First Parish Church Features

2004 First Parish Church Mission Trip to El Salvador

Jo Harrison's Remarks

This was my second trip to El Salvador with the First Parish Church, and my second visit to this church's sister city - if you will - of San Antonio Medio.

Last year, we participated in the commissioning of a community center that a mission team from First Parish had built the year before.

This year the community center was in full use, and looked like it was being sued daily as a place for health exams, pre-natal education, and community gatherings.

The villagers of San Antonio Medio have an appreciation for this church and what we have provided to them in terms of information about taking care of their animals, resources to help feed their children, and perhaps most importantly, some attention.

The people in the El Salvador country-side have a very difficult life.

They may spend most of their day trying to satisfy the most basic needs of water, food, and shelter.

ASAPROSAR helps this community by teaching them healthcare and sanitation needed to prevent their children from dying of diarrhea. ASAPROSAR helps the families in this and other communities understand the importance of allowing their children to attend school

Although the people in the countryside live in stark conditions - often families of 10 or 12 in a two-room mud or cinder-block home - they easily express joy. When in groups, there is constant laughter. They have a spirit that does not appear to have been broken by the civil war or earthquakes or Hurricane Mitch or by their extreme poverty.

The children are incredible. As we passed out matchbox cars and beanie babies, it was as if we were handing out $1000 bills. The children were so delighted. As word spread in the community, more kids arrived, and more, and more. I might as well put out an announcement now: if any of you have unwanted beanie babies, our group know of some beautiful and appreciative children in the hills of El Salvador who would like to receive them.

During the celebration of the community center two years ago, these people who have next to nothing, in hot dusty villages, presented us with ice cold Coca-Colas - where they got them, I still will never know.

And this year, they presented us with a beautiful wooden box and ceremonial turtle, which we will present to the church shortly, which again demonstrated an overwhelming desire on their part to express thanks to our group and to this church.

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