Kaitlin Ramsbotham This trip has been absolutely amazing.  It was something none of us will ever forget. Something that touched me the most was the smiles you got from the people. They were so generous and truly happy to see us. At a town called Montinita the people had never seen Americans before so they didn’t know what to expect.  But they all welcomed us with open arms and were so excited to see us.  During the presentations a little girl smiled at me from across the way.  A smile so big that it took up her whole face.  She pushed her way through the crowd just to stand next to me. It didn’t matter that we went talking to each other, she was just happy to be with us.  It is an incredible feeling that we can bring so much hope and love to all of these people.  Just us being there makes so much of a difference. This trip teaches you so much, about hope, love, faith and determination.  It was an amazing experience that will last a life time.

Alana Doran:When you first try something its kind of like a test drive, that’s really what last year was for me. It was a painful reality of how other countries live. Going back again was like a breath of fresh air it was like going into something I thought I knew, little did I know I didn’t know much. When we returned to some of the places as last year that painful reality kicked in again, except much deeper. An example of this is when we visited the girls orphanage and seeing all the girls I saw last year, the reality was that there was nothing else to do but what we did, spent time with them. To me that wasn’t enough, I felt I could have done more and that I should have. I went into the orphanage with that feeling but those girls showed me that was all they needed and the painful reality wasn’t so painful. So I guess returning to experiences changes you, because I am changed

Christina Contelmo This week has been a life changing experience for me. The people we have visited on this trip were so welcoming and open to strangers. In America, many people would not do that, or even talk to strangers- especially from a different country. The week I have spent here holds so many great memories and as I look back, I see so many happy faces. When we visited all the communities and families, the people were so glad we were there to spend time with them, it didn’t really matter to the people if we brought anything for them or not. The El Salvadorian people are so grateful for what they have, and don’t care if they don’t have a TV to watch, a Gameboy to play with, or even an electric stove to cook with. They have hope, love, faith, and each other to guide them through life. I never thought that I would ever get the opportunity to help a country that has less than us, but with this mission trip I believe I have.

Lauren Olsen This past week has been such an amazing experience; there are no words that can truly describe it. It has changed my life and left me with stronger faith, friendships, and great memories that I will never forget. One of the things that really touched me during the trip was how strong the hope and faith of the people of El Salvador was.  Everywhere we visited, people welcomed us with open arms, put on presentations for us, and trusted us even though they had never met us before. I know that at home people would not treat complete strangers the same way and it really made me feel that we were welcome there. Now that the trip is over and I look back on all that I have seen, I understand the words of Oscar Romero, I alone cannot solve all the problems of El Salvador, but I can sponsor children and spread awareness.

LisaMarie Maher

This trip has truly been a life changing experience. After this week, I cannot possibly fathom how people in our country can have so much greed while the people here do not think twice about giving you the shirt off their back. We were so comfortable here, despite the petty inconveniences we were faced with. The hard part about being here is coming to the realization that you cannot save the world. We did however feel that we could contribute in some small way. I think anybody who went on this trip felt a sense of growth through poverty. We got much more than we bargained for coming here. As I said, many realized we can’t be super heroes and save the world, but maybe we can change one persons life for the better, and that is the most heroic thing anyone can ever do.

Joe Dorfmeister

There are not enough words to describe what I have experienced this past week.  This is my second year “retreating” in El Salvador and I still cannot sum up my feelings. You have to visit the country yourself in order to feel the way I do.  Although, there are some events that occurred during the past week that I will never forget. Visiting the orphanage in Chalchuapa again made me understand that we are all a family-that we all have so much in common.  It is a universal language that connects us to one another. Not only did I connect with the Salvadoran people, but with each and every group member that went on this trip.  I wish I could change the way life is for the impoverished in this world.  I know that I have, no matter how small it was. Faith, hope, and love is the key.

Joe Walsh

Before I came to El Salvador, I knew that poverty existed in the world, but I always thought of it as just another problem that would eventually work itself out—something distant that I would never have to deal with.  But, after visiting this beautiful country, I began to see poverty as a very real thing in our world. We visited small, leaky homes that oftentimes housed entire families.  We traveled to a modest orphanage filled with parentless children. Nevertheless, we quickly learned that though these people are far from rich in money or material possessions, they are filled with faith, hope, and love, and in the end, that is most important.  Now, in following with their example of true compassion, it is our job to care for them. In the worlds of Oscar Romero: though no one can do everything, everyone can do something.  I look forward to returning next year to do my “something” for the wonderful people of El Salvador.

Stephen Campos

This week has been just a great time all around. You learn so much from everyone. The people of El Salvador show you such generosity,love,hope,faith. You definetley would not feel any of that at home with complete strangers.  But not these people they are amazing.  It was my second year. I thought it would be a lot like last year.  But I was wrong you have so many new encounters and go through so many new things.  You bond with people so much. Not just the people of el Salvador but the people that you stay with.  Even though you cant change the whole country in a day. Just a little bit at a time can help.  I cant wait for next year and the experiences I will have.

Christopher Papocchia

When I first left for this trip I thought I would be going to help people. Instead I was helped so much by these people.  There religion and faith is so strong it helped me to discover a greater belief in God and Jesus.  At the same time that my religion was deepened I had a great time helping the people and spending time with a crazy group of missionaries. This week truly was the greatest week of my life, and I am definitely going back next year.  I’m doing this because I now truly believe that these people for the most part live their lives the way Jesus envisioned it should be lived, and to be part of that is all I can ask.

Matt Milligan

Well, I am now presented with an impossible task: explaining to you all an experience that no words can describe.  All the communities we visited, all the people we met, and all the laughs that we shared made the trip an experience too great for me to do any justice describing in such a small space.  With that in mind, I would just like to mention the immeasurable love, hope, and faith that the El Salvadorian people possess. Despite their extreme poverty, they proudly welcomed us into their homes and communities with gifts and presentations for us all.  We were treated like family by complete strangers, and the smiles of gratitude that we saw on the faces of all the people we met were the most genuine and warming I have ever seen. Although we were thanked by all the people we met, I felt as though we should be the ones thanking them, for showing us what true love and faith really is.  I am forever changed by what I have witnessed on this trip, and I truly hope to be returning here in a year’s time.