The 2017 El Salvador team is in the community of Getsemani this week as part of Myers Park Presbyterian’s renewed partnership with Habitat for Humanity El Salvador. Follow along with their work all week here on the blog!
Ensuring the last few inches of depth
Friday marked our final day on the job site, building a house for Luis Miguel and his family. We mostly finished the two holes for the septic tanks, both six feet deep. We also established a full concrete footing for the house, enough to start placing rebar, the metal frame that braces the foundation when, not if, an earthquake occurs. And all of a sudden, it’s time to leave.
How did such a slow week pass so quickly? We haven’t completely hit the needed six feet on both holes. We have more concrete to mix to place the finished rebar. We didn’t get a chance to say goodbye to Luis Miguel because he had to work on Friday. Backs were aching, but leaving the site felt weird… and bittersweet.
We came down the hillside for a couple more activities in the village however. First, we were welcomed into the Getsemani community center, having lunch and then a closing ceremony with the Habitat El Salvador leadership team. Ali Price represented our group beautifully, thanking our Habitat partners, our masons, the co-op ladies, and all who had supported us this week. We’ve only spent a few days with these people, but still, the goodbyes were difficult.
Next came, perhaps, one of the best parts of the week. Kendall had planned a party for the community children. We were all initially so tired, dirty and certainly emotionally drained. But suddenly, in walked about 50 kids, sweet and bright-eyed and ready to play. These kids were awesome! They were sweet and grateful and open and so excited to play all kinds of games with us. What had all the makings of another chore at the end of a hard week, turned out to be a highlight of the trip. Maybe this is the just the beginning of a beautiful relationship. Funny how God snuck that one in on us!
One last time, we loaded up our dusty bodies and gear onto our bus. Many tears were shed, even if some were hidden beneath sunglasses. Both sides, El Salvadoran and American, continue to have skin in the game.
Back at our hotel, we gathered for a final dinner meal. But this one seemed different. More celebratory of sorts. Our hosts at the Casa de Mamapan have been incredible all week. And just when all the surprises seem to have finished, a full mariachi band appeared in our dining hall, yet another treat from the hotel staff! So much fun!
Finally, our evening devotional included a communion service led by pastor Derek. Bittersweet, too, knowing this would be his last service with our team. Our scripture passage came from the gospel of John:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many chambers; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going” (John 14:1-4)
We are reminded of the passage that “chamber” can take many forms in our language. Certainly, chambers can mean “rooms.” But, as Derek explained, it can also relate to the sections of our hearts. Perhaps this is what Jesus was saying. And in our week full of lasting impressions, we have all searched to find the chambers here in El Salvador… in the faces of the children, in the exhaustion of our teammates, and in the holiness despite poverty. Without question, our hearts and chambers are forever changed.
Muchas Gracias, El Salvador. Until we meet again.
En Paz!