" My God Is So Big"

"My God is so big! So strong and so Mighty! There's nothing my God cannot do!"

This song, one of my favourite Sunday School songs, has been stuck in my head all week long! It is so fitting for this place! To say my week has been insane is an understatement! We have spent the month I have been here planning for our Phase 2 of New Dawn and the big inauguration day finally came this past Thursday! 

 

We got to get all dressed up for this special occasion!

I think we clean up pretty well!

Let me just stop and say how in the world has it already been a whole month since I first arrived here! That's crazy! We have been planning and prepping, pondering and praying for this new phase of our program for weeks, and it has been so fulfilling to finally see everything come together. There were renovations and cleaning, paper work and organizing, but with the help of wonderful coworkers, and God's provision, we made it! I have come to realize that God uses many of my gifts and talents to work here, and also ones I never thought I would need or be qualified for. On the missions field, we never fully know how qualified we are! Our God is so big, and His plans are so good!

Our new program will provide 24 hour residential care for minors that are struggling with alcohol and drug addictions, giving them a safe and caring environment, to grow in Christ's freedom!

They will have a place to lay their head and food to fill their bullies, thanks to the work God is doing in the lives of folks back home. Without your support this wouldn't be possible!

I took a moment to pray for each  future child (though I haven't met them yet, God knows exactly which child will be brought home here) and mentor as they begin this long journey, and am reminded of how glad I am to be here at the very beginning of this process. I get to see God at work right here in person, building relationships with these kids along the way!

I will do my best to update on the new program, as much as I can with pictures that give you a wonderful glimpse into our work here! We have teams starting to arrive and do work here, and this house always seems to be buzzing with excitement! 

 On a personal note, it's nice to finally feel settled in here.

One month here has flown by, and yet at the same time I feel as if I have been here for ever! I love this little country so very much! The people and the culture are always interesting and I have begun to develop  wonderful relationships with my co workers and friends!

I spend my weekends with some much needed relax and adventure time! Grace(my wonderful roommate, who let's be honest, is the first little sister I've ever had, is lucky to have me around (love you! ) and I spend our weekends with our friends and family (the Palacias/ Portillos') adventuring through this incredible place!

This past weekend we ventured to the top of our volcano! Yes I call it "my" volcano because hey why not! It was quite a hike but well worth the view! Again I am reminded of just how big our God is, and how incredible His creation is! I am surrounded by His beauty not only in His landscape, but His people!

We go discover wonderful different places to eat and spend time making memories and friendships that I truly believe will last a life time! These people (especially the family) have managed to make their home in my heart and continue to bring me so much joy!

Love these people just a little too much! We are a pretty good lookin group!

 (There are so many great foods here, especially Pupusas!! Oh. My. goodness. I LOVE them! Don't ask me how something so simple can be so incredibly delicious!)

 Guess who finally felt confident enough to try the local favourite, with the best lunch in town! ~ this girl! Grateful to God that I haven't been at all sick here!

I love it here. I love what God is doing here. I love the relationships being built. I just love it!

My God is so big ~ My God is so strong ~ My God is so Mighty

There's nothing my God cannot do!

Love and Prayers

Erica Byleveld

Grieving the Life I Had

It has been said to me by close friends and other missionaries here, that when you begin an adventure like this one, you will grieve the life you used to live. 

I thought they were kidding. I mean grieve is a pretty strong term to describe the desires for the luxuries I have back home. But grieve you do. 

Most  days here are wonderful. I have incredible "God Moments" when I see the Creator hard at work in the lives I witness. I am surrounded by beautiful country scenery and wonderful people. Hurt and brokenness, yes, but I also so beauty there too.

I see children's faces light up when I simply give them a candy, or  share some crayons. (The feeling of seeing them light up still makes my heart burst with love)

Women that finally know that someone cares, simply because I take the time to transform their knotted hair into beautiful braided hairdo's, that Pintrest would be proud of!

Men who feel like they finally are worthy and needed again, when I let them carry heavy, important things for me.

I have wonderful co workers that make me laugh and feel loved.

These are all wonderful things that I thank God for daily.

There are also moments when I would give anything to see my friends. Friends I love so dearly, that they are family. Moments I long to be  back working alongside my mother, laughing and sharing our hearts over the days busy baking tasks. Moments when all I want is to hug and kiss those beautiful growing nephews of mine. Moments when I miss being teased by my wonderful father,and bursting with laughter over jokes with my sisters!

I long for an opportunity to just get into my car and drive! Be free to go where I please! Not having to worry about not being allowed to walk outside at night, gun shots ringing out all around me.

I long for my family and the comforts of home, the familiar smells and sounds.

I long for the life I used to have. Truly long, so much so that it makes my heart physically hurt!

God knows this. He also know that He will provide the perfect people at the perfect moments, to help me get through those tough times in my day. People like great coworkers and wonderful roommates, long time friends to serve with, and a new "family"

I got to spend an incredible weekend with my new friends the "Portillo/ Palacias" family. 

They opened their arms to us with true love and spent wonderful moments showing us this beautiful country.

We went to the local botanical gardens, had a great lunch together, and finished the wonderful day with a breath taking view at a restaurant at the top our our volcano! We had so many moments of laughter and fun, it made missing my family, not quite so hard! It was a true blessing to spend time with people that made me feel like part of the family. I feeling I was longing for!

God  continues to bless me with little moments, with people He has already ordained and prepared, to walk this adventure with me. Wonderful people I am so excited to become "family" with! People like the "Portillo/Palacias" family.

2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love 

Ephesians 4:2

Love and Prayers

Erica Byleveld

Welcome To The Jungle...

"Welcome to the Jungle"

I have been told that, by several different people, several different times in my first week here in San Salvador. If you would have asked me a week ago what that meant, I really don't think I would have had an answer, but as each day passes, I began to understand it more and more. Imagine you take a nice long flight, land and walk off the plane into a deserted jungle. No rules, just chaos. I mean literal chaos. 

I have never been to the jungle, but I imagine it is similar to  the experiences I have here. I wake up to strange animal cries, sun blasting in the windows. I get up and drive through streets without rules. Streets that have cars speeding, driving in wrong lanes, driving in lanes that don't actually exist, all while trying not to plow over the numerous amounts of locals that think it's totally acceptable to walk out in front of your car in the middle of an intersection. I have never been so tense in a vehicle before coming here. I arrive at the office and wave to the women with kind eyes as she exits her "shelter" (that's even in quotes because quite honestly, you can't even call it that...) only to come out and wash her only other article of clothing in a rusty old coffee can, filled with filthy water, only to have it dry over the sewer drain on the sidewalk. She smiles, I smile, wave and we exchange a "Buenos Dias" I go to my desk and work on an assigned task before our afternoons starts. People wait for over an hour at our gates before they can enter. They come in and shower, get a hair cut, relax and play a game, catch up with friends, all while enjoying this breeze of the ceiling fan and the comforts of care. I am busy in the kitchen making sure that lunch will be ready, standing guard over my frying pan, cooking hot dogs.We deliver the food, their spirit and soul too get nurtured, and then with smiles we say "Adios" We clean up the days chaos, prepare for the next and get ready to return home. On the drive back, we pass by some of the kids in our program at the place they will spend the night.  Under the foot of a statue in one of the roundabouts throughout town, in a bus corner or simply just laying down on the sidewalk, settling in. We smile and wave and finally arrive home. A long day of hurt,heartache and spiritual warfare. This is the front line. I stand at the front of a battle. The battle for Eternity. It's tough, it's hard. There so many lives on the line. 

Each day I must make a choice to either pack up and go home, or stay and fight. Most days are hard. I miss home, I miss my old life, and honestly it's just hard.  I don't always see results, and I may never fully see the results of this battle we are fighting, a battle Christ has already won. A spiritual battle, and emotional battle and a physical battle. Yet there are lives on the line. Do I give up and go back to my wants and desires, or do I face my fears (there are many I might add) and press on, knowing that one day, I will stand before God and hear "Him say, you were faithful, well done good servant", 

It won't be easy, but it is worth it. Every life we impact, makes it worth it. Makes this pain and suffering I feel, seem quite insignificant in comparison.

There are moments though, of complete disbelief, of this new life of mine.

 Times when I see a man walk into traffic and drag another man out of the street. (whether the man being dragged is dead or not, we can't always tell.) 

Times when I see groups of teens with spit all over their face as they stumble on broken limbs, stoned out of their minds, to the truck to receive a meal, their glue bottle clung to their chest, as they slip in and out of conciseness.

 Times when I am told that the building outside our truck door is actually the place where the drugs that are distributed not only here in town but supply the entire country, are made, stored and trafficked. Might I add that that same building is just up the street from my new office. Yeah, exactly. I am told not to worry though, we have good street credit here. 

This is my life now.     These moments fill my days.    

It's discouraging and hard to see the good we are doing sometimes. Yet I have never felt God so close. He sees it too. He hurts too. He is ready to welcome us home. He has already won this battle. Even in the bad times, God is good!

This is the Jungle.

 Is it hard? You can't even begin to imagine. Is it worth it? When I stop and think of the people who will be joining me in Eternity, because of the work going on here, yes, it is worth it. It always will be. I just have to be reminded sometimes.

Love and Prayers
Erica Byleveld

James 1:12 “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”

Getting Settled

Well here we are, days two and three! Boy does time fly, and thank goodness, cause that is sometimes the only thing that helps keep me going! 

  

I promise to get more and better pictures!

When I started this new journey, I was agreeing to start a new life. A life with a different career, a different country, a different culture, a different language. I changed my clothes, my church, my friends. The food, the house, the people. Everything has changed. Even the keyboard I am typing on, in this very moment, is different... don´t even ask me how to do the ¨at¨ sign... seriously... I actually don´t even know. Yet through out all of this, one thing remains. God is faithful.

He is there in every moment. Whether that be first thing when the sun shines into my room in the morning, or while I braid the ladies hair during a program. Whether I am videoing, missing my family back home, or laying my head to rest at night. He is with me.  He remains. He is faithful.

It is by His strength that we carry on, whether that is serving here overseas or at home during our day to day lives. He is there with us every step of the way. That alone brings peace, comfort and love.

I am settling into this new rountine of mine. One of making meals, doing paper work, and seeing how 90% of the world lives day to day. It´s breaks your heart time after time, to walk out and see people lining the streets to get fed. In a world with so much, how can they have so little. 

We have an oppertunity to open our doors to this hurting community. They come in, have a hot shower, get their hair cut, have a rest and get fed a good meal. They are loved. They wait for hours for our doors to open and are so happy to see us. They too, know that He is faithful, even with nothing, they have hope. Funny how we have everything and still loose our faith. On a journey like this one, you are required to trust God with your life. It´s the only way to survive.

I get to spread Gods love in the simplest of ways. By handing out food, sharing smiles and reminding women how beautiful they are, simply by braiding their hair.. (I´ve got quite the reputation around here and it´s only day three!) I get to smother children with smiles and love, while their mothers get to finally enjoy a moment of peace, without worrying. It´s these little things, that bring me the biggest joy. 

That makes it all worth it, Every. Single. Moment.

Plus we have earthquakes.. which is just super wierd!

Not to worry, we´re fine!

These little moments are changing someones eternity. We may never know, the effect of our moments, but God does, for He has already ordained each in every one in His book, in His Master plan. A plan that´s better than any of us could ever dream of!

Love and Prayers

Erica Byleveld

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

Deuteronomy 31:6

"Welcome Home"

Well. I did it. I got on the plane. I will be honest, it was tough. I am so blessed to have a family of supporters that I love so much. We arrived in San Salvador airport at 7:30, made it through immigration and security without any problems, that goodness! We drove to the guest house I am staying at for the duration of my trip here. It's huge! It fits up to 30 people, has wonderful porches and rooms over looking gorgeous San Salvador, and just happens to be on the side of a volcano! I got settled into my new room after a long day and saying goodbye to my travel partners. Then all alone in a big house, in a big city, in a new chapter, it happened. I sat down in bed and felt a feeling I didn't know I would. Peace. When I sat at home and envisioned this moment, I saw me bawling in a corner, questioning who in their right mind let me make this decision! Laugh all you want, I have had that experience before! But no, not this time. There were no tears this time. This time, I got ready for bed and slept peacefully.

I awoke to squawking birds, and a room full of sunlight. I had breakfast and got ready for the day! I got picked up by my dear friend Valerie (I have served with Val for 4 years before this trip) and we made our way to the MTES (Mission To El Slavador) organization. It is located in one of the toughest places in El Salvador due to it's proximity to the hospital and therefore, a large access to drugs! There were men sleeping on clothes in the street, garbage everywhere, rundown "houses'' every which way I looked. Something that still hits me, no matter how many times I see it.

I met the other staff members and got acquainted with my new work place. We made our way over to the New Dawn project. (New Dawn is a program made for children living on the streets with a drug and or alcohol addiction. a place they come to be nourished not only in food, but spiritually too) I walked into the gate, and was greeted by a volunteer. As we entered into the building, he looked at me, straight in the eyes, and he said it... "welcome Home". ... He could have chosen any sentence, but he chose that one. The same one God had spoken to me upon arrival here, just over a year ago. I will be honest. It terrified me.. I froze for a second, and after forcing myself to take a breath or two, I regained my composure. I walked normally to the table, where we sat and listened to the kids daily devotional. While I sat there, my stomach turned, my heart hammered and my lip began to tremble..  tears threatening to spill over at any moment. I can not loose it here. Not now. I will sit here and drink my water and breath.

We finished our visit, said goodbye and I walked to the car. Valerie and I chatted as we drove to a spot for lunch. Valerie is such a blessing in my life for many reasons, but honestly, I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for her. We talked about the struggles of this life we have chosen, and as we did, she told me that it's ok to be upset, in fact it's strongly encouraged. It's not something to take in lightly, nor should it be shoved down deep either. We have to be vulnerable and talk to one another. At that moment, I couldn't say anything. I could barely breathe as the tears poured down my face. I sat there in the car, sobbing. It's hard. It is so hard. I am so glad to be here and it feels right, but it is so hard! Valerie sat and cried alongside me. That's what we do, as christians, as women, as friends. We cry with each other, we share life with each other. It's the only way we can survive out here.

We pulled ourselves together and had a wonderful crepe lunch. I came home and unpacked, Skyped with family and friends and felt better. We had a wonderful dinner, and a good peaceful nights sleep.

You are probably wondering why "welcome Home" terrified me. Well, for many reasons. I knew going into this that, this experience was going to give me an idea if missions work full time was a good fit or not. That statement hit me right in the heart. Am I willing to give up all I have, for the sake of others, for the sake of Gods kingdom? Yes I packed up my bags, my life, said goodbye and got on a plane. But that plane goes both ways. Here, and back again, I always have an escape ticket, the hard part is, not using it..

I will get settled in. I will meet new people. I will make wonderful memories and serve God willingly. It will be rewarding.

It's still hard. It's still scary and it most definitely still hurts.

Then again it's supposed to.

Love and Prayers

Erica Byleveld

What a difference a day makes.

Today is the day! I will be honest.. I am FREAKING out. Like actually though. This is terrifying. I am not scared though, funny how those things can be totally different. This month has been a total blur of busy work days, Christmas celebrations and fond farewells. Add in a little nervousness, denial and stressed overwelmingness and you about have it! Oh and yes a few tears.... ok lot's of tears, they just wouldn't stop. I hate goodbyes! I have finally (yes finally, seriously I couldn't have put it off any longer..) packed up all my bags, checked over my list a dozen times, panicked over a lost passport that I kid you not was not even a foot away from my face.. and got in my last minutes hugs and snuggles! I have rushed and planned and panicked and laughed. Through all of it  God is in control. I am reminded of how blessed I am to feel sad! I have so many loving people in my life, perfectly placed to remind me of God's love! You will never know how meaningful your kind words and loving prayers mean to me! I can only do this, knowing that I have a community of people that have my back!


I have been planning for months, trying my best to prepare myself. It wasn't all easy. Satan has a way of making you doubt, but through those moments I have learned what it means to fully rely on God. His plan is far greater than the ones I have etched into my lovely planner. I have no idea what my new daily routine will look like, but He does. He has already ordained the people I will meet and the things I will do. He knows the moments that will take my breath away. The moments that will bring me pure joy. He also knows the moments that my heart will shatter and will give me the strength, that only He can give, to carry on to the next day. He will pull my into His loving arms while I miss all of you back home. He will enable me to adapt to this incredible new lifestyle. Even when I start to question why I ever had the bright idea to not only say YES to God, but actually ask for it! What was I thinking!


I plan to journal out the moments of the coming months here in this blog. I promise you I will be honest, even when it hurts. Do my best to give you a glimpse into the life God is leading me in. Most of all, I pray that God uses this to reveal to you, the desires of your heart that gorify Him, and how to act on them!


I will cling to this verse as I journey out: Be jouful in hope, patient in afliction and faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

I will hold to the promise that God is with me always!

Love and Prayers

Erica Byleveld