These Days.

My time here in El Salvador is approaching the three-month mark, and it seems like time has been rushing by. It's strange, because the longer I live here and grow accustomed to my new way of living, the more my life back in the United States seems farther and farther away. Just a second ago I was sitting on my bed reading my bible and I realized that I was content. The first couple of months I struggled every day not to miss the ease of being around people who know exactly who I am or just being able to go out and do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. I ride down the streets in our van, sitting in my spot in the back with the window open, and it just feels so normal. If I were home, I would be going to KSU, driving around in my car, going to work, watching T.V. and eating all sorts of high-saturated fat filled foods. The ability of the human mind and body to adjust to being in a new place astounds me. Where before I was struggling to just accept things enough to get through them, they have become a normal part of my day.

Today was a pretty spectacular day. I knew it was going to be a good one the moment I woke up. I just had a feeling, and my heart felt lighter and more at ease than it has in a long time. I was even able to get more into the church service than I normally do. The band played all of my favorite songs and I was able to just go to a peaceful place in my heart and just love on God. In the afternoon I talked to my mom, grandmother and my dad. It was so incredibly good to hear their voices. As I enjoy my time here more and more, I get that much more excited for December because being here has pushed my love and adoration for my family and friends to the very front of my mind. I can't wait to go home and put the things I've been going through and learning here into action in my real world! Today the girls and I went to Puerta del Diablo (The Devil's Door) and climbed it with our host parents and sister. It's a beautiful mountain and the excercise was long over-due. ;) Kaylie, Leah and I rode in the back of the truck on the way there, and I just sat back and enjoyed the view as the truck climbed higher and higher.


  No matter how long I live here, I don't think the sheer beauty of this country will ever fail to take my breath away.

 It was so much fun to be able to just kick back and bond with our "family".



Mami y Papi

 On the way back down the mountain, all of us girls but Kirby (she's afraid of heights) rode a little zip-line to the bottom. It was a huge adrenaline rush even though it was just a baby zip-line.

 Some guys that we had met on our treck up surrounded me after and requested that I take pictures with them. They kept calling me a celebrity and I kept laughing and denying it, but the sad thing is is that they genuinely do put us up on a pedistool. Even at the school we are admired just for being Americans, and being different. I can't say I hate the affection they have for us, because I love to love peope and they are so eager to talk with us. I just hope that they can see past who they think we are, and get to know us well enough to discover who we really are. Jesus is the only one worth praising. Perhaps our celebrity amongst the people can be the key to sharing our hearts and relationships with God with them. Our mom also took us out to eat afterwards and we all realized, for the hundreth time, that we tend to eat far too much for normal human beings.

Tomorrow the entire group is headed to the beach for the day. Now that the kids are out of school and we don't teach anymore English classes this semester, we have more free time. Our next few weeks are going to be pretty busy, and I for one cannot wait to see what God has in store for our team for the last stretch of our time here. We're going to be visiting more of the country in our Seminary class. It will be a great way to go out and actually SEE what we're learning about. We're also planning a few more trips to the beach, the mountains, and even a day trip to some ruins here in the country. I'm finally starting to feel like I actually live in this country instead of feeling like an honored guest. The more and more I settle into my new found sense of Him in all things I do, the more I know my future holds something incredible. I'm content to enjoy this rollercoaster they call "life". Through the nerve wracking and heart grasping rises to the top and the stomach taking plunges over the edge, I know I will never fall off with God strapping me in.

All For His Glory,
Taylor