My Testimony About El Salvador Mission Trip

We knew we wanted to go to El Salvador after last year's mission trip to Cojutepeque. Who would think that working so hard to build a church, and filling every other moment with outreach could be so much fun, but it actually is refreshing.

So when we had the opportunity to go to Ilobasco in 2015, we started planning, trusting God to provide the funds. It was great to see our brothers and sisters we met last year, and to make new friends.

So here are some highlights:

1. The People – This is the best part – getting inspired by meeting and working together with brothers and sisters from our worldwide church family. Seeing their hard work, dedication and zeal is truly inspiring. Many pastors there have twelve or more churches, and yet the churches keep growing so much that they need new buildings. How can we help them? I come home feeling connected to these people. There is a BOND of Love, because Christ's love compels us to work together toward the same goals, believing the same things, and loving the same God!

2. Building – Working together with the local church members is really a blessing. Both times, there was a crew of local people building their church, and it was a privilege to work with them. Their enthusiasm is contagious! Even though we have different language and culture, I love to see the way the Holy Spirit brings us together and helps us somehow communicate and understand each other, so we sense we are truly on the same team. Usually we both learn new ways of doing things. We don't want to take over their project, we want to collaborate. We work hard because we want to get the walls and roof up in the 10 days, and worship in the new building on the last Sabbath. I love how our El Salvador brethren “dedicate” the new building by baptizing new believers! It makes me cry tears of joy!

3. Outreach – While building a church is helpful, our main goal is to share the love of Christ. Just as our group t-shirts said “Reach Out 2015” - Taking Jesus to the World.” I really feel like this is the most lasting and meaningful part of our work. Building a building is fun, but building up the Kingdom of God is life-changing! I was thrilled to see how well our young people did at preaching and translating and just making friends!

At the end of the day, I come back to the U.S. feeling like I have a bunch of El Salvador in my heart, and the missionary spirit spills over here too. One of the pastors there told us how his parents had been killed by soldiers when he was a boy, so he joined the street gangs, but then he was welcomed into the church where he met Jesus and it changed his life. Now he goes around sharing the gospel, teaching and baptizing new believers, and yes, even reaching out to gang members. His story touched my heart. And so because I have been where the church is on fire and growing steadily, I begin to think, “Hey, that can happen here… IF we all pray and work together!”