FINAL THOUGHTS - MATT & MARIA

MATT-

My time in El Salvador was humbling, grounding, rewarding, challenging, and eye-opening.  When Maria and I decided to serve in El Salvador I knew our faith would be tested, our personal relationship with Christ would mature, and our relationship would grow as we leaned on one another for encouragement ... while I was unsure how each of the aforementioned things would occur, I experienced God's love through interactions with people I never expected, and witnessed the depths of sin and the reality of corruption, violence, and brokeness El Salvadorians live with each day.

I am so thankful to be able to serve others.  Being removed from our normal routines and comforts of home helps stretch and grow us.  The work was hard, it was hot and dirty, we were all drenched with sweat, I didn't smell good most of the time, but we were able to work on a home's foundation that will serve as a Christian-based launch pad into adulthood for young adults that came from family situations we can't even imagine --- and this is the reason I will gladly serve again and again, to provide others the opportunity that Christ gave me --- a fresh start.

I will never forget delivering food provisions to the local community ... families lived in homes built of a hodgepodge of materials, and in conditions most Americans couldn't imagine.  Meeting Mr. Castro was incredible - from anyones perspective he was "dealt a bad hand" ... his family abandoned him, he was recovering from prostate cancer, has other medical conditions, lived in poor conditions, and his sons were affiliated with gangs ... yet he prayed for our team and thanked God repeatedly for all that had been blessed with.  The team's time with Mr. Castro humbled us all, and for me personally, was an incredible witness of leaning on God in all circumstances.

We experienced so many highs and lows during our trip; I will never forget the people we met, the work we did, and the impact that everyone had on the group and me personally.  The socioeconomic issues facing the people, and the resulting impacts to the family dynamic is real ... I pray organizations like those we worked with continue to make a real difference that will over time shift the culture of El Salvador.

MARIA-

How do you begin putting into words, things that were experienced with your mind, hands, body, heart and soul? This has been my dilemma in the days since we've returned from El Salvador. When people ask about our trip, I don't know how to respond, there was every mix of emotion in the short span of 7 days, how do I convey that in a few sentences of small talk?

First I'll say El Salvador is a beautiful country. If you can look past the garbage and sin that people have added to the land you can see some of God’s most beautiful creations. The lush rolling hills and mountains, the volcano with its cloud mist, and the vibrant fruit trees and flowers. From many areas you can feel the salty air rolling in from the pacific.

But about that sin: the people factor.

The women in store shacks on the side of the road trying to sell you the same coconuts and coke as the shack 3 feet away, the pollution, the traffic of old cars packed with far too many people, the non spoken but overwhelming sense to be overly aware of your surroundings, and the small boys that met our tourist bus outside the hotel each day, urged by their parents across the street, saying "a dollar for food please?" and trying to sell us small single roses.

Our time there opened my eyes to so many things. I now know why so many other countries dislike Americans and "think" we're all rich. We are.

We as Americans are consumers, complainers and work-aholics. We give money power but it's disposable to us, there to buy extra things, a couch, a car, and another pair of shoes. We say prayers of thanks for our food, that we never doubted would be there, most of us are not surprised to have 3 meals a day, or snacks, in fact in many ways our lives revolve around food. We say prayers for safe travels in our air-conditioned cars with seat belts and air bags, along paved roads with signs and speed limits, lined with rest stops for our convenience on our way to destinations such as the beach or the mountains for a weekend. And we complain about the driver in front of us, or the traffic or the fact that none of the radio stations are actually playing music.

And it disgusts me. It makes me angry that we have every resource and yet every excuse. We're overweight and come up with quick-fixes, we're in debt but buy more, we have every resource possible to know God in a country where we can believe or say or do anything that we want and yet we have excuses. We have hundreds of incredible churches, Christian radio stations, and outreach programs. We have homeless ministries, we have welfare for those who are unable or simply won't work, we have prison systems where murderers can earn their Bachelors degree while serving their time, we have animal's rights groups, we have a group to advocate for everything you can think of and it makes me sick, and yet so thankful. Thankful to be a part of this ridiculous world where you can be anything, say anything or do anything. Where money is just an object, a means for more of something. I have never felt more thankful to be an American and yet a little ashamed at the same time. Not for our freedom, or how it was earned, I’m extremely proud of those things, but ashamed rather in how we often use that freedom.

But this trip makes me ask more questions, why? And how can we all be children of God's? How can we all live on the same planet? This week I witnessed the aftermath of a homicide; A woman who likely died over $20-$50 at the hands of a gang member. I experienced poverty beyond anything I could ever fathom. Multiple families living in what we wouldn't even call a shack, 4 bamboo shoots wrapped in plastic tarp covered with tin scrap for a roof. Water sources that collected trash, and runoff from cows and a chicken factory, medical facilities that resembled WW1 conditions. Many of these people will never experience electricity, or running water, or indoor plumbing. They won't make in a month what I just spent on 4 frozen yogurts.

And yet, a man prayed over each of us in the middle of the jungle, praising God for the bag of beans and rice we brought. Praising Him for everything he'd been blessed with, asking Him to bless us and our families until Christ's return.

I learned about true faith over these few days. A deeper faith than I've ever experienced. People who put their entire being into God to provide literally for their survival through the day.

I also learned about sin, how powerful it is. I always knew that Jesus died for the whole world and for our personal sin but I experienced sin in a new way. I saw and experienced sin in a world where it wasn't shocking, it wasn't uncommon, it was ordinary and something about that resonated with how powerful sin truly is.

I continue to wonder and think about last week. In preparing for this trip I spoke with friends and I prayed and our team met in air conditioned rooms and sat in circles and learned about one another, however the reality is, nothing could have prepared us for this experience. God has done so much through only a few days in me and I know I am continuing to grow and that He is continuing to mold and change me from this trip. I could not have grown this way without so many people’s influences. Thank you for all of your prayers, for your donations, your open hearts and your encouragements. Thank you to NorthPoint and Global X for making these trips possible, and for organizing them so precisely that the task of getting there is actually the easiest. Thank you to my team. People I’d have otherwise never met, you all made such a difference in me. It is funny how quickly you bond with people when you’re digging through sewage in the rain ;) Thank you to my husband, Matt. I am so thankful that God never let the timing work out when I looked into mission trips before, He knew I’d need you. Thank you for your support always, and especially through all we experienced together through these few days. And of course, thank you God. Thank you for your infinite wisdom, your perfect timing, your incredible grace, your will and your ability to group such completely different people together to impact each other’s lives.

Some of my favorite memories & moments:

·      Watching the faces of all the people at Wendy’s when 16 gringos walked in and Laura had to order for all of us… what would we have done without you!?

·      Church service at the Union Church, the beautiful background, how people of completely different backgrounds came together to worship in one language.

·      Being taught how to make rainbow bracelets by one of the girls (Erika) and then me trying to teach another girl in spanish and Laura making jokes at my expense in Spanish. It made us all laugh.

·      Playing volleyball (not well) and finally having one point that lasted more than hitting the ball twice and high fiving Rosa.

·      Hearing the kids pray even in Spanish where I only understood a little, was powerful.

·      The bus ride to “The Farm,” what we got to see as “normal” life and how we all laughed and joked because it didn’t feel real. It felt like we were on a roller coaster ride!

·      The first day digging trenches in the rain. It was pouring and muddy and honestly, disorganized but our whole team was so eager to start and we worked HARD! Laughing with Laura and Roxanne as we worked on the back of the foundation. I think our crew got funnier and funnier as the day went on. 

·      Roxanne and her axe. I will never see another axe and not have this trip go through my head.

·      Making fun of the Captain… he frustrated our whole team but we were able to joke about it and keep working which spoke to how we lifted each other up and just made one another laugh. (a little more here, oh wait back fill, oh measure with the stick, nevermind here’s the tape measure. Oh yeah a few more inches here…!)

·      Gelato… I’m actually shocked we only got it 2x. AMAZING.

·      When anyone was taking a picture and Tucker was aware of it, he struck a manly pose, like putting his shovel behind his back or something…he wasn’t trying to be funny- he’s a teenage boy, but I always chuckled a little.

·      Drinking coke from the old glass bottles

·      Taco night with Gary and Sharon. The tacos were so good and fresh! Plus the faces of the brave/crazy team members who decided to eat a jalapeno raw…oops!

·      The field day with the kids, making masking tape bows, and dream catchers. But especially when we went to play the water toss games and we had fruit & veggie shaped balls to toss and the two smallest boys Ricardo & Manuel would hold one up and I’d say what it was in Spanish (mostly correct) and they would laugh and laugh and hold it up again. Essentially they were teaching a grown baby to speak Spanish.

·      When Manuel wanted soda he’d come up and say ella, and I’d ask him what my name was and he’d say “no,se” so I said “aw, no coke,” and we’d do this back and forth and he finally said, “ok, tu nombre es Maria.” And then I made him say por favor before getting his drink- the teacher in me of course.

·      Seeing the transition house and how this organization really plans for the success of the child for life.

·      Papusa night! The views, the city, the company and the food- though my team would debate this. Papusas are essentially corn tortillas and 90% grease, but so good!

·      My conversation with Carlos more about El Salvador and the organization and hearing about life there from a very clear view and learning his experience as an el Salvadorian adopted into a family.

·      Laughing hysterically when Roxanne got her “to-go baggie for her drink!”

·      Delivering food to the areas around the farm, was by far the most powerful experience. Luciano praying for us as a whole and each of us individually. I was the last person down and was sobbing after hearing each prayer for each person and walked straight to Matt for a hug while crying.

·      Using the truck to transport all the granite dust from the bottom of the hill to the top and feeling very productive! Even Manuel our bus driver was helping us! That was awesome.

·      When we were pulling and pushing the wheel barrows of dirt that we’d already dug a million times before (3^rd world country construction) and people were frustrated and exhausted….and the captain finally showed up and shot down our plan, so we decided he could help push the wheelbarrow (a small victory)… and after doing it 2x he decided we didn’t need to do anymore. We all got a little giggle of satisfaction.

·      Loading up the trucks on the last day of construction and taking photos infront of the beautiful scenery with ilapango in the background! We all had such excitement and energy.

·      Being able to get back to the room and discuss my thoughts and perspectives with my husband especially during the intense times and frustrating times. He provided such a great outlook and reminded me we’re there on God’s mission not our own.

·      Dinner at La Hacienda with just our team. We laughed and shared and really connected over the week…Bryan’s attempts at Spanish also really livened the conversation. Hehe!

·      Laura (with me and matt) Playing a prank on Wayne the last night, then waking up at breakfast and hearing he thought it was Bryan and therefore called Laura to have her prank him…not realizing it was really Laura who prank called Wayne to begin with. 

FINAL THOUGHTS - LAURA

It's so hard for me to compile into a paragraph or two what this experience has meant to me. However, it must be recognized that what has been an "experience" for me, is the every day life for the people of El Salvador. They continue to live their lives while I'm back safe and comfortable in my 950sq foot apartment...something modest by American standards, yet beyond a dream for those that we visited on our trip.  It sounds ridiculous to say, for only being gone for ONE week, I find myself having to acclimate to life back here in the states. From the moment I wake up in the morning, I'm constantly reminded of all the contrasts that exist and find myself feeling guilty for having all that I do and how easy my life is.  No matter any problem that may come up in my life...it's really just a nuisance compared to what I've witnessed others having to survive with or survive from. After all, I have a bed to sleep in at night, fresh water to wash with and drink, food at my finger tips.....two dogs and a cat that live more comfortably than 80% of human beings in El Salvador...it's humbling and hard to swallow.  

 

If I could have, I would have brought every single person I came in contact with back here with me to my apartment.  Unlike La Casa, however, I am completely unprepared to do this and naive as to what that really entails.  I am grateful to have had the opportunity to collaborate with and learn about a Foundation that does what I dream to do one day in some capacity.  They not only have removed these children from a horrifying environment, but they cover all grounds so that they will be rehabilitated and never find themselves in those circumstances again. They are sheltered, clothed, fed, educated, protected, supported, loved and guided. What a dream to be able to provide this to countless people! Although this Foundation is the only one out of the 64 orphanages in El Salvador that function this way, I'm so proud to say that I was a part of it.  With our team and resources, we were able to add one more piece to the puzzle and become a part of something so positive and life-changing for all people involved.  

El Salvador itself, is a beautiful, majestic country.  The colors they use, the plants and flowers so vibrant and plentiful! Unfortunately, it is over taken by poverty and gang violence.  Interwoven in the panorama of what you see, are 15 foot cement walls reinforced with coiled, sometimes electrified, barbed-wire at the top lining every street.  It's a reminder of where we are, what the country has and continues to go through.  Although I didn't fully realize it at the time, people walk around with a constant fear of something that could happen at any moment.  Although this was explained to me by the locals, it became more real to me as soon as my feet hit the ground in the Atlanta airport.  I exhaled a deep breath and felt free again.  I wasn't free just because I no longer had to play translator and interpreter for 13 needy people in our group (hehe, jk!...kinda), moreover, I knew I could walk around freely without any immediate danger.  I inherently knew that if something did, for whatever reason, happen,  there would be more than a 5% chance that a perpetrator would be captured and punished...that the executive branch and judicial system was on my side...I was protected. I was proud to be American and lucky to have been....by no choice of my own...born on US soil.  

 

Our team was just that...a team...the absolute BEST team at that!  I deeply miss co-existing with this group of people.  They were my teammates for months in preparation for the trip, but absolutely my FAMILY for the week we were there.  We teased each other, sweated together, cried together, ate together, shared stories together, laughed together, prayed together and most importantly, served a greater purpose than our own together.  We lead our own lives, however, will always be connected and bonded through this experience!  I love you all!!!

As the phone calls, texts and meet ups commence now that I'm back, I struggle with how to answer, "so how was your trip?!"  For lack of the ability to summarize it, I usually end up saying, "it was unlike anything else I've ever experienced."  There are so many life lessons to pass along from this experience, but I feel very few people would truly understand unless they actually experience it themselves.  Therefore, I usually follow up with, "if you ever get the opportunity to go, I totally recommend it."  

 

We, as a society, take so much for granted.  If I could impart one life lesson that you consider and apply to your every day lives, it would be to be careful what you complain about and let yourself worry about.  You have no idea how good you really have it, how many opportunities are at your finger tips and how much you could actually be giving back to people that are less fortunate than yourself.  Step back and analyze: are you unappreciative, ungrateful, too lazy, selfish or blind to see all that you have?  Are you misusing the resources that you are blessed with?  There are people out there with much, much less than you could ever even imagine. 

I'm not sure where this journey will take me or what God has in store for me in the future, but I do know that this experience touched my heart and pulled on my soul-strings.  I hope that I'm lead down a path that will enable me to make a difference in other peoples lives, spread hope and happiness, as this Foundation has to so many children and community members.  

I want to especially thank those that supported me and sponsored me in order for this experience to happen.  You not only started the ball in motion for me to be a changing factor both in my own community and in the world, but you provided so much more to these people in El Salvador.  In addition to just getting me there, you helped to provide these children and community members with countless meals, crafts, necessary daily supplies, a new home and a brighter future.  This trip along with all it's moving parts shared love, selflessness and hope to all those that we served.  From the most profound parts of my heart...Thank You!!!!

My favorite, funniest moments & forever memories:

-Luciano

-Bryan negotiating 2 "camiones" for $10 on the street... "camion" means truck...he meant to say "camisa" (shirt)

-Maria, Matt & I prank calling Wayne in Spanish...and then him calling me and telling me to prank call Bryan in Spanish because he thought it was him! 

-Bryan telling us about his "first time" in El Salvador...he realized that maybe Elizabeth DOES know a little more Spanish than him? ;)

-Wayne calling me over to translate what this old lady was saying to him on the street...and me having to politely,awkwardly explain to him that she was telling him, "he's chubby and needs to walk more so his face wouldn't turn so red while we were walking" haha!

-Bryan putting his hands in the air on the bus as we were going up/down the bumpy road out to the farm as if it were a rollarcoaster

-Heather liking Roxanne's axe.  Yes, Maddie, her axe :)

-A family or two always saving a space for me at breakfast! <3

-Wayne starting "Hi ho, hi ho" on the bus in the morning and everyone continuing "it's off to work we go!" And the bus driving laughing at us

-Me and 5 yr old Ricardo calling each other different names every time we saw each other and laughing hysterically at it

-Teaching "give me five, on the side, up high, down low, too slow" to some of the kids and them not knowing what i was and getting a complete kick out of it!!!

-The whole Casa singing their 4 verse Happy Birthday songs in Spanish to Cole and Tucker...with acoustic guitar accompaniment

-Us freely talking about our digestive/stomach issues and our hopes that when we would be shoveling we wouldn't exert too much effort and...

-...PUPUSAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

FINAL THOUGHTS - HEATHER & MADDIE

A weeklong trip that will last a lifetime in our hearts and minds!

Madison and I are still amazed at the things we saw and experienced in El Salvador last week.  There were so many emotions that we felt at different points during the week. The plane ride was made extra special by a sweet flight attendant that took a liking to Madison and the fact that our team was doing this mission trip.  As we rode the bus to our Hotel we saw beautiful views of nature and women selling papayas on the side of the road (there was a stand about every 20 feet in some places). As we continued the drive, we both realized that this country needed more help than  we could give in just one short week, but we were thrilled to be there to help!

Meeting the children of La Casa on Sunday Afternoon was definitely one highlight of the week for Madison and I.  She painted fingernails and made rubber band bracelets with the kids and I sat and chatted with several of the older girls after a failed attempt at playing volleyball and Frisbee golf.  We sat around the tables and joked and laughed and checked soccer scores, of course!  The week was also full of digging, hauling dirt and "organic" matter, moving sand, grilling Pollo and Carne Asada for the Father's Day Celebration on Tuesday, making duck tape bows and most importantly making connections with some awesome kids!  

We were so very blessed by those in the community we delivered food to on Thursday and those people made a large impact on our week and in our lives. Luciano's faith and thankfulness cannot even be put into words.  I will never forget what a blessing and example he was to us all.  The friendships and bonds made on this trip will be for a lifetime!  This Team was awesome and I consider each and every member part of my family after last week! This recap is just a small summary of one of the greatest most memorable events in my life!

Heather ( and Maddie )

Time To Say Goodbye

Our last day in El Salvador...

The consensus seems to be that it feels like we've been here a month, however, now that we're leaving TOMORROW, it feels as if we just got here. Our only goal today: to make the best of these last hours in El Salvador!!

We were set to have somewhat of a free day today to further explore this majestic country, learn more about it and take it all in for one last time. We loaded up the bus and headed a little over an hour to an indigo farm. A variety of plants have provided indigo throughout history, but in El Salvador, it comes from the Guatemalensis plant.

Most natural indigo is obtained from tropical countries along the equator, like El Salvador. El Salvador has the perfect climate to grow Guatemalensis and is currently the biggest producer of indigo in the world.

We even got to experiment with the plant and make our own piece of art to bring back home.

We learned the long, tedious process of making indigo ink, and then got to become artists ourselves and make our own indigo masterpieces. If you're lucky...this might be your souvenir!!! ;)

We rang out the access indigo, removed the rubber bands and marbles from our attempted designs and revealed for the first time what our shirts ended up looking like...skeleton ribs, uniboobs, bullseye's and amebas... Not exactly what we had in mind, but a good time nonetheless!!

Finally, we headed towards La Casa to visit with the kids one last time. On the way there, we stopped off at an artesan market to pick up a trinket or two to take with us to remind us of our time here in El Salvador.

When we arrived at the house, we debriefed a bit with th fingers of La Casa and then split up to conquer! Some of us stayed to play ping pong, while others went down the street to a nearby park to play basketball. If basketball was anything like the ping pong tournament we had at the house...it was pretty intense!!

After sharing great conversation over one last meal together, it was time to say goodbye. One of the girls that is studying to be a teacher wanted to say a few words to us and thank us for a wonderful week, the time we spent together, for helping build their house...their future...and for all the ways we've enriched their lives while being here.

We also wanted to share our thoughts and feelings with them, as this had been an unbelievable, eye-opening experience for us. We expressed to them how much we enjoyed getting to know each of them as individuals, sharing our love with them. That for whatever reason we were chosen to be part of this team and upon arriving here were looking forward to blessing them with any and all resources we had, but in reality, we were the ones that received the blessing. As we leave tomorrow, we will be carrying each and every one of them with us in our hearts, wishing for them a continued road to a great future.

What we've experienced here this last week and have had the opportunity to do is still all floating in pieces throughout our brains and hearts. Most of what we've done and seen here has been like no other experience we've had before in our lives. But what's next? What's the next step? What does this all mean for us? Only time will tell.

As we leave this beautiful, yet poverty stricken country, let this not be goodbye forever, but only goodbye for now.