Anyway….

Luke and I had a week together that we will remember for the rest of our lives. I sit here, as tears literally begin to flood my eyes, because I was given the opportunity to see things that I wish you all could have seen. Despite how crazy it would be to have every single one of you with us on the trip, I can see and believe that together, as the body, we could go down to El Salvador and go to this country not to help them ‘get back on their feet’ (because they are already standing on something more SOLID than that of countries such as the US, who are “successful”), but we could go there to share in their joy, be discipled by pastors, families, and children who understand what the power of faith is really like, and then come back to our country here in the “United” States of America, and really begin to put powerful, FAITH-driven feet to action for the passion for change that I believe resides in the heart of every single one of you. This is where I am now. I am only one person, but I pray that you catch the vision God has given me to be a willing broken vessel, used in such a way to shake the nations of the world.

But first of all, I need to tell you today…this country is going to be used. It is BEING used.

***They are weak in the eyes of the world. They are struggling to be rebuilt and cleaned up. But they are NOT what you see. They ARE, what resides within their hearts. I saw nothing but the joy of Jesus living fully alive in a dirty, non-attractive country of the world. I saw Jesus living in huts with no showers. I saw Jesus teaching children who have no resources how to bake! I saw Jesus taking care of the widows and sick. I was hugged by Jesus, as Paul (our group leader) said, sooo many times. Scripture BECAME ALIVE yet again…. “Whatever you do for the least of these, you do unto ME” (Matthew 25) Just so you know…Jesus is the BEST hug-giver =) !!!!!!!! Don’t hold ‘em back, pple! HUG HUG HUG!! =)

But really…they HAVE what matters!
FAITH.

If there is one thing that I have learned, and that God has taught me through placing me in the music industry and music ministry, it is the fact that God USES the weak. He has told me to stop looking for comfort and rest in feeling like I will be “accomplished” enough at some point to really feel like I can do it…but to EMBRACE my weaknesses, and surrender them to the Lord, because it is in our weakness, that He chooses to use us. I have a whole story that I would love to share about how God has chosen what I feel weak in to use most powerfully in my life, but I will save that for my next blog =) Don’t let me forget, because it is on my heart to share it with you. Right now there are just other issues that I want to share that I am deeply passionate about…that even I fear to forget.

Countless times did I see the face of a child who had no father. Many times did I see their “homes” where all it consisted of was the dirty ground beneath their feet and a couple pieces of metal scraps vertically placed to resemble shelter. They have no opportunity for their life to be about what they want. But they don’t even think about that. They don’t care about that. They love to care about their families. They love to care about their church. They love to care about their community. They love to be selfless. They live with no mirrors.

One family I visited consisted of 4 children. No parents. Because of the death of their mother one year ago (she fell from their roof while trying to fix it), the eldest daughter had to step into the role of “Mom” and care for her siblings. Although she was 18, she had to give up her dreams and aspirations to leave the poor community, because she had to take care of her much, much younger bother and 2 sisters. She gave it all up for them. But let me tell you…She was one of the HAPPIEST girls I met all week! Truly. She had more joy than I have seen in the face of wealthy people. She had more joy than I have seen in mine, and even your face. I promise. This joy is unteachable. Unexplainable. This joy is filled with everything that everyone is searching for. Striving for. Love. Peace. Joy. Contentment. Freedom. Happiness. Kindness. Patience. Goodness. Justice. Think about what desire is in your heart, and know that what she had, was greater than that. In her one room home (the same one she saw her mom die right out in front of) the sister-mother of 3 young kids, the sacrifice of her life for theirs….All this and more “stuff” is her story..but clearly evident was it that she was not depressed. She was NOT even close to it. But in it’s place, she was more happy than I have seen on the face of all people in the United States.

Her life…is full.

Although she has no mother, a father who left and never returned…she has filled all the holes with one thing, and one thing only. Jeshua. Jesus. He is everything to her. She is everything, in Him, and her life reflects this in ways indescribable. She lives by the daily provision of the Lord. No questions asked! No doubting involved. She KNOWS he will provide. She HAS FAITH.

How can this be? This was not only her story, but the same for ALL children that I saw this week. The same for EVERY family I saw and talked to. There is a backbone being formed and strengthened within this community that NO ONE can break. That NO ONE can touch.

God is using and will use El Salvador to change the world. He will use the kids who are being sponsored by Compassion International to build a church within the world that is run by faith, and not law. This community WILL reach you–in one way or another, if you know it or not.

I am scared by our love of success and stability. God is very fervent in the Word how many times he tells us that he is going to use the WEAK to shame the STRONG. Countless times has he said this. So many of us live our lives striving for all the success we can attain in the world…all the while denying our ‘weaknesses’ (perhaps THE gifting that God has given each of us, whether it is a hidden love for something no one knows about, or whether it be something that you consider your ‘hobby’ but would LOVE to do all the time–but for lack of ‘ability’, you don’t pursue it and use it). Knowing this, I can’t help but think about how contorted our ’system’ is here in the US. I believe the majority of people in the US would be considered these “strong” people God is referring to in scripture. That means we are due for some shaming by the “weak”..and I SAW these people in El Salvador this week. They understand living by faith…and there will be a day when people such as themselves will put people who find comfort in success to shame.

There is so much more I want to share with you guys..but I’ll wrap this up for tonight and put up some more within the next couple days and weeks as I digest what God showed me this week. =)

we are so blessed. be careful.

in Grace,
h*