We are in Solidarity and Present with the people in El Salvador

Our South Bay Sanctuary Covenant (SBSC) 2010 Delegation Presente in Cabanas.

We are humbled and grateful for the opportunity this week to show our solidarity with the people of El Salvador.

As we go back home

With wishes of safe travels from El Salvador, we reflected together on an inspiring week of hope and community organizing to continue the important work of social, economic and environmental justice and peace.

We shared the following song as we started our packing to go back to the US after a fruitful and insightful week together in solidarity:

We will go,
From this home,
To the world
Hand in Hand.

More Reflections about being in Solidarity

As we are enjoying a moment of relaxation and fun at the beach in the wonderful waves, enjoying the pool, the views, the conversations or relaxing in the hammock. 

We also join in as a group to reflect on our week and what we personnally are taking with us as we now have been in solidarity with the people in El Salvador, in their struggles and seeing the progress and being inspired by their continued work through community and activism to bring justice across their communities.

Sat March 27, leaving COO, a wonderful time at the beach

Saturday morning was bittersweet for me-- saying goodbye to my host-family and heading to the beach. I was sad to leave my family because I, like everyone else in our group, really started to feel close to my new mother, brothers, sisters, cousins, and neighbors.   I managed to wake up fairly early to watch my brother milk the cows and help my sisters make tortillas. My tortillas were holey, lopsided, and tough compared to theirs but we had so much fun making them together.

After leaving La Canoa we headed to the beach. The weather and water were perfect for us to unwind at the beach. Geoff, Nicole, and Jesse led one of our final reflections together and I was able to engage in some very meaningful conversation with Rebbecca, Emily, and Katie. I have resolved, after our discussion and, in reflection on the whole trip, to keep a strong connection to my host family, the people of El Salvador, and their struggles. I am so lucky to have received all of the information, welcome, and kindness that Salvadoreans offered us. I feel a significant and empowering obligation to repay their love in every small way I can: not just to offer the same hospitality and awareness to others and to advocate for El Salvador, but to fight for peace everywhere.

We headed off to the airport to say drop off some members of our delegation and then returned to San Salvador to shop! Collette arranged an artisan fair: a number of her friends, all talented artisans, brought their art to show us. I bought gifts for my family, now that I've had the chance to give them away, I can tell you that my family loved them.

All in all, a perfect end to our trip!

--Naomi

Reflections - a poem about hope, solidarity and the tree

As I gazed at the monument of monstrosity,
my heart began to melt.

The rays of hopelessness and horror began to beat down
and as I began to frown
you, mother willow gave me shade.

You stood there, stoic and poised
Your roots ran deep and your gnarled branches
testified to you strength.

You beat back the heat
with your maternal covering
as you began to cool me with
the wind of your soothing words.
"yes its muy triste,
but this is not the end.

At the wall, is where the story begins"
I looked up and took off my shades
as the blinding intensity was replaced with
your rings.

Both a testament to your wisdom
and the Vitality that
Tomorrow brings.

She Continued.

" Mis amigos, familia, hermanos, and padre all
have a place on this wall, mejo...
But the strength of the human spirit
will never fall."

"Your people in America have gone through the same,
Yet they live through you as you carry the name."
"Like romero you must continue the fight
and speak truth to power.

Shine in the midst of the night
Be the bird that sings
in the wee early hours."
"But Madre, what about his tower?"

" Esperanza! HOPE!
Your generation must be the boat, that takes us from the continent
of cruelty to community.

"In solidarity"
"Si, to be in solidarity this is what you must do
Remember that change begins with you
go back to your community and tell all that you see
Organize, mobilize
plant more seeds. "

I came to help you,
but you helped me...
only now am I ready
to be planted.
to be rooted.
to grow.

To become a tree of solidarity.

By Michael.

*Poem was inspired by a conversation had at the moment to Justice with an activist who had her brothers killed.

Friday March 26th with the COO community

A very full day! After meeting with the Women's Committee to learn about economic, health and social projects it runs, we traveled to the office of the United Communities of the Lower Lempa (ACUDESBAL). Communidad Octavio Ortiz, where we are staying, is one of 29 farming communities on the east bank of the Lempa River that banded together after the disastrous Hurricane Mitch in 1998 to lobby the government to complete flood control levees. A quarter of the missing levees are now done, and work continues. In the meantime a huge number of other projects have begun, from agricultural efforts aimed at improving diets and nutritional sovereignty, to mental health outreach to address the legacy of the war and recent issues such as the chronic renal disease plaguing hundreds of people in the region. As a returning delegate, this visit is especially inspiring because each time I see that the capacity of the United Communities to design, fund and implement projects that improve the lives of local people has grown. It's also apparent that sustaining these benefits when projects are done or funding runs out is a challenge. Nonetheless, the organization is mature enough that it has drawn several local residents that have finished college back to work there -- an inspiring achievement indeed. Helping to build and strengthen this capacity has been one of the primary activities of Voices on the Border (http://www.votb.org/), our partner NGO.


After visiting a piece of primary forest (one of the few remaining in El Salvador) near the Lempa River that ACUDESBAL is attempting to have assigned protected status, we returned to COO for a coed soccer match. We finished with a community-wide 'celebration of the word' (a form of Mass with lay leaders), many kind words and thanks for our visit, and a dance with live cumbia music performed by one of several COO bands. It was a very good day.

Chris

Thursday March 25 - Arriving in Octavio Ortiz (La Canoa)

Today we made the two hour drive to Communidad Ocatavio Ortiz.  On arrival we were greeted by the elementary school students and preschoolers each holding their own banners of welcome.  We each introduced ourselves and sang a song with the community.

We went to go see look around in the preschool and elementary school classrooms and found out that the students didn't have class that day since they had participated in a march in the morning to raise awareness of Dengue fever.  Then we were sent off in groups of 1 or 2 to go have lunch and get settled in with our host families.  All of the host families were very welcoming and cooked excellently.  After we had time to eat and introduce ourselves to our host families we had time to talk with them and we began sharing stories about our lives. 

I was in a group together with Julio and our host mother was named Guana.  She had three amazing kids named Janette, Franklin, and Jonathan.  Later that afternoon we got to meet with the Youth Committee.  This was very interesting because we got to hear more about what it was like to be a youth living in this community and we got to hear some of the projects that the youth had organized and were involved in including a new sports center for the youth within their own community.  After this we met with the Directiva who told us about the leadership and organization of the community.  Here we got to hear about the Sugar Cane Mill Project which we went to go visit during the meeting in order to see the progress that had been made on the project. Later on we had dinner together with our delegation and our host families.  After dinner it was time for reflections which gave many of the community members a chance to tell their stories or any words of wisdom to the entire delegation as a whole.  After this we went home with the host families and we went to bed after more time talking with the families.  Being with the host families was AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


-Mark

Wed March 24, 30th commemoration of Romero´s Assessination

“ Despair is the only cure for illusion. Without despair we cannot transfer our allegiance to reality – it is a kind of mourning period for our fantasies. Some people do not survive this despair, but no major change within a person (or a society) can occur without it.” Philip Slater


6:45 am - We are on the bus headed for the mass to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Monsignor Romero’s assassination. We arrive on time & the small chapel is already spilling over with hundreds of people from all parts of the country - all parts of the world. We stand and pay tribute to this great man with beautiful song and prayer in front of the very same alter where he was assassinated.

I survey the crowd. There are no tears – there is no sadness, but rather a great sense of pride – for the man, and from the man that truly did arise in his people. They celebrate his life – they celebrate his word, and today more than ever they – and we – alongside them, carry on his word.

10:00 am – the procession to the Cathedral begins and we watch them traverse the path with music and joy. It is a moving moment of inspiration with energy that pulls you in like a magnet. It feels good to be here. It feels good to take part in his legacy.

11:00 am – Parque Cuscatlan (close to where the 2 mile procession ends) we visit the monument to Truth and Memory. Here 30,000 names of civilians are listed that were either killed or missing during the Civil War. They are listed by year – while for some years half the floor to ceiling panels may be covered. 1980, 1981 and 1982 take up almost 4 panels for each year. There are not words for this – the silence speaks for itself.

Julio Reyes, artist of the mural adjacent to the panels meets us to explain the symbolism and inspiration of his mural. His mural is designed to tell the story of the people of El Salvador beginning with the indigenous people to present time – he fills in the gaps with the richness of that which only an artist that loves his people and country can present, and we are captivated by the textures and colors of a country that reverberates a history of its people that lift you to a higher plane.

1:00 pm – We delight in a traditional Salvadoranean lunch (Almuerzo) and conversation highlights of our morning experiences amongst our group.

3:00 pm – we meet with one of our Delegate Leaders who shares her experiences in working with gangs in El Salvador. We discover that this is a huge problem for the country –as a result of families disintegrating after the war, common denominator – they have not been able to live their childhood.

4:30 – 8:30 – we rest, we dine, we chat, we mingle.

9:00 pm - We begin our daily group reflection…..it is the best of times….it is the worst of times. God Bless El Salvador.

9:30 – It’s party night! Our very special Delegate Leaders have arranged a special event for us before we head out to visit our Partner Community tomorrow. A café is suddenly converted to a dance club venue. We receive a special treat of an all women drum group - live performance! We let go of our frustrations, we let go of our sadness, and we all let loose! We dance and we laugh with our comrades and every single one of us gets out on the dance floor and not only shakes a leg but does some serious hip movements. The moment is festive, the moment is unforgettable. Smiles and laughter have a way of doing that – don’t they?

Rebecca.

Different sides of El Salvador

Today was incredibly moving in many of the people that we met with.  First we met with a Stanford professor who was an expert of the murder of the six Jesuit priests at the university.  Hearing her experience working through the war and with the priests was informative and powerful.  We were able to walk through the the garden where the priests where killed and tour the Romero center at the campus.  Next we were able to visit with environmental lawyers for El Salvador.  They gave us an in depth perspective on the environmental situation and how the courts are dealing with protecting certain areas.  We discussed how environment needs to be of a higher priority in this country but the grave injustices have taken first priority in the courts.  Therefore this issue has been pushed to the back of the agenda and most likely will have many consequences in the future.  However the new Funes administration has been able to bring more attention to this, and are against the Pacific Rim mining company that poses environmental threats to El Salvador.  The next person we met with was the leader of a guerilla sector in the civil war.  He shared his experience and how the war has shaped El Salvador today.  The emotions and gratitude he expressed during his talk were very heartfelt and moving.  Lastly we met the Palo Alto Friends of El Salvador.  We were able to see how they have helped college students in El Salvador afford education and achieve their goals.  There were three young women college students who shared with us their ambitions and how the Palo Alto Friends of El Salvador have helped them reach these goals.  Ultimately we learned a lot today and were able to get different perspectives on the present issues.    Katie

Keep faith and hope alive!

During our 3 days so far in El Salvador, we´ve seen things that could easily cause one to get discouraged about the progress toward justice and a better life for the poor majority in the country, such as the chronic poverty, unemployment, severe underemployment, impunity regarding the murders in Cabanas, etc.  But we must keep faith and hope alive in the face of this-- after all our Salvadoran brothers and sisters do so!

There ARE signs of faith and hope:  the spirit of the youth, as witnessed in the youth theater presentation and radio station in Cabanas, the new president Mauricio Funes (who made an unplanned appearance at the Romero commemoration on Saturday), the undying spirit of persevering that we witness daily with their great appreciation of our solidarity.  Adelante!

Mark

Monday

Todays activities were different then our past days in San Salvador. We did not spend time mingling with the people or experiencing the culture. We spent the day as tourists taking pictures of a church in the main square with stain glass windows that painted the tile floors with reds and yellows. We bought souvenirs outside the cathedral where Monsenor Oscar Romero was buried. We roamed the national university in a large white mob and we ended the day reflecting on how we could relate to the struggles of the Salvadorian people. The truth is that we can never really relate to the suffering that happens here on a daily basis and will never know the pain of living in a society were justice is rarely served to those who are unjust. However, even though we cannot relate there are things we've done to help us better understand the circumstances in El Salvador. After our morning of tourism we met with Mirna Pearla, the first woman justice in the Supreme Court, and were able to ask questions about Romero, the Salvadorian justice system, and the issues with Pacific Rim mining in Cabanas. It was through this meeting and a documentary that we saw at the Presidential Theater about the journey of Romero that I feel we learn the most and can someway connect with the struggles of El Salvador though it is very clear we will never fully understand them as people who live and grew up in the U.S.

Emily

March 21 Cabañas and Ecumenical Worship at the Plaza

Today we traveled in buses by caravan with others from America and Canada to the (what we would call a state) of Cabañas.

Below are some of the sites and sounds that touched my heart:

People selling ALL kinds of things in sidewalk areas

The beautiful mountains and valleys of the area through which we drove

The excitement when our banner was hung on the side of the bus

The messages, during our ecumenical worship at the Plaza, from pastors of different places -Stanford, Berkeley, Cuba, Los Gatos, Guatamala, El Salavdor. Geoff Browning compared the California Gold Rush with the current stuggle: how the land and the native peoples were displaced and that issues continue to this day.

Watching Elsbeth TeBrake play a finger game with a 10-month old little girl

As we were riding home, I noticed a fence made from tree limbs. Some of the limbs were sprouting new leaves. I found myself reflecting on how people are sometimes the fence, holding the space. Some of the people will sprout ideas and be removed (like Romero) by others who do not want new growth, but the roots are in the ground and moving. They (like the people of San Isidro, Cabañas) will (and do) sprout new growth, making the fence (line that has been drawn) stronger. What a joy it has been to be in their company today!

Diana Aldrich

3/20: National Solidarity March

When we first arrived at Salvador del Mundo for the national solidarity march honoring murdered Jesuit priest Oscar Romero the sun was blistering.  The crowd was surprisingly small, until we encountered pockets of people hidden away in the small triangles of shade created by the stage, speakers, and banners, seeking a respite from the hot, still afternoon air.  The emcees at the event constantly called out to the crowds, trying to rile them up, calling for "Aplauso, aplauso, mas fuerte!" but the crowd resisted, lethargic and seemingly uninspired.  As the afternoon progressed, more and more groups arrived, filling in the empty spaces.  Every so often an emcee would take the mike to welcome another new solidarity group who had come from some far corner of the world to share in the celebration and commemoration of Oscar Romero.  There were groups from many departamentos (regions) of El Salvador, as well as Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, the US, Canada, South America, Cuba, and even Italy and Germany.  In fact, the overwhelming number of foreigners was concerning, if not off-putting.  In a solidarity movement such as this one, what does it mean to see (perhaps?) more foreigners than nationals celebrating?  My impression is that the most likely constraint for nationals was money and time--there were likely many Salvadoran citizens who would have desired to participate in this powerful event, but did not have the luxury to travel long distances by bus, or pay bus and hotel fees.  The foreigners, however, had no problems forking out for long airplane flights and extended hotel stays.  While I found this imbalance to be largely concerning, I tried not to be consumed by it while I focused on the event itself.

Throughout the afternoon we listened to a series of musical groups, performing well known and revered songs praising the life and work of Monsenor Oscar Romero.  Just as the sun began to set, the entire group--hundreds of people--proceeded down Alameda Roosevelt, chanting and cheering in solidarity of the struggle for liberty and freedom from poverty and oppression.  The procession passed by landmarks both grand and ordinary--Optica la joya, an eyeglass store, and Parques Bolivar, celebrating the great revolutionary Simon Bolivar, and Parque Cuscutlan, home to a memorial naming over 25,000 victims of the Salvadoran Civil War.  The march ended at the national cathedral, where the entire crowd was led in a mass and vigil.  All along the way, calls of "El pueblo, unido, jamas sera vencido! The people, united, can never be divided." and "Romero vive! La lucha sigue! Romero lives.  The fight continues." populated the dusk, as people from all countries joined together in the call and response.  These calls, and the energy they invigorated, were initiated almost entirely by young people.   It was amazing to see the excitement the youth brought to this process--it reminded me of organizing for Obama during the primaries and leading up to his election.  If they feel anything like the hope that we all felt in that electoral climate, that bodes very well for the future of democracy and poverty alleviation in El Salvador.

Perhaps the most powerful moment in the march occurred before the march had even begun.  Recently elected President Mauricio Funes appeared--unannounced--to speak to the crowds about the legacy of Romero and the importance of continuing his work.  Coming from a country who's administration had been involved in the murder of Romero and many other Jesuit priests during the civil war less than 20 years ago, this was a powerful statement about the new direction for the country under this new leadership.  This marks the first time the Salvadoran head of state has formally recognized or spoken at an event commemorating the death of Oscar Romero.  Funes spoke of bringing young people together around the movement for justice, and specifically of a project he initiated to create a national soundtrack for the movement, incorporating traditional musical styles but also hip-hop, heavy metal, and other "music of youth".  He also unveiled a new mural to be painted at the airport, welcoming everyone--both foreigners and returning Salvadorans, some driven out by the war itself--to a country that publicly honors Romero's struggle for the poor and is committed to continuing that struggle.  Funes' message was loud and engaging, and the crowd perked up to hear him speak.  Despite the heat, the excitement in the air was palpable. 

While many listeners probably understood very little (there were just as many foreigners, if not more, than Salvadoran nationals), Funes' messages did not fall on deaf ears.  It stands to be seen how much he will actually change, but this march, and his words, definitely give reason to be hopeful.

And while we're participating, we are making sure we're filling up on water to stay hydrated.

Nicole

Saturday March 20th 2010 all arrived safely in San Salvador

After various flights to El Salvador over the past few days, all 24 of us now have made it safely to San Salvador.

We have been welcomed by our fabulous leaders, Rosie, Carmen, Colette and Maria, found our rooms, and have walked through our amazing schedule for the week.

We will participate in Mass, in ceremonies, learn from community leaders, and meet and talk to the people. What a special and wonderful opportunity to share this in solidarity with eachother, to learn and walk together, in peace.
Several members of our delegation will be sharing their thoughts and experiences over the next several days, stay tuned.

Thanks for your positive thoughts along the way.
Elsbeth.

Some are ready to go, others have arrived safely in El Salvador already

We got news from our leaders already in San Salvador, that there was rain in San Salvador today, you never know it might rain again, so maybe we should bring a rain jacket.

We'll be in El Salvador in a couple of days now, with forecasted temperatures of 91 degrees Fahrenheit. It will be warm as we arrive, tropical indeed; so as we are packing our bags, we are slowly transitioning into the fact that indeed we'll be on our way soon.

In preparation for our trip, news from El Salvador

We are hearing exciting and affirming news from El Salvador about the strong positive influence Romero still has on his people and followers, many will remember Romero's assessination 30 years ago on March 24th. Here is some news from El Salvador in anticipation of the 24th and continued affirmation of the positive work in El Salvador inspired by Romero:
Last night El Salvador President Mauricio Funes invited us all to a concert in honor of Monseñor Romero. The concert consisted of 13 groups singing 15 of the 16 songs that make up a CD dedicated as an homage to Romero as well as videos of Romero and recordings of parts of his homilies.

Funes spoke before the concert started and called Romero the spiritual guide for El Salvador and for his governent and that he would not want more hate, more confrontations or more violence, that he believed in a civilization of love which is justice and truth.

Funes also said that on March 24, on the 30th anniversary of Mons. Romero´s assassination, he will ask, as head of the Salvadoran state, for forgiveness, and that the powerful sectors that carried out this crime have never achieved their goal of silencing Monseñor Romero, that his figure has "giant-ized" becoming known beyond the borders of El Salvador and that his assassins wanted to kill hope by killing Mons. Romero.

Then Funes talked about how certain sectors were criticizing his government saying that he had no direction. He said that every policy they make and every action they take are based on a very clear plan. Then he said "May the Salvadoran people judge me if I detour from the words of my spiritual guide."

How inspiring to hear this as we are preparing for our trip.....
Thirty years later and Romero can still draw thousands and thousands of people, speak out to them, invite them into a candlelight procession, bring them from over borders and seas. He was a very humble person from a small mountain town and became the most universal Salvadoran. His love was inconditional, his cause was social justice and human dignity and he can still shake up the powers that be!

El Salvador today and brief history

El Salvador Today:

El Salvador (Spanish: República de El Salvador, literally meaning "Republic of the Savior"; original name in Nahuatl was Cōzcatlān) is the smallest and also the most densely populated country in Central America. It borders the Pacific Ocean between Guatemala and Honduras. It lies on the Gulf of Fonseca, as do Honduras and Nicaragua further south.


It has a population of approximately 7.2 million people as of 2009[5]. The capital city of San Salvador is, by some distance, the largest city of the republic. In 2001 El Salvador dropped its own currency, the colón, and adopted the U.S. dollar instead.

And a brief history as it shows on wikipedia:

Civil War (1980 to 1992)


The Salvadoran Civil War was predominantly fought between the government of El Salvador and a coalition of four leftist groups and one communist group known as the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN). This coalition got organized in 1980 after Fidel Castro of Cuba requested that there be a common front. Castro had a lot of influence in the region and provided weapons through Nicaraguan territory (then in the hands of President Ortega).

Subversive activity started with "El Grupo" (a group that later would be called E.R.P.) and also the FPL that initiated activities after Cayetano Carpio (its leader) broke in ideology from now extinct El Salvador's Communist Party (PCES). In 1970, the FPL guerrilla force was small and didn't have military training. Later the FPL was one of the largest organizations inside of the FMLN coalition.

In the beginning of the conflict, the PCES didn't believe in taking power by force, but through elections. The ERP split off, creating the RN (National Resistance) after ERP leaders killed the leftist poet Roque Dalton, whom they believed had spied for the American CIA. Approximately 75,000 people were killed in the war.[8] The Salvadoran Civil war was fought in the context of the global Cold War, with Cuba and the USSR backing the Marxist-Leninist rebels and the United States backing the right wing military Salvadoran government.

On January 16, 1992 the government of El Salvador represented by president Alfredo Cristiani and the guerrilla represented by the commanders of the five guerrilla groups such as Shafick Handal, Joaquin Villalobos, Salvador Sanchez Ceren, Francisco Jovel and Eduardo Sancho signed the Peace Agreements ending a 12 year civil war in the Chapultepec Castle in Mexico. The international community was present and there was wide admiration because after the signature of the president he stood up and shook hands to all the now ex-guerrilla commanders. The Peace Agreements included reduction of the Army, the dissolution of the National Police, Treasury Police and National Guard. The dissolution of the Civilian Defense, a paramilitary group. The organization of a new Civil Police and the end of impunity with which the government would leave recommendation to a Commission of the Truth.

End of the 20th century

From 1989 until 2004, Salvadorans favored Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA) party, voting ARENA presidents in every election (Alfredo Cristiani, Armando Calderón Sol, Francisco Flores Pérez, Antonio Saca).

Economic reforms since the early 1990s have brought major benefits in terms of improved social conditions, diversification of its export sector, and access to international financial markets at investment grade level, while crime remains a major problem for the investment climate.

21st century

The unsuccessful attempts of the left-wing party to win presidential elections led to its selection of a journalist rather than a former guerrilla leader as a candidate. On March 15, 2009, Mauricio Funes, a television figure, became the first president from the FMLN party. He was inaugurated on June 1, 2009. One focus of the Funes government has been revealing the alleged corruption from the past government.

Part of our South Bay Sanctuary Covenant and Voices on our Borders 2010 Delegation to El Salvador

Part of our South Bay Sanctuary Covenant and Voices on our Borders 2010 Delegation to El Salvador in preparation for our trip in March 2010.

We are looking forward to it.

El Salvador - Sugar Mill Preservation Project

One of the areas of support and learnings we are focused on is community, local business and economic development and self sufficiency. The Sugar Mill Preservation Project is a good example of this.
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El Salvador


Sugar Mill Preservation Project

Won’t you be a part of it?

South Bay Sanctuary Covenant/Voices on the Border March 2010 delegation to El Savador request your support of the people of Comunidad Octavio Ortiz (COO.) We are raising money to help COO rebuild and reactivate their sugar cane mill.

Through our delegation we hope to help liberate the people of COO from the chains of oppression and poverty by giving them a way to become more self-sufficient. Reestablishing a working sugar mill will allow the people of COO offer a valuable product--sugar--at a reasonable price to people in the region. A win-win situation!



So what does a sugar mill look like in COO? It’s really quite a simple operation. It begins with a trapiche which is a large iron machine which is powered by oxen. No engine or motor--very environmentally friendly! Stalks of sugar cane (grown locally )are fed into the trapiche which squeezes the syrup out. The syrup then runs through a small trough and into a container. When the container is full the syrup is poured into a large steel vat heated by fire. Once ‘cooked’ properly the syrup is poured into molds. When the syrup hardens into sugar, it is removed from the mold, wrapped in cornhusks, and ready for market. Interestingly this production method is rare in El Salvador and people travel from different departments (states) to see the process and buy blocks of sugar.

Will you please help us preserve this wonderful community project?


Our goal is to raise $2,980 for the following vital components:


• 1 pair of oxen ($1,200)

• 1 set of ox head gear ($80)

• 1 composting latrine ($500)

• Fencing around perimeter ($700)

In addition we hope to raise another $500 for supplies for the elementary school and computer monitor and printer

Prayers and/or Positive Thoughts and Visualization for El Salvador Delegation

We encourage each of us on our delegation to take time daily, starting now, to pray and/or have positive thoughts and visualization relating to our preparation for, time in El Salvador, and action when we return.


Many find it helpful to make prayers and thoughts positive – not asking for protection from potential dangers, but rather affirming and giving thanks/visualizing being protected and that our experience will be a blessing for all. Here are suggestions of what you may wish to pray for/have positive visualizations about. Please include whatever appeals to you and use wording with which you are comfortable.

1. Thanks (God) that we on our delegation to El Salvador March 2010 will be a blessing to each other, to those whom we meet, and to people in the US with whom we will share our experiences.


2. Thanks (God) for Archbishop Oscar Romero, the way he followed Christ, cared for the poor and oppressed, spoke out against evil and the systems of evil, that he is living in his people now, and that we are celebrating Romero alive in his people on the 30th anniversary of his martyrdom, March 24, 2010. (Delegation will be in commemoration events of Romero on Saturday, 3/20 and Wednesday, 3/24).

3. Thanks (God) that people of Cabañas (where activists were murdered in their peaceful struggle against metallic mining) are being helped to resist injustice, are being protected from killings, threats, and fears, and being given courage and faith. Thanks that the SBSC/VOTB delegation will join other solidarity groups on Sunday, 3/21 and listen to the testimonies of community activists, talk with national leaders in the mining struggle and participate in an ecumenical service with the historic justice churches in El Salvador.

4. Thanks (God) that the Spanish National Court is bringing a lawsuit against some Salvadoran military leaders for the massacre of the six Spanish Jesuits, which is a crime against humanity, and that this will help improve justice and human rights. (Delegates will be at the UCA, the Jesuit University, see where the Jesuits were assassinated, and hear how and why this happened, and hear about the pending case.)

5. Thanks (God) for wonderful hospitality by people in our partner community, Comunidad Octavio Ortiz, with whom we will spend two nights. Thanks (God) that we are raising money which will enable them to get their sugar cane mill operating and that it will help them be more self-sufficient in an environmentally friendly way. (Delegates will spend two nights with families in COO.)

6. Thanks (God) that we are being guided on how to be instruments for liberation from injustices and to be channels for justice and love on our delegation and when we return.

We encourage you to share these hopes/prayers with family, friends, church and other faith groups who may be interested in what we are doing and invite them to join you in supporting these hopes.