Growing in Christ

     Sorry we haven't posted in a while! Just to catch up, during our second and third weeks we stayed at the WOL office and helped sand and paint all the props for the different dramas. We also stayed with Linda over the weekend while the rest of the team went to their home towns to vote for the new president. On the fourth week we left the office to go to the WOL Camp. We arrived two days before Valley Bible, a church from CT, to help clean for their arrival.

     When the group arrived we were excited to meet new people from the US. They also were surprised to see two American girls, this allowed us to explain how God has called us to be here for part of our senior year.  This church group came to do construction at the camp, they worked on building a pavilion with bathrooms and showers by the pool, as well as cutting down trees, and building a new gate at the entrance of the camp. The woman and a few men focused more on evangelism by going out with the WOL team and preforming dramas that clearly explain the Gospel. The first drama is called the “Empty Heart” which depicts a man who is searching for something or someone to fill his empty heart. He encounters people who represent various sins. Each person hands him a heart too small to fill his own, and leaves him feeling empty. Eventually the sins encircle him and binds him with chains. In his state of hopelessness, a Christian comes and shares the Gospel with him and hands him a heart that says, “CHRIST” which completely fills his empty heart. After the drama one of the missionaries explains the Gospel, and then separates the school children into smaller groups where a WOL translator and a person from the US breaks the gospel down using the evangicube.   

     This time gives us the privilege to share our faith with others. As we are sharing the evangicube we scan the crowd looking every student in the eyes and in the moment you can see whose hearts are open and ready to receive Jesus. Each of us had a different experience while sharing our faith:

Kaylee: For me, I have been praying for God to show me my spiritual gifts. Since I’ve been to El Salvador before I already knew what it was like to share the gospel with the evangicube.  So doing it this time I was less nervous and more eager to share. After the first two schools my translator told me, “You explain the Gospel very clearly, and I can see that it is the Holy Spirit speaking through you.” This was a big eye opener for me. I realized when I share my faith it is no longer me speaking but God inside of me. It was a wonderful realization because it made me think about how I may be the only “Jesus” these people ever see, because he lives within me. Another day of the week I had a different translator and she also said to me, “You do a great job explaining the Gospel” but then she added “I think that this is your gift” and as soon as she said those words I got chills and started crying. Her words were from God and he was giving me the answers that I have been praying for.  

Anna: The first time I shared with the Evangicube last week it made me realize: though I could have deep conversations about God and creation, defend the Bible, and tell my testimony… it was a struggle for me to simply lay out the beautiful plan of Salvation to those who were so eager to listen. That night I cried out to God asking Him to speak through me, reveal Himself to me, and to show me Chandler. The next day we went to a school that contained 400 teenagers. As soon as I opened my mouth I knew it was the Holy Spirit speaking through me. As I scanned the eyes of the students, I saw their hearts- that they were searching for God in their lives. At the end, I said it’s difficult to think about death when you’re so young—that’s when I told them about Chandler… That life is short, but if you are saved, death is the beginning of eternal life with God. That’s when I saw their hearts change, become open to the Gospel, and make a decision to follow Christ. It’s amazing to see how the story of Chandler’s death continues to touch hearts and is resulting in eternal life for so many of these teenagers. I’m grateful to serve a risen Savior who is faithful to answer prayers.

     Another aspect of our week was getting to know some of the teenagers who came with the group from Valley Bible. We enjoyed being able to encourage them in their walk with God as they also encouraged us. Together we spent a lot of time talking about God, and life as a young Christian. We were very grateful to get to know some American teenagers who are also in the same stages of life as we are.           

God is continuing to work in our hearts and transform our lives. We miss our families and friends, but are very happy and comfortable here in El Salvador. We know this is only the beginning of our lives as missionaries for the Lord. Only 24 days left!!

XOXO

~Kaylee & Anna