InternSHIP in El Salvador

Thursday, July 19, 2018

Almost One Year Later

I made another trip to El Salvador! I recently returned from a two week trip to the same neighborhood in Ciudad Delgado, El Salvador. That means I was able to reconnect with many people I've gotten to know over the past couple years. I was also able to make some new friends, both from El Salvador and from the United States. I have been able to see how much my Spanish has improved and, though I still have much to learn, I am able to have more conversations than previously. That has been a big encouragement to me. I would like to acknowledge the hard working SHIP staff and three wonderful young ladies who have served as Interns this summer. They work very hard to make sure everything functions as it should and remain flexible to whatever unforeseen obstacles appear.

Too much went on to list everything but I'll share some highlights. I was involved with the community outreach service, guys Bible study, plumbing work, electrical work, roofing, "hey can you help move this", dishwashing, soccer games, setting up for weddings, and probably a few more things if I really thought about it. There's always something going on at SHIP. I enjoyed working alongside everyone. I had many conversations in English and Spanish getting to know the people I was working alongside. Digging a trench is not exciting but it can be enjoyable if you make it fun. Or you can be bitter because it's not what you wanted to be doing, it's your choice. Perspective matters. The big work project right now is renovating and adding on to the building that used to house an orphanage. The plan is to open up a school there, starting with pre-k and kindergarten. There are many building regulations that are needing to be met before it can be opened. Windows, room sizes, small toilets, low sinks, kitchen requirements, etc. An expansion to this building that has been built will also be the new home for the Ship Shop. We put the roof on this building a few days before I returned to Texas.

A big highlight of my trip was on the last Sunday when I played soccer with the boys from the neighborhood for about 3 hours, with about an hour being in pouring rain. Yes, I was sore for several days but it was absolutely worth it. They play soccer regularly with each other so they liked passing me the ball to see what I could do. I like to think I've improved over the past two years, but there's an obvious skill gap. I really appreciate how they welcome me into the group. Some of this is because I've been there several times and some of it is because they enjoy having a younger male around they can connect with. There are not a lot of consistent, positive role-models who the teenage guys have in their lives. Think of a big brother, not too much of an authority figure or scary adult, but someone they can have fun with but also open up to without fear. I am grateful for the times where God has let me fill that position. The young men in the community have such great potential.

I arrived halfway through one group's trip, but they all welcomed me as if I'd been there the whole time. Some people from both groups I had met before on previous trips, but there were several first-timers as well. I did not meet or even see any trippers who gave off a discouraging vibe to anyone. Everyone wanted the best for everyone they were around. I don't have rose-colored glasses, and I don't mean to say there's never any tension or micro-aggressions or bad attitudes, I just mean that they don't seem to stick around or become an issue. The vision SHIP gives paired with the difference people can see they are making is a big reason for this. Only God could possibly organize everything needed for SHIP to be received and protected so well in a country, and part of the country, so high in crime and gang activity. God has given the Horton's the vision and has brought people to serve alongside them to help make this vision a reality. If you ever spend time with the Horton's or anyone involved with SHIP, you will find great humility. Working diligently and remaining focused on God is what I believe continues to make SHIP an effective organization and ministry. Two boys and one girl accepted Jesus as Lord of their lives during my last week there. Though the physical work is important for SHIP being there, the real motivation is for sharing the salvation that Jesus has given us and praying that people would accept that salvation.

I wasn't good about taking pictures this trip but here's a few I picked up from different people. Feel free to ask me any questions if you have any. I can talk about SHIP and my experiences in El Salvador for a very long time.

Some of us sitting at the new bus stop in our neighborhood after church.

The bus stop after the cover is installed.

About to start the outreach service.

The wonderful view from the SHIP balcony.

Grinding off some rebar to bury a new sewer pipe.

Juan Carlos preparing some pineapple. He's a man I have enjoyed working alongside for the past couple years each time I return to El Salvador. Great friend and worker.

The kids SHIP helps send to school.

One of the boys reading some verses during the guys Bible study.

Me with Fredys, the young man I help send to school. I have seen him become more engaged in the community and Bible studies over this past year. It's an honor knowing him and being able to help him continue his education. He has a very fun personality and is mind-blowingly good at soccer.

Friday, July 28, 2017

17 Lessons From 17 Weeks in El Salvador

I was doing some thinking…as I try to do on occasion…and I realized I have spent 17 weeks living in El Salvador. One spring break trip, one summer trip for 8 weeks, and one more summer trip for 8 weeks. 1 + 8 + 8 = 17 weeks total. In conclusion for this summer, I was thinking it would be great to share 17 lessons I have learned from spending 17 weeks in El Salvador. So here it goes…

1) Spanish is not vital to show people the love of God

Visiting a Spanish speaking country means you need to know Spanish, right? No, not really. It is not necessary to share God’s love only through our words. I have seen that we are able to build relationships through simple presence. We can play with kids, build homes, and have community without needing to say a word. God leads us places and is faithful to build relationships even through the obstacles.

2) Spanish is necessary for discipleship

Starting relationships is easy, but building deeper relationships requires deeper communication, it can’t only be body language. Discipleship and living life alongside people in a Spanish speaking country is really only possible when you can communicate well. They may know some English, but the majority don’t know enough to have deeper conversations, just like the majority of Americans don’t know enough Spanish. My Spanish has improved significantly over my 17 weeks in El Salvador, but it is in my plans to learn Spanish very well. I see myself continuing to be involved with Spanish speaking countries and see that learning Spanish would allow for deeper relationships as well as open the door to more opportunities.

3) Relationships take time

This one is pretty self-explanatory. Relationships take time to form and grow. It does not usually happen overnight and it takes effort to continue relationships. The more time that passes brings more trust and respect. There is no magic pill. Relationships are not necessary for evangelism, but they are necessary for discipleship and the building up of a community.

4) Being vulnerable makes you relatable

Most of the world sees the United States as the land of opportunity and has a view that nothing majorly bad happens here. When we make ourselves vulnerable and are open to sharing stories of how God has walked us through hard times in our lives, we become relatable. Everybody goes through hardships. I remember a time this summer where I shared about going through a deep depression a couple years ago during our guys Bible study, and the next day one of the young men came up and started a conversation with me. It was a conversation just to get to know me more and so I could get to know him, talking about siblings, age, favorite food, etc. Being vulnerable makes us relatable and approachable.

5) Being intentional with the time we’ve been given

Time is limited. I have spent 17 weeks in El Salvador and it does not feel like much time. I have learned that there are not always more opportunities to engage people. When there is an opportunity, it needs to be taken. This has helped me to be more proactive in all of my relationship and to seize the opportunities God has given me. There is not always another opportunity. I am reminded of that Toby Mac song that says, “If you gotta start somewhere why not here? If you gotta start sometime why not now?”

6) God will guide you, though he may not tell you in advance

Ask God to move in your life and He will move. He will guide you where He wants you to be and He will equip you once you are there. Turn your brain off, quit overanalyzing situations, and just go where God is leading you. He may not give you the full story or the end picture, but I promise you because I have seen this in my life, God will lead you. I can look back at my life and see how God has led me to where I am today, even though I have not felt like He was leading me in the moment.

7) Rest is necessary

We are not able to continuously pour ourselves out all day every day. We need rest. Rest from work and responsibilities. Rest does not come naturally in most situations, it has to be planned into the schedule. I have seen and felt the effects of not resting enough. It makes us irritable, discouraged, selfish, and ruins our ability to function well. Take time to rest.

8) Long distance is difficult and costly

This lesson is a hard one for me to deal with. Long distance friendships/relationships are not easy. I am not able be as close to many people I would like to be closer with because of the distance between us. As much as we would like to be closer, not living life close to each other creates a significant hindrance in the growth of our relationships. I would like to live life with many different people from many different places, but it is not possible. It can be difficult and costly to follow God’s leading to a distant land. This summer specifically, I missed graduations and marriages of both friends and family.

9) It’s our choice how much we pour ourselves out

This is something we each have to decide as our individual self. It’s interesting seeing many people come and go on trips to El Salvador, because everybody chooses their level of involvement. This goes for all aspects of SHIP: bible studies, community outreach, construction, VBS, cooking, cleaning, socializing. Some people came and jumped into everything, some needed help breaking the ice to jump in, and some let the awkwardness or newness of everything greatly limit their involvement. Seeing this has helped me look at myself and take advantage of more of the opportunities I have been given. We all have a choice in our involvement in what is going on around us.

10) Conflict is inevitable

I wish this lesson was not true, but sadly it is very true. I have a hard time with conflict. I don’t like it and I naturally want to avoid it. Being under authority, doing my job, and living life with the same few people everyday will bring conflict. Sometimes it is very petty and other times it is legit conflict from very different perspectives and approaches. The Bible stresses healthy Christian community as being very important and beneficial. With this in mind, I understand the importance of addressing situations before the conflict is truly divisive. I am not the best at it, but I am learning to confront conflict, and I have seen how doing so has prevented further conflict.

11) Clear communication makes the world a better place

Hah, who would have thought? Authority figures communicating what they want accomplished, clearly, people under authority communicating what they will need or any obstacles, clearly, friends communicating encouraging words, clearly, significant others communicating feelings and intentions, clearly, just to name a few. I’m not talking about complications with English to Spanish or vice versa, I’m talking about clearly communicating to the best of our abilities. Miscommunication is frustrating, and non-communication is painful and damaging. Let’s make the world a better place by communicating clearly with one another.

12) Dangers of being overly work focused, we only have so much we can give

If we spend all day working hard to accomplish the tasks set before us, how can we expect to build relationships with people? I don’t know about you but I am not the most engaging and friendly type of person after working hard all day. I also have a hard time focusing on things like conversations or Bible studies if I’m already exhausted. We only have so much we can give. We have to look at what we want to pour ourselves out for. What is more important, work or people? There is some overlap and both are important, but it’s possible to pour too much out for work that you having nothing left to give people. Work will always be there, people will not. Find a balance.

13) Relationships don’t last forever

This is another lesson I wish were not true. I enjoy people and like having good relationships with them. Some relationships end from death, anger, and hurt, which I understand. I have had a much harder time coming to terms with relationships ending for other reasons, such as physical distance, overly busy schedules, and not enough effort to keep it going. The truth is, there is not enough time in the day and we don’t have enough resources to keep every relationship going strong. Like everything else, we must pick and choose what we will do. We are not permanent for this world and many of our relationships will not last our entire time here in this world. This may seem depressing or morbid, but it’s a reality. Understanding this reality helps me to enjoy the time I am given with the relationships I am able to have. Relationships are not beautiful because they last forever, they are beautiful because they are beautiful. Let’s enjoy them.

14) Effort to understand their culture, rather than change it to match ours, is better

Coming from the United States, many people with SHIP live life very well. Many of the people are successful in family, jobs, finances, and ministry. While there are many things we understand well, we don’t know everything. It is a dangerous mindset to think that we can go to El Salvador and say we know how to live life better than them. Their culture has different approaches to authority and, especially in Christian culture, their authority figures seem very strict and heavy on the rules. Even though I have spent 17 weeks there, I don’t live their lives everyday. I have to understand that they operate in certain ways because it is their culture. I also need to respect their authority and rules, and not aid in undermining their authority figures by helping or encouraging people to break the rules because “They are ridiculous, stupid, and outrageous rules.” Undermining their authority creates a noticeable rift and is damaging to building new relationships. It is not our culture, but that doesn’t make it wrong.

15) No need to be perfect in any ability before sharing them

It’s okay to look like a fool. There is no need to be a soccer pro before jumping into a soccer game. There is no need to be incredible at guitar before talking with the worship leaders. There is no need to have a perfect Bible study laid out before leading a Bible study. There is no need to be a master in construction before helping with construction. Shovels and drills really aren’t complicated. God has given us abilities to share. It’s perfectly okay to not be an expert before sharing our gifts and abilities. It opens up a ton of opportunities to build relationships if we will just get out there and go for it.

16) Life is very hard, we must constantly make choices and sacrifices

Life is, in many ways, miserable. There are so many choices we must make prioritizing one thing over another. There is simply not enough time or resources to be able to do everything. While in El Salvador, I would love to be at all the churches we know, spend time building deep relationships with all the kids/youth, visit all the tourist sights in the country, build houses for everyone in need, learn everything about everything. Some choices are easier to prioritize, but most are not. The Holy Spirit is faithful to guide us in how we should live.

17) How elite I am in this world

Seriously, look at me. I am able-bodied, intelligent, educated, hard-working, and oh so very handsome. I come from a very stable, Christian family. I am from a country with more opportunities than most. My status and upbringing are not common for the world we live in, yet I understand they don’t make me better than anyone else. Learning this has shown me the importance of being diligent and seizing the opportunities God has given me, and using them to further God’s kingdom.

* Many of these lessons are not exclusive to living in a foreign culture *

I have a hard time making this a conclusion blog post. I am truly grateful for the time and opportunities I have had with the people of El Salvador. Thank you to everybody who has helped me be involved with El Salvador. I am not sure when I will be able to return to El Salvador or what that will look like, but I would very much like to continue spending time in El Salvador. I constantly pray that God would give me guidance in my involvement with El Salvador. I ask that you would pray for me as I readjust to living life in Texas. I would like to live in both places but that is simply not possible.

A song I found shortly after returning to Texas after last summer is called, El Salvador, by Phil Joel. I don’t know his story with El Salvador but the lyrics match with many of my experiences and thoughts.

And now for some pictures!!

Stopping by after church to give the Osvaldo, the man
I gave my Bible and cowboy boots to, some food
for him and his daughter.

Gotta get that material up the hill where the house is being built

Playa Atami scenery

Younger group about to kickoff the soccer tournament

Two teams strategizing how to win the soccer tournament

Soccer tournament

One of the top 2 teams

Me and Josue

The volcano we hiked up

Me and Carlita

Me with Edgar and Bryan

Me with Chico (Francisco) and Hector

Me and Fredis

Pictures for memories on our last night

Me, Beth, and Trey with our new SHIP cups

Playing some Spicy Uno at the beach

Praying with Maria Lydia after finishing her house

After finishing the house for Maria Lydia (in pink)

All the interns after visiting the Union Church

The girls after burning their insecurities
in that skillet during Bible Study

Our group on the trip visiting Cerro Verde,
where 3 volcanos are located

Girls from the group we took to watch the new
Pirates of the Caribbean

Making friends with the mascot at the
grand opening of Maxi Dispensia

The group that visited and shared at the public school

Picture time after supper

Some of the teenagers SHIP helps go to private school

Pathway down to one of the
houses we worked on

Installing a window after building the frame

Left to right: Sabrina, Beth, Leon, Juan Carlos, Trey, Ryan, Mary
Noralee is MIA, probably working hard somewhere
David is also MIA, back in the US

Saturday, June 24, 2017

How Are You?

What a common question, how are you? Como esta? This question has been hard for me to grasp for the past 6 months or so. It’s not that I’m doing wonderful or terrible, rather, I’m doing both. I don’t know how to answer that question. I am and have been in the middle of many wonderful and terrible events. How about I use some examples over the past couple weeks here in El Salvador…

Wonderful – All the interns are finally here together! Whoop! The final intern arrived almost 2 weeks ago now and we have been without a SHIP group, so it’s just been us. This has given us the opportunity to plan a variety of events to grow closer with each other and encourage one another in life. We are here in El Salvador to reach out to this community and whomever God brings into our path, but we also want to impact and pour into each other’s lives. It would be a shame if we spent all this time together yet didn’t minister to one another as well.

Terrible – Most of the group has been sick or damaged in some way over the past couple weeks. Stomach issues, allergies, congestion, rolled ankles, back pain, headaches, fever, etc. As a whole, it has been hard for us to find good quality rest that totally refreshes us.

Wonderful – We took 12 kids to a waterpark this past Saturday. We weren’t sure how the logistics would work out, but it worked out perfectly. The weather was perfect, the park was fun, the kids had a great time, we played with waterslides and a wavepool, and got to be a “gringo barco”, which means a “white person boat”. All in all, we couldn’t ask for a better time.

Terrible – As we were returning to the SHIP facility after the waterpark adventure, we were met with the news of the loss of one of my friends, Jesus, who lived at the orphanage. This hit me pretty hard because I haven’t connected as much with the people at the orphanage this summer. I would have liked to play my guitar again for my friend. We attended the visitation as well as a graveside funeral. I played “Poderoso”, Spanish version of “Stronger”, by Hillsong United at the visitation. I know I will see my friend again in Heaven, but it still hurts to have lost his presence here.

Wonderful – We took a trip, as interns and leaders, to Cerro Verde. This is a place were there are 3 volcanoes right next to each other. This place was one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen, even through photos. We stopped about halfway up the middle one and looked out across the valley and over the lake. Absolutely stunning. We explored around the park area, which is the middle one, and then signed up to go on a 4 hour hike to the peak of the next volcano over. They weren’t kidding when they called it a hike. The views and experience made the exhaustion well worth it.

Terrible – There was fog and clouds consistently the whole time we were there. It would break in parts to where we could see some views but they were few and far between. Also about 2 and a half hours into the 4 hour hike, a rain cloud came over the volcano and absolutely soaked everyone and everything. The altitude makes it significantly colder as well, probably mid 60s, not really ideal for being wet. So we got soaked and had to be soaked for a long time, while we were still at the volcano and for the 1 and a half hour drive back to the SHIP facility.

Wonderful – Though we were near the top of a volcano in a rainstorm, we enjoyed ourselves in a way. We would have preferred better weather but a thought came into my head when we started our descent, how much closer can you get to God’s power than being inside a raincloud? We weren’t under a raincloud, we were inside it. I was with Juan Carlos and Beth the majority of the descent and we had a good time. We would not have chosen those circumstances, but because of them, we bonded in a better way. We were making jokes and laughing and encouraging one another during the descent. It was an enjoyable time. Not comfortable but still very enjoyable.

Wonderful – We took 14 of the older kids to the movies this past Wednesday. We watched the newest Pirates of the Caribbean movie. It was a pretty good movie and we had a good time with the kids. The only thing we might have changed was the day, we did it the same day as our volcano trip so it was a very long day.

Wonderful – I had the opportunity of being in charge of everything for one week. This meant being the lead intern who guides and keeps things moving forward. I was given this responsibility as an opportunity to gain experience in being a leader. None of our events or plans really changed, but I was in charge of getting things moving each and every day. This also involved leading the group meetings where we were choosing work projects and activities. I learned a great deal about what it is like to be a leader and how to provide guidance and direction for others I am working alongside.

Terrible – I was given this responsibility the day I began getting sick. I wasn’t majorly sick but I was maybe at 75%. Also, my personality and scars from past relationships ending make it very difficult for me to be confrontational. Any moment where I had to settle a split decision or tell someone to focus or pick up the pace brought me a anxiety because my mind tells me that moment will be the ending of another relationship. I know this is not the truth, but my mind and body tell me every confrontational situation is going to be the end of a relationship. I did not realize how much stress and pressure I had put myself under until I passed the leadership responsibility back to Leon. That day I slowly realized how depleted I was, emotionally and physically. I’m grateful for the opportunity, but it was a rough week for me. I am happy I went through it though.

Wonderful – I got to see the man I gave my Bible and cowboy boots to again 2 Sundays ago. We went to visit the church near his house again because they were having a 20^th year celebration service. They gave us each a plate of food afterward and we stopped by this man’s home on the way out of the neighborhood to give him our food for him and his family. It brought us both happiness to see each other again, if only for a moment. I am grateful to see how God has used me to encourage this man toward seeking God. I am praying for another opportunity to see this man again before I return to Texas in 3 weeks.

Wonderful – We built a house! We had the opportunity to choose a work project and to make it happen. It took about 3 and a half days of work from start to finish once we’d chosen to do this project. It was a lot of work but we meshed well as a group and got to enjoy the company of a couple local families who were helping us.

Wonderful – Another group arrived! I’m excited to see what God will do through us this week and how He will draw us closer to one another.

How are you, you ask? I still don’t know how to answer that. I’m not sure if I ever will be able to find a great answer. I don’t believe this phenomenon will ever change either, that life is full of both wonderful and terrible events. All in all, I’m grateful I am alive and that God is using me, all of me and my qualities, even my insecurities. I think I found a fitting song for this blog post, called Whatever You're Doing (Something Heavenly), by Sanctus Real.

It's time for healing time to move on

It's time to fix what's been broken too long

Time make right what has been wrong

It's time to find my way to where I belong

There's a wave that's crashing over me

All I can do is surrender

[Chorus]

Whatever you're doing inside of me

It feels like chaos somehow there's peace

It's hard to surrender to what I can't see

but I'm giving in to something heavenly

Time for a milestone