teach them this sport, the main reason is to teach them God-values and pour love into their lives so that they may also find the hope that is in Jesus and be a difference-maker in the world. Please be praying for the girls home lives, that they start grasping the concept of who Jesus really is, and that Becky and I and continue to stay intentional and wise as we spend time with these girls.

Last week marked the first mission team that the El Salvador base received this year! We had a nurse from Texas who served with us for a week and truly blessed our ministries. We visited an Island for 3 days where she gave education for midwives, pregnant and young mothers. The Island where CFCI works at is in huge need and lacks a lot of education. Having Jana working with these women was a blessing to all involved. Part of my "job" has been the  coordinating and communications with the teams that we receive, but I also get to be part of the fun once they get here. It's incredible how God blessed ME through this week of serving others outside of our "normal" ministry activities. I will admit though that it is extremely tiring since the week is jammed pack, schedule-wise. I am praying for rejuvenation of energy and rest as we prepare for our next next team the end of this month. Please pray for peace and strength as we gear up for this next team...it makes things really really busy and I don't want to get caught up in the details and end up putting God on the back-burner...as we so often can do.

This is the first of several teams that our base is going to have serving with us this year. I ask for prayers in knowing how to best organize each team so that they are serving with passion and blessing those we work with. 

I personally have been in a state of awe and wonder with who God is and how He blesses me beyond what I deserve. Not just in the good times, but also in the stressful and not so fun things. It is all about a choice....do we choose joy and choose to live in God's presence everyday, or do we choose to be dictated by circumstances? I'm finding that the more I choose to look through Jesus' perspective with an attitude of appreciation, the more joyful I am and the better that day is! I encourage you to choose the things of God, and not of ourselves.

Please please please write me, ask me questions, and let me know how I can be praying for you!!! It would make me so happy!! :)

Much love,

Lauren

Girls from the Island Community

Our fantastic 4 girls from the 13-15 year old group.

Maritza, Jazmin, Vanessa, & Jazmin

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 :)