Greetings from El Salvador!!
We’re Back!!!! Again, we apologize for not updating our blog sooner, but technical problems and lack of internet access, have made it difficult for us to keep current! BUT….here we are, up and running, so we’ll try to keep you better informed on what’s going on in our ministry, as well as our everyday lives, here in El Salvador.
It’s hard to believe, but we have been here now for almost 4 months!! We are all adjusting well for the most part, and keeping busy. Our first 3 months were very busy, as summertime is the “busy season” when most teams come to work with us. Aaron and Emily started learning the dances and dramas, the first week of our arrival, and went out with different evangelism teams weekly, ministering in schools and on the streets. With the last few teams, they helped teach the dances! This in itself, has been an answer to our prayers…..we prayed that they would adjust well and make friends. They have made friends from all over the US and have been building relationships with the Nationals, as well.
Tim and I are working in the clinic with Dr. Boris, every Tuesday and Wednesday, seeing about 30 patients a day, on the average. We also go out to other communities on some Thursdays and Fridays, holding clinics and weighing children in the various Castle feeding programs. We worked with Operation Blessing in July, and held a clinic in a local men’s prison where all of the men are incarcerated for life. We saw 400 men that day and were able to minister to them spiritually, as well as physically. Giving these men hope by sharing the gospel and demonstrating the love of Jesus by meeting their medical needs, made for an awesome day!
Currently, as things are starting to slow down a bit with teams, we are trying to get settled in our new house. As many of you know we were initially staying in a fellow missionary’s apartment (they are in the states on furlough), which allowed us more time to find a place of our own without rushing. What a blessing!! We found a wonderful home in a safe area, that we moved into on August 1st, and we know that it is because of God’s favor that we are here! After looking at several apartments and another house, our realtor brought us here, a little bit away from town and up a mountain, to a house that is only 5 years old, with an awesome view off of an upstairs balcony, outside of the master bedroom. The most incredible thing is, that the rent is cheaper here than almost every other place we looked at, but we liked it the best, and to top it off, our utilities are cheaper! We were told that the rent is cheaper because we are a little further away from town, and that the costs of utilities vary in different areas! God is so good!
We have started homeschooling the kids, which is a first for us, so please keep this in your prayers!! We are also planning on teaching English to the children in Nueva Esperanza, some time in the near future. We will probably teach 1 day a week, initially, and see how things go. Other visions that we have for the future include: Basic medical/health education, and a mom/baby feeding/nutrition type clinic, where we would monitor the weight and growth of newborns.
Please continue to pray for our ministry, as well as God’s protection over all of the missionaries at King’s Castle Ministries. We love and appreciate all of you.
Many Blessings.
Tim, Pam, Aaron and Emily