A change in focus

Shortly before finishing language school in early Aug. to return to the orphanage, I received an email from Teri Benner saying that she’d like to have me work full-time with her (at the book ministry center) in “the city” (Sal Salvador, the capitol of El Salvador) due to the upcoming Expo. Originally when I was here for 2 wks last Dec., it was thought that the clinic would be well under way at this time, and I’d have plenty to do (with writing policy/procedures, hiring people, creating forms and files, etc). However, it seems that due to a boat load of ever changing bureaucratic government red tape, the clinic is far from built. At this time only the septic tank hole has been dug, and a deep hole has been dug for a retaining wall between the clinic and a local brothel.

A friend recently reminded me of this fact: God knew all along that the clinic was not going to be ready at this time. Therefore this has certainly has not taken him by surprise and He has other plans for me here at this point. He has been faithful and has provided at every turn thus far, therefore I choose to believe He will continue to do so.

Knowing that the clinic may not be too far along, I figured the Benner’s would have various projects lined up for me at the orphanage. I never seriously anticipated the option of working with any other arm of this ministry, such as the book ministry. But I arrived here in at the orphanage late on Sunday night, the 12th of Aug., and Teri again reiterated that she could really use me at the book ministry, as they prepared to host the Expo. So she picked me up at 8:30am the next morning to go with her to work. That was the beginning of a wonderful opportunity and experience which I will talk about more in a different blog entry. In the 2 weeks leading up to the expo, I never returned home from a day of work in less than 12 hours, and one night I got home at 1:45am. Yes, there was really that much work to do.

Now we’re in the week following the expo and the last of guest speakers has just left to return to their home. This week we’ve gotten all of our stuff moved out of the fair grounds and back into the office, and now we’re trying to organize it and figure out what to do with it, and trying to get the office back to some form of normal.

Teri and I have had a couple of discussions this week about what’s next for me. It seems there are a couple of high priority projects, one at the orphanage and one at the book ministry. Please keep in mind that what I’m about to say is far from a sure thing. But Teri and I are leaning toward me continuing to work at the book ministry until I can pick up more Spanish and until the clinic is further developed. I think over the next few weeks I’ll look into a few other ministries that are operated out of this book ministry. One of them is the Sex, Lies, and the Truth program developed by Focus on the Family (James Dobson) which teaches abstinence and evangelism in public schools. As a nurse, I feel that I can contribute to this excellent program if I can speak the language well enough to contribute. Additionally, I’ll probably look into the Nehemiah Project. This works with adolescent males in trouble with the law. All are either on probation or released from jail specifically for these hours (every Saturday) so they can attend this program. I don’t know too much about this program, so I’ll have to brief you on it later. Additionally, there’s a project at the book ministry office that needs a detail oriented person who can analyze and assimilate data. The problem is that not many people here are given the kind of education that would allow them to learn these skills. Yet, they’re vital to run a business. So, if I can help with this, I will. All along, I’ll be forced to interact and use the language, which is absolutely necessary. I may also use one day a week to specifically study Spanish. Also, by working in the same building as Teri, we’ll be able to interact constantly re: the clinic as the process continues.

I’d appreciate your prayers during this time of transition that I may correctly understand what the Lord has for me. And additionally, that I would be able to understand and speak Spanish better.