Alyssa Sooy Bonilla
October 2024
Hola familia,
Life seems to be full of so much change lately. The downtown area of La Libertad is an absolute mess, as they've torn up the streets to put in underground wiring and made the traffic a lot worse. Both roads in and out of La Libertad are also under construction, as they're expanding the highways to 4 lanes. In what seems like a very short period of time the port of La Libertad looks so different than when I first saw it.
I'll share more about this later, but Ado and I will also be moving out of the house we've been renting. I lived here for 2 years before we got married, and we've been here together for almost a year now. It's a relief to be moving, but also a little bittersweet to be leaving our first home together.
We cling to the God who does not change while so much around us does. He is faithful forever and ever!
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:23
CDI
Although is seems crazy, the end of the year is approaching fast! The school year will end here in mid-November and we will stay in session at the CDI til mid-December. This time of year is fun (and more challenging) as the kids come with *all* their energy 🤪. I'll start working on a song with the little kids to perform for their mothers at the end-of-year celebration.
I was reflecting with Marielos (the director of the CDI) the other day about how important it is to have one teacher consistently with a set group of students in order to be able to see their progress. This in and of itself is a privilege, considering that most of our teachers are volunteers and come in once a week. It made me grateful for how the Lord placed me in the CDI in a way that allows me to know my kids well and be a consistent person in their lives. And I am grateful for you, because it's your partnership that allows me to be in El Salvador. Thank you!
Learning to grow...
One of our partners, Convoy of Hope, gave a demonstration to the older kids and parent of the CDI on how to set up plant boxes and plant seeds as part of their initiative to help families become self-sustaining. The kids and their moms had a blast! COH will host several more workshops before setting each family up with the tools and resources to grow their own gardens at home.
September is a very special month for El Salvador; a month in which we celebrate El Salvador's independence. On September 15th, big cities and small towns alike put on parades and civil acts, showcasing typical suits and dances. Many of our students participate in the festivities, rehearsing since early August and starting the civil acts at the beginning of September. In school, they learn about the national bird (Torogoz), and tree (Maquilisuat), in addition to many cultural traditions. The photos below are of several kids from the CDI participating in the parade.
Special Guest Visit
A few weeks ago my parents came to stay with us and we loved every minute of it! My mom came with me to the CDI a few days and taught my kids about different body parts in English, finishing up with "head, shoulder, knees, and toes." I'm 100% positive they liked her more than they like me 🤪.
Conexión
Our youth group continues to grow and we are overjoyed at the fellowship and connection that is being fostered. We are consistently seeing 14-18 people come and participate! Praise God!
Last Sunday Ado and I had everyone over to our house and we ate together and went down to the community pool in our neighborhood and spent the afternoon together hanging out and playing games.
The night this picture was taken, the youth group was invited over to Pastor Ivo's house to celebrate his birthday. Our friend Lenin (sitting in the center of the picture at the little table with Ado and I), accepted Christ with Ado in the car just minutes before. Praise God! Please keep in in your prayers as he continues to grow in faith.
In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
Luke 15:10
Looking forward
- Baptism event on Nov 3rd- we believe that baptism is the first step of obedience after trusting in Jesus and are encouraging the new believers in our congregation to take this step of faith! Please pray for the Holy Spirit to prompt each person.
- Holiday season- we have lots of church events, Christmas dinners, etc, planned in the upcoming months. As you know, Christmas is a time when many people are more sensitive to church and more likely to accept an invitation. Please pray for many invitations to be made and accepted!
- Ado's graduation!!!-Nov 14
Financial Support Update
We are only $285/mo away from being 100% funded! We need 2 more people willing to join at $100/mo and two more at $50... and you can help us find them! You are a key part of this ministry and many of you have been with me since day one. Please share my story and think of friends or family that might be interested in supporting our ministry!
Prayer Request
A year after I came to El Salvador I moved down to La Libertad from another nearby city. We found one available house in one of the few neighborhoods with security, and that's where I've lived for almost 3 years. Each year the landlord has raised the rent and this year was no different. However, the amount he's asking us to raise is much higher. We know that the house is not in a good state of repair and he has now also told us that we can't have large groups of people over (we like to have the youth group over to our house regularly) due to the delicate state of the house. Considering all this, we know it's time to move on. I asked the owner to give us 3 months to find another place and turn over the house. Please pray that the Lord show us clearly the place he has prepared for us here, and that the transition would be smooth! Our desire is to build a place of our own, as houses are rarely sold here. However, we would still need a temporary house while we build. Through all of this the Lord has reminded me over and over that he is in control and is faithful. We have peace knowing that if the Lord is leading us on, he has already prepared a place for us.
Pray with Me
- PRAISE! for continued financial support growth and prayer for provision- that the Lord will provide the remaining $285 monthly that we need to continue serving full-time in La Libertad
- For Conexión youth group to continue growing in their relationships with Jesus and to continue growing as a group, and also for end of year activities
- For daily strength for Ado as he balances a full- time job with ministry
- For end of year activities in the CDI
- That Ado and I would have peace in the search for our new home
Seeing the names of each person who has joined this mission with us through prayer and financial support brought me and overwhelming sense of gratitud. YOU make it possible for us to serve the kids in the CDI, the youth group, and the church in La Libertad. You make it possible for us to fill a big need the church has and proclaim His name here... we could not do it without you.
In Christ,
Alyssa
Philippians 4:6-7
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
