Bendito Sea Tu Nombre

                                          Beach day with my girls :)  We like palm trees.

                                                 We like tires on the beach too!!! :)

 The Smith kids, Mulliax kids, Melissa, and me.  A prime example of the affects of too much Salvadorean sun. :)

 Felice and I with our "freezing in the pool" face. 

Richard, Jen, and the kids at our last Sunday at church.

  Words somehow don't even seem good enough, or even seem to begin to come tonight, as this is my last blog in El Salvador.  Tomorrow is our last full day here, then leave bright and early Wednesday morning for our flight.  My heart seems bursting with so many different things right now.  Sadness. Memories. Excitement. Somewhat a sense of loss.  But most of all tonight, it is bursting with gratitude to my Lover, Jesus Christ, for how he leads me, loves me, and the amazing opportunity He gave me to come and get to know this family, whom I have come to love dearly. For each of the many sweet times I have spent with each and every one of them.  For the "new family members" I have found here.  For the "new big brother" I have found in Richard. For the sweet, gentle, amazing, answer to prayer, friend I have found in Jen,  and for the four awesome little people that have so easily stolen their way into my heart.  For the new sisters in Christ I have found.  For the amazing staff at Wired I have had the honor to know.  Not to mention the countless other people I have met, the children that will forever be etched in my heart and memory, and the lessons that My Jesus has so patiently taught me.  What it is to be truly broken before Him every moment of the day.  What it means to be grateful when you truly have nothing on this earth. I can hardly see the screen now for the tears that are welling up in my eyes, but I will keep going, so hopefully you can read it.  Hopefully my spelling is still correct. haha.  Thank you, Jesus.  Even when I didn't know it, Your leading was so accurate, so precise, so RIGHT, and I bless your name.

  Friday was the big day of moving out of the house, or at least getting a good start.  Then Saturday was finishing up... to the last box, the last shoe, the last purse, the last water bottle. :)  We are now staying in a hotel the last couple of nights here, so that everything was all finished up and taken care of at the house when we leave.  Seeing the empty house, freshly painted, completely clean, was when it hit me that in just a few days my life that I have had for the last three months would be over in a few days.  I went out on my balcony one last time (yes, the same balcony I climbed onto from the roof... in a dress... one dark night :)  and cried a few tears.  Then since then there have been a few goodbyes here and there.  Tomorrow will be the big gully washer, as there is a farewell party at Wired.  Then the dam breaks on Wednesday at the Dallas airport, as that is where we part ways.  But these are definitely people that you know you will keep in touch with.  And Lord willing, this will only be "see you later", rather than a goodbye.  We'll see what He has in store.

  I'm excited to see what God has in store for me when I get home,  as I know that He will lead me one step at a time.  Look how I ended up here??? :)  I'm so thankful for the plans that He has for us, although it takes some breading and pain sometimes on our part to actually give in to the ones He has.  But, Jesus, I bless your name tonight.  You are so worthy.  It is an honor to serve You.

  So, besides continuing to have a bursting heart, there really seem to be no more words.  Again, I thank each and every one of you have lifted me up to the Father in prayer.  Please continue to pray for the Mullinaxes, as well, as the Wired Ministry, as God is doing great things here.  I have so enjoyed keeping you all updated, and being able to write and process some thoughts.  Who knows, maybe I'll keep up the blog even when I get home.  We'll see. :)  In any chapter, any season of life, it is a joy to say, "Blessed Be Your Name".   "Bendito Sea Tu Nombre."  Thank you, My Jesus.

  So, for the last time writing in El Salvador, this is your Mission Nanny, Laura, signing off. ;)

 

 

One Last Time...

All changes are more or less tinged with melancholy, for what we are leaving behind is part of ourselves.
Amelia Barr                                                                                                                                                               

To all my faithful readers and prayer warriors out there who have been so incredibly encouraging and uplifting, I say, thank you. It seems impossible that I only have a grand total of nine days left in this country and with these people I have grown to love so dearly, and yet, sadly, it is true. There has been so much learning, growing, happiness, and joy in this house that is nearly packed up and ready to move.
This week is what I call my week of "One last times". One last time helping with a scavenger hunt. One last time going to Tia Anna's (saying goodbye there was hard). One last time going to Union Church. One last time eating lunch with Whitney. One last time at the beach. One last time at the market. One last time to "The Farm". One last time at Broken. (Maybe I'll be back there some day... God knows!!) Soon there will be even more difficult "one last times". Such as sleeping in this house, seeing each of my amazing friends at Wired, hearing certain phrases and words from "my" kids. One last time ordering food in Spanish. All of these things are things I never even thought about missing... until it is the last time.

                                                         Sweet Marcos, one of the boys at Tia Anna's.

                                                      Beautiful little Carly.

                                                 Whitney and I.  She made me feel so at home :)


Today was the day when I think everyone felt like we are "officially" leaving in a few days.  Some members of the current team came to help pack and paint.  Seeing things get moved around and left there, ready to take out the door, seems to make it real.  They did an amazing job, and I still can't believe how much they got done in the amount of time that they were here.
Despite the sadness of leaving, it is so encouraging to know that God knows what He's doing, as always.  In spite of all the "one last times" that are going on, that also means that myriads of "first times" are getting ready to come. Whatever shape or form that takes is in my Savior's hands, but is exciting none the less.  I have fallen in love with so many different things and people in El Salvador, which means part of me is definitely staying here.  I would love to come back, if God has that in His plans... we'll see. ;)

I want to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you who have taken the time to contact me.  You can't know how much that makes my day when I get a letter, e mail, message on FB, or a phone call on Skype.  I so appreciate you taking time out of your day for that purpose.  It may not seem like much, but you'd be surprised how many people don't, and how much it means when you do.  From the bottom of my heart, I say... Thank you!!!
And tomorrow... it's off to the beach with some of the greatest girls in the world!!!!!! :) :)
 

Missing...# 2 :)

"Prayer is the language of a man burdened with a sense of need." ~E.M. Bounds 

Arrow's expression while having an "Owl Eye" butterfly on his hand :)

  Thanks to all of you and a lot of other prayers going up to the throne of heaven, the last week has drastically improved, as Alton is now basically back to normal. Everyone has gotten some great rest and is now refreshed for the last three (yes, only three!!) weeks left here in San Salvador. Jen, the kids and I leave the 18th for The United States of America :) Richard will follow them in a couple of weeks. We'll fly together to Dallas and then split ways. Pray for me as I'm sure I will be getting stares from security and flight attendants as a crazy wailing woman walking through the airport. ;) As much as I miss my family and my "home in the boonies", it will be a sad day to part ways, for however long God sees fit, with my "new" family. But I am excited for what God will continue to do in the next three weeks, as well as when I get home, and through the Mullinaxes as they go to Montana.

Such deep concentration :)

 To lighten this heavy, depressing (aagghh!!!) mood, I thought I would post my biggest "misses" about home, since I posted my "miss list" of El Salvador last time. Some of the things will only make sense to certain people, or only if you are a hick like me.;) Many things are very fickle, and are things that I never really thought about until I didn't have them. Anyway, enjoy!!!

My Justin Gypsies go wherever I go... Uhuh :)

Long walks ~ Nephews who give me kisses ~ Clear blue skies ~ Whole milk that tastes like... milk ~ Godiva chocolate ~ Biscuits and gravy ( oh yaeh!! ) ~ Four wheelin' ~ My piano ~ Checking cows just before the sun sets ~ My "Phantom of the Opera" soundtrack ~ Dad's giggle ~ Mom's hugs and laugh ~ My car ~ Dirt roads ~ Rack, the most awesome, toughest dog you will ever meet ~ The smell of feedlot (which is the smell of money, don't ya know?? ) ~ Homemade ice cream ~ Brushin' and braidin' Mom's hair at random times ~ Hearing "waterfall" birds ~ My bed (this stuff is SO profound, I know haha )~ Miss Janel and Miss Cerina's lovely smiles and hugs ~ Little boys screaming "Auntie!!" as they run with outstretched arms ~ Turning on a movie with Mom and falling asleep five minutes later ~ Texting ~ People understanding me in public places ~ Driving in absolutely NO traffic ~ Seeing a sky full of stars (the most I've seen here at one time is 3) ~ Matthew's "What a Deal" ~ Quiet nights in the country ~ Little blonde heads ~ The independence of jumping in my car and going whenever I want ~ Cool breezes at night ~ Hearing the bull frogs after a hard rain ~ My "Pride and Prejudice" and "Man from Snowy River" soundtracks ~ Being called "Cakie" ~ Being called the most random nicknames by all three of my brothers ~ Playing Scrabble with Jason~  Summer garage sale-ing with my sistas ~.

There will be more added to this, as it too grows daily. For those of you in my home state of Colorado, I want you to know that my prayers are also with you. I have been keeping up on the news of the horrible fires that are still burning, as well as the incredibly dry and hot conditions. I am here, but part of my heart is there with you. I watched the news in horror on Wednesday of the footage of all the houses burning up in Colorado Springs. Please pray for weather for my home. The situation is getting pretty dire in Eastern CO as well, and tough decisions are being made by ranchers, as grass is running out. It rains here nearly everyday or night, which I love, because I have grown up seeing how desperate it can be without it.

I pray you all take courage and encouragement tonight from the excellent, amazing, awesome name and person of Jesus.  He is so worthy and waiting to be praised.

Blessings,

Laura

I have a tradition when I travel to take a picture of my bare feet.

This time two precious little tanned feet joined me. :)

Don't ever believe someone if they say you can't fit at least seven people in a taxi... and for those of who WILL question, there are two people in the front, and yes, there are only five in the picture. haha

 

I miss....

 Hello there from a slightly cooler El Salvador (atleast the past few days anyway).  I actually didn't even use my fan lastnight, and even put on a little blanket the night before!! It's been pretty nice actually.  It has been a tough week here in the Mullinax household, as Alton (almost 9) has been sick since last Friday.  For several days he had a high fever and nausea, and after a couple of trips to the doctor, the diagnosis was mono.  Jen has been faithfully caring for him nonstop upstairs, while we try to keep the younger ones occupied downstairs.  Needless to say, this has been pretty challenging for everybody.  He is doing much better now, but it will be slow going.  Thanks to some really awesome people on staff at Wired, (and Richard and Jen's encouragement) I had a very refreshing day off yesterday, as Elijah and Christy ( a new intern at Wired) came over and took the kids to the zoo.  Prayers for strength and refreshing for Richard, Jen and all of the kids, health for Alton, and a fresh wave of creativity for me would be much appreciated.  Yesterday and the day before I seemed to hit "the wall" of my creativity and somewhat of my energy, and just couldn't seem to come up with new, exciting things for the kids to do.  It's amazing what a day off will do.
  There is now less than four weeks left here, and everyone is beginning to sense the oncoming change.  I began to compile a list of things I will miss about El Salvador, as well as a list of things I miss about home.  I thought it would be fun to see what I would come up with, and I keep adding things everyday. :) 
  So far... about El Salvador I will miss...
Hearing "Buenos Dias" every morning ~ Parakeets flying over~ Papusas~ Jugglers at the stoplights ~ Little kids waving to me as they pass my room ~ Rain ~ Palm trees ~ Twelve ft. tall weeds (for reals!!) ~ Fresh mangoes ~ Fresh pineapple ~ Every noise veing drownded out at night by a fan ~ Hearing "You Are My Sunshine" every night from little boys and their mommy ~ Nestor's laugh ~ Short Spanish lessons with Aura ~ The beach!! ~ Skip Bo ;) ~ Melissa's hugs ~ Raquel's giggles ~ Being asked to help with homework ~ Amazement at Alton and Felice's Spanish ~ Being constantly commented on my draaawwwllll :) ~ Reminders several times a day of how spoiled and utterly blessed I am, just by having clean water and 3 meals a day ~ Exotic plants and flowers at every place ~ Incredibly friendly strangers ~ Little girls singing with their Daddy ~ Wireless Internet - haha real profound, I know ~ Little geckos running across the wall ~ Three dollar Chinese food ~ Jen's incredible patience ~ Richard's "big brother sarcasm", which is surprisingly like my oldest brother :) ~ Veronica, a little girl at Esperanza y Vida ~ Walter, a little boy at Tia Ana's ~ Little brown skinned babies ~ Checking out my window every morning to see if it's clear enough to see the volcano ~ Sara's beautiful smile ~ Dance offs in the living room ~ Hundreds of different butterflies ~ Fresh Mames~ Jugo de Grenada (Grenada Juice - It's REALLY good) ~ Liz's laugh and hugs ~ Singing "The Wheels on the Bus" with Raquel~ Sing alongs with Nate and his eucalale ~.
  So far that's what I got.  Again, it grows daily, and will probably MASSIVELY grow in my last week or so here.  Maybe this gives you all a little more "in depth" glimpse of what my time here is like.
  Next time I will post my list about home.  It's funny how many things we take for granted and don't even think about, until they're not at our fingertips. 
  "But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."  Isaiah 40:31

English makes sense? Really?!

   Hola y Feliz el Dia de Padre!!  Hi and Happy Father's Day!!  I hope this Sunday afternoon finds you all well.  There is actually a cool breeze going through the house right now, so I am pretty good. :)  Father's Day is different without my Dad for the first time ever in my life, but I was able to call him on his cell phone, so that was cool.  The kids took breakfast to their dad in bed today, along with little gifts they had made him.  Ah, those were the days.  Made me think of when me and my brothers were little munchkins.  So much so, that  I wrote a poem about it!!  Which I may put on here... maybe, someday.  I truly am blessed to have an amazing Dad.  That not only fathered me, but also loved me no matter what, and did his best to guide me in the ways of my Heavenly Father.

I love this guy :)

  Yesterday several of my friends that are on staff at Wired were having an interesting conversation about English.  Edwin, from here in San Salvador, asked, "Why do you guys use 'up' so much?".  It took awhile to figure out exactly why he would think that, but by the end of the conversation, it got me wondering the same thing.  We say "up" is a direction, right?  The opposite of  down?  Right.  That's why we say "get up", "stand up", "lift up", or "push up".  But what about  "dress up", clean up", or "catch up"?  Those really have nothing to do with an actual direction.  Not to mention "what's up", "throw up", "eat up", "sit up", or "saddle up".  Could we atleast say that when we use "up", it always has the same conotation, somewhat of the same meaning?  We all thought so.  But then how do you explain "shut up", "speak up", and "listen up"?  Two have pretty much the same meaning, but then the other one is the complete opposite.  We say something "lights up", or "opens up".  We tell kids to "shape up".  We say to "drink up".  We "whip up", or "cook up" some breakfast.  Then we "wash up" the dishes.  Then we "hang up" the clothes, and "mop up" the floor.  We "turn up" the TV, and "start up" the car.  After we get "fixed up" to go to work.  I can go on, but I think you're probably getting the point.  However, if you have some more that you would like to add, I would love to here them!!! :)  Needless to say, all we could say, is we have no idea why we use "up" so much.  English just makes perfect sense to us because we've spoken it since we were two years old.  But does it really?  Interesting.
  A team arrived here last Saturday and left Friday, and another one arrives today.  So busy times around here.  I am so blessed with the family God has given me the privilege of serving and spending time with, as well as the many friends I have made here in San Salvador.  I have met people that will be lifetime friends, and look forward to each day I get to spend here.  This week the plan is to get some major packing done, in preparation for the Mullinaxe's move back to the States on July 18th.  So almost exactly a month now.  I would like to ask you all to pray for Alton ( almost 9) as he has something that is causing him to have a fever and just not feel good.  Hopefully they will be able to figure out what is causing it tomorrow.  I love you all and pray you have a blessed day with your Dad as well as our heavenly Daddy, Abba.

Whenever I go somewhere new, I always get a picture of my bare feet. This time some little ones joined me :)

No Se Puede Ayudar A Enamorarse

  I would really like to impress you all and say I came up with the title all in my own "massive Espanol vocabulary"  (yaeh right!!!), but I had to look it up on Microsoft translator. :)  In English, it is "Can't Help Falling In Love".  That is such a fitting title, because once again this week, I have fallen in love.   This precious little lady is Veronica.  She is one of the angels I met at Esperanza y Vida (Hope and Life) yesterday. 
  Esperanza y Vida is a shelter for children who either have HIV, or who are affected by HIV (their parents or family members have it, and they need someone to care for them, etc.).  I had the privilege of going yesterday with the current team that is at Wired to visit and spend time with these kids.  The team spent the afternoon helping them with schoolwork, playing games, and singing songs.  As well as helping with cleaning or jobs around the shelter.  I was a floater that got to go around and meet different kids, but this little girl captured my heart.  She is 2 years old and loves to giggle and give hugs.  (Can you tell by the awesome face smashin' hug in the picture??)  She knows lots of colors and numbers, and I met her when she was lining up little miniature chairs and wanted me to sit in one.  Even with my VERY limited Spanish, I was able to talk to her and we had a blast. I'm so glad a smile, hugs, kisses and giggles are the same in any language. :) Hopefully I will be able to spend some more time with her.
  It continues to amaze me how happy the kids are here, even, when in my point of view, they have so little.  Kids in the States (including this kid ;)  are SO spoiled and have so much.  Having only necessities (and sometimes not even that much!!) here is a way of life.
  Life continues to be full of learning countless things everyday, and learning to trust and rely on my Savior, and making new friends.  Thank you all for your continuing prayers and support.  Anyone of you that have Skype, give me a call some evening!! Most evenings are pretty free from about 7:30 on, and I would love to hear from you and what is going on in your lives as well. 
  May each of you walk in the full joy of Jesus, in the way that only He can give it.

Trusting

  I want to begin by thanking each of you who prayed for me this last week, about my throat sickness stuff.  I'm doing much better, and it's pretty much over now.  The glands in my throat are still a little swelled, but are continuing to get better.  I was downing Echinacea and Vitamin C really heavy, and that combined with all of you praying for me did the trick.  I so appreciate all of you and your heart for prayer.  It's such a comfort and strength knowing that I have that support and a team of people that are lifting me up to the Father's heart.  When I really started feeling better though, was actually when I started taking these each night...

Hahaha, chocolate is good for whatever ails you.  Really!!    Atleast it made my day anyway :)
  In other news, one of the interns, Anna, who was here for three months, left last week, and we all miss her.  El Salvador isn't quite the same without her, but I will be able to see her again soon, Lord willing, as she is going to Ellerslie, a Christian Mission Training school in Windsor, CO.  We plan to get together sometime when I get back.  She's pretty cool, and I'm blessed to have gotten to know her.

  Everyday continues to be a learning experience.  I learn a few more Spanish words everyday.  Some stick, and some don't. ;)  I wish they  all did.  I'm continuing to love it here... the people, learning the culture, the fruit ( oh yaeh!!), and all that I'm getting to experience.  Although I must say, this country girl is beginning to miss her outdoors and all that goes with it.  I miss going on long walks down a dirt road that stretches out for ever ahead of me when it looks like a thunderstorm is approaching, and then getting rained on before I get home.  I miss checking cows and driving where I see no one at all on the road.  All part of being a self proclaimed hick living in the city ;)  But I am also enjoying every single minute here, because I know it will be over before I know it.  The challenge is before me that is always before me.  To do as one of my favorite quotes by Jim Elliot says... "Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God."  That was my motto before I came to El Salvador.  Funny it still is when I'm here.  To not worry, or be living in tomorrow... next week... next month... even the next moment.  I always used to wish God would give me a clue as to what He was thinking about my future.  To just lay it all out for me where I knew what He had coming.  I don't know what will happen when I get home.  What He will have me to do. Sometimes it would be nice if I knew.  But then what would I have to trust Him for?  What would I have to depend on Him for?  He continues to let me know that He is the one leading, I am the one following, and all I need is one step at a time.  All I have to do is take that one step as He lays it out.  It's called trusting.  Sounds so simple, but is probably one of the hardest lessons I am learning.  Because I like to be in control.  But it's when I give the control over, hand over reigns to Him, that trust really begins to take ahold.  Pray that I will continue to trust Him, and also for direction when I do get home.  For the courage to wait for the next step, and then take it when it comes.

  

 

"God has wisely kept us in the dark concerning future events and reserved for himself the knowledge of them, that he may train us up in a dependence upon himself and a continued readiness for every event."

Matthew Henry

                         All you can eat meat at Intercontinental Restaurant. Yaeh Baby!!! ;)

His Strength

"At the moment when you feel like you have reached the point of absolute exhaustion, inspire yourself to take one last step, and that is when you have successfully arrived to the next level."

Master Jin Kwon

"And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me... For when I am weak, then I am strong."  2Cor. 12:9 and 10b

The Wired Staff, Interns and me (the tag along) half way to the bottom of the volcano, Boqueron. You can see the crater behind us.

Hello Everyone!! I feel as if I am deserting myself and you all if I don't keep up with this blog every few days, so I apologize that it has been over a week and a half since I have written.  Things have been busy, or shall I say, occupied, even if there is not much going on.  That probably doesn't make much sense, but I will try to explain what all I've been doing since the last post.

  My daily routine on a normal day has pretty much stayed the same, (although the term "normal" is ready to take on a new form at any moment's notice) - giving baths, dressing little people, fixing hair on little heads, then playing with whoever is necessary while Jen and Felice do school, help get kids ready for whatever may come up to go to during the day, build legos, play play dough, and have a blast in the process.  My routine was kind of juggled around due to being sick for a few days.  I had a stomach bug that didn't seem to want to let go, and just feeling physically and mentally drained.  I'm still trying to get back to myself, as I now have some kind of really wierd throat thing going on.  I don't know if it's due to an infection, allergy, or what's going on.  But exhaustion has been a major hurdle for me over the past week.  Hence - this whole blog, including "inspiring" quotes, about exhaustion. :)  I'm definitely feeling better, and my "tiredness" is not due to anyone here at all, I still continue to love the people I spend every day with, but my body just doesn't always respond the way I want it to. 

   Another absolutely amazing, fabulous thing I did this week was hike a volcano with some amazing people. I am so glad I did it, but it is definitely at the top of my exhausting, brutal, physical things I have ever done. Hiking the Copper Canyon in Mexico used to be at the top, but it has been moved to second now. The staff at Wired (the C&MA Envision site here in San Salvador) has been having their staff training, competition, bonding time this week. Hiking Boqueron, the volcano was one of their challenges. Wednesday was one of my days off, so they graciously let me go with them. Standing at the top and looking at the bottom where we were headed, and then coming BACK UP had the same affect that looking over on the side of Copper Canyon where we were headed had on me - daunting : intimidating : challenging. I like challenge ;)

                                 There's Boqueroncito, the crater, way down there :)

                                                                       Halfway there!!

                       WE MADE IT!!! Looking from one edge of the crater to the other.
   I don't think I've been quite that physically exhausted before, but, what other option is there, when you're at the bottom of a volcano, than to get out???   :)  As one of the challenges the teams had to do, I ended carrying around 20 lbs. or rocks in my backpack almost the whole way out as well, and there were times I thought I was going to die. Not literally, but I was hurting. Part of the climb is like hand over hand, over rocks and stuff. The leader of my team, Elijah, began to ask us to think of verses that were describing how we were feeling, or that were encouraging us. That gave us strength for one more step, then one more, then one more. And, at last, that final step put us in the van. I love vans!!!! :) I loved that hike, and how it reminded me again, of how powerless I really am, and how UTTERLY dependant I must be upon my Lord for every breath, every step, every direction in life. Apart from Him, I AM NOTHING. 

  I also had the opportunity to go with a couple of friends and do some shopping for a local children's home, and then go and visit there and fall in love with the kids. So innocent. So happy with so little, yet, beautiful brown eyes that are longing for love and affection. I hope to be able to give them some more of that in the future.  If nothing else makes me want to learn Spanish, being around little kids who don't speak English definitely does.  You don't HAVE to be able to communicate verbally to with them to connect, but it certainly makes it easier.  It's like having a wall in front of me, one that I'm not at all used to when it comes to kids.  This little guy clung to me when I told him "Adios".  I was on the verge of tears when I got in the van, hearing him cry because I had to put him down and leave. 

  I would like to ask for prayer for this throat thing  that is going on.  Originally it started almost like an allergic reaction to some kind of poisonous (to a degree) leaf that brushed on my arm during the hike and left hives and a rash, although it was only when I would eat something.  Almost like my throat was closing off when I would try to eat.  That has now stopped, thank God, but the roof of my mouth and my soft palate feels like it has a DEEP bruise.  The wierdest thing, I know.  It's not like I'm writhing in pain, but it's just there.  I'm thinking maybe it's some kind of virus, as others were having the same thing a couple of days ago.  I'm taking some stuff I brought with me, so pray that that will be enough to get rid of it.  For God's healing.  For rest.  For energy.  I so appreciate having so many people that I know are praying for me.  You don't know what energy that alone gives me, knowing that God has put people in my life that don't just say they will pray, but actually do.  Something I definitely need to be for others.  You challenge me.  Thank  you.

  My time here is ticking away, with a month and a half now.  I miss my family, and things about home, but it is going to be hard when the time comes to part ways with the Mullinax tribe whom I have grown to love.  Also pray for direction when I do get home as to exactly what God would have me to do from there.  I love you all. 

"Laughter and tears are both responses to frustration and exhaustion. I myself prefer to laugh, since there is less cleaning up to do afterward."

Kurt Vonnegut

                     Arrow, Alton, Me and Felice.  Raquel wasn't too fond of the idea :)  I think I'm having too much influence on them ;)

Broken To Be Used

     "God uses broken things. It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to give rain, broken grain to give bread, broken bread to give strength. It is the broken alabaster box that gives forth perfume. It is Peter, weeping bitterly, who returns to greater power than ever."
                                                       Vance Havner

 Life here in San Salvador has been pretty busy for the last couple of weeks, and I haven't updated for over a week.  There were two teams here, one from Simpson University in California, and one from Missoula, Montana.  They were doing evangelism in Quezaltepeque (It really is fun to say, you should try it ;), a town about an hour northwest of here.  I spent one day there with them and Jen and the kids, and spent a couple of days off with the team at the beach, doing a scavenger hunt here in San Salvador.  I made some great friends, and met a lot of awesome people, that I feel blessed and honored to know.   I also got to go with them to Suchitoto to see some land that Richard and Jen have a vision of one day getting to build "Broken".
 "Broken" is the vision of ministry that God has given Richard and Jen.  To build a home for broken people.  Abandoned infants, drug addicts, prostitutes... people who are broken... the people Jesus invites to Himself.  A place of restoration, healing, and new life through Christ. It was so neat to be able to hear from Richard how God has shown this to them, and the prayer and direction from God that has already gone into it, and also hear the need of prayers to flood over it, and the need that is there to bring this vision to pass.  God also gave me a fresh revelation of where I need to be in my walk with Him.  Totally broken.  Totally and utterly aware of my sin, and how I, in my flesh, am nothing, and to continue, constantly walk in brokenness before Him, always dependant on Him, and knowing my only life is through Him and His grace, having nothing at all to do with me.  It's so easy to start thinking I'm on a pretty good stretch, doing pretty good in my own "good girl" life.  But all that "righteousness" is nothing but dirty, filthy rag.  Without Him I can "do NOTHING".  It is only through being broken that we are usable. 
   The land that they are looking at right now is on a peninsula that we went to on boats, and then hiked to get a good view.  Beautiful country God has made here in El Salvador. :)  It was great to get some exercize and sweat... haha. 
  The teams both left on Tuesday, and it seems since then everyone has been "muy cansada".  VERY TIRED. ;)  Yesterday and today I have been basically dragging my legs out of bed.  I'm also trying to fight off some kind of head/ sinus/ throat cold, so that is pretty draining. 

                                       Some cool birds we saw on the boat ride to the Broken land.

                                                               Part of the boat crew :)

One of the things our Scavenger Hunt team had to do was make a human pyramid with a Salvadorean.    

                        Such sweet kids  (even though Arrow is hiding in the back)  :)

                             Overlooking some of the land for Broken.  Beautiful.

Friendships made and sealed ;)

  I am continuing to absolutely love this family - each one has such amazing traits and characteristics that I will always remember and cherish.  I know I still have two months with them, but I am already dreading the day I will have to say Goodbye.  :)
 

Adventure

                “Life is either a great adventure or nothing.”  Helen Keller

  Adventure... synonomous with life, right?  Life is to be an adventure... the great adventure.  My life certainly has.  Especially the last couple of days.  I have loved the ocean since the first time I layed eyes on it.  Also since the first time I "layed ears on it".  I could listen to that sound for hours.  Something about it is so captivating for this land locked girl.  So I have been indulged for nearly two whole days :) Sunday was spent at El Pacifico with Richard, Jen, the kids, and Melissa Lonas, who just arrived for 15 months from North Carolina as part of the staff at Wired (the Ministry Center here in El Salvador). We had such a ball on the beach, as well as in the water park right there by the beach. I don't think I have played my heart out in a pool like that since I was probably eleven.

                                             Raquel and Me in the incredibly warm water.

                                             Arrow and Felice doing some wave hoppin'

                                                     Alton - What a guy :)

Yes, these are whole fish she was selling ( I didn't buy one... I know I know, my whole scoop on adventure??? :)

 
  Today was spent with the team from Simpson University in CA, and part of the Wired Staff at El Tunco, a beach not far from El Pacifico.  My days off this week are today and tomorrow so that I can go do stuff with them. (Thanks, Richard and Jen!!)  It was such a blast, though my shoulders and legs are telling me it was more like a bake.  The sun definitely did it's job on me :)  Several tried surfing, others of us just walked on the shore and played in the water.  I could not believe the size of some of those waves!! But I did eat some sort of clam that was still wiggling... still doesn't seem like me to do something like that. But hey it wasn't too bad!!! Then afterwards they told me that the reddish juice it was in was the blood. Yaeh. Lovely. Oh well, sticking to my whole adventure speel.

                        Lauren and I trying to convince ourselves that we will live through this.

                                                                  Bottoms up!!

                                                                      :)

                                                           Great new friends

                                                James, Brad, and Anna... the native surfers :)
  I have been having a blast, and been very refreshed meeting new people and making new friends.
So what is the adventure God has called you to today?  It's so great that the greatest adventure of all is simply walking hand in hand with our Savior.  No matter what He asks us to do, whether it seems exciting or not.  Even it's waking up and doing the same thing we have done for 10, 20, 30 years.  It can be a new adventure, because He makes everyday new to us.  Life with Jesus is exciting!! Not because we feel good, or because we are doing what we want, but because HE is exciting!!! He is Adventure!!  Being willing to take His hand and go on the adventure... whatever He may ask... is the beginning :)  Love you all and thank you for your prayers and support.  You are much appreciated.


 

The Lord shall go forth like a mighty man!

Buenos Noches Everyone!
  I have no profound thing to say tonight, or even really thoughts to share, only to ask for your prayers for the current team that is here and the work they are doing.  The mission of this team in particular is one on one evangelism.  They worked today and continue tomorrow in an extremely poor neighborhood, with some people that they have been appointed to talk to, and some people just as the Lord leads.  I heard a few stories tonight of how the Lord was working today, and there are mighty things going on.  But as the Lord starts to move, opposition also begins to appear.  Richard, Jen and Alton will all be on the team tomorrow as translators.  Pray for a mighty moving of God, an outpouring of His Spirit, and for eyes to be opened to the chains they are bound in, and the life and freedom available in Christ.  There is a great, inner growl that comes from within when My Mighty God is on the move. I sense that growl and that moving tonight.  Pray with me and many others.

  "The LORD shall go forth like a mighty man; He shall stir up His zeal like a man of war, He shall cry out, yes, whout aloud; He shall prevail agains His enemies."  Isaiah 42:13

Dwelling :)

  Well, here I am again on my little balcony in the cool ;) Salvadorean air.  A little gecko just ran up the wall, too fast for me to even shoot with my camera.  Shucks.  I am trying real hard to see a star, but so far haven't been able to see even one. The sounds of a city of over 2 million people is starting to be normal.  2 million.  Each with a soul that is going somewhere someday - into eternity.
   I'm desperately trying to gather my thoughts, but it seems like they are going in so many different directions tonight it is hard to calm them down and hold them down :) 

"Rocky".  Since I can't ever seem to remember Raquel has NO C!! :)

She can't understand why someone is taking a picture with "HER" pink camera.

A cloudy beginning of the sunset.  This the "pre rainy" season.

My feet after PART of a day going bare foot in the house.  Just so you don't think Richard and Jen are slobs, their floors are spic and span!! (you're welcome guys ;)  Just part of the El Salvador tile floors.

Felice - a kindred spirit.  ;) Where has this girl been all this time?  :)

  Life here is continuing to go well.  Yesterday was a day off, which I took to just relax and do some reading.  Finally getting the chance to read some books that have been on my "all time" list for awhile.  Today was a pretty normal week day in the Mullinax household.  Doing baths, dressing precious kids, fixing hair on pretty little heads, playing games, and playing baseball with a four year old.  Talk about a challenge. ;)  I would pitch and he would hit it and the bases were in the opposite way from where he was batting. Then when he pitched it to me I would run in the direction of the ball to try and hit it.  What a blast!!  He even hit it into the top of a "pineapple" tree, and we couldn't even see it to get it down.  So one of the neighbors was watching us and came over and borrowed a ladder from the roofing crew next door and got it down for us.  It certainly is interesting being on the opposite end of the "language barrier" spectrum.  I have spent my whole life on the "this is my country, speak my language" side.  Now I am on the "this is your country, and I can't speak your language... I'm Sorry!" side.  It's rather humbling, and certainly gives a person empathy and understanding.  From the nice gentleman's vocabulary I was able to make out "arriba", which also happens to be the name of my hometown. For all you Arriba local yocals, it means "up" in Spanish, yaeh, go figure that one out... Ha! Went with Jen and the kids to horse rides, picked a couple of oranges and ate them ( I could so easily get used to that!!)  Then tonight two members of an upcoming team came over for dinner.  It was a good day.
  I was reminded again of one of my favorite scriptures, and even more challenging, the concept behind it.  "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty."  Ps. 91:1.  How I love that secret place.  That beloved, intimate, just me and my Savior place.  But do I dwell there?  Dwell means to live there.  Or do I just vacation there when there is nothing going on and then go back to "my house"?  Chewing on that tonight :)  If my life is truly His, my house should be bulldozed and there is nothing left standing but that secret place.  Under my Almighty's Shadow :)   I love you, Jesus.
 
 
  I

A Different View

 " Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. "
 
 There is a very interesting dynamic of spending so much time with kids that are from the States, but live in Central America.  Things that are so foreign and new to me are just normal day to day life for them.  You can really see it when they play and how they play.          This is a vicious game!! :)
  
 Yesterday Felice had a pickup she was pushing around on the floor.  I said, "Are you going to check cows?"  She screwed up her sweet face and said, "Huh?".  "Yaeh, in your pickup, are you going to check cows?", I repeated.  She proceeded to tell me that she was hauling fruit and bread, and had a help sign on each door of her pickup, so was going to help people by hauling their fruit, flowers and bread.  Then she happily pushed her automobile in the other room.  I stood there kind of dumbfounded for a minute with how normal this is to her.  Difference of culture, difference of the way people live. 
  But it does change your views.  It changes your views when you daily see people with bones sticking out below their knees for feet, in a wheel chair, or mentally handicapped people, sitting at stoplights... in traffic... asking for a little money.  Moms with 4-5 kids, selling clothes on the street corner as their only income.  People living under a piece of tin held up by four polls as their house. And I get bummed because the internet is down for a few hours, or because I am hot.  Changes your views.  Makes you thankful to have three meals a day.  Changes your views.  Makes me thrilled, and wonder why God chose me to actually be able to know my Dad, know who he is, and let alone, know that he loves me and always will, when so many kids don't even know who their dad is, their Mom being a slave to the life of the streets.  Changes your views.  Suddenly having clean water to drink becomes a big deal.  So many things that aren't even given a second thought - necessities.  Not even to mention all the things that we think we somehow have a "right" to - things like so many clothes we can't decide which ones to pack, laptops, TV's, movies, cars.  We somehow deserve all this because of what color our skin is, or what our last name is.  As if we had or have any control over any of that.  Changes your views.  What if God asked me to give up all my "rights" (which is exactly what He asks us to do), but if He literally told me, like He told the young rich man, to sell everything I have and give it to the poor?  Would I do it?  Would I bo so in love with Jesus, having Him truly as my All in All, that I would gladly do it - simply because He asked me to?  Or is my security in my stuff, my rights, that, like the rich young ruler, I would walk away devastated and not able to do it, because my heart lies in my rights, my stuff, MY... whatever? That's the problem.  Me, instead of Him.  He needs to be my treasure.  My treasure needs to have nothing to do with me, and everything to do with Him.  Then if and when all the other is stripped away, it will be no real loss, because my treasure was not there.
  Changes your views. 
Apart from thinking and pondering, I've been keeping real busy, and was MADE to be slightly homesick for the first time.  My family is branding this weekend... probably one of my favorite things. (Plus making and eating all kinds of awesome, "home" stuff, like pies and snowball cookies).   But they promised to take lots of pictures and send them to me, so that will make it better :)  A team that was here doing a lot of construction left today, and there is another one coming in on Tuesday.  So things continue to get busier.
  I want to also take the opportunity to thank everyone who has overwhelmingly commited to pray for me.  It means so much. More than I can even say.  There is even a group of people who have agreed to take turns praying every morning at 8.  I am nearly moved to tears at this love and kindness.  So thank you to everyone - whether you pray daily, or think of me throughout the day. I am extremely grateful, and know God is hearing and answering each prayer.  Pray for the Mullinax family as well.  I love you all!!