Each Tuesday and Thursday, Jon and the rest of the YWAM staff work in the town of Apopa. This is a town just outside of San Salvador that is known for being terribly violent. It has a high rate of gang related violence. We help a local church in Apopa with a lunch program that they have where they feed 150 kids from the community Monday-Thursday. Then on Tuesdays and Thursdays we do a Bible lesson in the morning, help with the lunch, and then do a basic literacy program in the afternoons. The kids who are accepted into the “school” are those who can’t go to public school because they have no birth certificates. Kids must have documentation to attend school. These kids are at risk for future problems. Many who grow up in Apopa end up joining gangs and many end up dead. Just this week, when Jon was leaving Apopa he saw yet another teenager dead on the side of the road…shot to death. This is the future that awaits many children in Apopa.
Yesterday we took some of the kids from the literacy program to the beach for the day. They swam, had lunch, played on the beach, had a pinata, and some cake. This was a great day for them! They were smiling and loving every minute of it. Looking at them, I kept wondering how many of them will actually survive to adulthood, how many of them will live a crime free life, how many of them will have a chance. I don’t know the answer to that, but we ask that you keep these kids from Apopa in your prayers. Pray that God would intervene in their lives, and that he would protect us as we do what we can to help them to have a future.
We had a quick breakfast at Burger King before leaving for the beach.
Jon got a workout "throwing" all the kids in the pool.
Lissette, another staff member, with one of the girls.
Tori made a new friend!
Lissette and Diana made a great lunch for the kids...hotdogs with mayo and ketchup the Salvadoran way!
Fun in the ocean! We had to cut the beach time short because the currents were bad. El Salvador is known for treacherous sea conditions.
No day is complete without playing some soccer.
Making sand angels.
Jon building sandcastles with the kids.
Our kids had a great time playing with everyone.
We saw a lot of smiles!
No party is complete without a pinata!
Please pray for these kids!
What an impact you are making on these kids by loving them, praying for them, and buiding such strong relationships! It will make a difference in their lives! Keep up the good work! They are smiling because they see Jesus in you by the way you are caring for them! I posted their picture on my refrig to remind me to pray, not only for these kids specifically, but all the kids in Apopa!