As Promised...Update 5/19/10

We are now less than 2 weeks away from our departure.  It is really hard for me to believe that.  June seems so far away and yet it's actually right around the corner.  In just four weeks we'll already be back in the USA. Weird.
Anyway, I thought I would just send out an update on a few of the details/plans so that those of who you are interested in following our progress would be aware.  First off, I'd really like to thank all of you who have been praying for the trip and for us as we prepare to go.  God has made it VERY clear to me that this is HIS trip and He is in control.  He has had to remind me of that more than once (more than twice actually) and He has used a variety of circumstances to do so.  The hard part, however, is loosening my grip, laying aside my pride and keeping my eyes focused on Him only.  I am learning and I've found these past few weeks to be a period of painful growth that I am extremely thankful for and humbled by.  I'm glad that God is patient. :)  Okay so now...updates.
The Promise House is at capacity so we will be staying in a mission house that is run by a family who have been living and serving in El Salvador for the past several years (The Ackermanns).  They are actually the family that I stayed with on my first trip to El Salvador (in 2007) & they are awesome so it's cool that we'll be staying there.  I was a little disappointed at first that we weren't able to stay at the PH but I am so glad to hear that it is full of girls who desperately need a place to go.  Besides, we are still going to be able to spend time with them and I am really looking forward to that!  As far as daily schedules go, the tentative plan, which will undoubtedly change on a minute to minute basis (I just love cultural differences haha), is to spend the mornings with the girls in the detention center at CISNA, spend the afternoons at CIPI (the girls, younger boys and baby orphanage) and spend the evenings with the girls from the Promise and Hope houses.  Weekend plans are: one Saturday at Atami (yesssss!!!), one Saturday at the marketplace and both Sundays going to church across from the Faith House and just spending time with some of the coolest people in the entire world (I am not exaggerating).
Whew, now that I just typed all that out I am even more excited.  It's going to fly by but I know that there is a lot to do and a lot to learn while we are there.

I'm already dreading the day we have to leave El Salvador!