The team’s day started out by visiting Jahaziel’s church. They listened to a very enthusiastic message in Spanish along with great singing…again all in Spanish. They were then able to share a Bible story along with crafts with the children. The kids loved it and so did our group!! After a quick lunch and change of clothes, the team headed to a government in-take orphanage. At CIPI they gave a princess party for the teen girls explaining that God is their heavenly Father, and they are each, one of His princesses. The teen girls from the orphanage had their makeup done, fingernails painted, and took lots and lots of pictures. They LOVE  cameras. They just want desperately to have their photo taken so they can see how they look. A simple thing we take for granted everyday. They all looked beautiful, of course! The team members also loved on the special needs kids, small children, and babies. Many were also able to spend time with the teenage girls, many of which are new moms.

“Today was a blessing seeing an old friend at CIPI. His name is Nelson, and he has been at the orphanage the past three trips I’ve taken. He is still living with other special needs children who have very few care givers to feed, bathe, and love on them. It breaks my heart to be so blessed and then see so many with nothing. I am asking God this week to teach me how I can make a difference in the least of these. I am very honored to be a part of this mission trip. I also thank Starfish Orphan Ministry for this opportunity. Please pray for the lost and abandoned in El Salvador”. ……Lauren Kephart

 “So many things were beyond belief for me today, but the first thing that God revealed to me was how blessed I am. I know it’s what most people say, but it is such an intense and humbling experience to see the hurt and conditions that children around the world endure each and every day. Secondly, God is such a great God. He just reassured me that through the few hours that I was able to spend with Hosea, Francisco, and the other boys in the special needs area that I am doing the right job, career, or whatever you want to call it. Thirdly, but not lastly, I was awed by how God just showed me how to listen to Him more. As Hosea sat on my lap for an hour, and was unable to speak or even understand my words, he listened and smiled. So for nothing else, I was able to sit and listen to God today with an awesome kid in my lap holding my hand”. …..Laine Cooper