The journey is young yet but I'm beginning to think that my incessant pep talks were a little over kill. After my initial panic I had at the airport, I thought the group had landed and left without me, El Salvador has been wonderful. The people are pleasant, the food is good and the group's energy is high but respectful to the Salvadorians. We even have a police escort that turns on its lights and makes the traffic stop anytime we get to an intersection...totally awesome. Alvaro, the director of ESNA, is really concerned about Brittannie and I getting into a program we love and can do great at.
The group that I am with is going to be here for 7 days total. During this time they are really focusing on learning about the history and the culture of El Salvador. This is great for me because the first week I am here I get a crash course or El Salvador history. I've crammed in so much history and knowledge about El Salvador in the last 3 days I hope that I don't start to forget it.
Right now the group is focusing on El Salvador during the war years, late 1970s to 1992. I've been told that one man, Monsenor Oscar A. Romero, represents Salvadorians hope for equality and justice more than any other man. Romero was the archbishop of El Salvador during the beginning of the Civil War. He spoke out against poverty, assassinations, torture and the extreme social injustice that permeated Salvadorian society. Alvaro, our tour guide and all around guy to ask, said that every Sunday when Romero would broadcast his messages the entire country would be quiet. Everyone would huddle around radios to listen to his message. In November 1980 the government thought that Romero was too subversive and they decided to assassinate him.
As Romero reached out to grab the Eucharist he was shot in the heart by a man standing by the doors of the church. A few days later over 100, 000 people gathered in the central square of San Salvador for Romero's funeral. Today Romero's picture adorns walls, his face is painted on street corners and women and children proudly wear shirts embellished with Romero quotes.
Romero is going to be a big inspiration to me while I am here. As I try to emulate his selflessness and desire to be surrounded by people instead of locked away in a sterilized reality. I'm going to try to do as Romero did, spend real time with the people I came to help in order to see life through their eyes and realize what they really need.
"Debo decirle que, como cristiano, no creo en la muerte sin resurrección: Si me matan, resucitaré en el pueblo salvadoreño."
"I do not believe in death without resurrection. If they kill me I will rise again in the people of El Salvador."
The group that I am with is going to be here for 7 days total. During this time they are really focusing on learning about the history and the culture of El Salvador. This is great for me because the first week I am here I get a crash course or El Salvador history. I've crammed in so much history and knowledge about El Salvador in the last 3 days I hope that I don't start to forget it.
Right now the group is focusing on El Salvador during the war years, late 1970s to 1992. I've been told that one man, Monsenor Oscar A. Romero, represents Salvadorians hope for equality and justice more than any other man. Romero was the archbishop of El Salvador during the beginning of the Civil War. He spoke out against poverty, assassinations, torture and the extreme social injustice that permeated Salvadorian society. Alvaro, our tour guide and all around guy to ask, said that every Sunday when Romero would broadcast his messages the entire country would be quiet. Everyone would huddle around radios to listen to his message. In November 1980 the government thought that Romero was too subversive and they decided to assassinate him.
As Romero reached out to grab the Eucharist he was shot in the heart by a man standing by the doors of the church. A few days later over 100, 000 people gathered in the central square of San Salvador for Romero's funeral. Today Romero's picture adorns walls, his face is painted on street corners and women and children proudly wear shirts embellished with Romero quotes.
Romero is going to be a big inspiration to me while I am here. As I try to emulate his selflessness and desire to be surrounded by people instead of locked away in a sterilized reality. I'm going to try to do as Romero did, spend real time with the people I came to help in order to see life through their eyes and realize what they really need.
"Debo decirle que, como cristiano, no creo en la muerte sin resurrección: Si me matan, resucitaré en el pueblo salvadoreño." "I do not believe in death without resurrection. If they kill me I will rise again in the people of El Salvador."
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