This year’s team from Faith Chapel San Diego came ready to work, and work they did! On this, their third trip to El Salvador, most of the team worked many long, hard hours paving a dirt street using heavy rocks and cement. Another part of the group provided dental assistance at various area churches. About half of the team had been to El Salvador before. The other half was comprised of new visitors.
The week of February 9 a group from the Orange County Chapter of Engineers Without Borders USA came to visit El Salvador with 2 geologists and 4 engineers. They spent a week near the community of Las Delicias in San Martin helping Project Milagro. Michelle Guarde, the team leader, came to El Salvador in 2008 with a team from Terra Nova Church in Tustin California and felt motivated to get Engineers Without Boarders involved.
A prayerful life is one that seeks God’s presence daily, one that takes Jesus’ words seriously that we should “ask,” “seek,” “knock.” It’s rather amazing that God gives us this possibility—to be in His presence just by seeking Him, revealing to us His will and then not only hearing our requests but honoring them, as well.
In El Salvador, especially among people from rural areas, there is a common response to the question “Que tal?” or “How are you?” People often say, “Por aqui, siempre en la lucha.” Translated literally, they are saying, “Here I am, always in the struggle.” And from my experience, as a hopeful observer and missionary volunteer, a difficult struggle it can be indeed.
SILPA HERNANDEZ TURCIOS, LEADER, IGLESIA EL BUEN SAMARITANO, LAS DELICIAS
PASTOR SANTOS ESTANISLAO CARPIO, IGLESIA TABERNACULO BIBLICO, SAN JOSE EL ESPINO
Many of our friends and partners are frequently interested in current events in El Salvador. One such person who has an eye on the events in El Salvador is a Wisconsin resident named Tim, of Tim's El Salvador blog. On January 8 Tim posted his annual top-ten list of the previous year's news stories in El Salvador. So, for a quick run-down of the news in El Salvador in 2008, check out Tim's blog by clicking here.
Pastor Miguel Angel Duran, Iglesia El Buen Samaritano, Las Delicias
Founder and Executive Director of ENLACE, Ron Bueno,recently had the privilege of interviewing one of ENLACE’s long-term supporters and friend, Bill Manwarren. Bill Manwarren is a lay, mission’s leader of his church in Santa Ana, CA. He created a partnership group comprised of church and community friends who have funded multiple initiatives throughout El Salvador for the last 12 years. It was a great opportunity to reflect together on the impact of the partnership group on ENLACE, their lives and the church. Below is a sampling of some of the questionsRon asked him and his answers.
After spending a year volunteering with ENLACE in El Salvador, Ali Hunt felt called to return to the U.S. and pursue a vocation in medicine. Recently Ali shared with us the process God took her through from trusting Him as she volunteered in El Salvador to following His call to study medicine. It is a beautiful story of how God can work in the life of a person who is available to His call. Read more of Ali's story.
