Latest update: 5.3.02

Here are my daily journal entries so that you can read a daily log as it has happened, and it won't be just broken stories...hope you enjoy!

A clickable map of everywhere we went can be found here.

Check out the photo album!

Monday, 05.14.01
      Arrival Day! The flights were beautiful, especially the northern coast of the Yucatan and the mountains of Honduras. We flew very close to some large thunderstorms, and it was nice to get that perspective of something so massive. When we stepped off the pland we were greeted with 100% humidity and hot, muggy air. We got to stand in the line for international travellers for quite some time, but once we finally got to the front, they let us pass without even charging us for tourist cards because we were going to be doing relief work for the earthquakes. They also let us all go through customs without even pushing the button that decides if they search us or not. That was awesome because it would have taken forever. God has definitely opened the doors for us here. The people are awesome, we spent the hour-long bus ride from the airport to San Salvador talking with some of the college aged students here, and sharing our broken spanish with their broken english. Some of them are rather fluent, and are going to be translating for us, and helping us to get around. Much expectantcy.

Tuesday, 05.15.01
      We had a great time of prayer and worship this morning. God gave me Isaiah 40 for the prayer time: "go up on a high mountain, lift up your voice with a shout, do not be afraid...say 'here is your God.'" We then went to a village about 20 miles to the southeast of San Salvador, which was the epicenter of the first earthquake. We did our presentation...dramas, dance, music, and shared the Gospel with the people there, and 47 people responded. Many came to know Christ for the first time, and many seeds were planted with the people. On the way back, we stopped at one of the pastors farm, the 'Promised Land.' There we played a little game of 4 on 4 mountainside soccer. They schooled us of course.. I think that a couple of them played on the national team. There was no furniture in the whole house, only hamacas (hammocks), and the toilet was just porcelin surrounded by 5 foot walls. You dipped a bucket in the basin of water beside and poured it in to flush. It was an experience, especially for the girls that had to go. The people are so hungry and receptive, and the harvest is ripe!

Wednesday, 05.16.01
      Today we went to one school twice, and had 50+ students respond to the altar calls. God is so good! After each of the services, we got mobbed by the students wanting our autographs. That was a new one for us, but a lot of fun. We also went to a mall and to the site of the landslide that made the headlines after the first earthquake. There was a heartbreaking note on one of the few remaining walls from a girl to her mother and sister who were killed in the quake. She thanked God for the small time that she got to borrow them, and thanked them for living with faith even in their last moments. It was hard for all of us to read. In the evening, we went to a place about 5 miles southeast called Devils Door, where we hiked up to the top of beautiful cliffs and watched the sunset over the sea. This is one of the few places in El Salvador to rock climb, but it is very dangerous to do because many time there are people here that will rob you of your equiptment if you are by yourself.

Thursday, 05.17.01
      Up at 5, in the Word until 6, and time with God until 7...shower, breakfast, prayer, and on the road again. This time back southeast to the flats in the foothills. We did a service in a huge city park in an ampitheatre. Many people watched and listened intently. People slowly came forward for prayer, salvation, and healing. Mimi and I prayed for a man's crooked limbs, but we could not pray for him in spanish because there are not enough translators. When we were done praying, he looked to us and said in simple spanish, 'I do not understand what you pray, but I know that it is by faith that I am Healed, and thank you for your prayers.' Then we went to a park where we met a 90 year old woman who daily sells avacados and other fruits there. She was not more than 4'6" tall, and we talked with her for a while. Then we went to a school avout 30 minutes away, played more futbol, and had a great service, with 25+ students coming forward to recive Christ. Jayson did a great job describing how sin is like a void between us and God, and without Christ, we cannot bridge that gap. A very great, but very tiring day. We're all ready for bed!

Friday, 05.18.01
      Again back to the southeast, this time near the coast where its HOT and HUMID all the time. Forgot all of our cables, they just didnt get put in the bus, but we did the service at a school with a boombox, and it still went very well. Then we headed north to a small village very far down a cobblestone and dirt road. Just a few clay brick houses and a soccer field, and a few cows. But there were hungry people there who needed a touch from God. So we borrowed a sound system from one of the pastors chuches as we drove through, and used probably the only power outled in the whole village. The service went well: dance, dramas, testimonies, and an altar call for salvation and prayer brought about 15 hungry people. Arturo said they are starting a house church here, and that this is an incredible start to that ministry. Then we headed back to Arturo's church, where we did a service in the streed that attracted a large crowd. God proved faithful as always, and even through our weakness the harves was great. Many, many testimonies of the group of healings today. Awesome!

Saturday, 05.19.01
      Slept late but didnt "sleep in" as we stayed up late. They took us to the Galleria, their bigges mall here. It is very nice, feels just like the US. I can't help but think about the poverty just outside those walls. It is very hard...much more than even in L.A. where poverty is rampant... here it is everywhere, with pools of wealth and western culture. The harsh difference is hard to get used to. Everyday you see the shantys and people struggling to survive, but there is still the americanism of McDonalds and Wendys, Chili's and Tony Roma's. Very different world. In the afternoon, we helped out with the youth service, and played futbol afterwards with the youth. Chris, Jeff, and I teamed up with Jorge (Hor-he) and Edward to play 5 v 5 against the youth. Afer a very tough 20 minute match, "Los Gringos" edged ahead 4-3 with goals from Jeff, Jorge, Edward, and Justin, backed by the strong defence of Chris. Lot of fun!

Sunday, 05.20.01
      It is hard to even describe this incredible day. We attended and ministered in three church service at 7:30am, 11:00am, and 3:30pm, all of the packing the lower floor and spilling into the balcony of a church that I would guess seats between 2 and 3 thousand. God showed up in a mighty way. James preached in all of the services, but even before, God poured out His Spirit during an intense time of worship. This church, which has 385 cell groups of about 12 people each, is very hungry for God and very full of faith. At each of the altar times the altar are was packed with people looking to God for salvation, restoration, healing, and provision. James' message about staying in the plan and will of God hit home for all of us that heard it.

Monday, 05.21.01
      La playa, the beach. We headed south to pastor Mario's "farm" on the coast. Something straight out of a travel brochure. As we stepped onto the beach, we were greeted by a beautiful horse, maybe wild, probably not, but it added that majestic feel that only comes with black sand beaches, palm trees, and waves that would make California surfers jealous. Well maybe the waves werent that great here (only about 6-7 feet, with a strong rip tide), but we were assured that only 20 minutes up the beach were the waves that El Salvador is famous for. Tried a little surfing but the rip tide is so bad that its scary to go far enough out to catch the good waves. We'll save that for another day. For now, a little body surfing and relaxing as the cool tropical rain comes, just in time for a nap in the hamaca and a cold Colachampane, our new favorite drink. Its kind of like cream soda but a lot better. We have decided that we are going to bring home as much as we can carry and think about starting an import business.

Tuesday, 05.22.01
      After a four hour bus trip south and east about 90 miles to a small town called Santa Rosa de Lima, we did a service at an outreach church of the Templo Christiano. They said this is the hottest part of the country, but we were blessed with clouds and rain, a blessing in disguise. We went throughout the dirt roads of the small community knocking on doors and inviting people to the small Templo Christiano affiliated church for a 6pm service. We did our now normal service: drama, dance, testimony, drama, testimony, worship, drama, and had an altar call. Little did we know what God had in store for us this evening. As the invitation stood unanswered for a few minutes, finally one woman stepped out of her chair to recieve prayer, and instantly the altar area was flooded with people needing prayer for every area of life. We prayed with and ministered to the people for an hour. It was an incredible time, and we got to see God move in a very real way. After dinner at the church, we headed back to the small house where we were staying for a much needed night's sleep.

Wednesday, 05.23.01
      Headed back to the village where we were yesterday and did the now 'normal' presentation at a school. The presentation was good, and the children were undoubtedly touched, but the real testimony came as we were about to leave. James, Jeff, Reiner, and I went with two translators and the pastor of the Templo Christiano affiliate church to a house behind the school to pray for some people. We really did not know what we were heading into or what to expect. In the house, there were two people that were physically handicapped since age 10, when they got a fever which left them in their handicapped states. The fever had left the man crippled and blind, and the woman crippled and almost deaf. We prayed for them, all expecting to see the blind see and the lame walk, but God had other, more important plans. We talked with them about Christ, and found out that they did not know Him. We talked a little more and they prayed a prayer accepting that Christ died for their sins and asking Him into their hearts. Then we began to talk to the rest of their family, and found that only 2 of the 7 there knew Christ as Lord and Savior. As we talked with them, one woman said that she had faith and believed in God, but that she did not want to accept Christ. As we talked and reasoned with her, out of the background came her husband weeping and pleading with her through his tears to come to Christ. He said that she knew how much Christ had changed his life, how God had delivered him from drugs and alcohol, and that she was crazy not to accept life. It was very heartbreaking to see the passion and heart with which this man pleaded with the woman he loved, and I couldn't help but think how much more God wants us to come to Him. He will do everything he can, He will reason and plead, doing everything short of taking the step for us. We must accept Christ on our own, and make him our Savior AND Lord. In the end, 3 more of the family accepted Christ, and one man reconciled his relationship. Later in the day, we went to another village, where we ministered on a futbol field. Again we walked the dirt streets inviting the people to come. At the end of the day, there was at least one salvation and many people that we prayed for. Then we picked teams, and played a great game of futbol with the nationals. 20 v 20 with a bus blocking one touch line is a different way to play, but we did have a great time.

Thursday, 05.24.01
      After a busy day and a half we are leaving Santa Rosa de Lima and heading back toward San Salvador. On the way, we detour into the mountains and rise 3200 feet past geothermal vents and over dirt roads to a small town called Berlin. Because the town is on a fault line, there was a good deal of damage during the second earthquake, and 4+ magnitude aftershocks as recent as early May. An other Templo Christiano outreach church was completely destroyed here. We did one presentation in the city park in a small ampitheatre, and had a good response. God is still faithfull through our weakness. However, I feel that we needed a new brokeness, because we are starting to get in the routine of doing this daily, and it is easy to loose focus. Reiner and I were blessed to walk around the town with Arturo and the Pastor of the TC church here and saw the destroyed church building and a couple of houses that they are looking at because the pastor's house was heavily damaged. We both counted this as a huge blessing because we got to step out of the "mininstry front" and really see what people go through on a daily basis, their needs, and their faith, even when they arent standing on steady ground. On the way out of town, we followed a dirt road for miles through a small village that was at least 75% destroyed in the earthquakes. Almost every house was simply a foundation. The people hat rebuilt from whatever materials were avaliable - wood, plastic, tarps, sheet metal, bamboo - right behind their origional houses. It was very heartbreaking, as you could see and feel the brokeness and despair in the people's faces. As the town was on top of a mountain ridge, even the school's soccer field was taken over partly to make room for sheet metal buildings so that school could resume. I a country that finds much of its joy in a game, it is hard to describe the looks in people's eyes when even that is taken away. God continues to break us and mold us, and we are so thankful. Late in the evening, Reinier and I were hanging out on the third floor of the building next door to where we were sleeping, when we felt our first earthquake. It was a small couple of jolts, but the whole building shuddered as the ceramic tiles of the roof clanked together. It was definitely a treat, but not one we want to recieve in any quantity.

Friday, 05.25.01
      Took the first shower in 5 days, which felt really good. Unfortunately it was followed shortly by very bad sickness. We did one short service in a school, and thankfully came back here for the rest of the evening off. Laid up in bed all afternoon trying to sleep this off.

Saturday, 05.26.01
      Feeling much, much better this morning, so I'm up and around again. We headed to the mall around noon for lunch and then to the market to get hamacas and other tidbits to take home. Then the real blessing for the day came. Jorge, our translator and now good friend, just happens to know one of the 50 or so radioaficionados (amateur radio operators) here in El Salvador. On the way to this friends house, we passed his parents on the road, (the father is a ham too, of course) and followed them to a church where they were going. As we pulled past the front of the church, Jorge said "There is the President." Sure enough, about 10 feet away and surrounded by gaurds was the president of El Salvador and his wife, walking into a large Catholic church for a funeral. Definitely a highlight. Because the country is so small here, it is not uncommon to see the president, but it was fun for us gringos. We took a moment to meet the radioaficionados that we were following (YS1RR), and they told us that their son was at home playing on the radios, so we headed that direction. When we arrived at the house on the side of the mountain, we got to see the antennas in all their glory. The hams reading this will appreciate the description: three towers at about 100, 75, and 60 feet, with yagis for every band down to 40 meters, and wire ants for the rest. We went inside, where we met John, YS1JR, and he gladly showed us to the family shack. Very nice indeed. As we were very short on time, he wasted no time in offering me the operators chair, and pointing the 7 element 20M yagi north into the states. With that, I roused Gene, WY5J, in Fort Worth from the Maritime net on 14.300, and he gladly gave me patches into Dallas and Weatherford, allowing me talk to Pat and Mom. It was great to get the word back to the States that I was back up and about again. About halfway through the contact, I heard the locals laughing in the background, and I glanced at the meter of the Alpha 87A amplifier. I will just say that I have never run that much power before, and probably never will. Just edging the legal limit, of course. John invited us back for breakfast and some operating next saturday morning, so look for us to check into the maritime net or intercon on 14.300. Then we helped out with the youth service, and ate dinner at Chilis. Great day!

Sunday, 05.27.01
      They let us sleep through the 7:30 service, but we attended the next two services, and it was a great day. In the evening, the youth took us out to Pizza Hut (yeah, I know, it sounds like we're in America, but I gaurentee you that Chili's did NOT taste like Chili's).

Monday, 05.28.01
      Back to pastor Mario�s place at the beach. Pastor Arturo took us to one of the best surfing places in the country, but it was at low tide so the waves weren�t very good. He said that he might bring us back one day before we leave to try our hands at the big waves. Mostly we just hung out and did a little body surfing, again taking into account the strong rip tide. Good times though, and the sun was out this time so we were all trying to loose the farmer�s tan that is prevalent from the ministry days in the sun.

Tuesday, 05.29.01
      Headed back to near where we were last friday. At the morning service at school, the group favorite was James and Jayson and their siamese twin characters happy and slappy. In the afternoon, we headed back to the school we were at friday, and ministered to the afternoon crowd there. Then, as always, it was time for a little futbol and playing with the kids. Today was the departure day for Reinier (look his name is a palindrome) and Ben, and we miss them already. However, its good to see new faces with the arrival of Scott, Dustin, and Christie. In the evening, we headed to one of our translator�s houses to join his cell group for the evening. The Holy Spirit moved greatly as Jayson talked about stepping out in the gifts of the spirit. Then we ate the biggest variety of seafood that I have ever seen. When we got back to the church, we had an awesome time of prayer and worship to welcome those who just arrived.

Wednesday, 05.30.01
      Today we headed southeast to a town called San Vicente, which was heavily damaged by the earthquakes. In the town square there is a large clock tower that is still standing about 75 ft tall, but is heavily damaged. It looks as though it will fall anytime, but the government is waiting for the time to bring it down. We were told to steer clear of it for the time being. We did a service in the corner of this park, and the most notable time was Tracy doing the ninja for the "Dont Touch" skit. She came out and yelled right in a man�s face, and he yelled right back at her. For lunch, we had dominoes (really the only nice place in town), and they took us to a cancha (field) to play a little futbol. The gringos held up again, this time routing the nationals 5-1. Then we did a service in a school, and started the 2 hour bus ride home. We were all tired and ready for bed by the time we made it.

Thursday, 05.31.01
      Dont have the journal with me so I'll get to this day a little later.

Friday, 06.01.01
      Only one service for today, but by far the biggest one yet, and we just had to travel across the street to the chuch. We did the normal presentation for the students of the school that the church supports. It was by far the funniest service yet, as Jayson ran down screaming from the balcony for the Dont Touch skit and Dan played the secret agent man rolling around on the floor. The David and Goliath skit was accented by The Bear (Chris) doing Kung Fu and the Matrix moves as he was slain by david. The fun preceded a great message from Jason about walking in God's plan. The students impressed us with their faith as they joined us in praying for their classmates. A good day, ended by the Civil wedding ceremony of Mike Blandino and Jese�a Florez. The real wedding is in October, but they had to get this out of the way so that they could start the immigration paperwork for Jese�a.

Saturday, 06.02.01
      Day of rest and practice for our drama for the Sunday services, and the youth service in the afternoon. Tried to get back with YS1JR for breakfast and a little operating, but we couldnt drag him out of bed in time. It seems that its no different here or in the states.. Sabado (Saturday) is the day to sleep in. Once again we attended the youth service, and Dustin preached on breaking the chains of sin. The young people of this church amazed us once again as they came forward for prayer and healing, and were incredibly touched by God. Despues, a little futbol ending with the natives edging us 6-4 in a very good game. Not to mention that they had a national team player!

Sunday, 06.03.01
      Once again we hit up 3 services in a day, and were all touched as Mike preached a message on missions in the 3:30 service. I urge you as he did us... take two weeks, go on a missions trip. It is a challenge that God has called us all to, to take the Gospel to the nations. It may not be your calling or your full time ministry, but take two weeks out of your busy life in the next year or two, and allow God to use you to touch the nations. It is only a few seconds a day spread out over your lifetime... make it worth it!

Moday, 06.04.01
      Its a tough job, but someone has to do it. We headed to a club at the beach where Luis has a membership, and we were blessed to be at a beautiful resort. Arturo took Scott, Dan, and I to the best surfing spot in the country, and we all did our best on the small waves at low tide. Then back to the club for a little more surfing and resting. Good day to relax!

Tuesday, 06.05.01
      Today we pointed the cars north for our final village trip, and after 1.5 hours on good roads we pulled over in front of the home base of the 4th Infantry Batillion of the Salvadoran Army. Arturo said "OK brother, we do one presentation here, and if they dont like you... (makes gun noises and motions as if he is shooting an automatic weapon)." Ha Ha good joke guys. "No really, we are going to eat here," they respond. Well, I figured that couldnt be too bad, just eating with these guys, it must just be a normal thing to do here in El Salvador. As we pull up to the gate, however, we find that they have been waiting for us for 2 hours and that we truly are doing a presentation. As we pull up in front of the barracks, Pastor Mario grabbed me and said he needed me to look and see if their sound system was enough for us to use. As we walked around the corner, I was greeted by about 700 of El Salvador's finest, dressed in full field uniforms, M-16 included, waiting patiently for us. After discovering that their sound system was not enough, we set up ours and got on with the presentation. I had the awesome opportunity to share what God has done in my own life. It was an exciting experience for me personally. The response to the presentation was minimal at first, but as they were dismissed many of the enlisted men and officers came to us for prayer. After we packed up, the Commanding Officer (CO) of the base treated us to a fine lunch in the officer's mess hall. We quickly learned that the CO was a member of Templo Christiano, and he offered us to stay the night and take advantage of all the base had to offer. Unfortunately, we had to be on our way, and the kindness of the people there was soon another memory. Quickly, the road turned up into the mountains and degraded to dirt and rock. After an hour of fighting the mud, cattle, and dogs that call the roadway home, we arrived in La Laguna, and Meg, Jeff, Chris, Jenni, and Rachel did the worship for that evening's church service at the Templo Christiano satellite church. Dustin preached a strong message, and after a night of ministry, we headed to the pastor's house for dinner and showers, and then back to the church for much needed rest, after battling with the bugs and the scorpion.

Still working on it!

Wednesday, 06.06.01
      La laguna, up at 5, The mountains are beautiful. Service at a school, then hiking at a waterfall, minister on the streets and then hiked to the top of a mountain till sunset. A couple of people get saved... one on top of the mountain, on the streets in the rain. The best day of the trip!

Thursday, 06.07.01
      One outreach at a school, which is the last outreach, and we drive home, and stop to get Hamacas.

Friday, 06.08.01
      Today we started working with Christ Church, and we help to build two churches. One of them we had the privelidge of excavating rocks in order to dig for the foundation. Very tiring day.

Saturday, 06.09.01
      We had the day off, so we headed out to the west side of the country to some ruins. Hey, we can now say that we've played baseball on some ancient Mayan (Incan?) Ruins. If you hit the ruin it was a home run :^).

Sunday, 06.10.01
      church

Monday, 06.11.01
      Again we are working with Christ Church, and we leveled a pad for a church, Had to pull out the ancient engineering techniques of a water level in order to get it, and it ended up within an inch over an 80x40 foot area. Plus, we finished so early that we went to Izalco and Santa Ana Vocanoes

Tuesday, 06.12.01
      A free day again (ok so we did play alot). Plus some closing ceremonies if you will with the locals.

Wendnesday, 06.13.01
      Good flights and good reunions at the airport. Glad to be home and in a comfortable bed!

Justin

Quotable: "Dele, dele, dele, metalo ni�o, metalo" -Jorge

"Why is the whole congregation starting at us?" -Mimi
"Because they want you to get up and sing." -Edward
"RIGHT NOW?!?!" -Mimi