To experience El Salvador is to experience a wide range of emotions. Emotions change so quickly that in one minute one can be laughing and then crying. In fact, Larry Lepper who has made four trips to El Salvador says there is no other week in the the year when he laughs so much and cries so much.
Today, June 25, 2012, was an incredible opportunity for members of the delegation to come face to face with the reality of life in our sister parishes. We visited the school in San Isidro, a ten minute drive beyond Casa de Zacate, Trinity's newest sister parish.When a pickup loaded with gringos arrives at the school gate students run to the fence laughing and giggling. After all, this means they won't have to pay attention to their teachers.
Dental Hygiene
We spent time in three separate classes making presentations about the benefits of brushing teeth. Our nursing staff, comprised of a retired nurse, Dru McLuen and one working nurse, Nancy Hampton, daughter of Don and Carmen Hampton, had prepared information regarding proper brushing to be passed out along with a new toothbrush for each student. Good dental hygiene takes a back seat among the poor in El Salvador as resources are directed to procuring enough food for a family to eat. One sees many adults with missing teeth and gold caps. What's missing? Money to buy toothpaste and dental floss. At least we were able to reinforce how important it is to brush one's teeth.
San Isidro School
There were three classrooms at the San Isidro school. The first room had about 33 kindergarten and first graders. There were a couple of fourth graders also. They were included here because they had not been able to start school until they were older. Laughing and giggling was non-stop in this room. The students were truly excited about seeing us.
The next class of about 25 fifth and sixth graders was very orderly, quiet, respectful and attentive. It seems they were a reflection of their teacher. A male teacher, which is a rather uncommon sight, seemed to rule with a certain amount of discipline.After our presentation he shared his disappointment that a dental program initiated by a NGO, a non governmental organization, had been discontinued to allow another program to start. We had to tell him this was a one time only program.
Our third class visit was with the second and third graders. Again approximately 30 students were crowded into the room. Laughing and giggling was prevalent. This room was a recent addition to the school. It was a new room set apart from the original building sort of like trailers set up at schools here in when additional room is needed. However, it was constructed like a pole barn with corrugated tin walls and roof. There were no windows and even though the side walls were open at the eaves the room was dark.
Unlike the concrete block walls and concrete floor of the original school building this new room had a dirt floor. Uneven, it sloped in many different directions. Desks, tables, chairs and bookcases were placed on the dirt. As things tend to move downhill on their own desks seemed to be clustered together in the various depressions in the floor. Emotions.
Amid the joy and smiles and excitement one was reminded of the challenges facing our brothers and sisters. A new classroom filled with eager students and over in the corner was a thermos of drinking water sitting on a wooden stand surrounded by mud caused by dripping water from the nozzle. Emotions. Laughing and then in the same minute crying.
Noah Builds an Ark
At the suggestion of the Pastoral Team our delegation prepared a school wide activity. Dave Endriss put his clowning skills to work as he told the story of Noah and the Ark. Think about it. Could there be any better time to mime? We had to rely on the translating skills of Pedro, our translator, to communicate. The students knew no English. It was a perfect time to mime.
Dave's rendition was charming as it engaged the students gathered outside in the school yard. Noe' first built the ark complete with doors made up by Denise and a sixth grade boy. Then the animals entered the ark two by two. This participatory activity required members of the delegation to get students to join them as animals in the ark. There were giraffes, monkeys, elephants, birds and skunks.Later, a bird was sent out and it returned with fruit. The animals left the ark. Dave won the hearts of many a young student. Dave 'told' the story with grace and with gentle humor. He concluded the story by reminding the students of God's promise made through the rainbow.
Emotions. Even though there was laughter throughout the school yard during the presentation one wonders what promise there is for these children.
San Isidro Youth Group Co-op
Before we left the school yard a young woman representing the San Isidro youth group co-op displayed items of jewelry they had made. Many purchases were made. In fact, the Pastoral Team gave each member of the delegation a cross necklace as a gift. Those crosses were designed and crafted my members of this group. This is another example of how resourceful and enterprising people are in our sister parishes as they look for sources of income.
As Larry says, there is no other week in the year when one laughs so much and cries so much.
