El Salvador Missions
¡Hola amigos!
I want to give a huge thank
you
to those that supported me prayerfully and financially in my mission to Mexico
City. I experienced God in a different dynamic than I ever have before; I saw
real brokenness in his children and God used me to show His love. Mexico City
will always be close to my heart and I met many wonderful and influential people
there. While I was in Mexico, God started revealing to me the next adventure
that I would set out on. I feel strongly that God is calling me to El Salvador
for an exciting internship and school this summer and fall.
El
Salvador is a country in need of our help right now as a body of Christ. In the
past decade, a 12 year civil war ended, which eliminated a lot of the men of the
country and left many homeless. El Salvador is located in an area prone to
natural disasters and in the past 10 years they have suffered from hurricanes,
earthquakes, floods, and droughts, splitting families apart and leaving them
hopeless. Most recently, the torrential rains and flooding across Central
America in October of 2011 affected El Salvador immensely and subsequent
mudslides left many in need. On top of all this, two powerful gangs basically
run the country: Mara 18 and the Mara Salvatrucha. These gangs are huge rivals,
resorting to government corruption, drug and sex-trafficking and large-scale
extortion.
I
was chosen for an amazing internship experience this summer that I would like to
tell you about. I will be living in and working with Youth With a Mission
(YWAM), an international missions organization located in El Salvador. There I
will be focusing on two main groups: kids at risk in orphanages and men, women
and children on the streets. One way I will be reaching these groups is by
running a children\'s program in an impoverished community at a high risk for
gang violence. YWAM also has an awesome ministry I will be assisting with called
"The Lighthouse" that is focused on serving those that live on the streets by
donating food, sharing a devotional, and offering them clothes.
One
part of YWAM is a school, Discipleship Training School (DTS) that is an intense
training program designed to help individuals grow in their understanding of God
and to get prepared for a cross-culture ministry. Following my summer
internship, I will start school in the fall. The first 12 weeks of school are
lectures focused on personal growth with guest speakers from around the world.
Then there will be an 8 week field assignment where I will travel to other
Central American countries, to be involved in active missions and put what I
learned in class to action. I feel God strongly pulling me to this school; it is
a great learning opportunity and is sure to give me the skills I need for a
lifetime of service.
Would
you be willing to help me in this adventure of faith? I will need a LOT of
prayer for those whose lives will be touched by God and for myself. Beyond your
prayers, if you feel led to support me financially, I will need $4,500 to cover
the cost of this trip. I would be so grateful for any part you are willing to
provide. Thank you so much for your support; I am looking forward to a
challenging and rewarding year!
Love,
LeAnna :))
