Hello all... anyone who still comes to this blog site to find out the latest news from El Salvador and Our Sister Parish...
Well...
I am back in Berlin... but have a NEW Blog site!
You can access it through the link of
oursisterparish.org

Easy to find easy to access!!!
It was begun January 5th and I´m trying to be faithful to writing at least 3 or 4 times a week! Depends if I have a delegation or not...

So I hope you check it out!! I bet some of you were wondering where I was... knowing that I was back in El Sal!

Thanks all!
k

So I lied… I said I would get to writing the week I got back home – but so much has been happening that I did not.

Things are pretty calm today – I just need to put together a slide show for a mission talk in Dexter on Friday and I’m almost done so I thought I would take a break from that to do some updating. Not updating exactly, but more looking back and filling in some holes.

I want to talk about the Central Pres delegation. I wrote a little – their arrival, the day in San Salvador, the mass in Las Delicias, the walk to the cross … but then I ran out of time (energy?) to finish out the week. Now the minute details are fading, but I can give some overall thoughts.

I really liked this group. I think I said before, that they were all new to El Salvador. Some had traveled to other developing countries, but I had the privilege of sharing what I know and love about this country. They had done lots of research. They had watched Romero – which gives a lot of background information about (obviously) Oscar Romero, the war and the climate of fear during the war. If you really look closely, so much of what you see in that movie is still true today. Not the violence per se – although there is still that element at times – only it is a little more subtle and often blamed on gang activity rather than political or social climate motivations.. But in the country – the homes you see in that movie are still, for the most part, the homes we have now. The struggle for work, the struggle to put a tortilla on the table for the children… the hardships of the total lack of basic survival resources such as clean water, medical resources, jobs … all still exist and in many cases, the problems are worse than before the war.

Didn’t mean to go off on that again. But it is an important piece of the education we all need in our effort to comprehend the realities of life in this very poor country (and truely – about 75% of the rest of this planet).

The Central delegates had done their homework. They were “prepared” – as much as anyone can be prior to a first time trip such as this.

And in spite of the large size (it is a real stretch to squeeze so many people into the Pastoral House reasonably comfortably) – they were a very cohesive group. Usually there is at least one person in a delegation that drives the others a bit wacky – or even one that you want to strangle by the time the week is up – but no so with this group. Everyone seemed to get along great. There did not seem to be any petty issues – nor large issues. Each one was respectful towards the other, and more importantly, respectful of the people and the culture in which they were immersed. . They listened well.

We took them to many of the usual visitations. We went to see some projects as a result of church partnerships… the water tanks/fútbol field/milpa/church/molinera in San Felipe Arriba, the beautiful new church and museum in El Recreo and the dedication mass for the retaining wall and water tank in Las Delicias. Those are a good variety of projects that really show the cooperative efforts and partnership between communities and churches. And they vary in size – some projects more humble than others. They also are a good way to explain the history of a partnership – initial conversations leading to project development then project completion. And then what happens next.

And as I said – they listened well. In each place we visited, people from the community came out (sometimes in droves) to talk with and help explain the partnerships from their perspective. I can talk till I’m blue in the face about my perspective, and from the eyes of a partner church, and the Pastoral Team fills in details from their viewpoints. But I love when we get to hear from the people in their humble and sincere words.

We also visited the 3 marginalized schools – marginalized in how they developed and the current minimal support by the government – these schools sprung up out of the needs that arose after the earthquake in 2001 – displaced people created communities out of literally cardboard homes on the outskirts of town – schools popped up because individuals wanted to educate the children – beginning under a tree, or in someone’s home … with unpaid teachers and no supplies – they have slowly built up to where the Ministry of Education now recognizes them as valid schools – MinEd now pays the teachers and they have constructed proper buildings on 2 of the 3 sites, and NGO’s help with school supplies and other things. These visits for me are always a treat. The children always greet us with “Los gringos están aca!” The gringos are here. And it is NOT an insult. There is true excitement and affection coming from all of them. Maybe coz they get to play with us for a while and get a break from their work! And they often benefit with new crayons or pencils or a playground ball or two.

We visited the coffee farm (the finca) where our coffee is grown. Granted, it is not harvest time till November, but we were able to meet the wife of the ‘over-seer’ of the farm and Blanca gave a brief rundown of the process from tree to roast.

We later visited the roaster in Berlín where I could explain that process. It is simple really – but involved and time consuming. Most people have no idea how a coffee bean comes from tree to our cup. And there were several people (if not all) who had never even seen a coffee tree before. I’m glad there were lots of cherries (un-ripe of course) on the trees. And we could open them up to see the two beans inside the cherry to help further explain.

In between our visits, we were able to stroll in the market, get some ice cream and spend time just talking.

And one of the side benefits to hosting a delegation from MY viewpoint is getting to know a wide variety of very fine people. And as I said before – this was a mighty fine group all around.

There were 2 mother daughter groups, one father daughter, one mother son, one father son, one brother sister and 3 ‘random’ individuals (a teacher, a doctor and a pastor).

And for some reason – I have noticed with any delegation I have been with – whether it be my own Heartland group (people who for the most part, I already know very well) or with a delegation of total strangers – people talk. Really talk. There is the usual fluff of course: weather, our families and other generic stuff. But something about being so far away from home perhaps, or being in a culture that is so different from our own – almost like another world… something about being together in a smallish home – sharing space, food, rain, sweat – we really talk. And NO topic is taboo it seems. No topic is too gross (although we sometimes try our best to out-gross each other in our sillier moments). These talking times are priceless. Maybe there is safety in being ‘strangers’ – so often, I never see our delegates again – sometimes we email for a while, but it is the rare few who become a part of our every day life. (I can name only 2 women whom I still see on a regular basis and consider good friends from a non-Heartland delegation). This time, I felt like I connected with a couple people. Time will tell.

My problem with staying connected is that it is so hard to find “time” to keep friendships going. When I’m back (and everyone else is back) – real life kicks in: work, family and all the other commitments that fill our time. That, and I meet SO many people in this work.

So that was Central in a nutshell. If I think of other things – or if any of my Central friends want to add comments to the blog or add to it – just make those comments and email me often!

I am so thankful that I was given the opportunity to meet and work with these people.

I find myself with more than 2 hours to burn in the airport – waiting to return to Iowa once again. So I’m compelled to take advantage of the down time and the quiet to write while enjoying a cup of coffee…

I just spent the night with the most amazing family. Last week, on the way to the airport to pick up the Heartland Church delegation, Alfredo, our driver and someone whom I am growing to love as a very kind friend, asked me where I was going to stay the night before my flight. He knew I had goofed and booked my ticket a day after the Heartland folks were to leave. I had thought they were leaving on the 14th, but their tickets got altered so my intentions were on target, but circumstances changed their flights after I had already booked my flight… so I was planning to either spend the night at Los Pinos, our favorite guest house, or with Damaris, Raúl’s niece. Since I hadn’t heard from Raúl – I had Los Pinos in mind. Alfredo and his wife and kids had other plans. He asked if I would like to spend the night at their house. That way I could meet the wife and kids.

I thought this was a most generous offer and I accepted. He was apologetic – saying it was small, but that they wanted to share time with me. And about 20 minutes into the ride to the airport – he turned to me very seriously and in his quiet but firm voice he told me: “Kati … escucha bien… “ (listen well). And he proceeded to tell me that I was not to worry about food or anything… that I was to be their guest. Basically, it would have been an insult to offer to pay for food. He was so sincere and so serious. I could not argue with him. I just said thank you.

I’ll write about the time with Heartland later – but my time with Alfredo’s family is fresh in my heart and I want to get it all down while it’s still warm.

After we dropped off the delegation on Sunday (was that just yesterday?), we drove back to San Salvador. And he dropped me off at his house. He went in with me to introduce me to his wife (Aracely) and his two daughters (Meybelline – 14, and Sandrita – 7). And we chit chatted a bit – then Alfredo had to go drop off the Microbus. So the ladies and I were alone. Aracely offered me coffee and I sat in the kitchen with all of them while she got the water boiling. It wasn’t awkward for too long. The girls wanted to talk and the topics were easy to find.

I need to say here, that those girls are the sweetest young ladies that I’ve ever met. They had quick smiles, giggles, and all the politeness, respect, patience … you name the good virtues, they seemed to have it. I am inclined to think they are as they are due to their parents. Alfredo is very soft spoken and kind (and all those) and now that I’ve met his wife – they are the perfect pair.

We sat around the table talking and laughing for over an hour until Alfredo returned. Then Alfredo and I and the kids went to the living room to chat and watch a movie – 101 Dalmations - in Spanish of course. I didn’t know Pongo and Perdi could speak Spanish, did you?

Aracely prepared lunch. Prior, they asked if chicken was ok… and they were describing the sauce and it sounded wonderful. I told them that honestly, there wasn’t a food that I don’t like… and I like to try new things, so don’t worry.

It took over an hour to prepare probably 2 – she had done some prep while we were all still in the kitchen. And by the time the movie was over, lunch was ready.

The girls ate in the living room, and the three of us in the kitchen. It is a very small kitchen. Maybe 10 x 10 with a table just big enough for the 4 of them, in the kitchen there was also a table with a butane stove on top of it, and a small table for stuff opposite the stove area. It did have a cement floor.

And lunch was delicious: chicken with a thin brown sauce, rice, tortillas and green salad – not with lettuce, but with a leafy green something the Alfredo really likes, and it had tomatoes and cucumbers. Not a cheap meal!

During and after lunch we talked a lot about more serious things. My time with the family in El Tablón Cerna prompted a conversation about immigration. It was interesting to hear both their views which pretty much coincided with mine.

We had spoken earlier about me visiting the girl’s school. They said it was only a 10 minute walk. I figured it would give us something to do – and I like to get to know the different areas of San Salvador. Alfredo explained that there is very little violence in his neighborhood because they are very close to where the rich people live. (Not the hugely rich, but more upper middle class). Therefore, it is well patrolled by police and very tranquil.

So about 3 p.m. we started walking. We all went. Alfredo was concerned about the dark clouds – so we all brought umbrellas. We made it to the school and we talked about that for a while… I of course, took more pictures… then we discussed dinner… they were planning pupusas. So Aracely and Alfredo discussed if we should walk to get them now while we were about half way to the Pupuseria. They worried I might be tired. But I like to walk so I said – ‘vamanos’… and off we went. We walked several more blocks… and the rains started. Not too badly. So we kept walking. This was not a really busy part of town for shops and Pupuserias… I think Aracely had a place in mind that she likes to get her pupusas. We ended up walking up one of those over the street walking bridges (a first for me here in El Sal) – still in the rain which is now pouring. We’re all a bit wet. And it turned out that the Pupuseria she wanted was closed. Hmmm. So after some A and A discussion, we headed back. We ended up getting them in a Pupuseria very close to the school.

It might have been tense --- because of the long walk and their concern for me … by this time, my shoes were saturated, my pants totally drenched up to my mid thigh and my arms were soaked too. My hair was dry though… all of us enjoyed the shower. I made jokes about needing some shampoo which made the girls giggle. (They never once complained and we must have walked at least a mile in the rain – and then back home again). Then I taught Sandrita the Singing in the Rain song. She was already dancing and prancing in the rain so it seemed fitting. Alfredo was giggling a bit at our silliness.

We brought our pupusas home, all of us changed into dry clothing and warmed up a bit. We were talking about movies some more (which really can be a help with language). And we ended up watching Alvin and the Chipmonks… and even THEY – those chipmonks - know how to speak Spanish! It was hysterical. I knew the tunes so I sang along a few times – making the girls giggle some more. We ate in front of the TV without utensils of course. You never eat a pupusas with a fork! It was 8:30 by the time the movie ended. And time to start the bedtime routine. They showed me my bed – there is only one bedroom in the house. With 3 beds. A bigger one for Alfredo and Aracely (and tonight… Sandrita also) and Meybelline’s bed which she gave up for me. So I got to experience sleeping all together as a family.

Which then got me wondering how parents find any privacy for intimate times. It’s none of my business of course, but lots of families – I would venture to say MOST families - share a common bedroom. Do you wait for the kids to go to sleep? What if they wake up? How quiet must one be? Etc. I’m just curious. And it’s not something I am likely to ask anyone anytime soon… Maybe someday I will know someone well enough to ask those kinds of questions. I bet I could have asked Aracely… I really like that woman. She is so kind. And she is also funny. She reminded me of my sisters. She could easily joke, and be serious, and laugh and just talk – and I bet we could have talked about anything in this very short time of knowing each other.

This family is incredibly open and inviting and hospitable. The girls also warmed up to me fast. But I bet they are just naturally like that. Nothing seemed forced or uncomfortable in that house.

When the lights were out and the girls and I were quiet, I could hear Alfredo and Aracely just talking quietly. There seemed to be much affection between them. And between them and the kids.

Theirs is a house full of love.

The next morning, mom and dad were up by 5:15. Alfredo needed to leave the house by 6:20. The girls needed to head to school about 7 or so. They asked me about bathing and I said I would wait till after them because they needed to prepare for their day faster than me. As it turned out, I could squeeze a shower in between mom and dad and the kids. The girls were still in bed by the time A and A were done. So I took advantage of the free bathroom.

The bathroom was outside the house, but very private as they go. The land that their house is on has six homes. Theirs is the first house from the door to the street. If you go straight up the cement stairs, there are 5 more small homes. If you turn right as you enter from the street, you run into their bathroom (the walls are lamina with a shower curtain door, a proper flushing toilet and a shower head from which a single large stream of not frigid water falls until about 9:30 a.m. – then there is no more running water for the day). The kitchen is a room outside the main house – with a separate door that can be locked. Their pila dishes and hand washing and laundry are outside the kitchen and main house. There is a separate door leading into the two rooms of their house: the living room and the bedroom. The fridge and kitchen cupboards are in the living room. They have a small TV and a boombox.

It really was quite comfortable. And I didn’t think it was overly small. It was tidy with fun things on the walls.

Alfredo left for work after I thanked him sincerely for everything. And the girls continued to get ready for school. Aracely said she would be back in a bit and we could have platanos y frijoles y coffee. I asked if I could walk with them to school.

It was fun to see the hubbub of the beginning of the school day. And then Aracely and I walked back, had some breakfast together and shortly thereafter my taxi arrived.

Alfredo had arranged with a friend to pick me up and he was right on time!

It was hard to leave. I really liked being with them. And they invited me back.

And I know I will.

Part of the itinerary for the Heartland delegation was to spend the night in our sister canton of El Tablón Cerna.

I have spent the night in El Tablón Arriba before – once under the trees when there were no solar panels (very cool) and once in the community center buildings. This trip – we spent our night in the homes of community members.

There were 3 of us who had some Spanish and 3 of us who had minimal. So we split into twosomes with one of each. Katie and Mickey were in one house, Eddie and Mily in another and Scott and I in a third. Scott and I sort of ‘insisted’ upon staying in the house of Juan – the president of the Directiva. He has a wife and 5 children in a one room building with plastic sheeting for doors and see through walls. The one large room is ‘divided’ by sheets and towels and blankets. Behind the blankets are beds where all the children sleep. In the ‘living room’ there are two hammocks hanging. This is where Juan and his son Victor sleep. Scott and I each had our own hammocks that were hung in this same room between the rafters and the other two hammocks.

We walked down to Juan’s house after dinner. We have what we call our re-grouping house. This house is where we had lunch, dinner and then breakfast. We also had our meetings there… it has a nice big area to create a large circle of chairs as well as a ‘decent’ bathroom and a place to park the truck. This is also the home where the Pastoral Team members strung their hammocks to sleep.

So – after supper Saturday night, in the rain, we all walked down and were deposited in our respective homes. Scott and I were the last. Juan was showing us the way.

When we got to Juan’s home, we needed to hang the hammocks. Scotty and Juan took care of that. I sort of milled a bit and talked to the kids. It was awkward for a bit… it was already very dark by 7:30 and we had no idea what the routine was for a family in a canton. Do they go to bed at 7:30?? Who knows. We didn’t’ want to be rude… we chit chatted with the children for a little bit… then Scott pulled out a glow stick. The kids really perked up at that. We ended up playing catch with it. There was a little oil lantern lit so we were not in total darkness – and the glow stick was a grand diversion. Even mom and dad played a bit. Then Scott decided to ask the family some questions… and I did my best to translate…

After a few minutes of relatively simple questions, Juan dropped a bomb. He said that in September, there will be the new Directiva – and he is planning to go to the States to work. I asked the stupid question… do you have a visa? Duh. Of course not. He has no job, no bank account… nothing more than kids (that the US Embassy does not recognize as something that makes people come back home). We had a lengthy conversation about this. I gave him my two cents worth after I checked with Scotty and his views. We have similar thoughts… I talked about the difficulties when one has no legal status… the dangers – poor working conditions, the discrimination, the danger of deportation or jail (if you are using falsified papers), the expenses, etc. I THINK they were listening. Juan and his wife … but I am not sure they heard.

One of the girls came out from behind the sheets (the kids had gotten bored with our conversation and had disappeared). But she came out with a watch and tapped at it to show Scott how late it was… about 8:30. So we said our goodnights and the little flame that was lighting our conversation was blown out.

We continued to enjoy the howling of the goose and all her babies jabbering… the dogs barked, the roosters crowed, the cows lowed and the horses whinnied all night. And eventually, Juan had peaceful sleeping noises. I’m sure I contributed to the noises with my snoring. It seemed like I didn’t sleep much, but Scott – the insomniac – assured me I slept quite a bit. Hmm. Maybe I’m noisier than I thought. Dang…

We woke up the next morning pretty early… before the sun rose. The day began with feeding the animals and worrying about a cow that had fallen and seemed to be in pain. One of the other cows seemed to be aiming when it had to pee. Then when it turned around so it’s rear was over the fallen cow and commenced to poop grandly on his fallen comrade, so we KNEW he was being nasty… dishes needed to be done and corn needed to be ground … it was a busy time… Scott and I tidied up, folded our blankets, took down the extra hammocks etc. I stepped behind the curtain to change my shirt… thankfully Scott had some baby wipes and that was the extent of my bath… I was going to wet down my hair with pila water, but the pila was full of pollywogs and all manner of critters so I chose to make do.

I was offered coffee. And when it was done, I got FRESH milk. Literally, 5 minutes from cow to coffee cup. So all the noises of the night before were forgiven!! (Although, I honestly like the noises of the country).

It’s Thursday night late and it’s been a full week of events with Heartland. The full day in San Salvador for history… a sort of impromptu visit to a community about 45 minutes away for a meeting with a man who will help us build our school in El Tablón Cerna … the day in Cinquera, the day with the marginalized schools, an impromptu meeting with the mayor this afternoon… trips for ice cream… a few meetings with the Pastoral Team… and tomorrow we head out to our sister community to spend all day, then spending the night with families and then the next day again with the community.

Then Sunday a.m. we leave to head back to Iowa…
Wow.

I am going to wait till I get home to write more about this week. I’m really tired now and there just won’t be time to write until I get home. Not with what we have left on our itinerary.

So I’m going to beg forgiveness and make a promise to continue the writing after the 15th when I get home and hopefully get some sleep… and maybe take a hot shower first. But then I’ll get to writing…

So patience my friends… and I wanted to tell you this so you won’t worry about me… or get upset that I’m slacking off!

; o)
Hasta pronto!