Warm and Sunny here.....

Well, I know where most of you are, it is chilly or down right cold. Sorry, but I am not jealous. The weather here has been just perfect. This past week was a week of paperwork and new experiences. And things always move slower than I want.... :-)

We met with Abigial last Thursday and the lawyer in our group who is filing all our papers had many papers for us to look over and approve. All of them are excellent. She is actually a lawyer specializing in Family Law. How perfect!!! She asked for another week to finish the rest of the ones we had given to her and then she can file them all at the same time with the government.

Also, El Sal has chosen to set aside Tuesday, 25 November as the day to recognize the National Day for Abused Woman in this country. This is a HUGE step for this country, to even start to admit there is a problem here. This day was just announced last week, so we are preparing to have an event on that day. Not sure yet what it will be, but I will keep you posted and you can pray for us as we plan. We have other events on the burner and I will share more about those as they get closer.

Life here is always interesting and my Spanish is getting better every day. Slowly, but surely......Here is an example fo how some things are just different. We went to the open market one morning and were there for a while, so I decided to wonder off and get something to drink. NEVER drink the water in a place like that, so I saw a little shop that had grape soda in a glass bottle. It has been YEARS since I had a soda in a glass bottle. So I asked for one and the lady asked me if I was going to take it with me and I said yes. I paid her and started walking away. She called me back and asked again if I was going to take it. Again, I said yes. Then she told me I would need a bolsa or bag. I told her it was not necessary, but she insisted. So I handed her my soda and she got out a clear plastic bag. Next, she proceeded to POUR MY SODA FROM THE BOTTLE INTO THE LITTLE PLASTIC BAG!!!!!!! Straw and all!!!! I was shocked, but figured out that was what I was supposed to do if I wanted to "Take it with me." Too funny!!!! That was a first for me. I have never had a soda from a plastic bag before!!!! Things are different here, but still fun!

Blessings to all of you. I miss you...but not enough to leave here.... :-)

Settling in.....

I have been in El Salvador for almost 5 days and so much has already happened. Mostly this week, I have been settling in. I have bought a few pieces of furniture I needed for my room, such as a desk and bookcase. I also went this morning and bought a full-sized ironing board. With me being taller than everyone else here, I cannot use their mini-ones. I tried, but my pants fell off in the floor. Ha ha Me and my long legs.

We had a meeting Thursday night with Abigail and everyone was so excited for me to be there. We went over our status of things and determined what we still needed to do. I have been and will be busy on the computer for the next week. It seems all of our forms have to be submitted and certified by the government. NOT approved, just filed with them. So I am responsible for making sure we have in order all the forms we are going to use for receiving and caring for the women. I am also creating letterhead and other paper things for the ministry. All things I love to do.

Other things that are cooking.....I want to start an outreach on the streets for women. Once a week (or month depending on funds) we would go take them food such as rice, beans, and sugar, let them know about us and let them know that someone cares. Maybe within a month or so this can happen. I also want to do something in the womens' prison, but have to investigate how that can happen. But I know a WAY will be made!!!!! And I have an appointment with immigration next week to take care of my official paperwork which will allow me to stay here.

Please keep all these issues in your thoughts and prayers. I appreciate all your support and prayers. I know only HE can make all this possible!!!!

Much love,

J

Leaving for El Salvador

The day is FINALLY here!!! I am leaving for El Salvador Tuesday (tomorrow) morning. :-) Everything I can possibly pack is packed and probable even some stuff I don't need. But I am prepared.

As soon as I arrive, I will hit the ground running. I have one day to unpack and get settled. On Thursday, we have an Abigail meeting to finalize everything and I think we could be taking women into the home on Friday. WOW!!!! How exciting!!!!!

Please pray for all my travels and that all my luggage makes it with me! The weather there is sunny and 85, so I should be able to fit right in. I am oging to try and write on this site once a week. So check in for updates. Feel free to post comments and I will try to answer them as quickly as possible. All my love, Janis

Look out El Salvador....... :-)