Hello From El Salvador!
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and I am sure the shopping is underway for the next big holiday. I made Thanksgiving dinner here and then also got together with a bunch of other American for another dinner.
Things have really been exciting. First, I have great news! I am now a legal resident of El Salvador!!! All the paperwork is finished and I am good to go!!! That was a year long process, but thank the Lord, it is now over and I can move on to other things.
The Crisis Center is just unbelievable. We had an outreach event there in Oct and had over 300 children and 200 women turn out for our event. What a blessing that day was!!! Here is a link of Facebook for the photos and commentary: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=40276&id=1363456726&l=f75c640b31 Truly the lives of many women were touched that day. There were women who shared with us hurts from many years past and also hurts they were currently experiencing. We were able to pray with them and counsel with them as well. They were so glad to know there were other women who cared about them. The abuse to women in this country is so great. It was reported in the news last week that so far this year, 511 women have been murdered in domestic situations. That is more than 10 a week!!! Incredible need for help here. So the Center will be a great resource here. I have posted a few videos on Facebook for you to see the progress there. The building has truly been transformed. It was a building that had not been used for quite some time, except for storage and so it was incredibly dirty. The floor has been replaced, many coats of paint have been put on the walls and lots of physical cleaning took place to get it into shape. Here is the link to view the videos. http://www.facebook.com/inbox/readmessage.php?t=1192303650213#/video/?id=1363456726 There are three parts, so be sure to view them all.
I also had the opportunity to visit the Childrens Hospital here. Not sure I will ever be able to go again. My heart physically hurt after being there. Nothing like a hospital in the States and we visited every floor taking toys, clothing, pampers, and other items for the children. I prayed with mothers whose children had cancer and it was a day I will never forget. To view photos and commentary from this event, please follow this link: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=40732&id=1363456726&l=e8134563c0
In the beginning of November, this country was devastated by the effects of Hurricane Ida. We received records amount of rain in a very short time. This country is very mountainous and also has lots of volcanoes. The mountains and volcanoes could not hold all the water, nor shed it fast enough. So as a result, the sides of the mountains and volcanoes literally fell off and slid down into villages and even here in the city where I live. Hundreds of people lost their lives and tens of thousands lost their homes. There was a great call for food and water to the places where people had nothing. I had never seen such devastation in my life. I was able to go and take items to the area of Guadalupe. This is a rural area and a very poor area. Here is a link to view the photos and commentary from that outing. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=41688&id=1363456726&l=24b8a5a959 In these poor areas, there is still no water available and a shortage of food. THANK YOU to those of you who have contributed to my next trip there to offer assistance. There will be a need for quite some time as these areas are remote and there are no government resources here to help. And you can't just load up your car and go. The military is controlling the number of people entering certain areas to prevent theft and also to make sure the visit and donation is legitimate. So permits are required.
This past month has been a very busy one. I know I have posted a lot of information for you to view, but I want you to see what YOU are a part of here. I have seen so much this past month, things I never thought I would see, and I know I am changed forever. Just to see so much pain and destruction that words cannot even begin to describe. I thank you for being a part of the work here. I am blessed to be here and am your hands extended. Thank you, as always, for your prayers and support. Without them, I could do nothing. My prayers is to be able to continue my work here and to able to do even more. My motivation is that lives here need to be changed. It is nothing I can do, but something He can do.
May God Bless you and your families as we work together here in El Salvador.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Hello from El Salvador.
I hope everyone is doing well. Everything here is just beyond imaginable. We have been given such favor!!!
But first, here is the link I promised in my last post for the other television interview I did while in the States. The website is www.wtjr.org. You then look for the "media" tab and a drop-down menu will appear. Click on "video on demand" and then look for the following: Above_and_Beyond001_Wed09232009
An update on my Immigration papers. They officially expired on 9 October because Abigail Association still needs one signature from the government and they have told us it will be coming soon. But in the meantime....I needed some help. It just so happened that I had an unexpected meeting with the wife of the Director of Immigration. She herself happens to be a judge. While we were talking with her, I was able to explain my situation with Immigration. She pulled her cell phone out of her purse, called up her husband and said, (in Spanish, of course) "Honey, grant this lady residency." He told me I needed to write him a letter, explaining my situation and he would take care of it. Bottom line, after he reviewed my case, he said he cannot "kick me out of the country because I am here doing good." So he asked only for a current police report from here, which takes 10 days and a messy fingerprinting, and then it will be done. The blessing of all this is that my papers from the States and from here will remain active (most of them are a year old now) and will be used for my residency. Those papers costs mega bucks which is why I have wanted them to remain active as long as possible!!!! So another blessing from the Lord.
As for Abigail.....wow!!! We have moved almost everything from the old house to the new house and Crisis Center. I have removed almost all the old flooring from the Crisis Center (it was in horrible condition!!!!) and thanks to Freedom Worship Center, we will be installing a new ceramic floor next week!!!! A BIG THANK YOU to FWC!!!! There is an existing office, two bathrooms, and two storage rooms. The entire space is over 1300sq ft. The next step will be to build a kitchen, an office for the doctor and for counseling, and a sleeping room for a woman and also a baby. This all will take time and money, so we are in a process. Please pray for everything that we need to come in at the right time.
We are planning a HUGE outreach event at the Crisis Center on 31 October. We are having people from the area sign up so we can plan and so far it looks like we will have over 300 kids and over 150 women. And they still have a few more days to sign up. WOW!!! Not bad for our first event at that location. We will be having food and fun for the kiddies and teaching for the ladies. Please pray for us that day!!! It will be a wonderful opportunity for us to feed over 500 people in one day both physically and spiritually. We have permission to close off the street and use that area. The Crisis Center will have its new floor and there are 8-10 metal picnic tables in front that I want to paint as well before the event. All the children will receive little gift bags with toys and candy. We are working on what to give the women. I am sure I will be able to post a wonderful report from this event!!!
The new house/shelter is in excellent condition. It only needs a fresh coat of paint. A lady agreed to purchase the paint if I would paint it. Bring it on, I said!!! So that will happen in the first part of November. I can paint it, we then can get the furniture arranged and make it ready for ladies to stay there safely.
Other things that have been happening. We found a little old lady in a town called San Miguel, which is about 2.5 hours from where I live. She wanted some chickens to raise. So a few weeks ago, we took her some chickens. Come to find out, she did not have any place for them to stay at night and she was keeping them on a string in her kitchen. Now granted, it had a dirt floor, but still.... that is just not right. So I went back and built her a chicken coop. I am very proud of this project, since it was the first time I had attempted anything like that. But both she and the chickens were pleased. It was in an extremely hot area of El Sal and so I did not have a dry thread on me. After digging holes for posts, mixing and pouring concrete for the posts, making the frame and door and then finally putting the wire around it all, I was hot, tired, and very dirty. I asked her if there was a place I could take a shower because I did think to take a change of clothes. She took me to a little room with a hole in the ground and gave me a bucket of water and a bowl. It took me a few minutes but I figured out how to take a shower. So an experience indeed. I loved it!!!!!
There are so many little things that happen here every day, but I cannot list them all. But every day is filled with blessings and opportunities to reach out to others. And most days are also filled with some sort of adventure, which I love. Even taking a shower from a bucket can be an adventure. Thank you, Everyone, for being part of the work here in El Salvador. These people truly need you and I need you! Together we are a Team reaching out our hands to help others. May God continue to bless you as you are a blessing to so many.
Janis
I hope everyone is doing well. Everything here is just beyond imaginable. We have been given such favor!!!
But first, here is the link I promised in my last post for the other television interview I did while in the States. The website is www.wtjr.org. You then look for the "media" tab and a drop-down menu will appear. Click on "video on demand" and then look for the following: Above_and_Beyond001_Wed09232009
An update on my Immigration papers. They officially expired on 9 October because Abigail Association still needs one signature from the government and they have told us it will be coming soon. But in the meantime....I needed some help. It just so happened that I had an unexpected meeting with the wife of the Director of Immigration. She herself happens to be a judge. While we were talking with her, I was able to explain my situation with Immigration. She pulled her cell phone out of her purse, called up her husband and said, (in Spanish, of course) "Honey, grant this lady residency." He told me I needed to write him a letter, explaining my situation and he would take care of it. Bottom line, after he reviewed my case, he said he cannot "kick me out of the country because I am here doing good." So he asked only for a current police report from here, which takes 10 days and a messy fingerprinting, and then it will be done. The blessing of all this is that my papers from the States and from here will remain active (most of them are a year old now) and will be used for my residency. Those papers costs mega bucks which is why I have wanted them to remain active as long as possible!!!! So another blessing from the Lord.
As for Abigail.....wow!!! We have moved almost everything from the old house to the new house and Crisis Center. I have removed almost all the old flooring from the Crisis Center (it was in horrible condition!!!!) and thanks to Freedom Worship Center, we will be installing a new ceramic floor next week!!!! A BIG THANK YOU to FWC!!!! There is an existing office, two bathrooms, and two storage rooms. The entire space is over 1300sq ft. The next step will be to build a kitchen, an office for the doctor and for counseling, and a sleeping room for a woman and also a baby. This all will take time and money, so we are in a process. Please pray for everything that we need to come in at the right time.
We are planning a HUGE outreach event at the Crisis Center on 31 October. We are having people from the area sign up so we can plan and so far it looks like we will have over 300 kids and over 150 women. And they still have a few more days to sign up. WOW!!! Not bad for our first event at that location. We will be having food and fun for the kiddies and teaching for the ladies. Please pray for us that day!!! It will be a wonderful opportunity for us to feed over 500 people in one day both physically and spiritually. We have permission to close off the street and use that area. The Crisis Center will have its new floor and there are 8-10 metal picnic tables in front that I want to paint as well before the event. All the children will receive little gift bags with toys and candy. We are working on what to give the women. I am sure I will be able to post a wonderful report from this event!!!
The new house/shelter is in excellent condition. It only needs a fresh coat of paint. A lady agreed to purchase the paint if I would paint it. Bring it on, I said!!! So that will happen in the first part of November. I can paint it, we then can get the furniture arranged and make it ready for ladies to stay there safely.
Other things that have been happening. We found a little old lady in a town called San Miguel, which is about 2.5 hours from where I live. She wanted some chickens to raise. So a few weeks ago, we took her some chickens. Come to find out, she did not have any place for them to stay at night and she was keeping them on a string in her kitchen. Now granted, it had a dirt floor, but still.... that is just not right. So I went back and built her a chicken coop. I am very proud of this project, since it was the first time I had attempted anything like that. But both she and the chickens were pleased. It was in an extremely hot area of El Sal and so I did not have a dry thread on me. After digging holes for posts, mixing and pouring concrete for the posts, making the frame and door and then finally putting the wire around it all, I was hot, tired, and very dirty. I asked her if there was a place I could take a shower because I did think to take a change of clothes. She took me to a little room with a hole in the ground and gave me a bucket of water and a bowl. It took me a few minutes but I figured out how to take a shower. So an experience indeed. I loved it!!!!!
There are so many little things that happen here every day, but I cannot list them all. But every day is filled with blessings and opportunities to reach out to others. And most days are also filled with some sort of adventure, which I love. Even taking a shower from a bucket can be an adventure. Thank you, Everyone, for being part of the work here in El Salvador. These people truly need you and I need you! Together we are a Team reaching out our hands to help others. May God continue to bless you as you are a blessing to so many.
Janis
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Hello, Everyone.
After having spent a few weeks in the States, I have now returned to El Salvador. While I was in the States, I was able to visit lots of family and friends. I wished I could have had more time for those people I did not get to see, but you will be first on the list for the next visit!! I was able to do many exciting things while I was there. I spoke in Georgia at an awesome church and then traveled to St. Louis where I had the opportunity to speak at Woman's Aglow International. I was also able to tape a television show for A Woman's Joy on WTJR. To view this show, please go to the following link: http://www.wtjr.org/video2/ Then scroll down to this: Womens_Joy001_Wed09162009.wmv Watch the door He opened for me!!!! I was also able to tape another show called Above and Beyond, to share what is happening here in El Salvador and will post that link in the next blog when the link is available.
I also had the privilege of attending the World Missions Conference sponsored by my church for missionaries. It was a time to rest, eat, visit with people from literally around the world, refresh spiritually, and...eat. I was blessed to be a part of this wonderful event.
But now, it is back to work and I am ready. Everything in El Salvador is good. We have been deeded another house and also a warehouse. He is multiplying the way we can reach out to hurting people in this country. I am especially excited for the warehouse. It is located in an area where the poorest of poor live. People living without any electricity, water or even floors. They just have literally 4 poles and something for a roof. The plan we have for the warehouse is to turn it into a crisis center where women, children and elderly can come for a hot meal, clothing, and spiritually and legal advice. It is hard to meet the spiritual need of a hungry person. We estimate that about 1000 people live in the immediate area around our crisis center. The warehouse has two bathrooms and an office. We are in the process of trying to arrange for a kitchen to be built for us to cook hot meals. Soon we will be providing hot meals to several hundred people a day.
The exciting part about all of this is now we will be able to keep the location of the shelters completely private. Our offices will be located in the crisis center and we will take women from the center to the shelter. We should be able to maintain the security necessary for the safety of the women.
As for the government here, the First Lady of the country has personally been in contact with us and is assisting us with getting the necessary number we need to be fully functional. She said she is committed to helping hurting women. She has said we should have our number in a matter of a few weeks to a month. We are believing for that and who could ask for someone better to be in our court than the First Lady.
Many other things are happening here with the other outreaches. We are planning more outreaches to feed people on the street and through local churches. I have been asked to speak at several area churches and events and that always thrills me. He always opens doors that I could never open for myself. I thank you all for your continued prayer and support. This is a team effort and I thank you for being part of my team!!! Continue to keep me in your prayers. As He multiplies, I just pray that I can keep up!!!!
Love and Blessings,
Janis
After having spent a few weeks in the States, I have now returned to El Salvador. While I was in the States, I was able to visit lots of family and friends. I wished I could have had more time for those people I did not get to see, but you will be first on the list for the next visit!! I was able to do many exciting things while I was there. I spoke in Georgia at an awesome church and then traveled to St. Louis where I had the opportunity to speak at Woman's Aglow International. I was also able to tape a television show for A Woman's Joy on WTJR. To view this show, please go to the following link: http://www.wtjr.org/video2/ Then scroll down to this: Womens_Joy001_Wed09162009.wmv Watch the door He opened for me!!!! I was also able to tape another show called Above and Beyond, to share what is happening here in El Salvador and will post that link in the next blog when the link is available.
I also had the privilege of attending the World Missions Conference sponsored by my church for missionaries. It was a time to rest, eat, visit with people from literally around the world, refresh spiritually, and...eat. I was blessed to be a part of this wonderful event.
But now, it is back to work and I am ready. Everything in El Salvador is good. We have been deeded another house and also a warehouse. He is multiplying the way we can reach out to hurting people in this country. I am especially excited for the warehouse. It is located in an area where the poorest of poor live. People living without any electricity, water or even floors. They just have literally 4 poles and something for a roof. The plan we have for the warehouse is to turn it into a crisis center where women, children and elderly can come for a hot meal, clothing, and spiritually and legal advice. It is hard to meet the spiritual need of a hungry person. We estimate that about 1000 people live in the immediate area around our crisis center. The warehouse has two bathrooms and an office. We are in the process of trying to arrange for a kitchen to be built for us to cook hot meals. Soon we will be providing hot meals to several hundred people a day.
The exciting part about all of this is now we will be able to keep the location of the shelters completely private. Our offices will be located in the crisis center and we will take women from the center to the shelter. We should be able to maintain the security necessary for the safety of the women.
As for the government here, the First Lady of the country has personally been in contact with us and is assisting us with getting the necessary number we need to be fully functional. She said she is committed to helping hurting women. She has said we should have our number in a matter of a few weeks to a month. We are believing for that and who could ask for someone better to be in our court than the First Lady.
Many other things are happening here with the other outreaches. We are planning more outreaches to feed people on the street and through local churches. I have been asked to speak at several area churches and events and that always thrills me. He always opens doors that I could never open for myself. I thank you all for your continued prayer and support. This is a team effort and I thank you for being part of my team!!! Continue to keep me in your prayers. As He multiplies, I just pray that I can keep up!!!!
Love and Blessings,
Janis
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Hello Everyone!!! I hope everyone in the States is enjoying their summer. We are having winter here and it is still very nice. No Snow!!
So many wonderful things have been happening. Abigail is still doing everything she can without having our final paper from the Government. We have a new President in the country and the new First Lady has heard about our ministry. She asked for a letter describing what we want to do. That was the first time I have ever written a letter for the First Lady of a country. I wanted to say that we just need her husband to sign our final paper so we can get moving full-time, but I was more diplomatic than that. Ha Ha I still need that paper from the government for my final Immigration papers. But talk about favor. My papers with Immigration officially expired on June 26, but they have given me extension after extension and this week I should find out the length of my next extension. They said it would be at least 60 days. No one who lives here can believe the favor I am receiving with Immigration. But we can....... The lady who has been living at Abigail is now working full-time teaching school. She is loving every minute and looking forward to the day very soon when she can reunite with her children. We are assisting her in every way possible with that.
The "Food From the Father" program is such a huge success and blessing for both those giving and receiving. We have had several outreaches in very poor areas and have had the chance to touch the lives of many. As an extra blessing, we had 7 missionaries from the States join us for two outreaches. One was to an orphanage here that has 48 kids. The other was to a very poor community with over 100 kids there. Both outreaches were such a blessing for us!! We performed skits for the kids and gave out lots of toys and hugs in addition to all the food. I am not sure who enjoyed the time more; us or them! We also had planned to do an outreach in one of the prisons here, but due to the large numbers of cases of H1N1 in the country, that had to be postponed. I will follow up with that outreach whenever the officials give us the green light.
The Adopt-A-Family program is also going well. This month, it was not a family, but a precious little old lady. She has no family here and has had a horrible life. She was raped when she was very young and became pregnant from that incident. Her twins were take from her at their birth and she never saw them again. Later, she was abused again and had two more children. She never married and her children left home early and have no contact with her. She is just precious but has very little income and is not in good enough health to work. So we adopted her for this month. (I think I will actually keep her "adopted")
I also had the pleasure of receiving my family for a visit. My parents, sister, and brother-in-law came for 10 days. We did and saw everything we could and managed to spend some time at the beach as well. I think they may have all gained a few pounds while they were here. I know I did!!!
Please pray for the family I am living with. Many of you have met Juanita and some of you know her husband has cancer. It has spread to several parts of his body and his future is not good. He is here in the home and we are trying to take care of him as much as possible. He is not able to eat or drink anything by mouth so everything is going in through a tube in his stomach. It is a difficult time for the family and especially for Juanita. She is trying to play the role of a nurse but it is very hard. I am trying to support her as much as possible. We just want to keep him comfortable.
So in a nutshell, that is what is happening here in El Salvador. We still have the Bible Study every Tuesday and the Prayer breakfast every Thursday. One at a time, we are touching lives and more importantly, touching them for Him. I love and appreciate each one of you. I know the economy in the States is very bad and I appreciate the sacrifices you make for the work here. I continue to thank Him for meeting every one of my needs. Thank you for being His hand extended. Together we are doing this work. Every piece of bread I give out, is given by you as well. Your prayers and blessings are received with a thankful heart and I will continue to pray the Lord's blessing on you as we work together.
So many wonderful things have been happening. Abigail is still doing everything she can without having our final paper from the Government. We have a new President in the country and the new First Lady has heard about our ministry. She asked for a letter describing what we want to do. That was the first time I have ever written a letter for the First Lady of a country. I wanted to say that we just need her husband to sign our final paper so we can get moving full-time, but I was more diplomatic than that. Ha Ha I still need that paper from the government for my final Immigration papers. But talk about favor. My papers with Immigration officially expired on June 26, but they have given me extension after extension and this week I should find out the length of my next extension. They said it would be at least 60 days. No one who lives here can believe the favor I am receiving with Immigration. But we can....... The lady who has been living at Abigail is now working full-time teaching school. She is loving every minute and looking forward to the day very soon when she can reunite with her children. We are assisting her in every way possible with that.
The "Food From the Father" program is such a huge success and blessing for both those giving and receiving. We have had several outreaches in very poor areas and have had the chance to touch the lives of many. As an extra blessing, we had 7 missionaries from the States join us for two outreaches. One was to an orphanage here that has 48 kids. The other was to a very poor community with over 100 kids there. Both outreaches were such a blessing for us!! We performed skits for the kids and gave out lots of toys and hugs in addition to all the food. I am not sure who enjoyed the time more; us or them! We also had planned to do an outreach in one of the prisons here, but due to the large numbers of cases of H1N1 in the country, that had to be postponed. I will follow up with that outreach whenever the officials give us the green light.
The Adopt-A-Family program is also going well. This month, it was not a family, but a precious little old lady. She has no family here and has had a horrible life. She was raped when she was very young and became pregnant from that incident. Her twins were take from her at their birth and she never saw them again. Later, she was abused again and had two more children. She never married and her children left home early and have no contact with her. She is just precious but has very little income and is not in good enough health to work. So we adopted her for this month. (I think I will actually keep her "adopted")
I also had the pleasure of receiving my family for a visit. My parents, sister, and brother-in-law came for 10 days. We did and saw everything we could and managed to spend some time at the beach as well. I think they may have all gained a few pounds while they were here. I know I did!!!
Please pray for the family I am living with. Many of you have met Juanita and some of you know her husband has cancer. It has spread to several parts of his body and his future is not good. He is here in the home and we are trying to take care of him as much as possible. He is not able to eat or drink anything by mouth so everything is going in through a tube in his stomach. It is a difficult time for the family and especially for Juanita. She is trying to play the role of a nurse but it is very hard. I am trying to support her as much as possible. We just want to keep him comfortable.
So in a nutshell, that is what is happening here in El Salvador. We still have the Bible Study every Tuesday and the Prayer breakfast every Thursday. One at a time, we are touching lives and more importantly, touching them for Him. I love and appreciate each one of you. I know the economy in the States is very bad and I appreciate the sacrifices you make for the work here. I continue to thank Him for meeting every one of my needs. Thank you for being His hand extended. Together we are doing this work. Every piece of bread I give out, is given by you as well. Your prayers and blessings are received with a thankful heart and I will continue to pray the Lord's blessing on you as we work together.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Hello to All from El Salvador.
Summer is over here, not that you can tell it by the temperature,(it is still 85 every day....love it!!!!) but the rain has started. But thank the good Lord, it almost only rains at night. What a great way to sleep.
So much is happening here, I cannot keep up with it all. Let me see where I can begin.....the "Food from the Father" feeding program is going great. Last month, we fed over 150 people both physically and spiritually. That is such a blessing to me and those that assist me. We truly do not know all the lives we touch in a day, but we know we leave all things with Him and He takes care of it. We are going to continue this program every month. It takes a great deal of planning for these days. We cannot just go and set up on any street corner because of safety issues. We either have to work with a local church or go through the police department for assistance with security. So a lot of meetings and phone calls have to happen before each event. But we have had favor at every turn with this program.
Abigail is still housing one lady, who is now employed and working her way to independence. We had another lady who left and is working full time as well. We STILL need a number from the government......they have given us copies of all the papers they have stamped, saying we are approved by the housing office, but now our papers are going through the different offices, receiving the appropriate signatures, such as the Secretary of Health, Secretary of Legal Services, etc......once they have been signed by "all the important people" we get our number. Could be a week or a few months.....PLEASE pray these papers move quickly through these offices......we need them for many reasons......
I have started another program here that I am calling the "Adopt-A-Family" program. (I know, I stole that from TRWC.....) Each month, I am going to find a family that needs assistance. For the month of May, I have a family that consists of a mom, dad and 5 children. A very poor family. (The ministry with this family started a month or so ago, abut I decided to make it a monthly outreach after I saw what a blessing it was to the family, as you will read....) With your support, I was able to have built for them an out-door bathroom (now that does not sound like much, but there is no electricity or running water where they live, so that was like a super blessing for them) (and it was a little out of my area of expertise to do it myself because it involved concrete...) and provide them with enough non-perishable food items for about a month. They have sugar, rice, beans, boxed milk, boxed juice, canned meats, and other things they are never able to afford. BUT the most exciting part is with their job situations. The mother was having to work outside the home because the dad had lost his job. She did not like being away from her children, but really had no choice. So with the help of people here, we were able to find him a job as a gardener, which he had worked in the sugarcane fields, and so was experienced. The big thrill for me was to teach him how to use a gas lawnmower. He had never even seen one. We bought him one for his job. I showed him a few laps and he watched very closely. At first, he was a bit hesitant, but quickly got the hang of it and away he went. What a blessing to see the big smile on his face when he realized how much easier his work was going to be. AND the very good part of this story is that the mom is now able to stay at home with her 5 children. AND the father is happy now that none of them are working on Sundays and they can all go to church together as a family.
The plan now is to each month find a family (which in this poor country will not be hard) and do for them what I can, based on the funds I have. Every cent that is given to me goes out in some way to either feed people or reach them in an area where they are hurting. I have had so many wonderful opportunities to speak with women who are hurting, either from past abuses, or current abuses. I am amazed at how He has opened doors for me to speak into women about how He can help them with the pains of their past. Many times, it is in a one-on-one basis. Like tonight, I am having two women here for dinner and both have serious issues that only He can help them with. (And they both are fluent in English, another thing I am finding more and more......)
So a big THANK YOU for all your prayers and support. I cannot say that enough. I know the economic outlook all over the world is not good, but we do not look to Wall Street or even Wal-Mart.....we know the source of all our blessings......and I keep finding out that I can never out-give HIM!!!!!
Blessings to each of you and I am sending lots of hugs and love your way.
Janis
Summer is over here, not that you can tell it by the temperature,(it is still 85 every day....love it!!!!) but the rain has started. But thank the good Lord, it almost only rains at night. What a great way to sleep.
So much is happening here, I cannot keep up with it all. Let me see where I can begin.....the "Food from the Father" feeding program is going great. Last month, we fed over 150 people both physically and spiritually. That is such a blessing to me and those that assist me. We truly do not know all the lives we touch in a day, but we know we leave all things with Him and He takes care of it. We are going to continue this program every month. It takes a great deal of planning for these days. We cannot just go and set up on any street corner because of safety issues. We either have to work with a local church or go through the police department for assistance with security. So a lot of meetings and phone calls have to happen before each event. But we have had favor at every turn with this program.
Abigail is still housing one lady, who is now employed and working her way to independence. We had another lady who left and is working full time as well. We STILL need a number from the government......they have given us copies of all the papers they have stamped, saying we are approved by the housing office, but now our papers are going through the different offices, receiving the appropriate signatures, such as the Secretary of Health, Secretary of Legal Services, etc......once they have been signed by "all the important people" we get our number. Could be a week or a few months.....PLEASE pray these papers move quickly through these offices......we need them for many reasons......
I have started another program here that I am calling the "Adopt-A-Family" program. (I know, I stole that from TRWC.....) Each month, I am going to find a family that needs assistance. For the month of May, I have a family that consists of a mom, dad and 5 children. A very poor family. (The ministry with this family started a month or so ago, abut I decided to make it a monthly outreach after I saw what a blessing it was to the family, as you will read....) With your support, I was able to have built for them an out-door bathroom (now that does not sound like much, but there is no electricity or running water where they live, so that was like a super blessing for them) (and it was a little out of my area of expertise to do it myself because it involved concrete...) and provide them with enough non-perishable food items for about a month. They have sugar, rice, beans, boxed milk, boxed juice, canned meats, and other things they are never able to afford. BUT the most exciting part is with their job situations. The mother was having to work outside the home because the dad had lost his job. She did not like being away from her children, but really had no choice. So with the help of people here, we were able to find him a job as a gardener, which he had worked in the sugarcane fields, and so was experienced. The big thrill for me was to teach him how to use a gas lawnmower. He had never even seen one. We bought him one for his job. I showed him a few laps and he watched very closely. At first, he was a bit hesitant, but quickly got the hang of it and away he went. What a blessing to see the big smile on his face when he realized how much easier his work was going to be. AND the very good part of this story is that the mom is now able to stay at home with her 5 children. AND the father is happy now that none of them are working on Sundays and they can all go to church together as a family.
The plan now is to each month find a family (which in this poor country will not be hard) and do for them what I can, based on the funds I have. Every cent that is given to me goes out in some way to either feed people or reach them in an area where they are hurting. I have had so many wonderful opportunities to speak with women who are hurting, either from past abuses, or current abuses. I am amazed at how He has opened doors for me to speak into women about how He can help them with the pains of their past. Many times, it is in a one-on-one basis. Like tonight, I am having two women here for dinner and both have serious issues that only He can help them with. (And they both are fluent in English, another thing I am finding more and more......)
So a big THANK YOU for all your prayers and support. I cannot say that enough. I know the economic outlook all over the world is not good, but we do not look to Wall Street or even Wal-Mart.....we know the source of all our blessings......and I keep finding out that I can never out-give HIM!!!!!
Blessings to each of you and I am sending lots of hugs and love your way.
Janis
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Working.......
Hello, Everyone!!!
I have been so busy and have not had much time for communication. Sorry about that. So much has happened and is happening that I will try to get it all in a short space.....
Abigail is doing great!!!! We have our first success story. Hilma has started a job as a teacher here in San Salvador and will soon be leaving the home. She is totally away from the abusive situation she was in and is healthy in her mind, body, and spirit!!!!!!! Our visit from ISDEMU, the organization for women here in EL Sal was wonderful. They approved everything in our home except for a few suggestions in the area of security. They were very impressed with the home and with the way we were organized. We had another woman who was needing the home, but her mother wanted her to live with her. We can open but still do not have our final paper signed by the government. They say we do not need it, but we are thinking that if something were to happen and that paper was not signed, they could also shut us down. So please pray about that with us.
Another wonderful thing happened with Abigial. A group of ladies from Guatemala had heard about the shelter and wanted to visit. What a wonderful time we had. They too are wanting to start something similar in their country and are wanting to use Abigial as a model. How wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are reaching out to other couuntries and are not even official yet!!! I love it!!!! But HE has a plan. I am going to try and go there soon...within a few months if possible, and see what can be done to help them.
I have not been at my computer for the past few weeks.....I think I have been living in an epsisode of Survivor. I was asked to help work on a construction project with an organization here. (I think it was because I have an electric saw and drill...ha ha) But it has not been a vacation. Every bone and muscle in my body hurts!!! We do have electricity, but no hot showers and no washing machine. So that menas I have leraned to wash all my clothes by hand and yes, with a rock!!!!! It was not too bad except for my bath towel....that was hard.....I was also responsible for lunch one day and well....let me say...I am glad I knew what to do with a live chicken and how to make it into lunch......I have also cut wood for firewood and so many other things. But in the midst of all this, there have been ladies who have come to help who are in bad situations and once again, I have been able to reachout to them. Every minute is an opportunity to be His hand extended and I love it. I am going back to the city tomorrow.....I have a few events with Abiagil, and then I will return next week. This is totally different from anything I have every done and I love it!!!!
I had several opportunities to speak and everyone was great!!!! I spoke had spoken at the International Business Women's breakfast and from that received invitations for more speaking. I spoke at another ladies' breakfast and at the end, a lady came up to me asking me if I could speak that night at a dinner where their speaker had just called sayingshe was in an accident and would not there. So I went. Juanita could not go, but another lady said she could translate so off we went (yes, with me driving) to a town where neither of us knew where we were going. It was great. but we made it and had a wonderful time with the ladies there. I also was able to speak at one of the couple's events and many lives were touched there. HE is truly amazing!!!
I did hear about an area where there are LOTS of children without parents. We have contacted someone in the area and are trying to find out who is in charge so we can go and take food there one day very soon!!!! I heard it was over 100 children!!! What a opportunity to reach out to those who are hurting!!!!! I am pryaing we can make this happen!!!!
On a fun note, I was stopped by the police the other day....I was NOT speeding or doing anything wrong....it was a routine stop. but my heart did skip a few beats......They did look at this gringa kind of funny though.....
So all is good and He is faithful. Every need I have is being met and I am working hard to represent you and Him to the best of my ability. I appreciate all your prayers and support. The work here is slow, which I am STILL adjusting to, but is also very rewarding!!!! I love and miss you all!!!!!
Blessings, Janis
I have been so busy and have not had much time for communication. Sorry about that. So much has happened and is happening that I will try to get it all in a short space.....
Abigail is doing great!!!! We have our first success story. Hilma has started a job as a teacher here in San Salvador and will soon be leaving the home. She is totally away from the abusive situation she was in and is healthy in her mind, body, and spirit!!!!!!! Our visit from ISDEMU, the organization for women here in EL Sal was wonderful. They approved everything in our home except for a few suggestions in the area of security. They were very impressed with the home and with the way we were organized. We had another woman who was needing the home, but her mother wanted her to live with her. We can open but still do not have our final paper signed by the government. They say we do not need it, but we are thinking that if something were to happen and that paper was not signed, they could also shut us down. So please pray about that with us.
Another wonderful thing happened with Abigial. A group of ladies from Guatemala had heard about the shelter and wanted to visit. What a wonderful time we had. They too are wanting to start something similar in their country and are wanting to use Abigial as a model. How wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are reaching out to other couuntries and are not even official yet!!! I love it!!!! But HE has a plan. I am going to try and go there soon...within a few months if possible, and see what can be done to help them.
I have not been at my computer for the past few weeks.....I think I have been living in an epsisode of Survivor. I was asked to help work on a construction project with an organization here. (I think it was because I have an electric saw and drill...ha ha) But it has not been a vacation. Every bone and muscle in my body hurts!!! We do have electricity, but no hot showers and no washing machine. So that menas I have leraned to wash all my clothes by hand and yes, with a rock!!!!! It was not too bad except for my bath towel....that was hard.....I was also responsible for lunch one day and well....let me say...I am glad I knew what to do with a live chicken and how to make it into lunch......I have also cut wood for firewood and so many other things. But in the midst of all this, there have been ladies who have come to help who are in bad situations and once again, I have been able to reachout to them. Every minute is an opportunity to be His hand extended and I love it. I am going back to the city tomorrow.....I have a few events with Abiagil, and then I will return next week. This is totally different from anything I have every done and I love it!!!!
I had several opportunities to speak and everyone was great!!!! I spoke had spoken at the International Business Women's breakfast and from that received invitations for more speaking. I spoke at another ladies' breakfast and at the end, a lady came up to me asking me if I could speak that night at a dinner where their speaker had just called sayingshe was in an accident and would not there. So I went. Juanita could not go, but another lady said she could translate so off we went (yes, with me driving) to a town where neither of us knew where we were going. It was great. but we made it and had a wonderful time with the ladies there. I also was able to speak at one of the couple's events and many lives were touched there. HE is truly amazing!!!
I did hear about an area where there are LOTS of children without parents. We have contacted someone in the area and are trying to find out who is in charge so we can go and take food there one day very soon!!!! I heard it was over 100 children!!! What a opportunity to reach out to those who are hurting!!!!! I am pryaing we can make this happen!!!!
On a fun note, I was stopped by the police the other day....I was NOT speeding or doing anything wrong....it was a routine stop. but my heart did skip a few beats......They did look at this gringa kind of funny though.....
So all is good and He is faithful. Every need I have is being met and I am working hard to represent you and Him to the best of my ability. I appreciate all your prayers and support. The work here is slow, which I am STILL adjusting to, but is also very rewarding!!!! I love and miss you all!!!!!
Blessings, Janis
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Hello, Everyone!
Hello to Everyone!
Everything here in El Salvador is great. We have experienced several earthquakes, lots of wind, and many days without phone or internet service. But none of that has kept us from working! The schedule has been full and I will highlight a few of the things that have happened or will happen soon.
Abigail's House is still running with the one lady and her baby. We have two other women who are in the process of filing their reports with the police, which they are required to do before they can come to us. We are learning so much through the process and every day, we are fine-tuning our work. We have had several meetings with ISDEMU, which is the organization here in El Sal for women. They are coming this Saturday to Abigail to give seminars and "inspect" our facilities. They used to have a house here for women, but had to close it for various reasons. So we are hoping to glean from their experience. And just for them to come is an amazing amount of favor within itself.
Last week, I was invited to speak at the International Business Women's breakfast here in San Salvador. What a wonderful opportunity for me and I was able to speak with many women afterwards who had experienced or were experiencing the same issues I have experienced in my life. This was a wonderful opportunity to share how we are not alone in our issues, but have Someone who is able to do all things for us and through us. From that engagement, I have received three other invitations to speak. The next is tomorrow morning at a ladies breakfast and then two invitations to speak at couple's conferences. That surprised me, but I am willing and will go.
We were also able to go out and feed a little over 150 people. We organized this event with a local church in a very poor community. We were able to use their facilities as well as be in a safe location. What a blessing they were to us. We cooked pounds of spaghetti, made cooked veggies, had fresh baked bread and drinks. Then we passed out candy to all the children and the "adult" children as well. It was a wonderful time for everyone.
Many other things are in the works and I am thankful to be here. I know that every day I have the opportunity to speak into someone or touch their life in some way. I just want to be His hand extended!! Thank you as always for your prayers, love, and support. I find that the busier I get here, the less time I have for the computer. But please do not for one minute think you are not near my heart and in my thoughts and prayers. I love and miss all of you.
Everything here in El Salvador is great. We have experienced several earthquakes, lots of wind, and many days without phone or internet service. But none of that has kept us from working! The schedule has been full and I will highlight a few of the things that have happened or will happen soon.
Abigail's House is still running with the one lady and her baby. We have two other women who are in the process of filing their reports with the police, which they are required to do before they can come to us. We are learning so much through the process and every day, we are fine-tuning our work. We have had several meetings with ISDEMU, which is the organization here in El Sal for women. They are coming this Saturday to Abigail to give seminars and "inspect" our facilities. They used to have a house here for women, but had to close it for various reasons. So we are hoping to glean from their experience. And just for them to come is an amazing amount of favor within itself.
Last week, I was invited to speak at the International Business Women's breakfast here in San Salvador. What a wonderful opportunity for me and I was able to speak with many women afterwards who had experienced or were experiencing the same issues I have experienced in my life. This was a wonderful opportunity to share how we are not alone in our issues, but have Someone who is able to do all things for us and through us. From that engagement, I have received three other invitations to speak. The next is tomorrow morning at a ladies breakfast and then two invitations to speak at couple's conferences. That surprised me, but I am willing and will go.
We were also able to go out and feed a little over 150 people. We organized this event with a local church in a very poor community. We were able to use their facilities as well as be in a safe location. What a blessing they were to us. We cooked pounds of spaghetti, made cooked veggies, had fresh baked bread and drinks. Then we passed out candy to all the children and the "adult" children as well. It was a wonderful time for everyone.
Many other things are in the works and I am thankful to be here. I know that every day I have the opportunity to speak into someone or touch their life in some way. I just want to be His hand extended!! Thank you as always for your prayers, love, and support. I find that the busier I get here, the less time I have for the computer. But please do not for one minute think you are not near my heart and in my thoughts and prayers. I love and miss all of you.
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