Tuesday in El Salvador

Today we ventured up the mountains to the volcano area to visit a rural school called "Friends of Volcano."  We had visited this school before, and it was nice to be able to return.  The principal came to this poor school ten years ago when there was barely a building to meet in.  His heart has been to see this school develope to provide a good education and more opportunities for these children, more than most of their parents ever had.  Today there are more than 700 students, grades kindergarten through twelfth, morning and afternoon sessions to accommodate the large numbers of students.  We first got to meet with a group of parents, encouraging them in their roles as parents to seek the Lord, know Him, lean on Him to train up their children in the way of the Lord, to pray for them, encourage them in their studies and trust God with their families' lives.  It was a nice time to connect with these parents who obviously care about their children.  Then we got to spend time in some of the classrooms, sharing Bible lessons, singing, praying and doing activities with them.  Imagine; in a public school!  The principal and staff welcome groups like ours to their school and appreciate any encouragement.  Even though the principal and many of the teachers live a distance away and sacrifice to work in this area, they are dedicated and committed to these children.  

The volcano area is known for its coffee growing and lush vegetation.  We had lunch at a lovely cafe in the coffee area, surrounded by mountains and beautiful flowers.  This is indeed a beautiful country!  We stopped for some souvenir shopping on the way back to the hotel, sampling the local craftsmanship.  We appreciate so much what we have seen today, for the support that our local ministry partners provide to this and many other poor schools, to truly make a difference.  Our local partners provide training in relationships, abstinence, and moral principles.  The principal at the volcano school testified to the great impact these programs have had in their area, so it was a joy to see this program, encourage parents and staff and realize that individuals can and do make a difference in the lives of children and their families.  The principal asked us to pray for computers and technical training so that these children can be better equipped for a brighter future.  Please join us in praying for this and other schools here who are working hard with so little to give their best to the children of El Salvador.

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