CBC Youth Delegation to El Salvador 2007

Our 2007 CBC Youth Delegation of seven youth and five adults spent June 22 to June 29 in El Salvador. These are email reports that they youth sent back to CBC during their trip. More photos and stories will follow. The youth also set up a blog at www.youthdelegation.blogspot.com to record some of their year-long program of learning activities and fundraising efforts prior to the trip.

This most recent youth delegation builds on the foundation of our first youth-focused delegation in 2004 and represents a new era in our history when a new generation of young people receives the legacy of our justice commitments and make them their own.

June 24, 2007

Hola a todos! We arrived safely in San Salvador after 10 hours of travel, at 11:30 mountain time, ready to start a day of getting to know our host families. After lunch at a pupusaria, we were immediately spilt up into pairs (for the most part) to fend for ourselves against the anticipated language barrier. Fortunately this did not prove to be a difficulty at all, because our elementary Spanish was greatly surpassed by the friendliness and hospitality of our hosts. On Saturday we embarked for a funfilled day of games and getting to know each other with the youth of Shekina and Shalom at the Baptist school in Santa Ana. Old friendships were renewed and new friendships were forged as we explored the idea of "Unidos por la Esperanza" (united by hope). A group of youth painted a pair of crosses to illustrate this theme, one of which you will see at CBC soon. After one more evening spent with our host families we joined the Shekina community for worship, where we were called upon to sing for a third group song. Caroline preached an inspiring sermon. With stomachs full of Burger King, we visited a women´s cooperative in Chalchuapa, where we saw the machine that grinds corn into flour for tortillas which they purchased so that they no longer have to walk miles every day to use the one in the neighboring town, and spoke with them about their literacy program. Then it was back to the church for a party celebrating the birthdays of the members of Shalom and Shekina who were born in June and honoring professional workers. After that we came back to San Salvador to eat dinner together and to reflect on the weekend. We are spending the night together at the International House and we have a full day tomorrow which we will update you on as soon as possible.

Con cariño,

El Salvador Youth Delegation

June 27, 2007

¡Hola! Today´s summary will be short, though the day at times felt rather long. In the morning an economist came to teach us about the economic reality in El Salvador. Then we went to El Parque Cuzcatlan where there is a wall with the names of those murdered and disappeared during the war. We saw the name of Maria Cristina Gomez Gonzales, for whom there is a room named at CBC. Ron proceeded to tell us her story, and that of CBC´s connection with her, her son Nelson, and Ruth and Alex. After a short game of soccer we went to a parish with many projects going on to help the poor in the region. Afterwards, we met with an inner city youth group, where we were again called upon to sing after they presented traditional and modern Salvadoran dances. Miraculously, aside from a few stomachaches, no one has gotten sick. We thought those at home might like to hear about each of the youth personally, so each of us has written something short so that you know we´re still alive.

Hasta luego ,

El Salvador Youth Delegation

Kelsey: I am having SO MUCH FUN! I absolutely love it here. The people i´ve met have been so amazing to be with and although I haven´t left yet, I can´t wait to come back. Lucy wanted me to put in an upside down question mark in here "just for fun", so here it is: ¿

Lucy:It´s been wonderful to be back in El Salvador for a second time. I´ve been seeing and hearing things I wasn´t able to pick up on three years ago.

Matt: I am having fun here. I played soccer a lot the second day. That was a lot of fun and was the highlight for me so far.

Zach: Yo fam. The trip is going great; the weather and bugs aren´t as bad as I thought. I got to met a lot of really cool people and I´m enjoying time out of the house even though I miss the homies back home. See you soon. Love, Zach.

Tess: Hola, Papi y Molly!! The trip is pretty awesome. I made a couple friends and decided that next delegation I´m coming back and bringing Alana with me, even if I have to drag her on the plane. Te amo! -Tess

Adam: This week feels like a month. Wish you all could see what we´re doing. I hope you all and Jon are able to function normally in your lives without me. -Adam

Nora: This trip is amazing; i sometimes forget how much i love El Salvador. It is especially cool to be able to talk to people who don´t know English with relative ease. See you soon. (Gailjamin, my favorite song was on page 44 of the hymnal.)