3 things Part 4 and no more?

1) For me seeing the conditions of the country for my own eyes instead of seeing it as an informational video segment really made it real. We all see the videos of the people in other countries and then there is a request for money, I think we can all agree that if we didn't know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this does exist beyond out backdoor we know now.

2) This was covered but I think it is a good reminder to us all that we just came from an area that has so little but is so grateful for what they have. I think about visiting Santiago de Maria and then think of how much our house is worth or how much our car is worth and then compare that to how much someone in El Salvador makes in a month.

3) For me it is important to be able to take away one other moment of time during the week and say yes I was on this trip and no matter happens in the future, if mission trips are in your future or not, we all made a difference for the time spent was well appreciated and accepted by many.

1.      Although Salvadorans are a poor people economically, in the important aspects of life – faith, family, love – they are very rich indeed. They are a happy, hard-working, content people who see their blessings in the simplest of things.

2.      Those who are not so concerned with having lots of material possessions are more in tune with their spirituality.

3.      Although some of us visualized ways to make the building process easier and more efficient, there was a certain symmetry and peacefulness in the rhythm of doing the labor by hand; mixing of chispa and mezcla by shovelful, the handing of blocks by human train, the slapping of the mezcla and placing of the blocks…

1.  We are all God's children no matter where we live.  My brothers and sisters live around the world - take care of them.

2.  It is harder for us to see God because we have so much.  Simplify your life and feel the presence of God.

3.  Seriously, how hard is it to raise $7,500!!!(This refers to how much it costs to build a house in El Salvador)

3 things part 3

Here are the thoughts of three of the participants that were on the El Salvador trip. 

1. Those who live closest to dependence on God and others are the happiest. Simplicity makes for grateful hearts!

2. Our excess became another’s great possession, example: the shoes we gave to Felipe.  My excess is staring me in the face!

3. I learned that dignity is something you carry, not something you own. The people we met and worked with have great dignity and are a fine example of humility.

1. Beauty can be found in the most unlikely of places.

2. Poverty does not mean laziness or unhappiness. We saw that first hand.

3. Hospitality and generosity are a universal language.

1) I have learned from my three trips to El Salvador is that these people might be poor but they are definitely not lazy. To see the pride in their new Habitat Home is very gratifying.

2) To be able to share my experiences with my son.was a huge goal for me. With this Stage IV cancer being in the back of my mind alot it makes this even more important to me.

3) I was very happy when Edwin went up and shook my sons hand and called him Wayne Jr. So he did remember that he was my son. This was my third house working with Edwin and I really loved being able to pull that off. Maybe next year I can make it number 4.

3 things part deux

Here are two more people's thoughts on what they experienced. 

1.      Although Salvadorans are a poor people economically, in the important aspects of life – faith, family, love – they are very rich indeed. They are a happy, hard-working, content people who see their blessings in the simplest of things.

2.      Those who are not so concerned with having lots of material possessions are more in tune with their spirituality.

3.      Although some of us visualized ways to make the building process easier and more efficient, there was a certain symmetry and peacefulness in the rhythm of doing the labor by hand; mixing of chispa and mezcla by shovelful, the handing of blocks by human train, the slapping of the mezcla and placing of the blocks…

1) The love parents show their children is universal-think Edwin and his son.

2) Acts of service is a love language.

3) With determination and a sense of humor, much can be accomplished.

Top 3 Part 1

Each person was asked to give their top 3 thoughts or reflections from the trip.  As they come in we will give them to you.

1) For me seeing the conditions of the country for my own eyes instead of seeing it as an informational video segment really made it real. We all see the videos of the people in other countries and then there is a request for money, I think we can all agree that if we didn't know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this does exist beyond out backdoor we know now.

2) This was covered but I think it is a good reminder to us all that we just came from an area that has so little but is so grateful for what they have. I think about visiting Santiago de Maria and then think of how much our house is worth or how much our car is worth and then compare that to how much someone in El Salvador makes in a month.

3) For me it is important to be able to take away one other moment of time during the week and say yes I was on this trip and no matter happens in the future, if mission trips are in your future or not, we all made a difference for the time spent was well appreciated and accepted by many.

1)  Let go of your expectations and be open to the unexpected.  It's often in the detours or changes of plans that we learn the most.

2) The poor are great teachers if we're ready to be students.

3) Prayer is as much about listening to God as it is talking.  

A Reflection From Janet Elwer

My greatest impression was the kindness of the people of El Salvador. They were always taking good care of us. It is the dry season and is very hot and dusty, but everyone, especially the children, were very clean-they put me to shame. The work was hard, but a good hard. Out group developed a wonderful relationship with the family and the site workers. I’d go back (but maybe a cooler month!).

A picture of Janet and some young people from El Salvador.

A Reflection from Mary Reichter

By chance, I was born in the United States. My grandfather immigrated from Mexico in 1921. I could have been a Mexican citizen. I am truly blessed to live in a country where anything is possible and that has so much. I take a lot for granted sometimes. I hope to keep my awareness and gratitude for all I have in the forefront of my mind each day.

I create art on a daily basis and I thought I would not be able to in El Salvador. Not the case. I was able to get supplies and create. I also found objects to create with, rocks and bottle caps. It was a hoot to see what I could do with markers, bottle caps and rocks, oh and don't forget the white fingernail polish.


-Mary Reichter

And on the 7th day they rested.

March 23, 2013

On our first day on the work sites, I mentioned Felipe, Cristabel's cousin, who was working on the construction of her house with no shoes. All week the team was going through their shoes, trying to determine who had a pair that would fit Felipe.  On Friday, we had success! A pair of shoes from Mary Reichter (thanks actually go to her husband, Lyle) fit Felipe.  Allen Kurschinksi contributed a pair of socks. When the shoes and socks were presented to Felipe, he motioned for us to wait a minute; he had to go wash his feet before he put his new shoes on.  He was so excited, and so sad, also.  He said, "I have nothing to give you. I have no money."  This Holy Thursday as we witness the washing of feet, let us keep in mind those who have little, but give so much.

Today the team boarded a bus and headed to the shore for our final night together, to unpack the experiences of the week, to continue bonding, and for some transition time before we head home tomorrow.

Day 6 The Last Day of Worksites

Compliments of Patsy...

March 22, 2013

Our final day on the worksites was a half day, which was very good timing!  With the heat and humidity of Thursday we were pretty well spent. Mario's home needed another coat of interior paint and then that work crew got a major break. The welders arrived and they needed to vacate the premises. Mario took them all to the park and wanted the crew of 6 to enjoy themselves watching his daughter's softball game. At Cristabel's site, Jesus and the crew of 12 had much to do. Another two rounds cement block went up, and interior floors were rocked and tamped down. Our entertainment for the day was a school parade, similar to homecoming, complete with marching band, drill team, and many children; a great diversion from another very hot day on the worksite! It was really great to see how much we've all learned. Everyone knows enough at this point to jump in without being asked. As one of our volunteers put it, it's like a dance. Everyone moves in and out with ease. 

We all stopped work at noon so that we could head to the Usulutan Habitat office for a lunch of traditional foods and a lovely ceremony with our two families. Our lunch was delicious and consisted of papusas, yuca nuggets, fried yuca, coleslaw, and a yummy fruit salad drink. Each family spoke, thanking Habitat and the masons, and all of us. It was emotional at times, because of the meaningful relationships we have formed in such a short time. Jeff and Janet Elwer spoke on behalf of the group of six, and Jeff was able to deliver his message in Spanish. Mario was very touched and still managed to wow us with his larger than life personality. Mary Lou Neugent also spoke and expressed our thoughts and feelings to Cristabel. We were each called forward to receive recognition for our work and presence.  

We have shared our last meal at the hotel in Usulutan and will head to the outdoor market in the morning. From there we head west to the coast for our final night in this wonderful country

Day 5 first day of spring

March 21, 2013

Happy first day of spring!  We heard it wasn't very spring-like in Iowa, but we more than made up for it here. It was about 90 degrees today, which wasn't extraordinarily hot, but it was more humid, and there wasn't much of a breeze until late in the day.  Mario's house is on a sunny lot; we started painting the interior walls today, which wasn't too physically stressful, but with the heat and humidity, it took a lot out of us. His house will be finished next week and ready for him and his family to move in! 

We are fed many different fruits on our breaks.  We had a chance to sample cashew fruit (did you know cashews are the seeds from a fruit?). While we've loved the mangos, pineapple and papaya, the cashew fruit did not go over very well! We have been fed a wide variety of foods, although Aaron Reichter thinks we get fed frijoles a little too often.

Cristabel's house is on a shady lot, but for a couple of hours in the afternoon, the house is completely in the sun as well.  Working inside a house built of cement block gets pretty hot, but that crew finished getting all the walls up today!

Quite a few of our team were in El Salvador a year ago, building a house for Gloria, her daughter and grandchildren. After cleaning up our work sites, both crews headed to the home of Gloria for a visit.  She was thrilled to have us there (all 18 of us, plus Jesus, our interpreter and our two van drivers) and had refreshments for us.  She and her grandchildren had a hug and a welcome for each of us, even those she had not met before. Her house, though very small (by our standards) was colorfully painted and neat as a pin. Even though we were all hot and tired, crankily wishing for our showers, and wondering why we had to make this extra stop, meeting and visiting with Gloria was a blessing that just made our day!

Day 4 Santiago de Maria

March 20, 2013

Today both groups worked a half-day at our respective homes, then took a trip up into the mountains to visit Santiago de Maria.  This is the community that was devastated by two earthquakes twelve years ago, destroying the homes of 400 families. Temporary housing was built following the earthquakes and those families are still living in this temporary housing today. We visited one of the four settlements, Moreno, where 68 families are living.  There are two community latrines that these families share; the average size of an El Salvadoran family is five people, so that means approximately 340 people sharing two bathrooms!

We visited the home of Rosario who is a 23 year-old mother of two.  She lived with her parents in the settlement since the earthquakes when she was 11, and when she married, she and her husband built a shack next to her parents. Words cannot describe the absolute poverty these people live in.  The homes are built of corrugated metal and they have dirt floors. There are holes in the metal roofs, so during the rainy season, the floors are mud.  To support their family, Rosario takes in laundry and ironing, and her husband works seasonally at a coffee plantation. Again, it is completely amazing to us how clean and neat their clothing is.

We brought activities to do with the kids this afternoon; face painting, coloring pages, tattoos and stickers, and balloons.  Some of the guys also played soccer and frisbee with some of the kids. We ended the afternoon with a piñata, and a treat for each of the kids.

The city of Santiago de Maria has finally set aside land to use to build homes for these families. The roads and electricity have been completed and Habitat El Salvador is preparing to begin building 400 homes at this site, They have the pledges needed to start 35 homes, as soon as the permits are completed. The cost of each home is $7000. Now they need teams to come and build!

The children greeted us with hugs and kisses, and the parents thanked us over and over for visiting them. These are hard-working people who just need a hand-up.

Day 3 Mario's Family

Compliments of Janet Elwer...

March 19, 2013

The second house the team is working on belongs to Mario's family. He and his wife have three little children, so his house is a three bedroom. The house is two weeks from completion. The work we've done is moving lots of fill for the floors, sifting the sand for the mortar, whitewashing the walls and getting to know the family and extended family. The kids enjoyed the stickers and tattoos. Kudos to Aaron for  climbing the scaffold and painting!  We've learned of new fruits and uses for them- cutuco: you split in half, scoop out the inner fruit and throw it away then you have two cups to drink from. "Chuck Norris" visited our site aka Aaron Reichter who wore a camouflage bandana and Mario called him Chuck Norris. The El Salvador laborers work very hard in the heat. We had to take many water breaks and short rests. The area is very dry and dusty but the people are very clean and the clothes are spotless.

Day 2. Cristabel's House

March 18, 2013

12 of us out of the group of 18 went to work on Cristabel's house today. And score! Her house is being built on a shady lot, so we had shade, there was a restaurant next door for lunch and we had a flush toilet!  That is a good day in El Salvador, especially when it's 92 degrees outside.  We mixed mezcla (mortar) for between the cement blocks that the homes are made of, and the chispa, used to cement the rebar in the blocks. We made four rounds (levels) on the house.  Leon Stidfole did the work of "two mules and four horses today." We observed a lot of activity going back and forth in front of our worksite, from chickens, a herd of cows, a lone pig, school children, many bicycle carts selling their wares, and vendors in vehicles with loudspeakers blaring about their wares. 

Cristabel's cousin, Felipe, was working on the house as part of her sweat equity.  We were all required to wear work boots or sturdy shoes on the work site, but Felipe was working barefoot. When asked where his shoes were, he replied that he had none.  Just a reminder to us once again, how hard-working, but poor these people are.

Stay tuned tomorrow for news on Mario's house!

Day 1 El Salvador

March 17, 2013

We've arrived!  Had to wait an hour at the airport for one of our group who was coming in on another flight, then an hour's ride to Usulutan from the airport. Jesus, our interpreter, met us at the airport. Is that not great, we will have Jesus with us all week!  

Once we arrived at the hotel, we got our rooms, then met the two families we will be working with this week: Cristabel is a single parent with three children; and Mario, his wife and their three children comprise the other family. They are so grateful to have us here! 

After a break to get settled into our rooms, we met for our orientation. Learned a little about the history, government, economy, and education of El Salvador.  It's the smallest country in Central America with the densest population; over 6 million people live here, and over 2 million El Salvdorans live abroad. 14% of the economy comes from "remases" (remittance), money sent to El Salvadoran families from relatives working outside of the country.  Average income here is about $250 a month. The houses that we will work on are very modest, 400 square foot cement block homes.  Looking forward to going to work in the morning.

The Team for El Salvador

Please keep team Amigos de Caritas in your prayers as they build with Global Village Habitat in El Salvador. Our parish team departs March 17 and returns March 24. Parishioners who are part of team Amigos de Caritas are Laurie Delvaux, Jeff and Janet Elwer, Leon and Becky Stidfole, Mary Reichter, Aaron Reichter, Nicole Roland, and Patsy Carlson. 

There are nine others on the team from the Des Moines area.  Those members are Brendalyn Shird, Robert Pitlock, Jerry Woods, Clark Colby, Mary Lou Neugent, Dotty Thurston, Abigail Goodman, Wayne Kurschinski and Alan Kurschinski. Thank you for keeping this group and the families they serve in your prayers!

Habitat Blog on El Salvador

Habitat has a blog that they use for the groups in El Salvador.  Take a look at what our good folks are in for when they get to El Salvador.  HHB

El Salvador is just around the corner

In less then two weeks the group will be headed to El Salvador.  Begin to pray for them in their mission but pray also for the people whom they will be working with.  Many of the people that the homes are being built for have been in temporary housing for way too long.

So let us pray.

O gracious and loving God, you work everywhere reconciling, loving, and healing your people and your creation. In your Son and through the power of your Holy Spirit, you invite each of us to join you in your work. We, young and old, lay and ordained, ask you to form us more and more in your image and likeness, through our prayer and worship of you and through the study of your scripture, that our eyes will be fully opened to your mission in the world. Then, God, into our communities, our nation, and the world, send us to serve with Christ, taking risks to give life and hope to all people and all of your creation. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Opening Blog Post

This blog will be the home for the upcoming service project through Habitat for Humanity in El Salvador.