FRIDAY - Heading Home!

Well, what a wonderful week we had! Today was a little more stressful than the others - I think we can all agree on that.

We had to leave the hotel at the same time as the other mornings, but we also had to be packed and checked out. We took our suitcases to the school until we had to go to the airport. Josue, who was Joseph in the drama, had an allergic reaction to some juice at breakfast and then had a further reaction when we were ready to go. He and Leslie stayed back at the hotel as we drove off to the school. We prayed for them and were concerned. Now you know what I mean about the stress for all... After a very short quiet rest, Josue was fine and our driver went back to the hotel to get him and Leslie right after dropping us off. The school didn't miss a beat with the drama having one of the teachers jump right in and take over the role of Joseph.

Today was also the day they celebrated birthdays. Suzanne was included in that with her June birthday. It was so cool when they "sang" and signed Happy Birthday to her.

Today was the day for the BOXES! The kids loved the craft and the teachers did too. They were telling us that the tie dye was an absolute hit and that they feel they can do that as a fundraiser in the future.

All the groups performed the skits they had been working on all week. Our crew did you proud in their parts! And the creativity was FLOWING………

At the end of the day, the school presented each of us with a thank you love gift. The kids have been learning to do some local “arts”. We received hand painted boxes and pictures hand painted on bark (which is very traditional). It was a very sweet time.

THEN we went before going to the airport, we finally went to the infamous Artisen Mercado. I’ve been telling the group about all week. We all spent lots of money and brought home beautiful treasures. Josue even talked me into buying the macramé chair I’ve been eyeing all these years.

It is my prayer that you all come to our REPORT OUT on August 23rd during the pastor’s class so you can learn more about our trip.

IN HIS SERVICE,
Fran Schadler
El Salvador Mission Team

THURSDAY

Thursday was another winner folks. The drama was great. At this point in the story, Joseph is now taking care of things for Pharaoh and has put Simeon in jail.


We gave the children their shirts today. They really liked how they came out.



The kids continue to be so fun. They love the games and crafts and are generally having a great time. The picture frames for their group pictures came out wonderful.

Lots of work got done this afternoon in preparation for the "group" skits tomorrow and for the finale of the main drama. Josue is Joseph, Bray is Benjamin and Dave will be Jacob.















A few members of the Board of Directors of the school took us out for dinner and we had a nice time. They wanted to say thank you to us for coming and helping with VBS. After dinnerwe went to Pops (a local ice cream chain) to have ice cream and celebrate Suzanne's upcoming16th birthday.

We can't believe we are coming home tomorrow. Que rapido esa semana!

Thank you again for all your support and prayers and we will see you in church on Sunday.

Wednesday

I am sorry this is so late, we had a very busy night last night and a busy day today.
We had such a good day. Many wonderful things happening with the kids. God all around.
Here are some pictures from Wednesday, be sure to ask us about them!

Today´s craft was decorating backpacks.

Bray, as young Joseph being sold to the Ishmalite. He was being tested... to see what kind of a price he should fetch.

Susan got the chance to meet her Compassion Int´l children that she sponsors. She and Fran-Leslie-Josue and their kids went to a museum and had fun.

Tuesday - 1st day with the kids

First day with the kids! We dressed to help take them back to Joseph''s time. Thank you Marlene for the costumes.





The drama went well they took the kids all over the school doing the Joseph story. It will continue each day.

The kids loved the tie dye and really didn't get to messy.



The little ones loved their chalk drawing also.





Dave has a project to help repaint the entry way and recruiting some assistance.



The happy couple hanging the wash!

God was truly with us in a big way again. Everyone was able to communicate on some level, we all had a fun day, sometimes challenging. The children had a GREAT day. It was fun to see old friends and meet new ones.

I can't believe I'm telling you this but - Yes, I took 12 people to Mister Donut for dinner. Stories to come upon arriving back in Concord...

Last but not least Leslie scared Dave with her sudden crying on the phone this afternoon. She handed the phone to me(Fran) so I could have a good cry and also take down information. Her layoff notice has been rescinded and she has a job for the coming school year. PRAISE GOD!

Pictures Monday

TODAY WAS THE DAY OF THE TEACHER IN EL SALVADOR. It was fun watching the school honor them and the Board of Directors came for lunch and had it catered for them. It was a perfect day to give them the appreciation/blessings cards that we took for them. CAROL - the teachers were VERY touched that their cards were individual and all different. I wish I had had my camera when they opened them.

We really saw God today in so many different ways. The new friendships, the way people worked together, and the excitement everyone had for preparing for the children to come tomorrow. (Tuesday)

In the way people served each other... Everyone was always helping each other out and the language barrier broke down in many cases. The teachers and staff were surprised that so many of our group had signing skills. Robin did great, Suzanne got into it and we're all learning how to sing in sign. I'll tell you that's funny watching us try to do that!

Most of the pictures below show our preparation times today. The last picture is from the pupusaria last night so you can see how they make pupusas.


Nancy is ready for bubble making with the little ones!

Suzanne and Josue teaching the Tie Dye style for tomorrow. Pics of shirts will be up tomorrow.





The teachers learned how to make the boxes we are doing with the children.

More preparing for VBS Tuesday morning.



At the Pupusaria...

SUNDAY PICs

Thank you for comments!~ So fun for us to see them.

Sunday June 21, 2009

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO ALL. We had a wonderful day.

The day began with our driver, Luis, having an opportunity to speak with the guard at the hotel. The guard asked him if he had a New Testament. Being a pastor, Luis of course had one. He gave it to the guard and told him to keep it. The guard was pleased and it was just such a fun start to the day.

Church service at CCI (Christian Church International) was very fun. We arrived just before service was to start and just as most churches, there were not many people there. But after a few praise songs, the place filled up. Some of us wore headsets and got a translation of what was going on and some of us didn't. It was a great experience. Ann J said it made her think about how it must feel for the deaf children at the school because she had the headset on, then took it off and listened in spanish for a while. It was interesting to her to think about the kids seeing all that was going on and not necessarily "knowing"what was going on because of the deafness. Very interesting observation.

We then drove out to Suchitoto and had a wonderful lunch. The drive out there takes about an hour. Such a beautiful country. We got to see many different faces of El Salvador - driving through small villages and the countryside. We walked around the town square and shopped a little at their artisan market. You might want to go out and google Suchitoto and take a look! We got really silly on the way back into town. Taking pictures of all the animals we saw on the side of the road. Luis even started pulling over to the side so we could get better pictures. It was very fun: ) The horse didn't want his picture taken and tried to hide in the trees. He was smart.

We had dinner at one of my favorite typical Salvadoran Pupusarias. We had pupusas and sampled many of goodies that we don't usually eat, like yucca, platanos and things I can not spell.

Our "God Hunt" time after dinner was such a great end to the day. Relaying stories about where we found God today. From the Bible exchange with Luis and the Hotel Guard, to the love shown us at the church we visited to the people we saw in Suchitoto. We even got to meet Josue's family as they came to the hotel to spend some quality time. It was Sophie's birthday and we got to sing to her in English. She liked that. (She''s 6)

We are truly looking forward to getting to work tomorrow, meeting the teachers at the school and sharing God's love. Keep in tune to this blog for more info tomorrow.

Thank you for your prayers.

Pictures Day One_

Pictures Day One

WE'RE HERE!

After a gathering with family and friends for prayer, we had a successful voyage to El Salvador. THANK YOU Pat & Donna Noonan for taking us to SFO Friday night! We all received our seat assignments, passed through security and had a fine overnight flight to El Salvador. Some of us got more sleep than others...

So what do 12 people who have been up half the night, going to a foreign country 3000 miles from home, and are exhausted do? That's right, we gather, and get to work!

After lunch and a short tour of one of San Salvador's beautiful malls, it was back to the hotel to start preparing for the week. We needed to finalize all our games plans and create our craft boxes for the little ones. Everyone was incredible with the great ideas that came out of our have asleep heads.

We're ready to go to church tomorrow with our hosts and have a fun adventure out to the countryside.

Talk with you tomorrow - The El Salvador Mission Team

Fundraising Banquet was a great Success!

The evening of May 3rd was such a great time!!! Thank you all for joining us and becoming part of the team. Whether through prayer or financially your support is greatly appreciated.

The Silent Auction was a blast, the food was great and it seemed fun was had by all.

THANK YOU AGAIN...........

Fundraising Banquet Pictures

THE TEAM!

FUNDRAISING BANQUET MAY 3 at FPCC

Come one Come All! to the Pasta Extravaganza and Silent Auction. Doors open at 5:30 pm

The El Salvador Mission Team is trying to raise money to defray the costs of this trip. The trip in total will cost approximately $14,000. This is your opportunity to help in mission work without even leaving the comfort of your home town. There are so many incredible Silent Auction offerings, you'll just have to come and see! Sailing on the Bay, Gourmet Dinner for 10, Cabin's at Lake Tahoe and on and on. Can't come to the dinner but want to help? Please send your check written to FPCC to the address below with a message that it is for the El Salvador Trip!

See you there! Please email es.trip09@gmail.com letting us know you plan to be there.

First Presbyterian Church Concord
1965 Colfax Street
Concord, CA 94521

GETTING READY

We are planning out first team meeting for Sunday February 15, 2009. Please let me know if you can not be there. It is very important. THANKS!!! Fran