NEW YEAR! NEW MISSION!

New Year! New Mission!
I have been back to El Salvador for over a month now and have traveled more of the country then I had in the three years prior. What a blessing to have this time to get to know different parts of the country and hear the stories of the people.

My last three years had been with the Parish of Our Lady of Loudres where I did a variety of things (see past entries). I wanted to see and know another part of the country and so I have moved to Suchitoto, a small colonial town that suffered immensely during the war. I feel at home as many of the people are farmers. Every morning as I take my morning run I am greeted by a herd of cattle. I have only been here for a week, but have been very welcomed with beautiful smiles. The people are always so willing and ready to help me find my way.
I had heard wonderful things about how the people of Suchitoto have organized programs most especially to empower the people. There is still a great need for reconciliation and peace in the this country that suffered a horrible 12 year CIVIL war.

No More Violence!

IN THIS HOUSE WE WANT A LIFE FREE OF VIOLENCE!
Over 800 houses in Suchitoto have this painted on their doors.

I have moved in with Rosa and Eva, two school teachers, and am looking forward to living with two Salvadoran people. They have so much to teach me.

Eva, Rosa and I waiting to catch a bus to a vigil in Guadalupe to celebrate and remember the over 500 people who were killed in this massacre.
I am not sure what my work is quite yet. I hope to 'BE' more. I was very busy in the last year of my mission. Just in this past few weeks I have had more time to sit and listen to the peoples life stories.

Jose lost 9 family members in the El Mazote Massacre. In the background you will see a wall with some of the names of the people who were tortured and killed. They think there could have been as many as 1000 killed.

Beautiful faces of the future of El Mazote

I will also be taking pictures for a program called New Horizans. I am excited about this opportunity. It will allow me to see many parts of the country; meet new friends and hopefully help get resources for some of the poorest in the country. The other plus is that I will be near my former mission site and will able to visit with them from time to time.

Hopes for New Housing

The house above was one of the most secure houses because it had pieces of metal. The house below is made of cardboard like most of the others in this community.

Monseñor ROMERO

This month marks the 29th year of the death of Archbishop Oscar Romero.

Above is a picture of a mural of the Last Supper. Next to Jesus (the farmer in the middle) is Romero. Fr. John Spain and Kim Nagy, Maryknoll Missioners took a seat at table with Martin Luther King and other martyrs of El Salvador.

On Top of the World

My housemate Kim and I

It was a perfect place to be. We were on top of a mountain as the sun kept playing peak a boo with the clouds. Looking out we were able to see three Volcanos. I had mixed feelings as I stood in the place where 27 years prior youth were drug, raped, tortured and then killed in the massacre of El Mazote.

I hope that you all are doing well in this Lenten season. As you can see I have had some things to ponder. I ask that you please keep the people of El Salvador in your prayers as they all go to vote this Sunday, March 15th. For the past 20 years they have had the same party in power. My prayers are that there will be no violence and that they are just (fair) elections.