I drive the same route every day about 4 times.  Take the kids to daycare; go home.  Take the kids to school; go home.  Go to church; go home.  Everything is on the same street.  I have been driving the same road for almost 3 years and have gotten to know some of the street people. (forgive me because I do not know the politically correct term) I've watched one little boy who washes car windows for change (or candy) grow into a young man.  There's the elderly woman who is missing an eye, the man who sells newspapers who dreams of returning to the United States. There is an elderly gentleman who I talk to every day.  He is there begging for change and I try to always have something to put in his styromfoam cup.  So this blog is about him.  I don't know his name.  I keep saying to myself that one day I will ask him his name but I never do.  I guess in the short minute that we have to speak at the red light there are more pressing things for him to tell me.  He is in his 70s and his twin brother died in December.  His mother passed away in February.  He is now alone.  To me he looks sad but he carries on with his daily routine. 
Being a missionary in a 3rd world country there are certain sacrifices that have to be made.  Eating out is one of them.  One evening I was with my assistant Yanet.  I noticed that they had opened a Subway restaurant on the road that we travel daily.  I told her how much I miss eating out and how a good turkey sub would really hit the spot.  Yaneth insisted that we go in.  She had $6.00 and wanted to bless me with a sub.  I argued momentariliy  because I know that $6.00 could go to much better use, but at the same time I was touched by her wanting to bless me so we went in. 
When we entered there was my buddy from the street.  He was asking the clerk if he would take his coins and change them for bills.  I was so excited to see him.  Actually a bit surprised to see him someplace other than on the street corner.  I asked him if he was going to eat and invited him to sit with us.  He showed me that he only had about $4.00 so he could not eat.  I looked at Yaneth and asked her if she minded if I gave my blessing from her to this gentleman.  Of course, she didn't object.  I ordered the turkey sub.  Just like I had envisioned.  Yummy!!  I handed it to the gentleman and he began to weep.  He told me he didn't know why I had taken the time to be so kind to him these past few years.  He said he didn't understand why I was so interested in listening to his troubles and his stories, but he was truly blessed.  I told him that it's the love of Christ that he sees and to never doubt that God is with him. 
Yaneth and I left the restaurant and went home to eat our usual rice and beans.  Usually I complain (if I'm being honest) about the beans.  But that night some how they tasted a bit sweeter.  I am just so thankful that God uses me and this ministry to touch so many lives.

Tonight I had the opportunity to take two of my young moms (Yaneth and Tatiana) to feed the homeless with Kurt Ackerman, another missionary here in El salvador.  Tatiana has a passion for helping the homeless.  She believes God has called her to work in this ministry.  I was happy that both girls wanted to go along, but I paid attention especially to Tatiana as this is what she wants to spend her life doing.  It is never easy to see so many people without homes, clothes, food, the basic necesities.  It can be overwhelming to see so many homeless come out from places you would never imagine people to be.  Under bridges and over passes, in ditches, in stairwells.  I think a lot of us see homeless people as drunks and adicts who maybe have put themselves in this position and while we feel sympathy for them we can justify why they are where they are.  But what about the man that I saw tonight who looked like he could be someone from my church.  Dressed in jeans and a polo shirt. He was missing his shoes, but other than that looked like you and me.  He even had a small spark of hope in his eyes.  What caused him to be on the street?  What about the group of about 12 children who came running out; not an adult in sight.  Why are they on the streets?  I looked at Tatiana as we handed out food to these children and I saw her eyes fill with tears.  I was quickly reminded why I am here.  Tatiana was on the streets for 3 days with her 6 year old daughter before she came to Esther's House.  She knows all too well how quickly circumstances can change.  She lived it first hand.  We struggle here financially sometimes.  So many of you are so generous, but many months it's just not enough.  Somtimes I complain about having to eat beans "again" because there is not enough money to buy meat.  Somtimes I think a nice coffee from Starbucks would be amazing next to the instant I am drinking.  I think about the luxuries that I had in the States and some days I even miss them.  Tonight brought things back into perspective.  I thank God that we have food, not only each day, but for each meal.  I thank God that while it is humble, I have a home to live in.  Looking around now I can see that I have so much.  I was honored tonight to be able to serve these people in the way that I did.  I was reminded how much God loves each and everyone of His children.  I was reminded again how important the work that we are doing here is. Without Esther's House, Tatiana and 4 other mother's and their children would most likely be living on the streets.  I would be passing buy and handing them a bag of food.  I appreciate the support and help that I get from all of you, but sometimes I think we can do more.  My  mom said to me today as we talked that she used to go to Starbucks quite often.  One day she decided not to go because that $5.00 could go to help these young ladies and their children.  She has been passing on Starbucks and donating that money to help us here in El Salvador.  I think that is very admirable.  We have so much.  Even when we think we are sacrificing, we still have so much.  I want to challenge each one of you to really look at your lives and see what can you sacrifice so that we can continue to keep young girls like Tatiana from being homeless.

I have asked each one of the girls in Esther's House to write their stories down.  My desire is for all of you who support us and those who are curious to get to know these girls.  They are all incredible women of God who have overcome serious hardships in their young lives many for the sake of their children.  The first young lady I have known the longest and am probably the closest too.  I am honored that God has placed her and my son in my life.  Here is her story:

Almost 8 years ago a little girl was raped by her father.  She was 9 years old.  9 months later at the age of 10 she gave birth to a healthy little boy.  She named him Alexander.  Today Alexander turned 7 years old.  Both he and his mother live with me in Esther's House.  Alexander in many ways is a normal little boy.  He loves to play soccer, he often enters the house with a gecko in his pocket and he loves to play practical jokes.  What makes him exceptional is the calling God has already placed on his young life.  Alexander is gifted in the area of music.  He wants to be a worship leader.  Often times he will hold church services in the back yard.  He leads worship, and preaches to the other children. (sometimes the teens are required to attend as well)  In church before the service begins you will find Alexander on his knees at the altar praying.  He is such an example that most of the children in his Sunday School class follow him and get on their knees to pray as well.  Not only does Alex live in Esther's House but he is also in our child sponsorship program. The money that his sponsor family sends each month enables Alex to attend a local Christian music academy where he is being taught Guitar, piano, voice, Bible, and how to become an effective worship leader.  
Thanks to all of you who support us and make it possible for Alex to carry out the calling God has on his life.

Tatiana's birthday was on January first, but since I was traveling that day we celebrated yesterday.  Tatiana is one of our young mothers who live with us in Esther's House.  She has lived with us for 9 months now and I am thrilled to see how she is progressing.   Tatiana had nothing but the clothes on her back when we received her.  Her daughter Glenda didn't even have shoes on her feet.  She had run away from another facility that the government had placed her in because they were abusing her daughter.  Glenda had bruises on her arms from where she had been hit by staff.  Tatiana was so shy when she came.  She spent her days in her room afraid to speak to me.  I remember when I took her clothes shopping.  She picked out one outfit for her and one for her daughter.  She was nervous to even ask for that much.  When I told her that she needed at least 5 outfits she was shocked.  She had a difficult time accepting our charity.  
Today Tatiana is a leader in the house.  She is responsible for over-seeing the other girls as they complete their daily tasks.  She is also responsible for all of the educational needs of the others.  Tatiana is enrolled in a beauty school and is also in high school.  She sings with the worship team in our church and is training to be a student leader in our youth group.  She has also participated in some dramas that we have produced. 
Tatiana shares her testimony in front of groups of people about how God has taken this girl who was orphaned at the age of 4 and used her in such a mighty way.  I admire Tatiana for the way she is using her life for God.  She could easily be bitter for all that she has been through in her young life.  Instead she uses her experiences to help others and to glorify God.  I think we all can learn a lesson from the life of Tatiana.

Esther's Heart Ministry raised $750 to send several teens to a youth retreat hosted by Alcance Victoria San Salvador.  Among those teens were the 5 teens from Esther's House and 6 of our sponsor children.  I was honored to be able to work at the retreat for the weekend.  
I loaded my car with 5 nervous teen mothers.  This was the first time any of them had left their children for more than a few hours.  As we drove the 45 minutes to the retreat the girls began to sing  and focus on the activities ahead of them and the nervousness went out the window.
Just watching the 5 women from Esther's House that weekend was more than a blessing to me.  I watched Tatiana, whose shyness brings her to tears most days, get up in front of 40 people and share her testimony.  I watched Ester, who just accepted Christ into her heart, break down into tears as she prayed and asked God to help her to grow closer to Him.  I watched Antonia, who struggles to understand basic concepts, as a light came on and she finally seemed to grasp the concept of talking to her heavenly Father.  I watched as all 5 girls reluctantly performed a drama in front of the camp for a talent competition.  I watched them receive a trophy as they won first place.  Their efforts rewarded.  
Most days here are overwhelming to me with so much work to be done.  Running 11 children to school, work, college, and appointments.  Add in the grocery shopping, bill paying, sick babies, skinned knees, extra curricular activities (for 11) and I can quickly lose focus of why I am here.  So many were blessed during this retreat, but I think, as I took time to step back and watch them, I was more blessed than any of the youth who attended the retreat.
Thanks to all who made it possible.

Once a month we host a youth fellowship at Esther's House in conjunction with Alcance Victoria SS GANG (God's Anointed Now Generation).  I am generally in charge of games and refreshments.  This morning I woke up at 6:00AM (not an easy thing for me on a Saturday morning) and began to fill 500 water balloons.  As I began to fill the balloons one at a time I looked at the pile of unfilled balloons in front of me.  It seemed like I would never fill all of the balloons.  No matter how many balloons I took to fill my pile of empty balloons did not seem to get any smaller.  
I began to think about a conversation that I had with Kathy Fournier, Director of Esther's  Heart Ministry.  When we were considering opening Esther's House I spent a lot of time talking to a lot of teens and young mothers who were either in government centers or living on the street.  I selected 3 young mothers and their 3 children and began the work to get them out of the government centers they were in and into Esther's House.  I visited one center where there were about 150 teens sitting.  I don't know what they were in the room for, but everyone of them had a hopeless depressed look on their face.  I was there to visit one mother and her son.  I became overwhelmed and I called Kathy that night in tears.  How can we only help 6 children when so many need help?  Just like the pile of balloons, I knew that even if i took these two children out of the center there were still so many more that needed our help.  As we talked Kathy said "We help the ones that we can.  We know we won't ever touch every child's life, but we help them one by one".  
One by one I kept filling balloons.  One by one we keep helping children.  We have 11 in Esther's House now.  We have 10 children sponsored through our sponsor program.  We work with about 15 more youth as we partner with Alcance Victoria.  One by one we are making a difference.  

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7  Antonia, age 24, is mentally challenged.  In most ways she is very much like a 12 or 13 year old.  Part of this is biological, but I also believe a lot of it is caused by the severe neglect she has endured throughout her life.  When we received Antonia I wanted her to be able to feel a sense of pride, a sense of purpose to her life so I asked a woman who owns a local cafe if Antonia could volunteer there.  Since Antonia has no concept of money I told the lady she did not need to pay her, I just wanted her to have the opportunity to learn a skill.  
Antonia was thrilled to go to work.  On her second day she came home with two pairs of pants that her new boss had given to her.  I explained to her what a blessing it was to her and that when she works hard she will be rewarded.  As time went on Antonia began to make tortillas and, it turns out, she is very good at it.  Antonia came home one day with .25.  She was thrilled. To her it might as well have been $1,000.  I explained to her that whenever she receives money the first thing she does is pay her tithe, second is put some in savings, and third pay her rent.  
Antonia could not wait for Sunday to come.  She sat next to me with her .3 in her hand as I filled out her tithe envelope.  She put her 3 coins in the envelope and waited on the edge of her seat.  When it was time to collect the offering, I saw her smile ear to ear.  I'm sure she wanted to sprint to the front of the church and drop her envelope into the basket, but she waited for it to pass by her.  She placed her envelope in the basket and sat up tall and proud.  I think we all could learn from this young lady and the excitement that she has each week in giving her tithe.  
Antonia continues to make Tortillas each day and now gets a regular pay of $2.25 each day.  I am blessed to have her as an example of what a cheerful giver is.

Today I had the honor of staying in the house all day with 4 of our little ones.  I have to say it was a hectic morning but in a good way.  When the sibling rivalry finally got to me I separated our two youngest, Luis and Faviola.  The two of them can't seem to be in the same room without pinching, biting or scratching each other.  I brought Faviola into my bedroom and left Luis in my living room and I stayed in the doorway watching them both. Faviola's attention was quickly grabbed by a full length mirror and the little playmate that was inside of it.  I watched Faviola begin to interact with her reflection, talking to her showing her the contents of her purse etc... Periodically she would put her hand behind the mirror to see if she could touch the little girl.  She offered the little girl a glass of water but she would not take it.  At one point Faviola had to go to the bathroom and asked the little girl to go with her.  Faviola took 4 steps away from the mirror and turned to see that the little girl had not followed her.  She walked back to the mirror, "Come on" she said and walked away again.  The little girl still did not follow.  Finally Faviola threw her hands up in frustration, "Fine.  Wait here.  I have to go to the bathroom."  I finally explained to Faviola that the little girl in the mirror could not leave the mirror that she had to stay in there.  Faviola sat back down and continued to have a tea party with her new friend.