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"When you go home, share your story, so that it won't just be your story anymore..." Marina, Habitat El Salvador
We said farewell to Los Buenos today. It's bittersweet to say goodbye to these families that have opened their doors and opened our hearts.
It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining, and a slight breeze would waft through once in awhile. It was the day of painting- we painted the three houses these bright Carribean colors. It gives them a look close to completion, which gives us a sense of accomplishment. As we worked alongside the families, you could see the pride and excitement as they tell us these are their houses. It won't be long, perhaps just weeks, before they will be able to move in. We can only hope they continue to feel the love that went into each step of the house-building process, the labor from their hands and the sweat from these volunteers not used to working this hard.
We were pleased and surprised to have a surprise visit from Pastor Carlos and Pastor Wilma, the pastors of Cristo Rey Church, the parish where we worshiped our previous two years in El Salvador. They spent some time talking to Pastor Bre and Paul about their hopes for the future within their congregation. There has been an effort amongst previous volunteers to build a new church and 15 homes for their parishioners. This is very exciting for their small congregation.
We worked until lunchtime, when it was time to start the fiesta. The children have been hinting to such a party all week. The boys were so funny, telling each of us chicas that their amigos wanted to dance with us. There was a traditional Salvadoran band, which is Mayan-influenced music. We were able to make pupusas with the senoras of the community. There was a mariachi band. And everyone, families we hadn't seen all week, came to the fiesta. There was a presentation of diplomas to our team. There was endless recognition for our volunteerism, which is so humbling when we feel like we all gained so much from this week. Each of the three masons, Saul, Jovel, and Cesar prayed for us for a safe trip home. And everyone who spoke to us reminded us to come back and see the community. And you know when they say, "Come back, visit us, our home is your home," they really mean it. As we loaded into the van to leave the community, they all followed us. As we drove down the road and looked back you could see them all following the van, waving goodbye. How could we be this lucky to land in such a special place?
May I remember this feeling in my heart forever.
"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in." -Matthew 25:35
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