"I couldn't do what you're doing."

Well...we're here! After an early morning, two planes, a couple hours on a bus and a stop for Pollo Campero (sort of like KFC, but with a waitress), we arrived at the Castillo del Rey (King's Castle) compound on Lake Coatepeque. The interns that work with the missions teams just arrived today, so we have taken the last 24 hours to just settle into our beautiful home and rest while we can.

The view from our front door as we look to the left. Yes, those are mountains.

The view as we look to the right...you can see Lake Coatepeque, which is at the bottom of the hill we walk each day.

Last night, as we recapped on our emotions thus far, Matt voiced that he was surprised by the amenities we've been offered. I mean, when most people think of a mission trip to a "poor country", they think huts and dirt, not supermarkets and air conditioning. Our past trips here have not included those benefits, but it's not because those aren't available here, just that they aren't available for everyone. El Salvador has paved highways and dirt roads, fast food restaurants and children who rely on feeding programs, those who vacation on Lake Coatepeque and those who are born here and never leave. But regardless of how "developed" or "undeveloped" it is, El Salvador's people need Jesus. Many Salvadorans are lost, as much as someone in the US or someone in Somalia might be. We are here to serve the vision of our leaders, not to improve or "Americanize*" anything.

(* "America" is a term only Americans use so exclusively. Many Central and South Americans I know are like, "Um, are we not American too?" Touché...)

The other day as we were preparing to leave, a friend of ours was over and said, "I'm going to be honest with you. I've been on some mission trips, but I could never do what you guys are doing, going for that long." At the time, I (Brittany) brushed it off. It wasn't really something we just up and decided to do; it was something we felt God put on our hearts. It wasn't really that big of a deal, right?

Until it was. Until we were saying goodbye to our dog and totally cried. Until I was choosing about 10 outfits to wear for the rest of summer (yes, high-maintenance, I am aware.) Until yesterday morning, getting ready at 3am, when it felt like a very big deal.

I was leaving my comfort zone. And no matter how far away you go and how long you are away from your comfort zone, it always feels like a big, huge deal. It's hard. Honestly, my thoughts most of the day yesterday were, "Now I don't know if I can do this." And that voice of doubt is probably going to be one we fight in some form here every day.

So pray with us, friends, as we settle into this beautiful place that is our home for two months, that we would continue to grow out of our previous comfort zones and have peace and strength in the meantime. Pray for the spiritual battle over our hearts and minds; pray against the lies that are already telling us, "You can't do this. You have no purpose here." Pray for our teams and all the Salvadorans we'll meet, that they would hear and know God. Pray for anything else you feel you ought to! And thank you!

With love,

Matt and Brittany