New Week, New Team, New Challenges

Yesterday we welcomed the new team to the Social Work site.  On their first day, we always take a tour of El Callejon.  Allowing them to walk around, see (and at times smell!) where they’ll be working is important. 

This week we have four women from Florida.  They are great!  It’s a different dynamic when it’s adults, as they are moms (and one is a grandma!) and so see things from the perspective of raising a family in the conditions. 

We always struggle with trying to paint an honest picture, without being so depressing that they don’t want to come back!  The truth is, there is a lot of hardship in El Callejon. 

The ‘successes’ we see are typically very small steps.  It’s difficult to quantify a lot of it, and as Americans, we like that quantifying!  Do A, B, C, see results D, E, F.  That’s just not how things go most of the time. 

The reality is, we are in a battle, and so every inch of ground we gain comes with many setbacks and frustrations.  Many of the women of El Callejon truly desire to change.  But, the battle is even more intense for them. 

Yesterday afternoon Daisy challenged the women to begin getting up early in the day to spend time alone with God, as Jesus did with His Father. 

This morning, it’s pouring rain, which means their homes are going to be even more chilly than usual, with the possibility of no electricity.  Getting up early becomes even more of a battle than usual. 

Please pray for the women this week as they try to spend in prayer and reading their Bibles.  We know how much this can fill them, encourage them, sustain them for the day. 

We also know that along with the cold and damp, the worries of the day can quickly crash in.  A sick child, a spouse who didn’t come home, no food and no sure way to get any… Yes, it’s a battle.  But, we know that God sees, God knows, God as promised to be with us.  Not just ‘us’ who live in homes with good roofs, but in all homes. 

Today we are privileged to head back to El Callejon and spend the day sharing the love of Jesus.  He is already there.  Please pray for us as we seek to meet Him.  For those who live there, but also for ourselves.  We, too, need to be filled with Him as we strive to pour ourselves out in His service.

Thank you for your prayers!  We feel so blessed to have you in this with us!  We pray that whatever your battles are today, you, too, will meet Jesus, knowing that He truly can sustain us as we go through the day.