Remembrances of El Salvador

Since coming home from El Salvador, I have been trying to think what the most memorable experience I had there was.  As I reflect back, I can’t pick just one memorable experience ….there were so many.  

There was the first morning where Dave Morris taught Barb Donker and I how to measure and cut laminate steel for the house.  I was so hot, and it was exhausting trying to get low enough to measure and then cut without putting my knees on the hard rocky ground, or looking like the uncoordinated, old woman I felt like.  Then I felt the exhilaration of screwing the cut laminate to the trusses, and the accomplishment of actually being a part of the house building!

happy home owner

Then there was the huge, joyful smile on the face of the 65 year old man who along with his wife was finally getting his own home.  As we walked down the hill single file as a team to begin building his house, he gave each one of us a big hug!  Although we didn’t speak each other’s language, he easily made known his excitement and thankfulness to God and to the team.  On the day he was given the keys to his home he couldn’t stop saying (through the interpreter) how thankful he was to everyone, the village community leaders, the Canadians, his family, God, the community, the Canadians…again and again.  The joy on his face couldn’t help but radiate to everyone who saw it. 

There was the mother of the couple Barb and I interviewed, and to whom we gave the keys to their new house.  This mom had 14 children, 33 grandchildren with the 34^th on the way, a number of Great Grandkids, and was the same age as me.  Even though many of her children and grandchildren still lived with her, she said each one was a blessing and she wouldn’t have it any other way.  I found we had a lot in common. 

There were the 3 elderly ladies that I had to convince to let me give them a pedicure.  The first brave lady was very embarrassed when I sat down on the cement and put her dirty, cracked and

2 of the 3 ladies I gave pedicures to

sore feet into the basin of cool water.  She was even more nervous as I started to wash and massage those worn feet which had seen many hard years of work and service to her family. All I could see was the life she must have lived…as I tenderly washed, massaged lotion, and finally painted her nails I prayed that God would continue to bless her in ways I couldn’t even understand…. that she would understand what a privilege it was for me to be able to give her some tender, loving, care.   I laughed when she then teased end encouraged her friends to have a pedicure also.  Like little girls, these women who looked to be in their late 70’s or early 80’s, laughed and giggled and pushed each other to finally submit to my clumsy attempts.  I was careful not to twist their legs, worrying about arthritis and the oldest one told me about the cramps in her calves at night that kept her awake and caused pain down her legs during the day.  Sonia was near me and I asked her to read from her Spanish bible the passage about Jesus washing the feet of his disciples.  My lady listened intently to the story over the noise of laughing children and when Sonia was finished, my heart rejoiced when she asked for the Bible reference. 

There was the morning we were late for the work site because we took our driver Donald home.  His little 2 year old daughter was very sick and had been at the hospital the day before and would probably have to go back.  We stopped at the house and asked if we could pray for his daughter.  Donald’s wife took us upstairs to their room where the little girl was sleeping and wept as Valerie and the team laid hands on her and prayed for her health and healing.

There was the evening we were going out to provide hot meals to the street people but the rain, thunder and lightning changed our plans.  Instead we stayed inside the church hall and sang praise and worship songs in English and Spanish with our Salvadorian friends. We were all blessed sharing our love for our Lord together. 

Aunt Alejandra, Alejandra, myself at the Compassion project

There was the day we went to Santa Anna; to visit the compassion project and I got to meet my sponsor child Alejandra.  Although she was very shy at first, Alejandra (with prodding from her aunt and the translator Mario) began to talk and smile and show me a little of her spirited personality.  We visited Alejandra`s home and I was sickened and saddened at the conditions she had to live in.  Six people; her grandmother, aunt, 11 year old twin uncles, Alejandra and her mom shared the small dark, damp, dismal, cement walled basement room…which was separated into 4 rooms by furniture and hanging blankets. She couldn`t stop talking about her pets…2 cats and a dog, and loved the small Disney princess Ariel, I had brought for her.  I felt for her grandmother who did the best she could for her family and proudly showed me the pictures of her children on her wall.  When I asked if I could pray for the family the grandmother asked if I would pray for the absent men in the family. I determined in my heart that I would not go home and forget this family.  They will be in my prayers, heart, and letters, I hope, for the rest of my life. 

The people I met in El Salvador have taken a piece of my heart and hopefully I will never be the same again!