Trip to El Salvador

After 10 days of intense work in El Salvador I'm finally back in Costa Rica. But I want to start at the beginning, August 5th.
On August the 5th a co-worker and I flew to El Salvador on a 10 day promotion tour. We left about 5:30am and landed about 7am in El Salvador. We were welcomed by some MOVIDA friends who drove us from the airport to Santa Ana. On Saturday we already had the first visits to do. We visited a youth service and a small group. Also I got asked to preach in a church on Sunday. Those who know me, know that this is not my strength and that I don't like to do that what so ever. But accepted the challenge and I prepared a message.

Just before I had to preach my co-worker asked me how I'm doing and normally I would answer, that I'm nervous and that I'm not feeling well. But this time I told her, that surprisingly I was feeling really good, even though it was my first time preaching in a church. This statement made her nervous. I eventually preached about missions and our responsibilities and this based on the story of Zacchaeus. According to the feedbacks I got I believe that my message went well.
During the week then we were working towards the event on the upcoming weekend. This week is the main reason why we went to El Salvador in the first place. MOVIDA organises several events through out the year called CIMA Day. This event gives the youth the opportunity to experience one day of CIMA. This way they can understand a bit what they can expect in January but also those that can't go in January can learn more through the Seminars and Workshops about the mission of God.

On Saturday, August the 13th we had our event and I had two main rolls during this day. First I represented the Experience-Program, which we are offering in January after the conference. My goal was to promote the mission trips and motivate the youth to consider this opportunity. My second roll was to lead a seminar. The theme of it was "How can I get involved with missions". I had about 15 participants and also here I believe it was a good turn out. The whole weekend was from our end a success. We received many good feedbacks and even invites to come back next year.
Well now some general information. If you read my first post about Costa Rica you might remember that I talked about the food and how the Costa Ricans eat a lot of Rice and Beans. Well the El Salvadorans have their Pupusas (check link and picture). In El Salvador they eat this dish several times a day. If I would have to choose now between the rice and beans or the pupusas, then I chose the pupusas.
The next information is, that during the preparations for the event I had a small accident. I got asked to cut the tickets for the event, which were 300 tickets. I was doing this with one of those paper cutter, now this one didn't have a protection and due to the amount that I was cutting I got into a routine which led that I forgot my finger. This ended in me cutting off the tip of my finger. Now it might sound really bad but I don't think it was that bad. I did have to go and get two stitches but the finger is healing really well.
Again I want to remind you, that once in awhile I'm doing Facebook live. So check out my Facebook Page and watch the videos from El Salvador (Link is on the top right on my blog).

Well this were the information about El Salvador. It was a really beautiful experience and I made some new friends. The people there are really welcoming and open and they gave everything to make us feel at home. Also you can find pictures on my Instagram (Link on the top right corner of my blog) about this trip.

Thanks so much for your interest and your support.

There's enough work

So now I have quick time to write an other post. The last few days I was really busy but I think it's better for me to start at the beginning. As mentioned in my last post we had a group of three girls coming for a missions trip. For the last week of their trip, which was also the last week of July they where here with us in San Jose. Due to my ability to speak German, English and Spanish I got asked to help them out with translation. One of the occasions was at a youth service in one of the churches here in San Jose where the girl from Switzerland shared her testimony and where I was able to translate for her. An other place we visited was a High School and an other youth service at a different church. If you ask me of my opinion on how this trip ended and of what I heard was that this trip was a success. One of the participants understood through this missions trip what missions is all about and is now open for missions. Our goal from MOVIDA's end is it to mobilize and motivate youth for missions and this surly happend. Right after this missions trip our Volunteers retreat started. This retreat needed a lot of attention and so also a lot of energy. Due to a holiday on the 2. of August we didn't get the Monday off after the weekend. And so it ended up that we worked hard during the week, then the weekend and ending with a slow Monday.

Now you might say, that I had the 2. of August to rest, which would be right but because I had visitors I decided to show them the volcano, which I have seen now for the forth time. After the volcano we went and visited an other place called the La Paz Waterfall Gardens. This trip there was so beautiful. You didn't just see the waterfalls but also had the chance to go through a zoo and see the animals that live here in Costa Rica. Some of them we also had the chance to touch. Yes, so this day wasn't really restful either, where I could of restored some of my energy. It came as it had to come, I started feeling weaker and weaker, now this was my fault and I don't want to blame anyone here.

Slowly I'm coming back to my full strength now. But I'm also already standing before then next busy week. On the 5. of August I'm flying for 10 days to El Salvador where we will have an intensive time filed with meetings and preaching. Now if you know me you also know that I don't like what so ever to preach and I'm not the best in it too and that's why I ask you for your prayer. But as Paul wrote in the New Testament, God is strong in our weakness.

So this is it. I don't know how much internet I'll have in the next 10 days but if I get some, then I probably quick do a Facebook live stream. So keep post and follow me on Facebook.

Thanks so much for your interest and your support.
God's richest blessings over you