The summer has been met with many visitors from the States as we have been in the busiest season of the ministry here with short term teams. We each have roles to play from "La Mama" (cleaning the Wired site and taking care of those not feeling well) to "Under Cover Brother" (coming alongside the team doing ministry as one of them) to "Point" (responsible for organizing and carrying out the teams trip from beginning to end) and many more roles in-between. No matter the role, we all work together as each member is part of the body, not one greater than another, to accomplish God's plans here in El Salvador.
Although the summer is short for the kids compared to the States (only 2 months), it has been a great experience for them to have more involvement with the teams and participate in the activities and ministry they come and do. Skyler has even had an official role with the groups which she loves...leading worship, a little translating, and doing ministry alongside the teams to name a few. We had a team visit from St. Croix, Wisconsin! And of course currently a team from Appleton Alliance is here visiting! I also lead a team from Montana this summer that was a huge blessing to the people here. Being connected with new as well as old friends reminds me of the greater connection we have in the Body of Christ that no distance between us can ever seperate.
There was still time amongst the busy group season to enjoy some rest, relaxation and fun. Below are some pictures that include some of those activities as well as the groups we served. We had some important days to celebrate as well. James and I celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary on August 16th! We also hit our one year anniversary since we left our home to follow God's call here to El Salvador at the beginning of August! Hard to believe that a year ago August 4th we opened up to a new chapter God has written for us. Like our first year of marriage, our first year in El Salvador has been met with many blessings as well as hardships. We've come face to face with persecution in unexpected ways teaching us a deeper dependence, a walk of humility, and a strength to persevere being reminded our suffering is not in vain (But even if you suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed...1 Peter 3:14). At times it feels like we are in the wilderness. Navigating unfamiliar circumstances is a prime opportunity to become more familiar with our heavenly Father. He wants to bless us in spite of our insecurities over new surroundings. Our desire is to seek God during our wilderness experience. Have to admit, it is so difficult at times. It is hard not to become weary. But as our faith is tested, we persevere. As we persevere our trust in the Lord matures and we become complete in Christ. We don't lack anything because we have everything we need in Him. Our wilderness is His blessing.
We have been beyond blessed this past week with a team from our very own church back home in Appleton, Wisconsin. A construction group of 11 guys are here serving the ministry and the people of El Salvador. God is loving us through these guys who have poured out their prayers, support, and encouragement to us while they are here. Thank you God for providing just what we needed at such a time as this! Don't think we've laughed or cried this much in a long time. It feels so good!
Lots of pictures from the summer! More from the AAC group to come. Enjoy!
Serving In His Name Together,
The Schuenke's
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| Made out of shells from the beach |
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| Fighting for the Broken |
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| Abandoned Infants |
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| Impoverished Families, Gang Members & Ex-Prisioners |
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| San Salvador's very own American Football Team - The Jaguar's |
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| James and Alex (a deportee from the States involved in the football league) |
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| Backup Quarterback for San Fransisco 49ers (who is Salvadorian himself) visiting the field |
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| Our very own home grown coffee line to support the Broken Ministry |
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| Raeleigh's new school shoes made by the men (ex-gang members/prisoners) at Metamorfosis) |
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| Worshiping with the team from Wisconsin at our church |
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| Raeleigh participated in the summer basketball camp at school |
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| Mom and daughter enjoying some ice cream after camp |
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| Makai had to have his first tooth pulled to make room for those grown ups :) |
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| Makai supporting Team Argentina for the World Cup |
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| Our missionary friends celebrating their youngest boy turning "1" |
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| Skyler, Stephanie and Maddie |
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| Dads embarrassing their daughters on a girls night out |
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| Raeleigh bit on the legs 31 times by mosquitos |
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| Raeleigh in an art camp this summer |
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| Raeleigh and her friend Tori built their own play house with wooden boxes |
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| "Girls Night In" in our pajamas! |
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| Tori, Raeleigh and Felice having a cucumber facial! |
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| Surprise love notes from my kids |
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| Staff dress alike without planning it |
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| St. Croix Alliance Church in Wisconsin visiting this summer |
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| The vision of the Broken Ministry given at what the Salvadorians call "Puerto del Diablo" |
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| The Montana group doing VBS with the Alliance Church in San Salvador |
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| Sports Ministry Camp in a nearby community |
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| Skyler and Ashton (from a recent group) loving on some girls during VBS |
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| The girls can't help but reach out to the little ones |
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| Karate Ministry at a Sports Center in San Salvador |
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| Evangelism with the parents outside the Karate Center |
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| Makai and I serving dinner to the team |
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| Raeleigh and Felice helping the construction group with painting |
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| Makai using a sander! Where are the parents? |
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| AAC Construction Team with some of the Wired Staff! |
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| Nestor serving lunch to the AAC Construction team |
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| AAC Construction Team building a wall for a storage area at Metamorfosis |
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| Amazing progress! |
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| Construction Team at Wired finishing unfinished work |
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| Construction Team cleaning waste out of the ditches at Metamorfosis |
Praise & Prayer Requests
Praise God for His provision in bringing our family home for a visit
Praise God for the encouragement the AAC construction team has brought here
Praise God for his continued hand of guidance on this ministry as new ministries/partnerships are acquired making the Broken Vision come to life
Praise God for the lives being touched with God's grace and Good News through the start-up church (Hungry).
Pray for a smooth transition as Vinculo de Amor and Projecto Metamorfosis become part of Envision Wired
Pray against the enemy's strongholds and schemes and for God's strength to persevere in pushing back the darkness here in El Salvador
Pray for a much needed time of rest, connection and clarity during our family's visit home
