First Meetings

Our translator, Gustavo, introducing a family

We had the amazing privilege of meeting the 12 families that we will be building alongside this week, providing them a home and a new beginning.   In a community on the outskirts of San Vicente, it’s not a long drive for our team - but always fun on the back of the truck!  Although you may picture city living for these families, really it is in the foothills of the mountain and on rugged terrain.

The main source of income for this community is farming, where farmers walk over an hour to tend a rented plot of land.  Most of the farmers have a 50 x 50 metre piece of land on the mountainside that they farm entirely by hand, growing beans and corn.  With no irrigation options, they depend on the weather to provide the needed water for growth.   With the growing season from May to November, it is very difficult for the families to provide for themselves right now in the off-season.

 A single Dad, raising his two sons
with the help of his sister.

Others work on construction, there is a mechanic in the group and one of the single mom’s makes papusas for a living (a traditional El Salvadorian meal), which she said that she would be happy to make us papusas anytime!  Many of the families included extended family members, often having 3 generations in the home and most of the families have young children.

What they all showed in common today was the incredible gratitude for the help that they were receiving.  We were so warmly welcomed and included as part of the community!  Top off the day with an amazing church service, worshipping together with our El Salvadorian brothers and sisters in Christ.  It is truly a blessing to be part of a ministry where people of different languages and cultures can come together and have a unity and a bond that can come only through Jesus Christ!