Be the Passionate Generation.

Yesterday was a pretty slow day as far as slow days here go. We were supposed to go to the church in the morning to help with the homeless from seven to ten, but the pastor felt it would be better for us to start doing that when we got more comfortable with the language and the people. Understandable, but I am truely looking forward to helping those people. With no homeless to help, we got to sleep in. Too bad for me, right? ;) We pretty much lazed around and talked to family and friends on skype until about three o'clock, which was when our driver, Jose, picked us up. We attended our first youth group that night. It's pretty amazing how you have this set image in your mind of what a youth group feels like to attend and then you go to a completely different culture and all set pretenses are blown. Don't get me wrong, it's still a group of young adults gathering to celebrate their love of God and Christ. The room still pulses with the glory of God and every single person's passion for Him resounds off of the walls. It really just makes you feel kind of silly sitting there attempting to follow along when you have no idea what the message of the night is. I took the opportunity to catch up on some Bible reading. However, when the band started playing music it brought the whole room to life. I attempted to follow along with the lyrics, but the unity and peace from the music was all that mattered. After the youth group we went back home and shared dinner with our host family. Milton and Marta (aka Papa and Mama) are two of the most genuine and caring people in this world. They are so gracious and their daughter Adrianna is beautiful and so sweet. They make everything so easy for us.

Today we got an early start. 6:45AM to be exact. We attended the early service at church. Jorge translated the sermon for us so we wouldn't feel so lost. It was a guest pastor preaching, but he was very good and had a great sense of humor. The real thing that got my heart thumping today was our bible study. Jorge leads it and it was the most inspiring message I've heard since the sermon that caused me to stand up and sign up for my baptism. The class he teaches consists of teenagers around our age and a little younger. The awesome part about the class is that he teaches deaf students as well as the others. They begin class by listening to a song, writing down the lyrics, and then deciphering how the lyrics connect with the bible. The motto of the class is to "be the sign for the spiritually deaf". So those who have not yet heard the bible, they want to be the ones to help them hear. Today Jorge's message centered around being a passionate generation. He challenged us to stand up for what we believe in and be the inspiration the world needs. He posed three questions: 1. What's going to be written on your tombstone? The amazing soccer player? Or the amazing soccer player with a passion for God? 2. What does Jesus think about your life? Is he content with it? Saddened by it? Will he have someone write it down someday in a book? 3. What does Satan think about your life? Is your picture on his most-wanted list? Are you lifting people out of Hell, or putting them there? Overall his message left my mind whirling and incredibly inspired.

There's a soul that's still listening

it's the hunger for His love.

There's a movement he's feeling

it's the sound of His voice.

It's a passionate generation.

There are parts desperate for His word.

We want to see His power and majesty

and we want to hear the sound of His voice.

There's a flow you cannot stop,

it's the river of the Lord.

There's a voice that cannot be silenced,

they want to sing about His love.

That's a rough English translation of the song, but listening to the music for the first time and watching Jorge sign it for the deaf students made it seem like time was slowing down. All there was at that moment was the music. It didn't matter that it was in Spanish and I had no idea what the lyrics were saying. In that moment, I felt God move in my life on a whole new level.

Meet Jorge. :)

Tonight we're having a birthday dinner for Milton's brother. I'll get to experience a fiesta El Salvador style. Tomorrow is our off day so Jorge is going to take us for some American food our poor stomachs are dying for (mine especially).  It's so astounding that I've only been here for a week. The relationships that I've formed are so strong already and are only getting stronger by the minute. You would think that in a group of such different personalities and backgrounds that we wouldn't all get along so smoothly and easily. Katelyn and I have the unspoken bond of a desperate need for fiber in our lives. Kaylie is one of the funniest people I've ever met in my life and I could not have asked for a better roomate. Kirby and I have met somewhere before and we can't seem to figure out where it is, but she's a fellow John Mayer fan so no more needs to be said. Tiffany and I know when the other doesn't like what we're eating, but we smile and suffer through it more easily knowing that we're not alone. Leah is a completely free spirit and her openess and pure love for God are evident in everything she does. Kirk (my own Clark Kent) is arriving on Tuesday to start classes with us, but we've talked on skype and we all can't wait for him to join the family. Wes and I were best friends from the start, but even in the past week we've grown closer and I love the person he is more and more everyday. I'm so blessed to have this beautiful new family, and the memories we're going to make in the upcoming months are going to be ones that last a lifetime.

The gang at orientation with Johnny's son, Seth.

The ladies.

Katelyn!

Wesley!

All for His Glory,

 Taylor