This trip was my second year going to El Salvador and coming back, I didn’t now what to expect.  I came away so changed last year by the Salvadorian people; it was the most amazing, life changing experience I had ever had. Never had I met a group of people with such strong faith, hope, and love,even despite the overwhelming poverty of their country. At the end of last year’s trip I thought I had developed a good understanding of poverty, the Salvadorian people, and their situations, and thought this year would have very similar experiences and lessons. This year, however, I saw that there was still so much I hadn’t yet learned or understood.  And that is what this year has given me, a deeper understanding of the Salvadorian people through their history of war, poverty, and never ending political corruption. An important understanding that allows me to better appreciate their still incredibly strong hope, faith, love, and determination even more than I had last year and also allows me to clearly see how blessed we truly are.

Lauren

There is really no way to grasp the intensity of the poverty under which the majority of Salvadorians live without going there and witnessing first hand the lives of those who must deal with poverty everyday. Upon our arrival to El Salvador, I did not know what to expect, and I was definitely not
prepared to witness what I saw there. On one day in particular, we were brought into the home of a family in the small town of Esquipulas. The house was extremely small, constructed of mud, scraps of wood and metal. The mother of the house invited us inside her home, where there was no electricity or running water, and explained that she had 6 children, only one of which was sponsored, and she informed us that the family of eight shared two beds. Under such horrible living conditions, this mother demonstrated incredible hospitality while we were touring her home. I was amazed at how happy and hopeful the Salvadorians were despite the little they had. They welcomed us into their town and their homes with open arms, making us feel at home. This hospitality is definitely not demonstrated in the United States. Their spirit and attitude towards life illustrates how you really do not need many material possessions to be happy, and it really made me grateful for everything I have back home. On this “Mission Awareness” trip, my eyes were opened to a part of the world that I was not fully aware of, and I am forever changed by this experience. I believe it is important to spread this awareness to others so that eventually, with increased awareness, we can join together and work towards helping the Salvadorians and other impoverished nations to recover.

Therese