Most of our volunteers are long term, live on site and serve on a daily basis in various ways or short term teams who come to minister through projects and building relationships with the children. This month we had friends who came on their own to invest in the well being of everyone at Pan de Vida.
I met Gillian 6 years ago on a short term trip through Samaritan's Purse in El Salvador and I have loved her ever since. Anyone who has done a mission trip knows the depth of bonding and building of relationships that happen during that time. With Facebook, we had always stayed in touch and encouraged one another in our spiritual journeys. In 2008 Gillian made her first trip to Pan de Vida to visit and see the ministry first hand. While here, she fell in love with all the children and became a child sponsor. Since then, she has been able to return 2 more times to visit her sponsor child and show her continued support.
James, who is from our home town area in Nova Scotia, came on a short term trip, with members from our home churches, last year. Being an electrician, he saw the need for many repairs throughout the orphanage. He then went home and made plans to return. He took time from his family and work, brought his friend, Charles, and came to make improvements to the facilities here at Pan de Vida. While here, we experienced rain, lots of rain, on a daily basis. This revealed that the drains from the school courtyard were plugged. In addition to the electrical project, he dug in and helped Ira with emergency relief work to keep the school from being flooded. This is all very hard and dirty work. It humbles us to know he would take his personal time to invest in improving the facilities for the children.
We want to take this time to Thank them for coming to sow seeds of love, hope and opportunity into the lives of the children of Pan de Vida!
