Day Eight in El Salvador...

Hola!  It's 8:30 pm here and we just finished supper about 20 mins ago.  Yet another full day : )  This morning, we went to a village area (poor area) not too far out of the city.  The YWAM staff run a weekly children's program there on Saturdays...so, we tagged along to offer our assistance. (We also brought along a few of our donated items -- a bar of soap and toothbrush for each child).

Day Seven in El Salvador...

Hola! Today we spent most of the day at the YWAM base.  With all the painting that we'd be doing all week (at the school and at the ballpark), we couldn't help but notice that the outdoor wall at the base was in desperate need of painting. We also noticed several other needs for various supplies etc...so we decided to bless these people who bless SO many others with the work they do on a regular basis...

Day Six in El Salvador...

We enjoyed yet another beautiful sunny day in San Salvador.  And, we tried to "spread the sunshine" by doing a little makeover on the little league ballpark in town -- a small act of kindness for the community.  (this is the same park where we played a game with the kids when we first arrived).

Day Five in El Salvador...

The day started with a one hour stop at a nearby artisan market (what's a trip without a few souvenirs?). It was a bittersweet morning however, because it also marked our good-bye to Kelly Deschamps (Kelly came down early with Sam as a leader/helper with PI).  Kelly was a valued part of our team and we are thankful that he took the time to serve with us. 

Day Four in El Salvador...

Yet another full and rewarding day. We returned to the school and house build site and split into two groups. The boys stayed and finished up the house build and got the BBQ's fired up for a BIG school BBQ (we fed 200 kids plus some mom's and siblings) The girls picked up the mom and kids (of the family we're building for) and took them to a nearby mall to buy them some clothes and shoes -- we let them choose for themselves!

Day Three in El Salvador...

What a FULL day!  Breakfast at 6:45 and out the door an hour later.  After a fairly long drive to a village near Sonsonate, we had a very warm reception from a group of school children.  The picture shows the "Welcome friends from Canada" poster and some dancers who performed for us.  They were SO excited to have visitors from far away.

Day Two in El Salvador...

 After a good night sleep, everyone seemed a bit more "chipper" today.  We went to a local church in the city (they meet at a Holiday Inn) and although the service was in Spanish, they had high-tech ear devices so we could follow along via a translator....

Team BCS El Salvador arrived safe and sound...

 The good news is that we arrived safely in San Salvador at the YWAM base....the not so good news is that 29 of our 40 checked bags DID NOT make it!!...

Phil having a "chill" on the new Event Grill

Sometimes you need to go "big" or "go home".  It is not about flash...it is about impact.  These guys here at YWAM in El Salvador do tons of events at orphanages and such and Kelly and I thought it might be good to buy them an "event" grill!  I want to thank all the everyday philanthropists in Espanola and across North America who believe in what we do here at PI.  This baby is paid for, assembled, and ready to grill!

"Phil" ing you in!

Oh my!  Phil is already poolside and it is just the first day!  He tells me that he is going to take it easy until the students get here. However, Kelly and I do not have that luxury as yesterday, we began checking out the projects and opportunities for impact while the students are here....

Off to El Salvador with BCS!

Kelly Deschamps (my travelling partner...and also a person that can sleep on a plane...I hate these kind of people...lol) and I (Sam Welten) are in the air as I write this headed to El Salvador to take care of last minute details for the group from Brampton Christian School of 17 students and two teachers (also Wendy Pauls) that will be joining us on Saturday.  

Guatemala - The End

And so this brings us to the conclusion of our trip.

Guatemala - Day Five

Okay, so I know I skipped day four.  Today, however, makes up for it.

There are no words.

A Few Good Men

Wayne Lipski, Darryl Price, George Passmore and Jonnie Brubacher sorting 1000lbs of clothes this morning for food/clothing distribution tomorrow in Alotenango. We are making good headway apart from Darryl modeling certain articles of clothing.

Guatemala - Day Three

Where to begin?

Guatemala - Day Two

Okay, technically it isn't actually "day two", it is however only our second work day.

I know there are those of you waiting to read about what has been happening with the medical team.  That will be coming tomorrow!  Today is another build team update. 

A Photo Story - Christmas comes to the Leprosy Village in Ghana

This update is long overdue, but well worth the wait...When Dream Agent Sherry Peters came home this past Fall, she had recently visited a cured leprosy village in a placed called Ho.  She was deeply moved by these people -- 60 adults and 90 children -- outcasts of society tucked away in a remote village.  

Update from Special Agent Pauls - 03.02.12

Hola!!
It has been completely 'loco' down here in the sunny south!!
Let me fill you in. The team from Napanee left Wednesday :( We will miss them greatly. This team was incredible!! They really came to pour into the people. They built a laundry room at the orphanage, finished painting the front wall of the orphanage, brought mattress covers for all of out mattresses, and brought TONS of donations and fun things for the orphanage and the kids in the community. One of the days that they were with us, we went to visit the children at Bethany orphanage. It was so cool to see how another orphanage is run and be able to play and enjoy the kids.

Guatemala - Day One

I am certain there are many of you who have been waiting for an update, and I apologize for taking so long.  I can assure you this is the first time we've had available to do so since we arrived!

After a very early morning start (4:30am departure from Freedom Church), we arrived in Guatemala close to midnight local time.  We were all exhausted, but a sense of excitement and anticipation was in the air.  We cleared customs with no real problems, and with our luggage in tow, we were ready.  

We were up early this morning, excited and looking forward to the day.  I was sent out with the build team today and it was incredible, the pictures will never do justice to what was experienced there by the team.  To see the kids running towards the van as all the "gringos" piled out ready to start building homes, it was priceless.  The kids of the area were everywhere, laughing, watching, wide eyed with happiness and joy.