El Yalu

On Wednesday, I had the privilege of joining Pastor Brian, Jon, Scott, Becky, Dave and Oscar on a trip to El Yalu so Oscar could show us what Los Olivos was doing in that area.  I don’t know how to describe what we saw because I have never seen anything like it before and have absolutely nothing to compare it to.  Poverty in the United States doesn’t even begin to compare to the poverty in this village.  The good thing is though, that Los Olivos is working with a woman named Maria who runs a feeding center in the village.  This feeding center feeds around 300 mothers and children 3 times a week.  For most of these people, these are the only healthy and complete meals they get each week.  We were given the opportunity to pass out the food to the children and mothers who came to eat that day and the experience was amazing.  I have never seen children that excited about something as simple as getting a good meal.  As Americans, I think most of us take that for granted and being able to experience that was really good eye-opening experience for me.  We were also able to walk around the village and see the projects that Los Olivos is helping to fund and some of the projects they would like to begin.  Oscar showed us two plots of land that have been purchased in El Yalu; one is the sight for a church and the other for a playground.  Los Olivos is also raising funds to help build latrines and stoves for the people of this village.  Both of these items are greatly needed to help decrease disease and keep the people of El Yalu healthy.  Please keep the people of El Yalu in your prayers along with Oscar, Los Olivos, Maria and the new missionaries that will be arriving to El Yalu in April.  I know God has amazing things planned and will work through the people of Los Olivos and the new missionaries to help the people of El Yalu get what they need.

~Jenny