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Worldwide Trips
> Volunteer Journal > El Salvador Community pilot trip - Jody's Journal
El Salvador Community pilot trip - Jody's Journal
Jody Simeck - Elementary School Teacher, Lincoln, Nebraska
Saturday, July 12
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| View from the rooftop of Hotel Sahara |
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| Another view from the rooftop of Hotel Sahara |
What a day!!! It started with a 2:15 a.m. alarm and an I-80 drive to Omaha, NE; and ended with prayers among nine new friends on a roof top in Santa Ana, El Salvador.
Four of us left from Omaha, (Anita, Chuck, Jen and I) met Dave and Rachel in Houston, and found Becky, Rebecca, Marianne and Jack in the San Salvador airport. The only mishap of our trip was Rebecca’s lost baggage. It was a wonderful group of experienced Thrivent/Habitat individuals who brought with them a wealth to share.
After a reunion with Patty Cordero and Carlos we left the airport and made the traditional stop at the Pollo Campero chicken restaurant for lunch. We marveled at our driver’s skill backing our bus into a parking space with two inches to spare on the non-door side. He did have the direction of the armed guard.
From San Salvador we drove up the mountains to Santa Ana. We arrived at the Sahara (our hotel) in the middle of a wedding celebration. We peeked in as the bride and groom sang a wedding song together. Everyone seemed happy to have us and the bride gave us a little wave as we peered over the balcony.
We then had our orientation on El Salvador led by Carlos. Ana Maria Montoya, Pastor Carlos Nargara, and Pastor Wilma Nargara joined us. We learned about the country of El Salvador and our jobs for this week. After supper we met on the roof top for closing devotions and prayers of thanksgiving and for guidance. What a gift from God to be here!
Sunday, July 13
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| Christo Rey Lutheran Church children with song and roses |
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| Boat ride at Lake Coatepeque |
This morning we enjoyed a buffet breakfast with huevos (eggs) scrambled to order, frijoles (black beans), fried plantains, pancakes, and the famous, (not to be found in the U.S.) Salvadoran fresh pineapple and coffee. We attended church at Christo Rey Lutheran Church where we were welcomed with open arms. The children sang for us and presented us with a rose and a hug. They graciously accepted the gifts we brought from Sheridan Lutheran Church in Lincoln, NE. Jen, Becky, and Anita participated in the service led by Pastor Carlos. At the end of the service Pastor Carlos invited everyone to the wedding of his daughter, Iris, to her fiancé, Manuel next Saturday. Many of us had worked and played with Iris on previous trips and were very happy for the young couple.
After saying goodbye to our friends at Cristo Rey we headed back to the hotel for a quick change. Then we set off for Lago (lake) Coatepeque. Lago Coategeque is formed in the basin of an old volcano. It was breath-taking as we first peered over the rim. We went to a restaurant over-looking the lake where we met two of the families we would be working with this week. Carlos, Pastor Carlos, Pastor Wilma, Pastor Wilma’s mother, and Thrivent workers Fernando and Felippe also joined us. We enjoyed getting acquainted with Oscar and Marisol and Joel. They were so welcoming and friendly. We sat across from Oscar and Marisol and we both had young children/grandchildren at home so enjoyed sharing pictures. After lunch we enjoyed fishing, boat rides, wading, appreciating the scenery and the companionship. Late in the afternoon we returned to Santa Ana where we stopped for ice cream, had supper, devotions, and prepared for our first day on the job.
Monday, July 14
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| El Salvador Community Team in red Thrivent Builds shirts |
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| Mixing "chispa" or cement |
Today was the big day - our first day at work!! The group looked like they were headed to a Cornhusker football game in our red Thrivent Builds Worldwide shirts. It was a beautiful day. We were welcomed on the job site by Patty and then had devotions led by Pastor Carlos Nargara. Several of the families came to thank us and blessed us for our help. Then we divided into two teams and Cristina, the architect, took us to side by side houses where our masons assigned our tasks. Some of us filled dirt and tamped floors. Chuck sawed block and others mixed chispa (cement) and filled cinder blocks. After a hard day of work we returned to the hotel and shared in some liquid refreshment to celebrate our day. Our dinner hour was seven pm. After dinner we had devotions on the roof.
Hurrah!!!! Rebecca’s suitcase finally got here!!!
Tuesday, July 15
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| Sifting dirt for cement making |
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| Tamping dirt for floors |
On Tuesday morning everyone was up and at ‘em, ready for another day on the job. After our buffet breakfast we headed for the site. Cristina led devotions today and began teaching us a song in Spanish. We worked in two groups again, although not exactly the same people, on our two houses. Our big problem today was a huge pile of dirt that the lumber yard had dumped in the wrong place, a half a mile away from where we needed it. We left our jobs in an all-out effort to move the dirt. Finally Cristina and the masons decided that it was too wet, so after lunch we went back to chispa, dirt filling, tamping and sanding walls. Marianne was helping Peter tie rebar. It was a beautiful, sunny, day – maybe a little warm, but with a nice breeze.
We are here with another group of young consultants in the healthcare industry. They are also staying in the Sahara. They are very nice and we are slowly becoming acquainted. After lunch a couple of them played in a street soccer game with Jen and some of the masons and workers. The big soccer game is planned for Wednesday on the big field.
After returning to the hotel some of us ventured out the Cyber-Café with Fernando; or shopping at the “Price” (a store near the Sahara). We ended our day with dinner (lasagna, tonight) and devotions on the roof.
Wednesday, July 16
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| Getting ready for the soccer match |
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| Breaking the piñata |
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| Making pupusas |
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| Dancing to the traditional music |
Whew! What a great day! We worked our usual morning schedule; hauling dirt, sanding walls, and painting. Our friends from Christo Rey joined us. I enjoyed digging and wheel-barrowing dirt into the rooms with Chuck, Giovanni, and Julio. Giovanni was thirty and had 3 sons. His youngest, Wilbur, was with them. Julio was 13 and had come with his mother. After sharing dinner we all adjourned to the soccer field. Teams were chosen by two masons, Will and Matozo. The Salvadoran masons and workers, Carlos, a few from our Thrivent group, and a few from the young American healthcare group all played. Our Christo Rey friends joined the others to cheer from the sideline. Even though the Salvadorans were very skilled players, they were great sportsmen and made the game great fun for everyone.
After the game we all returned to the site where Patty, Ana Maria, Cristina, Marisol and other partner family members, and Stefanie and other Habitat workers had things cooking and were offering everyone the opportunity to prepare typical Salvadoran food. We enjoyed making and eating: pupusas, fried yucca root (tastes like French fries), empanadas (a dessert make from a plantain dough, stuffed with cream, deep-fat fried, and rolled in coarse sugar), and pastres (cornmeal dough, stuffed with chopped potatoes and other veggies and fried). Homemade salsa was cooked along side and served over top. There was also a seasoned, chopped cabbage condiment. Later we had fresh Salvadoran coffee and atol (a drink made from corn and served warm).
Our next surprise was a piñata. Some children from the community, Christo Rey, and our families reaped the rewards and everyone had great fun trying to break it. Antonio (one of the masons) was a master with the rope. Finally, our celebration ended with a traditional band that sang and played for us. They were from a local police station. The group included a big drum, guitar, pipes and different rhythm keeping instruments. It was a wonderful celebration that included confetti eggs broken and confetti everywhere. Afterward we returned to the hotel for showers, dinner, and devotions on the roof. (Although, I was way too full to think of dinner!)
Thursday, July 17
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| Moving cement blocks |
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| Santa Ana parade |
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| Buckets of mortar |
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| Baked banana dessert |
On Thursday we worked hard tamping, tying rebar, filling chispa, etc. Some of the group began exchanging e-mail and land mail addresses with some of the masons and workers, as we knew our time was getting shorter. Our communication was better every day. As we worked, the masons and workers helped us learn Spanish and let us teach them a little English. It was great fun for all.
On the way back to Santa Ana we noticed a lot of people on the streets. A few of us got out to stop at a soccer store and then walked back to the hotel. The people were starting to line the streets for a parade. It turned out that the city celebrated the month of July because it had the day of their patron saint, Saint Ann (Santa Ana) and tonight was a big parade. We hurried back to the hotel as we had to shower quickly to go out to eat. As we got ready, we went up to the corner to watch the parade. When I was in the shower I could hear a band playing my favorite Sousa march. Needless to say that since parades are one of my favorite things, I was out there in a flash. The guard at our hotel gate and the two uniformed police officers standing by us on the corner made us feel very safe. We were among the families in the crowd and shared the candy they threw with the children.
We finally had to leave and walk with Fernando to where the vans could pick us up since they couldn’t drive through the parade to the hotel. We went to the CaryMar restaurant where we ate the best pupusas I’ve ever tasted in all my visits to El Salvador. For dessert, Fernando ordered his favorite, canoa. It was a baked banana filled with vanilla pudding, sprinkled with cinnamon and topped with cherries. It was really good but I was so full of pupusas I couldn’t eat it all! After dinner we noticed that one of the empty floats from the parade had driven up in the side street next to the CaryMar. Fernando agreed to ask them if we could take our pictures on it. The people were so kind! They helped us take the pictures and even gave us flowers from the float! We returned to our outdoor table at the restaurant to wait for the vans and were unexpectedly treated to an exciting fireworks display to continue the Santa Ana celebration.
When we got back to the Sahara a new group had checked into the hotel and beat us to our spot on the roof. We moved to another spot without a light and had devotions by flashlight. Many of the group remained on the roof visiting with our friends from the healthcare group. Others returned to our rooms to pack for tomorrow.
Friday, July 18
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| Oscar, Marisol and Ana Maria present gifts to the team |
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| Our team on top of Ave Maria church |
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| Everyone dances to the Mariachi band |
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| A hotel in tropical paradise |
Wow! Talk about a week flying by!! Today our on site devotions were led by Pastor Carlos Nargara and interpreted by Cristina. He read the poor widow story and told us that the coin might seem small to us but it was very large for them. He thanked us generously for our work and our gifts. Everyone worked hard. Those of us working on the last house were challenged by Jen to finish the dirt in the last room. We dug, hauled, and tamped. Although we didn’t quite finish before they made us quit, we gave it a great try and they’ll only have a little to finish. We had a yummy, last on-site lunch of tenderized beef, chopped tomatoes and cilantro, and rice and beans (the marriage). After lunch the masons and staff expressed their appreciation for our work. Ana Maria especially touched my heart when she talked about when we give of ourselves we are really giving two gifts. The one we give to others and the one we give ourselves in sharing the joy of others. Some tears escaped as she and these people touch my heart in such a big way!
Suddenly the Mariachi band was there and the dancing started. We all danced and danced. Delicious cake was served and a lively frosting fight ensued. I personally preferred the wonderful cake! We then said our sad goodbyes, as we were late in going, and headed back to the Sahara.
After quick showers, we were packed and had to say good bye to Patty and also, Chuck who had to return to Nebraska early. We loaded the van and headed up the mountains to Concepcion de Ataco. Here we visited a place where they weave cloth on looms that were brought by the Spanish. It was amazing to watch as the weaver was managing about ten things at once, including pedals with his feet. We then visited the Ave Maria Church and climbed the bell tower. There we watched (with ears covered) the ringing of the bells for the evening Mass. The church was originally built in the 1600’s and has been remodeled, but you can still see the thick walls and other signs of the original structure. Lilyana, our local guide directed our van driver up the mountain to her friends’ house. From there we hiked along a trail through beautiful woods and emerged next to a huge cross on the side of the mountain. It was a wonderful vista of the town and surrounding mountains and valleys. After coming back down we dropped Lilyana off in Ataco and went on up the mountains to Apeneca (blowing winds). Here we ate a welcome supper and retired to our cabins for the night. We could hear it raining all night.
Saturday, July 19
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| Fashionable garbage bag ponchos |
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| Climbing the mountain |
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| Visiting the coffee mill |
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| Hot steam geysers |
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| Enjoying the hot springs |
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| Samping great coffee |
We awoke to a very rainy morning. After a hearty breakfast of omelets and coffee, we met our new guide, Jorje. He told us that we were going to a coffee plantation, which is called a vinca (farm). On the way we stopped in Juayua at the Selectos to buy garbage bags to cover us in the rain. Jorje ran across the street and got a bunch of umbrellas (on sale, he said). Jorje told us that Juayua had a Black Christ in their church. He said they were rare in El Salvador, but there were a couple others. While we were riding up to the vinca, Jorje relayed some interesting facts about the coffee. The ideal location for growing coffee is 1200-1700 meters above sea level. Coffee needs some shade so they plant shade trees with the coffee plants. They trim these trees so they provide a little shade and also are a wind break. The coffee plants don’t produce until they’re 3-5 years old and last for around 50 years.
When we got to Portasuello we met our guide for the trip, Santiago. He and Jorje were concerned that the trail was wet and might be dangerous, especially since many of us only had sandals. We still really wanted to go so a compromise was reached. They would take us around by the road instead of the mountain path. So with our swimming suits under our clothes we set off for our hike to the hot sulfur springs. The rain stopped as soon as we started our hike but I had a garbage bag over my backpack just in case. It turned out to be a fantastic experience. We could see miles as we looked out from the mountain. The cloudy day kept us cool and we didn’t have to worry about sunburn. We didn’t get to see as many flowers as we would have on a sunny day, but we got to see a lot! Some of us, with Santiago’s help, climbed up to where the springs were coming out of the mountain and stood in the warm mist that was blowing about. It was just like a sauna! Then we went down to the pool and relaxed in the warm water. Santiago showed us where to get mineral mud and give ourselves mud treatments! As an added touch we had a cool rain shower while we were in the warm water. A weary group made it back to the vinca and devoured a delicious lunch of tomato and avocado sandwiches, corn on the cob, garbanzo beans, chips, oranges and apples chunks. I don’t think I ever ate two sandwiches so fast! It must be the mountain air.
After lunch and dry clothes, we headed for Concepcion de Ataco to see if we could visit a coffee processing company. They all seemed to be closed on Saturday, since it was the off season, but Jorje thought maybe they would let us in at this plant and he could give us the tour. It worked out great. I won’t repeat all that I learned about processing coffee beans, but it was very interesting and I learned tons! This plant was a medium sized plant and processed the coffee from 12 vincas. Much of it was sold to Starbucks who insisted on 100% pure coffee. They made some for us to sample (yum!) and we were also able to buy some to take home. This plant had been in the family for four generations and we enjoyed visiting the house and grounds.
Next we made a quick stop in Nahuizalco for some last minute shopping and then headed for our hotel in San Salvador. We checked in, changed our clothes and headed across the street where we had reservations at a Mexican restaurant. We dined on fajitas and were entertained by two different live singers. It was a memorable last night together. Back at the hotel we said our goodbyes as four of us had to leave for the airport at 3:30 am. It’s amazing that we could become such good friends in such a short time, but when one stops to think of everything we experienced in that week together, maybe it isn’t!!
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