Ankeny Presbyterian, Ankeny 
Sister Parish: El Corozal
In March, 2005, Ankeny visited their sister canton, El Corozal. In addition to meetings, the group visited every home in the canton. The canton presented the group with a handmade cross for the Ankeny church.

Ankeny Presbyterian Church is "Sharing Our Best" with the best and favorite recipes of our church families. The book includes over 300 tried and true recipes of these wonderful cooks. A special feature of the cookbook are recipes shared by the Parish Team in Berlin, El Salvador. Favorites include pupusas, arroz, rellenos, and more!

The cookbook is available for $10 and shipping is free! Contact Marcia Justice to order: justicebern@mchsi.com. All proceeds from the cookbook go towards the mission projects of Ankeny Presbyterian's partnership with the canton of El Corozal.

Corning Presbyterian Church Visits in August 2004
Gary and Diane Badgett and Amy Bickford, from Corning, Iowa, are members of Corning Presbyterian Church, and brought with them from the church three portable machines that use salt to make chlorine to purify water. Two of the machines operate manually, and can produce enough chlorine to purify 5 gallons of water in 2 to 3 minutes with one tablespoon of salt. The larger machine can produce enough chlorine to purify 55 gallons of water in one minute, again, using one tablespoon of salt. The larger machine operates on a 12 volt battery.

The easiest way to explain the importance of Corning Presbyterian Church’s donation is to talk about the number of cases of diarrhea in El Salvador. In the May 10, 2004 issue of La Prensa Grafica Newspaper of El Salvador it was reported, “Cada dia, llegan al Bloom alrededor de 30 pequenos con diarrhea…”. Every day 30 children with diarrhea arrive at the Bloom Hospital (in San Salvador). Those are the children lucky enough live within a reasonable distance from San Salvador and whose parents have the time and resources to make the trip. While I have no exact statistic, there is no doubt that for every child that makes it to the hospital, there are many more that remain untreated in the cantons of the countryside. The number of diarrhea cases contribute to illnesses that cause the death of at least 12,000 children each year in El Salvador under the age of 10.

The larger machine will be installed in the Canton San Filipe on Monday (August 9th) at the rain water collection tank system that was constructed two years ago with a donation from First Presbyterian Church of Des Moines. Representatives of the water committee in that canton will be instructed on how to operate the machine. We had an initial meeting to talk about the machines and it was quite clear, from the number of people present, that there is huge interest in having the machine in their community. Later a group came from another canton and asked if they could be present Monday to see the process, with the hope that in the future they too will have a chlorine-making machine in their canton.

The water purified by the larger machine will be put into two tanks that hold 600 gallons each. The two smaller, hand-crank machines will be used to purify water in cantaros (5 gallons containers that women carry on their heads). The two smaller machines will be placed in communities that use spring water as their water source. This is the first step in creating clean water on this mountainside…the first step in stopping the annual diarrhea epidemic that too often is the cause of death, especially in children under the age of 5. We thank Corning Presbyterian Church for this important mission emphasis. More, we thank Gary, Diane and Amy for taking the time to come to Berlin to teach the people in the cantons how to make purified water from the machines. Clearly, it is a response to Jesus’ words in Matthew, “…I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink…” and “…I was sick and you took care of me…” (Matthew 25:35-36).

First Presbyterian, Dallas Center
Sister Parish: Virginia

A delegation of six from Dallas Center visited El Salvador from June 3-11, 2005. The week included pilgrimages to the martyr sites in San Salvador and El Mozote, a day at the beach, and visits to schools and the women’s prison in Berlín. The group spent two days in our partner cantón of Virginia, where we went house to house and left a gift with each family along with a photograph of one of our Dallas Center families. We enjoyed meals prepared in the newly constructed community kitchen, and spent some wonderful time with our sisters and brothers there. The following group journal entry was written by Erin Crist, a Dallas Center-Grimes High School Spanish teacher, after our second day in the canton:

“It is hard to explain the feelings I have after today’s events. I feel so much love, happiness and sheer joy and at the same time I feel sad. I think that we are so blessed to have had this opportunity. I feel sad to have to leave our new friends in cantón Virginia so soon.

“Today we went to the cantón at 7:30 in order to get the rest of our gift packets delivered. When we arrived we split up into two groups. In about two hours each group had delivered about 20-25 packets and visited that many families. It was such a wonderful feeling to be welcomed into these people’s homes. It was great to meet the people who received our gifts. Some were visibly ill and I was hopeful that the vitamins and pain reliever can help them. Each family was excited to get a picture of a family in our church. They were happy that we would be praying for them. After depositing these packages we took off again and delivered twenty more. We had a chance to talk with the Pastoral Team and the police officers that accompanied us.

“We shared a beautiful lunch with Bob and members of the Pastoral Team. We had the pleasure to sing songs with community members. It was much fun to do while we waited for our meeting to start. In the meeting everyone expressed their thanks for us coming and continuing to support their community. We talked about future projects that we can do to support them. It was very sad to say goodbye to our new friends. They told us that they would hold us in their hearts and never would forget us. I know that our coming here and delivering our packages made a huge impact. When we arrived in the canton yesterday people just stared. But when we left today they waived and greeted us as friends.

“I feel so blessed and fortunate to have had this experience. I can’t believe what a difference the Dallas Center church has made in these people’s lives. I hope we can continue to make such a difference in the future.”

First Presbyterian, Des Moines 
Sister Parish: San Filipi

Impressions from my first visit to El Salvador

Pete Bird – First Presbyterian Church, Des Moines

The first visit to El Salvador by a delegation from our church took place in mid November. As a three-year member of Companeros, I had heard stories and anecdotes and knew the names of the places we would go and the people we would meet. I had read “The Massacre at El Mozote” and a guidebook that provided additional historical and geographical background. We had all watched the movie “Romero” a few days before leaving, and of course, we had talked to Bob Cook and others who had been before us. Despite my preparation, I discovered that the phrases I had heard such as “eye-opening” and even “life-changing” were not hyperbole and the week went by in a flurry of activity and experiences. Although many of you reading this will have followed a similar itinerary to ours, there were two particular highlights that I believe were unique to our trip and an observation that I would like to share.

On our first full day in San Salvador we visited the sites of martyrdom that Bob includes on most trips, but on this particular Saturday, we would be participating in a march to commemorate the anniversary of the killings of the six Jesuit professors and two women at the University of Central America on November 16, 1989 in a major urban military operation. When we arrived in the late morning, students from the UCA were busy drawing out patterns in the street with chalk, which they would subsequently fill in with layers of colored sand to create intricate and beautiful “paintings” on the hill descending from the chapel. The chapel and museum became more crowded throughout the day as people arrived for the march. We returned at about 4 p.m. in order to meet the group of 40 who had traveled from Berlin by bus. Bob told us later that as we walked up the hill, the eight people from San Felipe, our sister canton, pushed their way to the front to be first in line to shake our hands and exchange greetings! After a picnic on the grass outside the museum, we waited for the dusk to gather before straggling back down the hill to join hundreds of others who were assembling at the starting point. We were given small white candles with cardboard shields and printed song sheets. The march was very well organized and gradually we were separated from a large mass into two distinct lines snaking our way around the campus, along some city streets and eventually back up the hill to the chapel and the sand pictures in the street. The marchers included many Salvadorans of all ages as well as well as quite a few tourists, and the whole event was very moving. Whenever our hesitant Spanish singing faltered, we were encouraged by the loudspeaker vans stationed along the route, and if our candles flickered and died, then a fellow marcher was always willing to stop and help us relight.

After our arrival in Berlin, we settled in to the Parish House and then were taken in the trusty pickup to visit the Don Justo coffee finca in the afternoon. This was our first experience of the dense green vegetation of the countryside and the jolting form of travel on the rutted mountain tracks that others had told me about. It was getting dark as we drove back from the finca, following behind a truck, and just as we came through the town of Allegria, we saw a group of about 25 people along the roadside. The truck stopped to pick up some of the walkers and so did Miguel, our driver that afternoon. Soon the seven of us were joined by about 15 more. The last few people climbed onto the rear bumper and hung on the railing precariously as we hurtled along the road back to Berlin. We had one fluent Spanish speaker in our group and Barb soon discovered to our delight that we had just picked up a good portion of the San Felipe soccer team and several of their fans! We introduced ourselves and told them we would be visiting the canton the following day. Once we discovered that they had won their game 6-3, several high fives were exchanged and some boisterous cheering ensued.

Throughout the trip, and particularly when riding on the highway between San Salvador and Berlin or on the road to Perquin, I was struck by the activity on the roadside. There are street vendors hawking their wares or setting up their stalls. There is fetching and carrying, collecting and foraging, a constant process of what I eventually decided was just people doing whatever it took to get from day to day. I had read that Salvadorans have a reputation for being extremely industrious and I found myself watching each person I saw and imagining their day. Was that old man with a bundle of sticks on his back taking them home to sell or for his own cook stove? How far would that woman and her two children have had to walk to fill their water jugs? Were the two young boys working in the field, with machetes almost as tall as themselves, going to be there all day? We take so much that we have for granted, and we seem to find ourselves always pushed for time and racing the clock. How different it must be when most of your time is spent in a daily struggle for survival.

Heartland Presbyterian, Clive   
Sister Parish: El Tablon

Submitted by Kathy Mahler

February 2006

We had four returnee adults (including myself) and 4 high school kids who had never been. It was a great group of people.

Our agenda for the week was very different. Schafik Handel (the FMLN presidential candidate from the last elections and a very important figure in the civil war and instrumental in the formation of the Peace Accords in 1992) had died and the Pastoral Team wanted to go to the funeral. We could certainly be flexible to allow for them to attend that momentous event! So we spent an extra night in San Salvador... we did the historical sites that first day: the UCA, Divina Providencia, museums and chapels. Then to fill our 'found' time, we went to Turkey Hill, walked to the top of a volcano, went to the Door of the Devil and had a little extra time at the Artisan shops in San Salvador. On the way to Berlin, we visited Ilobasco (the pottery town) - a first for all but myself. After a little shopping and lunch we finally were able to be on our way to Berlin! We had a= different driver. Alejandro had accompanied the Pastoral Team to the funeral and made sure they arrived home safely. Our delegation arrived at the Pastoral House before the Team... they arrived about an hour after us and it was very fun to "welcome" them to "our" home... they all seemed exhausted from the day, but extremely contented to have gone.

My church (Heartland Presbyterian) has begun a new relationship with the Canton El Tablon Cerna... it is basically a "suburb" of our original partner canton of El Tablon. We spent 2 days getting to know our new community. We met with leaders and community members to find agreement about our new project of developing a K-3 school building where there currently is nothing. We also went door to door to the 35 homes. We took family photos and took a census to create a 'directory' of our new church family. We are sharing this with our congregation here in Iowa and when we return in the summer, we will distribute the photos to all the families. They will know that they are all in our family now and in our prayers each week.

We also spent some time in El Tablon. We visited the school and continued the planning of 'growing' this school from 6th grade to 9th grade. The progress has been great so far! The new 7th grade teacher has been teaching 8th grade as well because the community and kids had asked him! There is so much interest in education for the children in the cantons!!

We were also able to visit the women of the sewing co-op. They were in the process of sewing 150 uniforms for the children of their community! What a joy to see them in action and the children are so excited that they will have uniforms very soon! They are very motivated to go to school each day!

It was a fabulous two days …hot, dusty, wearying, but very joyful and exciting.

The remainder of the week was filled with great educational excursions. The Pastoral Team brought us to El Mozote - a very tragic massacre site where we celebrated a small service in memory of the victims and heard the awful story of taking the 'water from the fish'.

In and around Berlin, we visited the women's prison, three marginalized elementary schools, the local high school and spent much time getting to know the town of Berlin.


Newton First Presbyterian and Newton Sacred Heart Catholic Church

Steve Mathison-Bowie
Written at the hospitality center of the Pastoral House
Berlin, El Salvador
Palm Sunday

I write this having just celebrated the Lord's Supper at the Pastoral House in Berlin, El Salvador, with brothers and sisters in Christ from many places. About a dozen are students from Drake University.  Sixteen people represent First Presbyterian Church in Ankeny.  Men and women have come in from the countryside, from the cantons, some walking 2 hours to get here.  Twenty six are part of the Newton delegation.  And of course, our friend Bob Cook and members of the Pastoral Team are here as well.

Father Jim Lorenzo of St. Catherine's Church in Des Moines celebrated mass and welcomed all of us to the table.  It was indeed a special moment.  

It always strikes me how easy it is to think of the gospel as revolutionary when I am here - and yet how tame the gospel often seems at home.  Here people understand the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ to call individuals, churches, and governments to account for taking care of the poor.  To work for a realm, the Kingdom of God, ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. That is, they don't just work for heaven.  They work for here, and now.

As Milagro and I were talking about a few minutes ago, this means caring about food, and shelter, and security.  Very basic human needs.

Let me correct myself a bit: not everybody here understands these things.  Some Christians see faith as a proposition that only makes us fit for heaven.  They connect faith with individual morality (drinking, gambling, promiscuity) but not social conditions.  With "going to church"  but not with the larger issues, like fairness for all people, opportunities for all people, the right to '"life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" for all people.  Even worse, some who in reality are working for selfish interests bend the gospel to fit their purposes, like justifying exploitation or pacifying the poor.

Perhaps you can tell that being in El Salvador inflames for me the need for us to radically practice faith in Christ.  Even if you like to describe yourself as "conservative," would it help to know that the most conservative thing you can do as a Christian is to maintain the essential radical nature of what Jesus calls us to?  

As we gather for worship in the days after Easter, the scripture we read together will be full of stories of the first church coming together "to put wheels on" following Jesus.  We'll see that it wasn't easy for them then, as it may not always be easy for us now. We start by trying to become a better example of the love of God in Christ Jesus to one another.  And then to our community.  

Thanks be to God for everyone who has supported our recent delegation, with prayer, or money, or words of encouragement.  You are giving a gift of radical love to the world.  

2005 Delegation to El Salvador - Projects supported by donations

$5558.00        Remodeling at Berlin Health Clinic
$800.00          Purchase of computer for Bishop of Uzulutan
$2000.00        Medicines for 4 clinic days
$2300.00        Support for delegates

St. Boniface Catholic Church
Waukee, Iowa

Sister Parish: El Recreo
April 2006

St. Boniface Delegation – April 24 to May 1, 2006

By Joe Pirtle

This was my third trip to El Salvador and it was just as exciting as the first. Every visit I make seems more like going home than it does to visit. It amazes me how much this mission has changed my life and its perspective.

Our first full day was spent in San Salvador visiting the Cathedral, the hospital grounds where Monsignor Romero was murdered, and the University of Central America. We even had time to shop in one of the Artisan Markets. This visit, I had one purchase that I was determined to make, a flag of El Salvador. It is now proudly hanging in my home.

After a long day of excursion in San Salvador, we boarded the bus to Berlin. Of course, Alejandro gave me a ‘hard time’ for not studying more Spanish, but seemed encouraged at what I had learned since my last visit. The lack of fluency on my part is what drives me to continue to study more and diligently every month. Believe me, there is no lack of communication as so much is done through gestures, acts, and expressions, but I sure would like to sit and carry on a full fledged conversation without a translator.

The ride to Berlin is a time of relaxation and reflection, coupled with the brewing excitement in anticipation of seeing our brothers and sisters in Berlin, at the Casa Pastoral, and in our sister-parish – the community of El Recreo.

While in Berlin we were able to visit three marginalized schools and present them with some additional school supplies. It is such a joyous occasion to see the eyes light up in both the students and teacher’s eyes. I feel as if we give such a small gift of books, pencils, and pens, and yet we receive so much back.

We also had another opportunity to visit the Women’s prison. Most of the women are now familiar faces and yes, I have to admit that we are as well. In fact, I am known as “Mr. Blue Eyes.” It is very special to be able to get to know some of these women. Even though we come from very different backgrounds, we all have one very special thing in common. The need and love of faith. Of course, we didn’t leave without purchasing their handmade goods and we also were able to give each woman a gift of embroidery floss, material, shampoo and lotion. Such as simple gift went a long way.

We were able to visit a lagoon this trip. Milagro took us to see an old volcano of Allegria that is now a lagoon. It was so very peaceful and serene. We had a teacher of science within our delegation, and that was one of the many highlights for him.

Our two days spent within El Recreo were especially joyful. It is so great to be able to visit and really feel like you have a special bond and an extended family. Since I have become somewhat of a ‘regular’ many of the people remember who I am and I they. We are able to carry on some slight conversations on our own, but boy when we have the translator handy, the conversations just blossom.

I was very excited to hear from my friend Noe’s mother that he has a job at the Geo Thermal Plant. I was very excited for him. Good work is hard to come by, so when one has a job, it is to be relished. Noe is 18 years old and works 7 days a week from 10A to 10P for $11.00 a day. This really hit me hard and put my job in perspective. I was very happy for Noe, but a little disappointed that I was not going to be able to visit with him since he was working. My disappointment lasted only minutes as I was telling Noe’s mother to be sure to wish him hello and congratulations from me as she told me that Noe knew we were coming and he asked for the day off. To my surprise, the next day we drove into El Recreo, Noe was there waiting for us. We had a very nice conversation and caught up on the past 6 months.

We were able to do something extremely special for all involved this trip that we had wanted to do for a long time. With the new Priest in Berlin, we were able to secure permission for Father Vince to celebrate mass at the church in El Recreo. What a special tribute and humble experience this was.

Another exciting part of the visit to El Recreo is that I was able to watch a football (soccer) game that was played between two different groups of the community. What a highlight. I was even surprised when they brought over a uniform and asked me to play. I graciously declined as I attempted to explain that my soccer playing abilities are slim to none. Nonetheless, the game was very exciting and to see such enthusiasm was very rewarding.

The biggest highlight of our time spent in El Recreo was spending an evening in the community and sharing dinner and handing out glow sticks. I have never seen so many people fed in such a short amount of time, but should have known that it would go off flawlessly as Cecilia knows her stuff. The glow sticks were provided by a member of our delegation and a friend of hers. What a site to see! We were able to stay into the evening when it got dark and seeing hundreds of people with all these glow sticks was an awesome site. As we were driving to head back to the Casa Pastoral and members of the community walked behind the trucks, it looked just like ‘halos’ following us. I close my eyes today and I can still see that sight and experience that peaceful calmness.

Each time I visit, I feel more and more at home. I feel as if the Pastoral Team and I are closer each visit I make. This trip was very exciting as we played many games of UNO. In fact, the Pastoral Team played too. Who knew that Blanca, Milagro, Alejandro, and Cecilia were so competitive?

There is such peacefulness about being there and sharing in the experiences, history, and triumphs. I feel as if I have another extended family and another home. In fact, Blanca has become a pseudo mother and Alejandro a brother. Of course, all members of the Pastoral Team truly are my brother and sisters. It becomes difficult to leave and come back home to my obligations here in the states, but the prayers, memories, and feelings stay with me everyday and keep me driving and working towards my next trip home.

Trinity United Presbyterian, Indianola
Sister Parish: Casa de Zinc

Submitted by Denise Core

A delegation of seven from Trinity United Presbyterian Church, Indianola, Iowa, traveled to Berlin, El Salvador, on July 17 and returned July 24, 2004. The group members were Don and Carmen Hampton and grandson Michael Knoller from Carroll, Larry Lepper and son Brad, Betty Crawford, and Denise Core. Four members had previously traveled to El Salvador.

Many of us had not traveled to Berlin before, but were glad to learn that the trip time has been cut in half because of road improvements. The Pastoral Team has done a lot of work to the Berlin Pastoral House in the past year or so to create a wonderful oasis for weary travelers.

We spent the first day visiting two sites near San Salvador where death squads had killed those identified as ‘enemies of the state’ during the Civil War. Door of the Devil and the San Salvador Volcano are such lush and gorgeous places it is hard to imagine the torture that took place here in recent history.

Some of the highlights included visiting the San Isidro water-tank area to see the fencing Trinity funded. We spent two days with the Directiva and residents of Casa de Zinc, our new sister relationship. We learned about their dreams and seeing the projects they had already accomplished in their short three-year existence. They have created two small water tanks with watersheds using some materials found in the area – as well as built a new in-ground water tank and a larger watershed that will eventually be enclosed to become a community center. We walked to 14 of the 16 houses of Casa de Zinc to deliver the health care packages, which had been supplied by members of Trinity. A picture was taken of each family and a listing of each resident was created to begin a census. These pictures will be returned to each family.

While in the Berlin area we visited Cinquera, a town completely destroyed by the war (like so many others) but has been rebuilt. We also took a short, but uphill hike, to one of many areas where guerrillas had hunted down the villagers and shot them. A monument has been built above their mass grave in an abandoned Indigo processing pit. We also had time for some shopping in Ilobasco.

Back in San Salvador prior to heading home, we had time to explore the University of Central America and Monsignor Romero’s chapel, house and markets.

A trip with teenagers is always exciting. Michael and Brad have had several years of Spanish and were anxious to try out their abilities so didn’t hesitate to talk with the kids in the Berlin high school classes we visited or those in the villages. Playing football (soccer) with the kids of Casa de Zinc was extra special as well as introducing them to the art of eating sunflower seeds.

This Trinity delegation is quite excited about the possibilities of our new sister relationship and hope to send many more delegations to create a strong bond.

Articles below reprinted with permission from the Seeker, a publication of the U of Iowa Wesley Foundation.

Wakonda Christian Church, Des Moines

Thoughts shared during sermon time
by David Sharpe

Our trip showed us up front that the world is not always full of bread and honey. I think all of us had expectations of what we were going see and experience. I for one was not prepared to see the depth of what these people endure.

I believe the high point of the trip for me was the celebration of the water project we financed at Las Delicias. I viewed with pride the new concrete tank. When the project is completed it is estimated the tank will hold 30,000 gallons of water. This tank will help provide water to the 123 families of Las Delicias during the dry season. The service was filled with singing. The singing was accompanied with string instruments, which showed the test of time. After the service I walked around taking pictures of families and children. I sensed a great amount of pride from the parents as I took pictures of them with their children.

Following the celebration we met with the local leaders. They spoke of their needs in the area of water, health and education. The meeting was interrupted with a down pouring of rain. Since the roof of the church is tin it made group communication almost impossible. During the rain delayed meeting I walked around taking pictures of children playing.

Following the meeting it was still raining as we walked down the dirt road toward the house where a meal was prepared. This brought me back into the stark reality of their living conditions. We entered a house with wood sides, tin roof and dirt floor. There we shared a meal together.

The low point of the trip was when we toured to El Mozote. El Mozote is the site of a 1,000-person massacre in December, 1981 that has become a national monument for “Never Again.” As I walked up towards the monument listing the names of all the families along with the number children killed in each family I hurt inside knowing what had happen. We shared a brief service led by the parish team at the site where a church was burned to the ground with its victims inside. A small child from the area joined in the service. She had no shoes and reminded me of the incidence of children that were brutality murder at this site. Children are the hope for the future of El Salvador.

The marginalized schools in Berlin were where we saw happy children as they greeted us with lots of excitement. To reach one school we walked down a dirt road with what we would consider small snacks on each side. At this school the teacher explained their needs for improvement on the school playground. Randy told us when he visited this school the prior year the floor was dirt. Now there is a concrete floor. As members of group listen to the needs of the teacher our youth, Abby, Joe, and Maggie with help of Cindy and Randy got the children involved in a game of Duck Duck Goose. Before we left the teacher passed out passed out beanie baby dolls we had brought for the children. As I walked back up the dirt road I saw a small child who has left school to show her mother the doll she had gotten. She beamed with excitement.

The last night we listened to medical personnel from Provida located in Berlin. They go house to house in the cantons, usually 10 a day, to work with families to try to improve their nutrition and health. The funding for this program was to run out two days after we returned home.

Through out all the visits with the local officials it was clear they appreciated us taking the time to come to their county to see and talk with them. The parish team does an outstanding job. There is much to do. During the worship service at the pastoral house it was said, “There are so few people to do the work.”

Toward the end of our time in El Salvador I took fewer pictures of sites. I had seen the countless rows of run down buildings, barbwire for security, and livestock passing in the street. I took only pictures of people. The people have a great sense of pride and resiliency as they go about their daily tasks.

In the future I would like to see more church members take the journey to El Salvador. We can talk and show you pictures but to really grasp the conditions you must travel and experience the county.

Westminster Presbyterian, Des Moines  
Sister Parish: San Francisco

Read Sue Hovtovec's report from her September 05 Westminster delegation trip.
 

Mission Team Delivers Bibles to El Salvador

This article and photo first appeared in Westminster's newsletter.

(click on image for larger view)


This is Elsie. Elsie lives in the canton of San Francisco outside of Berlin, Usulatan, El Salvador, with her aunt, uncle and cousins. Elsie knows she has lots of friends in Iowa. These friends have purchased Bibles for the families in her village. They have helped procure the money to purchase the solar panels which have been installed on 17 houses in her village. She knows that her family will soon have a solar panel, too. Elsie probably will remember what it is like not to have lights and music at her house in the evenings when it gets so dark outside. She will remember trying to study by candle light, and lugging the old car battery three miles into town over dirt or mud roads to get it charged up so they could listen to the news occasionally. Elsie’s younger cousins may not remember.

Elsie was dressed up that day because it was the weekend San Francisco honors their patron saint, Saint Francis. The women from Westminster (Julie Murphy, Jane Demanett and Lynn Anstey) came all the way from Iowa to share in the festivities on that Saturday, watching the horse riding competition and the dance for the teenagers held at the school.

On Sunday, Elsie’s family received a Bible from the Westminster team during the celebration of the Word at their church. She heard one of the older women of the village ask them if they could get her glasses – the woman knows how to read, but needs glasses to be able to see the words in her new Bible. On Monday, the priest came and said the mass, and afterward, the women had lunch with all those who helped organize the festival. Elsie asked the woman with the funny yellow hair to take her picture with her new Bible.

Elsie has lots of friends who are very grateful to the people of Westminster, the pastoral team and Bob Cook for all the support they have been given. They know that as they continue to struggle for justice and economic parity, they have a lot of people in Iowa praying for them. And they pray for the people in Iowa, too.