Introduction
This is a collection of articles written by participants of the 2008 Delegation to El Salvador. It was originally intended to be compiled in newsletter form, but the newsletter was not published. However, the articles are presented here for online readers.
Kent Madsen
Comments (0) Added by Kent April 26, 2009 (11:17PM)
Thoughts from the Youth on the 2008 Delegation
"For the second time, El Salvador has left the same great impression on me. For the last 50 years, the small, once beautiful country has been war torn and has had its people broken. But yet it still amazes me that they continue to persist through the most difficult times, and still love one another as we do. It is this that gives me hope and will keep me returning, one year after the next."
- Colin, age 15
"The El Salvador trip was so much fun! Going with my friends from here and meeting news ones while I was there made it very meaningful for me. I loved trying out my Spanish and getting to know the local people. Some of the best times were playing basketball and soccer with them. The New Years Eve firecrackers were pretty fun too. The most important part of the trip was being able to help people who have suffered way more than ourselves. When I realized what they have gone through, I felt that God had sent us to try and give them a better life now and in the future.
The people of Guillermo Ungo worked very hard to make us comfortable and were very welcoming. I'm really glad we did all those fundraisers because the people in our Sister Parish need our help. Thanks to everyone who helped the youth go on the trip, and for always supporting our friends in El Salvador. I hope I can go again some time soon."
- Kyle L, age 14
On my third trip to El Salvador I'm still amazed by how beautiful the people are. I had a great time seeing my dear friends Karla, Maritza, and Amanda. They make the trip in itself worth it. I loved seeing my prayer child Heydi. As soon as she saw me she recognized me and ran up and gave me a huge hug. I wanted to take her home with me. The community has made such huge improvements from my first trip. It is weird to see people with cell phones now too. This trip was so exciting and filled with amazing moments. One of my favorite parts of the trip was going to the beach of course. It was very beautiful there. I love going down to El Salvador and seeing the people and listening to there incredible stories of the hardships they have gone through in their life. I hope someday I will be able to return there.
- Stephanie, age 18
I had a really good experience in El Salvador. I liked meeting the new people and seeing how they lived their life. I thought it was amazing because they mostly do chores all day and the kids prepare and make dinner for their family. I also liked painting the school because it gave me the chance to get to know everybody. I really liked the hike that one day because it was fun exploring in a foreign country. But a couple of things I didn’t like was, 1) the poverty all around me. That kind of made me realize how lucky we are, 2) After a few days I got tired of the food because it was the same the whole week. My favorite experience we had was that one day trip to San Salvador. It was really fun because we got $1 movies and we got to see Romero’s tomb and where he was killed. I also liked playing basketball and soccer with the kids. I really hope to go next year because I enjoyed myself on this trip.
– Kyle T, age 14
Being in El Salvador was one of the most meaningful experiences in my life. The trip was very fun but at the same time it was also a very powerful experience. While I was there I saw how little they had and it made me realize how much I take for granted in my everyday life. I felt almost guilty to come home to my house and everything that I have after seeing what life was like there. Even with all the poverty in El Salvador, I never met a single person living there that wasn’t always happy and smiling. I admire that so much and I try to live my life a happier person every day since. I also admire how brave the people living there are. They are still going through some tough times with the government there. One day the girls told us about how they had to protest the government taking over their water supplies. I don’t know if I would have been able to do what they did. The people of El Salvador however have so much pride in their country and their way of living that they were able to do it.
– Joe, age 14
Comments (0) Added by Kent April 26, 2009 (11:14PM)
Scholarship Presentation
By Renee Rice, St. Stephen's Lutheran Church, Santa Cruz, CA
New clothes, shoes, pencils, pens, notebooks and other school supplies are all things that students and parents look forward to purchasing each August, because it means school is back in session. But for the students in Guillermo Ungo there are no new supplies and the only new cloths they get are their school uniforms when their old ones no longer fit and the shoes they are required to wear to school. When I decided to go to El Salvador I knew that we would be participating in a scholarship presentation where we would be handing out school uniforms and all new supplies to about eighty students.
Now, no one can totally prepare you for your experience in El Salvador. For me, the hardest thing to adjust to was “Salvadoran time” which is about thirty to forty-five minutes after the scheduled start time; as a very prompt person this was a very strange concept. We set up the open air cafeteria about thirty minutes prior to the start of the scholarship ceremony and about an hour and a half later we started with a wonderful speech from Don Fito. Each scholarship recipient, dressed in their Sunday best, was called up; they received their uniform, school supplies, and special gifts from the Madrinas and Padrinos, godparents, which is what they call us sponsors. The kids came up, received their goodies and were escorted by our St. Stephens youth over to either the St. Stephens or Good Shepard table, where we took their picture and updated their personal information.
What can fifty dollars get you here in America? Really, most of us spend twice that grocery shopping. Did you know that for fifty dollars you can pay the entire scholarship and the cost of a uniform for your prayer child? I was totally unaware that it costs so little for these kids to go to school all year. I have since decided that since I have the ability to, it would be my honor to pay this for my prayer child. It would be great, if able, each of us could do this. It would allow us to give more money to the community clinic and perhaps even one day we will be able to sponsor every child who attends the school. As it is scholarships are only given to one child per family and on average almost all families have four kids, so the families must come up with the money for their other children to attend school.
Well, I have already passed my length limit and as a teacher I know how important it is to stay within the given constraints for an assignment!! Salvadorans are the kindest, most beautiful people in the world and going to El Salvador was one of the greatest experiences of my life; I can’t wait to visit again soon!!!!
Comments (0) Added by Kent April 26, 2009 (10:57PM)
