Visit to the States 2016

Greetings!  We are home again after a ‘fast and furious’ visit to the states this summer.  We were able to meet and be encouraged by so many dear people that God put into our paths.  As we see the ministry grow here in El Salvador, we also see that God is on the move in many hearts to come alongside us and provide the vital support that we need, relationally, spiritually and financially. 

Gelmarie, Christina and Sherry with our gals!

It is always difficult to leave the country, thus leaving our ministry for a time unattended by us.  This year, however, God brought some very dear friends alongside us to keep pouring into the ladies of our women’s home in our absence.  What a blessing to know that they were in such good hands!  Gelmarie, Christina and Sherry, thank you so much for loving and serving our precious women!  These three ladies are solid gold!  Our women were well loved!

Gathering at the Friesens home in Lake Oswego

It was our desire, on this trip, to share with small groups and make new connections with folks who might want to join with us working in El Salvador.  God opened doors and we walked through them, in Vancouver, Lake Oswego, Seattle and Anacortes.  We are so thankful for those of you who opened your homes and your hearts to give us space to share and to be encouraged by you.   Also, to a very special person who loaned us their pickup truck and a gas card to go with it…. THANK YOU!!!   

Knowing we had our own transportation when we needed it was priceless!  And we needed it a lot! 

Maddie and Kath with Skyler, Lisa and Raeleigh.

At the front of our trip, Maddie and I flew into Appleton, Wisconsin to visit our dear friends, Lisa and James Schuenke, and their four kiddos.  Maddie had been invited to go to a youth conference in Kansas City with their daughter, Skyler.  God put it on the hearts of our brothers and sisters at Sun City Calvary Chapel, in El Paso, Texas, and Calvary Chapel Downtown (Vancouver) to raise the necessary funds that she would need for this conference.  In addition, family and friends helped, and Maddie also was able to dog-sit here in El Salvador for some sweet friends to earn some money.  Altogether, she was able to raise exactly what she needed for the conference and airfare!  Praise God!!!  Thank you to all who gave and kept her in your prayers!  She had a wonderful trip and God really ministered to her through the time there.  I surprised Lisa by showing up with Maddie!  It was FUN!  That week with Lisa was so special for both of us.  We met in El Salvador when they were missionaries here, and since have left the field.  Lisa is definitely a kindred spirit, and God has used her to bless my heart in so many ways.  It was so special to be able to meet their newest member of the family, Chaesen James!  He is such a sweet, happy baby! 

Our church in Vancouver, Calvary Chapel Downtown, was going through a very big change when we arrived.  Our pastor and friend, Daniel Gettemy, was in the process of retiring as pastor of the church, and moving back to New Mexico, with his wife, Karen.  The church was merging with another fellowship in the area, and so we were able to experience a little of that process, which was good.  We met the new pastor, Jake, and enjoyed a few hours of getting to know each other. We were able to listen to him preach a few times, as well.   We believe that the church is in good hands.  The united churches now have a new name, Union Chapel.  A few weeks before the merge, we were able to share on a Sunday morning with the then, Calvary Chapel, and update them on what God is up to in our lives in El Salvador.  It was a sweet time and we left very encouraged. 

Grandma planned a fun 'minute to win-it' competition!

God gave our family some special moments together as well.  Our dear friends allowed us to stay at their families’ beach home in Manzanita, Oregon.  It was lovely.  It was us, the girls with their hubby’s and their kiddos, all 8 of them!   So, we had a house full of fun and energy!  Having that concentrated time with them is rare, so we soaked it up and enjoyed every minute.   We were also able to go with all the kids to a family amusement location that has water slides and pools indoors.  Even Sam and Jonah came for that time, and we had so much fun together!

Auntie Maddie planned a treasure hunt on the beach for her littles!

We also got to hug Leslie and Mike Freeman! (In the middle)

From there were drove up to Seattle, met up with dear friends there for a lunch and then, an a dinner date, and then, continued on up to Anacortes to reunite with some precious friends we hadn’t seen in years, Mike and Keri Hoffman.  What a blessed time we had re-connecting with them!  While there, Mike had set up two different opportunities to share with small groups from their church, The Bridge.  This church has just begun to support us financially, and it was so wonderful to be able to make one-on-one connections with many dear people who are part of the church, including the pastor and his wife. 

On our way back to Vancouver, we had another stop to make in the Seattle area where we met another of our supporters whom we hadn’t had the chance to meet face to face. 

While in the states,we also received tragic and heart-breaking news on two fronts.
The first: we learned that Lupita's nephew, (her sister, Dinora's son),  a young man of 18 years old, Miguelito, had been murdered by the gangs here in El Salvador.  He had been threatened by the gangs: join or die.  He chose not to join, and when walking home from work with his mom, in San Julian, where we used to live, a gang member walked up to them and pulled a gun.  He tried to run, but was shot in the legs, and then, repeatedly shot, at close range until he was dead.  Because his mom, Dinora, looked the killer in the eye, she was in danger.  She and all who live in their home, are now being given refuge in a secure location: mom, grandma, little brother and little sister.  Miguelito was Lupita’s nephew.  She was a second mom to him and had led him to the Lord.  He loved to cook and wanted to be a chef.  He worked as a cook in a little restaurant in San Julian, with his mom. We had hoped to open a home for young men and invite Miguel to be our first young man in the home.  There he would have been given the opportunity to study to become a trained chef.  But, it wasn’t to be.  The gangs got him first.  This has hit us with such force.  We have walked through some heart-wrenching days here since returning.  One thing we know:  we will, by the grace and help of God, be opening that home for young men sooner than later, and it will be named after Miguelito.  (For security reasons, please don't make any comments about this on facebook, nor post this blog on facebook or any other public site)

After this, the week before we left to return to El Salvador,  we learned the heart-breaking

news that my sister, Janie, has pancreatic cancer.  It had metastasized to her liver and spleen.  This type of cancer is very aggressive and very painful.  She needs all the prayers and support she can get!  Please keep her daughter, Tarah, in your prayers as she is caring for and advocating for her health care. If you feel led to help her, please click on this link and read more!  Please keep Janie and her children in your prayers.  https://www.gofundme.com/2k2fpgv8?pc=fm_co_dashboard_a 

All in all, we left feeling encouraged and loved.  Physically and emotionally, we were pretty exhausted when we returned to El Salvador.  We ask for your prayers as we walk through the difficult task of helping Miguel’s family start over again.  Next week, we are taking them to begin grief/trauma counseling which our dear friend’s ministry is providing for them.  They have a long road ahead.  They need jobs, a home to rent, they need healing and to feel safe again.  The situation in this country is so difficult.  It is tempting to despair.  Our hearts are raw and hurting.  Please pray for wisdom and provision for us as we seek to minister here in El Salvador.