Saturday, March 26, 2011

3-26-2011 Closing Thoughts

As we prepare for our departure, I am filled with amazement at the possibilities of change evident in the children and the fureza, or strength, and the hope that many of the El Salvadorans have during their daily struggle. Especially given the continuing violence by gangs and death squads and government forces. So in a country filled with a long history of United States bankrolled violence and repression and again, the daily struggle against staggering odds, it is a mystery how such resilience is manifested and maintained in the populace of such an impoverished country.

This hope for change is some of what we experienced in Community Octavio Ortiz in the Bajo Lempa, a place where in family after family you see a community built and maintained by strong loving bonds and children and their parents filled with joy, gratitude and a spirit that is filled with abundant love. I will never forget the words of Mauricio the community directiva president when he said, "I do not make a whole lot of money, but what I do earn is the good will of my fellow man." I wonder what is more important. Dead trees, what we call money or the will and favor of people we interact with. Simple answer is the later by far.

I will also never forget helping bring firewood for the trapiche or sugar mill and watching the whole process work right in front of me. Or wheelbarrow food for Mauricio's cows. OR playing soccer with some of the youth, and scoring the first goal of the game. Watching their smiles and hearing their laughter was almost too overwhelmingly awesome. Some of these kids have so few options and most of them are very negative choices. As some of our presenters have said for the vast majority of the children their options after high school, or for the lucky select few college, are to either join a gang, or join the police or leave the country, mostly for the States, as portrayed so realistically in the movie Sin Nombre.


El Salvador is without a doubt  a microcosm for the world, especially the for the numerous countries where US involvement is historically and perpetually devastating due to direct military intervention or bankrolling, and ¨free trade¨. For one there is nothing free about free trade. It devastates and exploits rural communities world wide, families, and causes assassinations of individuals who protest, livelihoods are at stake for the sake of the greed of the worlds top 5 percent those who can be big shareholders is the World Trade Organization and World Bank.

As one of our presenters said El Salvador is an average country, if this is how the world is, how do I want to live my life? I want to live mine in Solidarity with El Salvador, and this trip was a great reminder to me of the hope that Arch Bishop Oscar Romero, Padre Rutillio Grande and Padre Octavio Ortiz and countless other martyrs and innocent people, see Voices Inocentes the movie, symbolized, lives on in the daily struggles for justice, equality, rights, and livelihoods, a fight that I feel blessed to be able to help them with.


I really loved this delegation, will treasure its memory, and I will always, always as long as I live, show my love and solidarity for the Salvadorans. More posts to come or follow me on Facebook.

There is so much more to say.  Suffice it to say say that I can't wait to come back in the near future.

peace love and harmony

Andrew Drewiske Durham

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

3 24 2011 In Communidad Octavio Ortiz

We left San Salvador and arrived in the Lower Lempa communities, we joined in for the Mass in Ciudad Romero, where they celebrated their 30th anniversary and Romero's life on the 31st anniversary of his assessination. The mass was well attended and the youth choir sang songs as part of the worship. The message was about the hope Romero gave us and reminded us to be in solidarity with eachother. We were reminded that the support of the US and Obama was appreciated, and also the sad history where the funding for weapons and training of the army that killed so many was supported by the US. We need to focus on the humanity and justice for all, including the poor to create a just society for all in El Salvador and across the world.

We were then greeted by the community and our host families in Community Octavio Oriz (also called La Canoa), the pre-school sang welcoming songs, and we enjoyed getting to know eachother and renewing friendships created over the years.
After dinner with our wonderful hostfamilies and a little resting time in the hammocks, we enjoyed a concert in Ciudad Romero together with our hostfamilies, and danced and talked and had fun with the childrend at the fair.

We enjoyed the clear starlit sky on the way home, and were welcoming a nice rest in this hospitable community. How humbling and grateful we all were about the chance to be together in solidarity.

Elsbeth

3 23 2011 Divina Providencia

Monseñor Romero, la voz del pueblo he defended his people until the end of his life.  His struggle was not in vain, people are still surviving and hoping for change.  He still remains alive in many people´s hearts today.  Living oppression, hunger, poverty and suffering are sometimes ways to make people come together and share thier beliefs and have faith.  This is my first delgation trip to El Salvador, I thought I was a positive person and encouraging.  These days its been hard for me to think of ways of how to help a never ending cycle of injustices salvadoreans have lived and are living.  However, thinking of what Sister Carmelita said to our group it made me realize I have a commitment to myself and others.  I construct the society we live, we are the power of our actions and our lives, how will we spend our lives?  I truely feel fortunate to have been able to particpate in such a meaningful trip that has changed my way of being, there is a new light that will never shut down.

¨No abandonare a mi pueblo, sino que correre con el todos los riesgos que mi ministerio exige¨ Monseñor Romero
I will not leave my people, I will run all the risks that my ministry implies.

Nancy

3 23 2011 Thoughts on Solidarity and Hope

Standing in the front of the church where Romero preached and was assessinated March 1980 we all choose a word in memory of Romero, my word was hope, here are some thoughts on hope and solidarity

Stories and wounds that remind us
Stories and wounds that connect us
Hope
Inner Strength
Community
Faith
Stories and wounds that heal and remind us
Community that supports us
Solidarity
What does the future hold?
Stronger together
We step forward
We see a future
With hope and solidarity more promising

Elsbeth

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

3 22 2011 A Model for Learning and Living in Solidarity

Delegations can be double edged but at their best leave you inspired and redeemed.  Today was like that.  We began with an interview with Sister Peggy O´Neill, who has been in the country since 1986, working in a refugee camp and then in a small town north of here occupied during the war by returned refugees and several hundred soldiers.   She helped the civilians endure hunger, violence and attrocities in that period and continues working there while being a Professor of Theology at the UCA (University of Central America).  She runs the Casa de Solidaridad at the UCA, which hosts American students for a semester of study and work in El Salvador.  She gave a stunning discourse on her experiences and approach to life and service, speaking of solidarity in facing hunger with a person who was sharing her last food, and of humanity´s need to make each life an echo of the big bang.  She also spoke of being committed to the ongoing struggle of addressing the countriy´s problems, and of the value in metaphorically storing wisdom and experience for use later in life.  It´s little wonder that she has inspired many of her students, including our delegaton leaders, to continue working here.  We were awestruck.

Later in the day we visited the Romero Center at the UCA to view the story and place of the 6 Jesuits´ murders in 1989.  We followed with an interview with Jesuit Fr. and Professor Dean Brackley, who came to the UCA shortly afterward and has worked tirelessly for human rights in El Salvador.  This talk was similarly stunning, ranging from women´s rights to the politics of Liberation Theology in the Catholic church.  Delegations are double edged in that one gets to meet and talk intimately with exceptional, committed people who have made profound sacrifices in their work here, but asks ´´what can we do?´´  How can we measure up?   Sister Peggy, in touching on experiences while focusing on her approach to life, and Father Brackley´s call to discern one´s deepest vocation ' that which one can look back on and say ¨my life mattered¨  point to a path, and provide some of our best moments here.

Chris

3 21 2011 Gender and Mental Health insights

On Monday in the afternoon we visited the wonderful campus of UCA (University of Central America) and had a session on Gender and Economics. Julia Evelyn Martinez, former minister of Women´s affairs now at UCA shared her insights and available statics on the challenges women face in El Salvador today.

Julia shared how the issues and the solution needs to be looked at from both political, women´s rights and economic perspective. Specifically women in rural areas face multiple challenges in having to manage multiple roles and jobs, while facing high rates of sexual asaults, low percentage of ¨¨property ownership and economic security. Also representation of women in government is quite low, lower than 10 years ago, which makes change and advocy for women´s issues more difficult. Hope is seen in women´s movements connecting together and focusing across the economic stability, human rights improvements for women and political participation.

Later we met at Guest House El Torogoz with Oti Guardado on Mental Health after Trauma´s related to war and current health related traumas. She related to us her journey and the journey of several martyrs and the mental emotional impact on the survivors facing so much death, torture and fear around them. Oti is working with groups and individuals on sessions processing their experiences and focusing on balanced mind, body, spirit energy work to strenghten their inner balance and reintegrate hope and healing in their life.

An inspiring and informative day. We ended with group meditation, healing and breathing reflections grounded in our learnings and feelings being together in solidarity in El Salvador. We felt connected and shared the healing energy with those we met and are still to meet. We shared our thoughts and despite the real challenges, fears and work ahead we felt grateful, thankful, inspired, hopeful with the people of El Salvador and our delegation.

Elsbeth

Monday, March 21, 2011

Online Journalist, Fear, Hope. President Obama and Michelle Here Tomorrow

Worship yesterday at the church, Madre Maria de los Pobres in the very poor neighborhood of La Chacra, was very inspiring and joyous in many ways. Several of the young  people read Scripture, others were in the choir and band, and the church was full.  Padre Luis spoke without notes in a warm way.  His message was how Jesus helps us overcome fear and live in hope  When he prepared for communion, he exchanged smiles and gave a friendly pat to one of the two men assisting him.  When we were passing the peace, I went up to pass the peace to Padre Luis and he gave me a very warm hug. Later he gave warm hugs to others in the church.

Today Carlos Dada, who was a Knight Fellow at Stanford University and came to one of our SBSC events, told us of his work getting his online weekly newspaper, El Faro, started.   He and his team do indepth reports and challenge people to be informed readers.  Carlos told us that El Salvador is the most violent country in the world in terms of the number of murders in ratio to the population and impunity is a major reason for this.  There are various ways to fight impunity in addition to convicting and sending people to prison.  El Faro works to show people who were guilty of terrible crimes so that some of them or others will feel embarassed or sad and guilty about what  they did.  Carlos hopes that more good people will loose their fear and will work to change things and make a difference. 

El Salvador is looking forward to the visit of President Obama and Michelle tomorrow and the next day.  This is an extraordinary visit in many ways including that the Obamas will go to the cathedral and visit the tomb of martyred Archbishop Oscar Romero.  Before this the US supported the right wing ARENA government that was founded by the intellectual author of the assassination of Archbishop Romero. Salvadorans are excited about his visit and have a heart connection with Obama.
Rather than focusing on problems, El Faro is investigating the 5 municipalities where there have been no murdres in last years and are reporting on good things that are happening in those municipalities.  The findings are impressive and help people overcome their fear and live in hope! 

This delegation is a great joy in many ways!

Arlene

Sunday, March 20, 2011

3-20-11 Maria de los Pobres and learning about Cabanas

Today we visited a marginal neighborhood in San Salvador named La Chacra. While in La Chacra we attended mass at Maria de los Pobres Church and talked with Padre Luis, walked around the neighborhood, and then met with one of the parish leaders named Milagro. After having lunch at Alfalit Guest House we met with attourney Hector Berrios and Supreme Court Justice Mirna Perla.

In La Chacra there are numerous people who have built up houses on the banks of one of San Salvador´s most contaminated rivers. During our walk through the neighborhood we stopped to look at the river and the shack like houses built up the sides of the river bank. From our vantage point I was able to notice piles of garbage and plastic in the river and there was this yellowish foam collecting around the trash. What shook me most was the color of the water, itself. The water was brick red and even purple in some parts. I cannot even conceive how water could become that color in such quantity. It is obscenely tangible evidence of the environmental issues still going on in El Salvador.

To further understand the environmental (and social) issues in El Salvador we met with Hector Berrios who shared his personal and professional stories about the mining crisis in the northern department of Cabañas. Something that struck me about this issue is that under CAFTA (Central American Free Trade Agreement) El Salvador is required to allow transnational companies (namely from the US) to mine for metal in El Salvador despite the proven environmental consequences. One huge environmental consequence is the contamination of the Lempa River with toxins such as arsenic and heavy metals. The Lempa River flows through 70% of the country and is very much a life line for the people. To contaminate it in the north is to contaminate the entire river. This would deeply affect millions of Savaldorans and through CAFTA it is completely legal.

Thinking about the pollution in La Chacra, the utter disregard for human well being displayed in Cabañas, and the coming visit of President Obama weighs pretty heavy on my mind. Our (the US) involvement in these issues is emense. During this evening´s reflection we were instructed to write some thoughts about today´s experiences. Mine came out, roughly, in the form of a poem.

Daughter, Sister, Mother, Grandmother, Auntie.
Have you seen the colors of your river?
Water flows brick red and purple over piles of trash,
Foam trapped amongst the plastic.
How does water become this?
That which I thought gave life
Leaves namely death in its wake.
Do you liken us to your river?
Big Brother America pouring false love into your country,
parading our purplish brick red presence.
Big Brother is always watching
And yet somehow we´ve failed to see a G-d damned thing.
But I saw your river.
Daughter, I have seen your river.
Sister, I see your river.
Mother, I have seen you.
Auntie, I have seen you.
Grandmother, I see you.

Lindsay.

Saturday 3-19-11 San Salvador

Saturday morning we arrived at the guest house, got our room assignments, and had our first meeting with our leaders, Rosie and Danny. During the meeting we discussed the week´s schedule, health and safety rules, and what we could expect during our stay in El Salvador. After that we had lunch which was amazing. I have been dreaming of Salvadoran tortillas since our last trip down here!

After a rest period we went, by coaster, to the Salvador del Mundo Plaza. Salvador del Mundo is a monument to the patron saint of El Salvador, who is in fact Jesus. The monument is one of the biggest in San Salvador. Once there we joined the multitudes of pople who had already gathered and began the 3 mile candle light procession to the National Cathedral in honor of the anniversary of the assasination of Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero. We participated in this same procession last year and it was, by far, one of my favorite parts of the trip. This year it was no different. The feeling of legitmacy I felt while participating in such an emotionally charged celebration pf this country´s national hero is unlike anything I´ve ever experienced. I feel like in the States there is such a focus on being ¨number 1¨in some fashion, but I felt like my presence had much more worth walking as one of so many. I felt this especially during the chants.

Chanting and shouting and even jumping around are a big part of the celebration, especially for young people. I really enjoyed the chanting. For me, it really solidified the feeling of unity with the crowd. One of the chants was as follows,

caller, Romero Vive!      Romero Lives
crowd, La Lucha Sigue!    The Struggle Continues
caller, Romero Vive, Vive!     Romero lives, he lives
crowd, La Lucha Sigue, Sigue!     The Struggles goes on and on.

Lindsay

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Arrived safe in El Salvador

What an amazing welcome with 80 degree weather, welcomed by Danny of Voices on the Border at the airport. After a little delay and not quite enough sleep on the plane, our adventure and delegation has officially started.

We are enjoying our hospitality at our guesthouse in San Salvador, enjoying healthy lunch, getting to know eachother, and feeling truely grateful to be here together in solidarity with the people and their work on peace and justice.

The streets are clean and there are extra welcoming signs in anticipation of Pres. Obama later this week.
We are a little tired and will take some extra rest and water to acclimate. All is good.

Elsbeth

Friday, March 4, 2011

Cultural Enhancement Projects

Cultural Development and Enhancement Project
        Opportunity to be part of it!
Nineteen of us including 10 students from Stanford University are going on the South Bay Sanctuary Covenant March 2011 delegation to El Salvador. We are raising money to help people in our partner community Comunidad Octavio Ortiz and the other 28 communities of the United Communities of the Lower Lempa River enhance their cultural development.
 This project is a top priority for the United Communities. All of the 29 communities were formed after the civil war that ravaged El Salvador for over 12 years (1980 – 1992).  These communities are rural and poor and lack adequate access to health care and education.  Local youth are especially vulnerable to outside influences and some want to leave.  Communities want to ensure that youth are aware of their identity, proud of their culture, and will stay and be good citizens.
The project has four goals:
  • Improve the abilities of local citizens to understand and experience their culture;
  • Create open spaces that encourage independent civic participation at the local and national levels;
  • Increase the knowledge of culture in the Lower Lempa;
  • Decrease the influence of the materialistic culture around fashion and mega projects.
 
Activities under the project will include developing and strengthening local programs that promote theatre, dance, music, art, and other areas, as well as conserve their cultural heritage through documentation, historical memory projects, and a cultural study.   This will include a mural in our partner community.

 
Will you please help us with this wonderful community project?
Our goal is $3,000.  This will be TRIPLED by 2 Canadian support groups.
Please make a tax deductible check to University Lutheran/SBSC and mail to
South Bay Sanctuary Covenant
3290 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA 94306

We welcome prayers and/or positive thoughts that we may be channels of God’s love and justice and receive inspiration from those we are with.

Positive Thoughts in Preparation for our March 2011 Delegation

Prayers and/or Positive Thoughts and Visualization for
El Salvador Delegation

In support for and anticipation of our trip, please pray and/or have positive thoughts and visualization relating to our preparation for, time in El Salvador, and action when we return on our South Bay Sanctuary Covenant (SBSC) Delegation, led by Voices on the Border.

Many find it helpful to make prayers and thoughts positive – not asking for protection from potential dangers, but rather affirming and giving thanks/visualizing being protected and that our experience will be a blessing for all.  Here are suggestions of what to pray for/have positive visualizations about.  Please include whatever appeals to you and use wording with which you are comfortable.

1.  Thanks (God) that we on our delegation to El Salvador March 18/19 - 27 will be a blessing to each other, to those whom we meet, and to people in the US with whom we will share our experiences.

2.  Thanks (God) for Archbishop Oscar Romero, the way he followed Christ, cared for the poor and oppressed, spoke out against evil and the systems of evil, that he is living in his people now, and that we are celebrating Romero alive in his people on the 31st anniversary of his martyrdom, March 24, 2011.   (Delegation will participate in commemoration events of Archbishop Romero.)

3.  Thanks (God) that people of Cabañas (where activists were murdered in their peaceful struggle against metallic mining) are being helped to resist injustice, are being protected from killings, threats, and fears, and being given courage and faith.  Thanks that our SBSC delegation will meet with Hector Berrios, a young Salvadoran attorney in San Isidro, who has been a leader in the struggle for human rights and social justice in Cabañas. Hector was a close friend and colleague of Marcelo Rivera who was killed in June 2009. Together, they organized their community against Pacific Rim and efforts to mine gold, as well as a plan to open a landfill.  Hector, Marcelo and others organized community members to denounce election fraud by a network of mayors.

4.  Thanks (God) that the Spanish National Court is bringing a lawsuit against some Salvadoran military leaders for the massacre of the six Spanish Jesuit priests, which is a crime against humanity, and that this will help improve justice and human rights.  (Delegates will be at the UCA, the Jesuit University, see where the Jesuits were assassinated, hear why this happened, and the pending case.)

5.  Thanks (God) for wonderful hospitality by people in our partner community, Comunidad Octavio Ortiz, with whom we will spend two nights.  Thanks (God) that we are raising money which will enable people in our partner community Comunidad Octavio Ortiz and the other 28 communities of the United Communities of the Lower Lempa River to enhance their cultural development.

6.  Thanks (God) that we are being guided on how to be instruments for liberation from injustices and to be channels for human rights and love on our delegation and when we return.


From our last year's SBSC El Salvador Delegation

To get some context and history, here are some notes and pictures of our last year's delegation, enjoy, how greatful we are for the community in El Salvador hosting us.
http://www.sbscelsalvador2010.blogspot.com/

Getting Ready for our SBSC 2011 El Salvador Delegation

With only a few weeks to go we are looking forward to our 2011 SBSC El Salvador Delegation. 19 of us including 10 Students from Stanford Universitfy enrolled in the Liberation Theology and Struggle for Justice class and community members are joining in to visit El Salvador the end of March. We look forward to be in solidarity with the community in their work for justice and community development. What a great opportunity to learn, share and be together again. Some of us are looking forward to go for the first time, others to re-visit the wonderful communities in El Salvador and re-connect with the wonderful work in the communities.
Our partner organization is Voices on the Border, and we are grateful for the leadership and preparation they are putting in place to host our delegation again this year. Thank you!