Meeting
the Tripletts…My first visit to El
Salvador
 |
| Outside the Dental Operatory at Coatapeque |
Some of
you may be asking why we chose El
Salvador? Phil has been to El Salvador a
few times on short-term dental mission trips. Three years ago, God spoke
to Phil clearly while he was serving on a short term mission trip in El Salvador
that He wanted him to move there with his entire family to serve as
missionaries. At that time, there were no openings for a dentist
available, so the desire was kind of pushed under the carpet until it
re-surfaced again around July 2013. We barely just had delivered our
newborn baby girl, Shiloh, when Phil broke the news that he wanted to move to El Salvador.
All you mommies out there can probably agree that after having a baby,
the thought of moving to another country is the last thing you would be
thinking about. Phil knew his calling, on the other hand, I needed to go
to El Salvador
to see for myself what life would be like living over there. Some of you
may know that Phil practically had to drag my feet to get there, but after some
serious counseling (thank you Sheneau Stanley), I finally decided to go
check it out with an open mind.
When
we arrived at the Monsenor
Oscar Arnulfo
Romero International
Airport, Don Triplett and
his wife, Terri, welcomed us at the entrance. Don Triplett, Founder of King’s
Castles ministries opened his home to me and Phil, and gave us an
overview of what it would be like serving the people of El Salvador. He raised
his entire family there for 25 years, and has become well-loved by the
community.
As we drove around the cities of San Salvador
and Coatapeque, I felt right at home because the area reminded me of how life
was growing up in the Philippines.
Seeing the busy streets filled with cars trying to make a two lane road into a
four lane road was very familiar. Seeing the city also reminded me a lot
of what Manila
is like: small little shops, food stands in every corner, and people selling
everything and anything in the middle of the road. The Tripletts were so amazing
to show us the preschools, gated villages, and clinics in a span of less than
twenty-four hours. It was definitely a productive trip.
The place
that made the biggest impact was visiting the clinics that Phil would be
working in, and also a 24-hr House of Prayer located in the main grounds of
Castillo Del Rey. The view of the prayer house was breathtaking, and the
highlight of my entire visit. I knew living there would not be a surprise, but
I needed to know why God was calling our family to live there. To tell you
honestly, I did not hear any clear answers during this trip. However, the
cool thing about going to El
Salvador at that time was that I got to
witness how Phil was energized by the opportunity to serve. It did bless
my heart to see how much the people were so excited to meet a dentist who was
willing to give up everything he had to serve them. This was a stepping stone
for me to trust God, and to seek signs and confirmations that this is His will
for our family. I left El Salvador not as resistant, but
with an open heart to receive whatever the Lord has for our family.
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At the Dental Operatory in Coatapeque with the Tripletts.
This is where Phil worked as a missionary 3 years ago. |
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| A church next to the Dental Operatory |
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| At King's Castle 24 Hour House of Prayer |
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| The beautiful view from the top of the 24 Hr House of Prayer |
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| La Libertad |
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| At a resort in La Libertad with Don and Terri Triplett |
