A Little Princess (3 Little Princesses)

Just the other day we had the privilege to be part of something very special. Ken was asked to walk a little girl down the aisle for her graduation. Now this little girl is named Dayanara. She is very special to us. Dayanara’s schooling this year was sponsored by someone very wonderful through Possibilities International.

Becoming a Mother to the "Motherless"

Tuesday's are crazy in my house. That is the day we feed the homeless. I start early in the morning preparing food for 30 of my favourite homeless people. These people have become like family for me. I've always had a heart for the underdogs in life and the people that frequent El Faro (the lighthouse ministry of YWAM) are definitely underdogs.

A moment forever etched in my heart

From our Dream Agent, Michelle Desaulniers:

Awhile back, I went with my friends to one of the local children’s hospital here in San Salvador. We were there to hand out “scripture bears” which is a part of their ministry here in El Salvador. This ministry was birthed when my friend was going through chemo in the US while her family was all here in El Salvador.

Just in time

From Michelle Desaulniers - Dream Agent in El Salvador:
Every Thursday evening I go out with friends to feed the homeless on the streets of San Salvador. I love this program! I love to see the smiles on all the faces when we offer them food. But this last time I went out I saw something I had never seen before. I have seen naked men, crazed men, drugged out men, women that are really men (sometimes topless) but never before had I seen a person searching through the trash outside of Pizza Hut. Just as our truck pulled up on this street - there he was - picking through the trash and he had just found a medium sized pizza covered in garbage and he had his hand on it to pick it up and eat it when we asked him if he wanted food. We arrived just in time bringing hope and a smile. This is what life is all about!

A little bit of this and a little bit of that...

A little update from Michelle Desaulniers, our Dream Agent in El Salvador:
October was a busy month for me. Like the title says I was involved in a little bit of this and a little bit of that!

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.  

Benihanas

Just a night out at a local grill with the Desaulniers.

Another dream fulfilled!!!

Samuel got a bed, covering and MORE!!

From Ken and Michelle Desaulniers (Dream Agents in El Salvador):

We had the pleasure of delivering all of his birthday presents on Monday. With the money you gave, we were able to purchase a matrimonial size bed, all the bedding (including a 2nd set of sheets), pillows, a mirror, a clock, bath mats