Day 4 - Trinity El Salvador Delegation

Dave Endriss here and it is my turn to add my observations about our trip to El Salvador and specifically with our friends in and around Berlin.  We spent the major part of this day going from door to door in our sister parish Casa de Zinc.  We left Berlin at about 8:20 this morning for a 5 mile drive that takes about 50 minutes by pickup truck.  Most of us stood in the back of the truck and held on for dear life as we bumped over and through the rough terain.  No complaints however, the scenery was fantastic!

One of two trucks.  One loaded with gifts, the
other loaded with people!



When we arrived in Casa de Zinc we were met community members who were already eagerly anticipating our visit.  Introductions were made (with the aid of our translator) and they shared about how important our partnership was to them.  Then we began going door to door and sharing the gifts that so many of you provided so generously.  Blankets, medicines, spices, blankets, rice, food, toothbrushes, toothpaste, scarves, hacky sacks, gifts from our Sunday School children, and the list goes on and on.  Each family received two very full cloth reusable bags.  We met each family, presented our gifts and gave to them a picture that our previous delegation in February of 2011 had taken of them.  Then we took a new picture which we plan on sharing with them the next time we visit.

Sharing our gifts with one of the families in
Casa de Zinc.

Casa de Zinc is a community that is somewhat spread out.  Sometimes we walked from one home to another, often we had to drive to the next house.  Several times we had to get out and walk the last 50-100 yards because it was impassable for the truck!  Our gifts were received with great appreciation and excitement.  We stopped at about 12:30 for a lunch before resuming the rest of our visits in the afternoon.  After our last home, we returned to the home where we first arrived and met with the leadership of the community so that once again they could share their thanks and also their hopes for the future and their concerns about what they would like to see happen in their casario (village) in the years to come.

At about this time we were becoming concerned because it had started to sprinkle and we still had a 50 minute drive to get back to Berlin and to the Pastoral House where we stay.  So...we all climbed back into the truck and began the drive back and yes, it rained enough that those of us in the back of the truck got soaked!  This generated much laughter about the "crazy gringos".

After drying off and having another wonderful dinner prepared by our friends who minister here at the Pastoral House, we had our evening devotions and reflection time.  Then it was preparing the next set of gift bags for our visit tomorrow at Casa de Zacata.  Although we will have more bags to deliver tomorrow, the homes are much closer together.

This is now my fourth visit to El Salvador and each trip has its own unique aspects.  As you may have guessed, for me one of the highlights is visiting with each of the families.  Another is the bonding that takes place for those of us travelling together.  Although the week is just barely half way over, we have already spent a great deal of time laughing and crying together.  By God's grace, in the act of trying to be a blessing to others, we too are being blessed!