El Salvador 2011
This year Here I Am Orphan Ministries sent a team of 16 people to El Salvador. Of the 16 team members, only 5 of them had not been to El Salvador previously. It is always fun to see the excitement in their faces when they realized that we had come back again. We were able to visit the 7 orphanages that we visited last year along with an orphanage that is a home for teen mothers. There were 4 mothers and their babies in this orphanage. Although it was sad to see these mothers raising their babies in an orphanage - it was good to see that there was somewhere for them to go. This year there seemed to be less children in some of the orphanages and we were told that they are trying hard to get the children out of the orphanages and into homes with family members.
While we were in El Salvador we were able to provide bibles for the children at all of the orphanages as well as hygiene items such as shampoo, soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes, We were blessed with the donation of handmade teddy bears that we were able to leave with the children at the AIDS orphanage and the babies at the home for teen mothers. The children loved receiving the bears. We were also able to provided jump ropes, balls, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, and school supplies. While at the AIDS orphanage we asked what the main need was and we were told that the children needed milk. We were able to provide them with 30 large bags of powdered milk and some diapers. We also visited with a little girl at that orphanage who is wheel chair bound. It is our desire to provide her with a better wheel chair. We were not able to do this on the trip because the medical equipment stores were closed due to a National Holiday.
After visitng all of the orphanges our team walked around the city of Aguachapan and handed out bibles and did some street evangalism. This was a wonderful way to end the week in El Salvador. The people of El Salvador are very kind and are very receptive to the gospel! We cannot wait to return to El Salvadodr in 2012! To hear more about the El Salvador trip please read our blog.
2011 El Salvador Team
El Salvador 2010
Here I Am Orphan Ministries was able to return to El Salvador in August of 2010. This year a team of 18 plus an incountry translator were able to minister at 7 different orphanages. The team had seven members who were also on the trip in 2009. The children at the orphanages were very happy to see that so many had returned. It was so exciting for us to see that they remembered the names of so many of us from last year and even asked by name for some who did not return. We realized on this trip how much the relationships we are forming with these children do give them hope.
In addition to the six orphanages that we visited last year we visited an orphanage that was the home for 24 children between the ages of 2-7 who had AIDS. Most of these children looked like they were about 3-5 years old. They were so excited to have visitors and we loved spending the day playing with them - they all seemed to be such happy children. We are very much looking forward to returning to this orphanage again next year and can definitley see the hand of God in allowing us to visit these children.
Our teams have found the people of El Salvador to be very friendly and willing to help us in any way possible. The caregivers at most of the orphanages seem to really care for the children and want the very best for them which unfortunately is not always the case. When we ask them what the children need they always tell us how important it is for us to come and visit the children and give them a message of hope. We are looking forward to what God has in store for El Salvador in 2011!
2010 El Salvador Team
El Salvador 2009
Here I Am Orphan Ministries sent a team of 16 people to El Salvador in August 2009. The team visited five orphanages in San Salvador, Sonsonate, Aguachupan, and Santa Ana. The team was able to visit over 600 orphaned children. One of the orphanages we visited was Hogar del Nino, the orphanage where Maria Webb and her sister grew up in before being adopted. Throughout the week, God opened up many doors for ministry both in the orphanages and within the city.
Through God's provisions enough funds were raised to provide shoes, undergarments, backpacks, Spanish Bibles, medicine, school supplies, games, puzzles, bed frames, mattresses, and dining tables to these orphanages. We were also able to share the Gospel with the children through a Bible study, crafts, songs, and games. A highlight to many of the children was the hot dog cook out at three of the orphanages.
Upon our return home from El Salvador we were able to provide medical vouchers for the children in El Salvador. We would like to continue this ongoing project. If you would like to help provide for the medical needs of the orphans in El Salvador, you may do so below!
2009 El Salvador Team
