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 NEW GLARUS, Wis. By Marian Viney What do Alegría, Usulután, El Salvador, and New Glarus, Wisconsin, USA, have in common? A group of adults and youth who can’t deny the connection and travel to the Alegría area, each year since 2001 to connect with the people who were devastated by a series of earthquakes. The common theme is hope! “We are building cinderblock homes for families that have no running water, no electricity, outdoor bathrooms, and where 8 to 10 members of a family may live in one of these cinderblock homes,” said Carl Marquart, one of the adults going to El Salvador. “This is paradise to them.” Marquart explained that prior to this the same family might be living in a plastic tent - four stakes in the ground with a sheet of plastic draped over the top. “This might be the first home that these families have since the earthquake in 2001,” said 17-year old Brendan Pittman from New Glarus, who will be traveling to El Salvador for the second time on January, 24, 2009. “Building these homes is where our muscles come in.” This month, the group will be building two homes and painting twenty more and a community center. During past missions, the group helped build a chicken coop, a library, and a greenhouse, and they also distributed food and clothing. Marquart commented that each of these homes costs approximately $4500 in materials and each of the families are responsible for at least 10 percent of the cost. “Members of the families work right alongside of us during the building process,” said Marquart. Altogether, there will be 13 traveling from New Glarus, 6 from Oshkosh, 2 from Belleville, 1 from Madison and 3 from Illinois. Alegría, Usulután, is a municipality in El Salvador. Located at approximately 1200 meters above sea level, the municipality’s cool climate lends itself to many thriving local plant nurseries, some of which specialize in tropical flowers such as Birds of paradise, anthuriums, orchids, and varieties of bromelias. The town is famous for its volcanic lake, the Alegría Laguna, which is a national protected area. On January 13, 2001, an earthquake struck El Salvador. The quake had a magnitude of 7.6 which was later estimated to be 7.7 or 7.9. At least 844 people were killed, 4723 were injured and 108,226 houses were destroyed and another 113,416 houses were damaged. As of February 2, 2001, more than 2500 aftershocks hit El Salvador, leading to additional damage. Clean water and sanitation became a matter of grave concern in many areas due to the earthquake’s destruction of some $7 million to municipal drinking water systems, and tens of thousands of people were living outdoors in spite of the approaching rainy season. Government and public health organizations warned of the possible spread of disease as desperate people began to scavenge debris piles - some containing severed human limbs - looking for items they could pawn to purchase needed food and other commodities. If this wasn’t enough, on February 13, another quake struck, measuring 6.6. At least 315 people were killed, 3399 injured, and extensive damage occurred to the already devastated area. Landslides occurred in many areas of El Salvador. El Salvador is a country in Central America"Central America. Its name is Spanish for “The Savior,” the person who saves, referring to Jesus Christ. El Salvador has more people per square kilometer than any other country in the Americas, except islands - about 6.7 million people live there. The country also has more industry than any other country in Central America. Most of the population is mestizo, a mixture of European and American people. The second part of the group’s mission is to present to the children of San Salvador, Rio Los Bueyes, San Rafael and Talpetates, the program “All God’s Children.” More than 100 Families from the New Glarus area sponsor a child for $150 per year. This allows the children to be fed, clothed, and go to school for one year. “We bring packets of toothpaste, clothes, gifts, books, and letters from the sponsoring families,” said Marquart. “In return, we take letters from the children back to the sponsoring families.” Pittman also explained that the group interacts with the children with one person being a clown and others making balloon animals. “We’re not only building homes, we’re building relationships,” said Pittman. Marquart also explained that the group doesn’t always finish what they set out to do each year, “but we return each year to do what we can to help the people of Alegría.” Pittman recalled an experience with last year’s trip. On the morning of January 9, 2008, leaders from the rural community of Las Casitas in the municipality of Alegría, Usulután, waited for the arrival of their mayor and his staff to discuss the construction of a soccer field in their community. But Moises Funes, the 31-year-old mayor from the FMLN party, never arrived. Just before reaching the community, a man in a truck waved for help, explaining that he was lost. Upon stopping the car, Funes was shot and killed along with his companion in the mayor’s office, Zulma Rivera, 22, chief of the Institutional Purchasing and Hiring Unit for the city. In following days, the atmosphere in this small town was one of mourning and sadness. More than 5000 people came out for his funeral. A mayor who had been truly loved was now lost forever. “Here was a highly respected individual who worked for peace, who worked for and worked alongside the people just to help the poorest of the poor people,” said Pittman. It was in the days following the murder that the group from the Swiss Church traveled to Alegría. “The people in Alegría were thrilled that we still made the trip - that we didn’t give up hope,” said Marquart. Upon his return to New Glarus, Pittman said that when a person takes a trip like this he or she will undoubtedly be changed. “When my friends are whining about silly things, I take a step back and realize how very lucky I am,” said Pittman. “The life lesson here is spreading the mission of peace and giving.” Marquart mentioned that many benefit to the mission to Alegría. “Definitely we get to connect with the people of El Salvador and we also connect with each other and ourselves,” said Marquart. When we travel it isn’t all work either, mentioned Pittman. There is pillow talk, soccer, we eat native food, we travel into rural areas, spend some time in the cities touring churches, museums, and universities. “We really get to know the culture and the people,” said Pittman. Each individual traveling with the group is responsible for his or her airfare and housing during the trip, which is roughly $900, explained Marquart. Kris Penniston from Belleville traveled to Alegría last year. She traveled to El Salvador one other time on a health care mission when the country was nearing the end of a war. “What I found in comparing the two trips is that the country hadn’t changed much,” said Penniston. “I was still struck by the poverty and the devastation from the earthquakes, war, and the political unrest yet the people are still full of hope - their determination is an inspiration.” Penniston added that it helped understand how privileged we are. “We travel to this country and we work hard for a week and come home,” commented Penniston. “These people work hard every day - one family walked two kilometers for their daily water and then carried it two kilometers back to their home.” Penniston also hopes to continue traveling with many members of the group back to El Salvador. “There are some risks when traveling outside of our comfort zone,” said Penniston. But to see the young and the old working hard together learning to appreciate each other’s experiences is another gift that one receives from the journey.” Throughout the year members of the church raise funds through mission baskets, pie sales, brat stands, and the support of the Swiss United Church. If you are interested in supporting the Swiss United Church of Christ’s mission to Alegría, El Salvador, please make a check out to the Swiss United Church of Christ - El Salvador or if you have any questions, please contact Carl Marquart, Janette Streiff, or the Swiss United Church of Christ’s office personal at 608.527.2119, or email: faith@swisschurch.org.
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