The group went to bed on Thursday with instructions to be up, breakfast eaten, and ready to go by 8 a.m.--everyone was geared up by 7:15. This was the first stand-up-in-the-back-of-the-pick-up-truck ride for most and everyone was excited to get on the road. We heard lots of exclamations at the extraordinary views, and ughs and ohs as hips bounced off the bars surrounding the truck bed. The hour-plus ride seemed too short for all the fun folks were having!
The first thing on our schedule was a meeting with the Virginia Directiva (the "town council" of the cantón). They were gathered in the church as were a good many of the community folks. We were welcomed and introduced--and then we were thoroughly hugged and blessed by each and every person in the room. The men wrapped us in their arms and the women did not want to let go. The hospitality was overwhelming.
We took the opportunity, while the community was gathered, to present each family with the gift of two chairs for their homes. It would have been impractical to try to drive the towers of chairs the length of the village. And this process meant we could once again shake the hand of the family member who would carry the chairs away--or the neighbor who would carry the gift for someone unable to be with us this morning.
We will undoubtedly be offered seats on these very chairs when we begin our house to house visits tomorrow.
We then met with the Directiva to discuss the issues affecting their lives here and now. The greatest concern is the lack of rain. We had seen mountainsides of withered corn on our way to Virginia, so we understood the extent of the damage. Some had replanted their small fields once already, and this time without the precious fertilizer they had applied with their earlier planting. "The rains could still come in August" but this time again there would be no fertilizer. They were applying for assistance from agencies and organizations, but since the drought is so widespread, they are not hopeful that help with come.
Another, related issue is access to water. The water runs in Virginia only every two weeks--and sometimes not that often. Some families have no way to store water to last that long and water tanks would help many of them cope with this problem. We heard their concerns about education for their children and healthcare for the community. Issues were explained and our questions were answered and we will have the chance to have similar conversations with the people of the community when we meet each family face to face.
We were served a fabulous lunch--vegetable soup, chicken and tortillas--and then said our goodbyes until tomorrow. Back in the truck, we headed to another eagerly awaited destination--La Escuela de Sarah Lana in Caserio Mediagua. Of course Maria and Jim were the visiting celebrities! We were all so pleased to see the school in use by students through 7th grade (and here is Denise as a 7th grader).
Some members of the Directiva of Mediagua came to the school to greet us and thank us for visiting their community. We can attest to this one thing: hospitality abounds in this part of El Salvador!
The first thing on our schedule was a meeting with the Virginia Directiva (the "town council" of the cantón). They were gathered in the church as were a good many of the community folks. We were welcomed and introduced--and then we were thoroughly hugged and blessed by each and every person in the room. The men wrapped us in their arms and the women did not want to let go. The hospitality was overwhelming.
We then met with the Directiva to discuss the issues affecting their lives here and now. The greatest concern is the lack of rain. We had seen mountainsides of withered corn on our way to Virginia, so we understood the extent of the damage. Some had replanted their small fields once already, and this time without the precious fertilizer they had applied with their earlier planting. "The rains could still come in August" but this time again there would be no fertilizer. They were applying for assistance from agencies and organizations, but since the drought is so widespread, they are not hopeful that help with come.
Another, related issue is access to water. The water runs in Virginia only every two weeks--and sometimes not that often. Some families have no way to store water to last that long and water tanks would help many of them cope with this problem. We heard their concerns about education for their children and healthcare for the community. Issues were explained and our questions were answered and we will have the chance to have similar conversations with the people of the community when we meet each family face to face.
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