El SALVADOR, FAMILIES, AND A BEGINNING

     The photograph of a “traditional” mission team often includes preachers, teachers and healthcare professionals. In contrast, our team to El Salvador was composed of parents and their children in search of opportunities for service and outreach.
     So it seemed a good omen when, at the airport, we were greeted with a huge sign that read, “El Salvador: Family Friendly.” The slogan actually describes an initiative to improve the health and safety of young children, evidenced by well-staffed health clinics.
     However, it was an orphanage and an island that captured our hearts.
     For three days, our team rocked the babies of single, teenage mothers, engaged winsome toddlers, and played pick-up soccer games with older residents that rivaled the intensity of World Cup finals. Our families left the orphanage, having affirmed and befriended those who headed back to their dormitories. Both groups parted with the hope of reunion.
     The final two days required transportation by boat. From a distance, the dense mangrove trees offered an illusion of paradise, but upon arrival, the island revealed an impoverished landscape. The comforts and conveniences we consider necessities were luxuries for those who lived there. That awareness triggered a wave of compassion and concern as powerful as the Pacific waves pounding the coast, but equally powerful was our encounter with a fisherman and his wife who graciously prepared lunch for their visiting strangers.
     Their insistence on a walking tour of the island revealed deep pride in their homeland, and their unrestrained laughter and sincere humility were as generous as the food at their table. The only empty chair at that table was reserved for Jesus, who was waiting to be invited.
     The question to be answered remains: “Did we make a difference?”
     The week in El Salvador was a season for planting. Relationships took root. Families from College Church of Christ began to clarify a vision for outreach, and that vision now belongs not only to parents but also to their children.
     We left with an open invitation to return, and we look forward to a trip in the near future, equipped to support young families and prepared to invite them to join the family of God.
                                                                             The Team to El Salvador