Yesterday, I (Brittany) called my grandma to remind her that we are going to be leaving in a week, and she said, "Nooooo! Why couldn't two weeks away be enough? Two months is a long time." Now, my grandmother is one of the godliest people I know, so I know she was (mostly) joking. But I think that's a question worth answering for any other inquiring minds.
Here's a little history. Back in 2013, I went to King's Castle in El Salvador for the first time with my campus ministry, Chi Alpha. I had been on several mission trips by then, but the people of El Salvador had somehow done this funny thing to my heart that was different than what I'd experienced in other places, and for the first time ever, I cried as our plane took off toward the US. I was most worried about never going back and never seeing those people again.
Well, God knows what He's doing, it turns out. Fast forward to 2015, and the freshly-dating Matthew and I were on our way to King's Castle again, this time with our church, C2. Last year when we went, we were just weeks away from being married. And that's when this whole long-term-adventure thing started.
God started tugging on our hearts, sort-of unbeknownst to each other, during the 10 days we were there. I say "sort-of unbeknownst" because I think we both saw God was doing things in the other's heart, but we didn't speak any of it out loud, just in case it was more emotion speaking than Holy Spirit. But in the weeks after we were married, those tugs rebounded, and one night we both looked at each other and said, "I think we need to talk about El Salvador." And that was that.
Our reasons for going are many. We both have jobs that allow us, in one way or another, to be away for a couple of months. We both wanted to be stretched further than a two-week trip can do for us anymore. But most importantly, we are simply doing what God has asked us to do. I for one am certain that El Salvador will change us more than we change it, but I know God also has some incredible plans and surprises up His sleeve that we are just on the edge of discovering. And THAT is why we are so excited for this different, scary, risky, fun endeavor we are about to embark on.
And that's why we're inviting you on this adventure with us--to follow along, to pray for us, to financially support us, and to send us off and welcome us home with lots of love. :)
