Exciting News!

It is an exciting month for Calvary and our partners in El Salvador. We are sending our second team to El Salvador next week! More on that soon….

Also, it is that time again…Calvary’s Got Talent! The third annual talent show to raise funds for the Shalom Scholarship fund will be October 23rd. If you want to sign-up, now is the time! Just email (leelaura at gmail.com) and tell us how you’d like to participate.

Gracias

As the year draws to a close, we want to thank everyone who contributed to the Shalom Scholarship program. Because of your hard work and generosity, ten students in El Salvador will continue their education in 2011. We shattered our earlier fundraising records and exceeded our 2010 goal of $10,000. From the talent show to the luncheon to the Good Friday concert to the bake and craft sales to the personal donations, you have done extraordinary work. We are so grateful for all of your contributions. Many, many thanks and best wishes for the new year!

 

Talent Show Raises Money for Scholarships!

Where can you see dog tricks, the gutting of a fish and traditional dancing from El Salvador? You guessed it: Calvary’s Second Annual Talent Show. With over 15 unique acts and delicious lunch prepared by members of the Latino community, the show was a delightful fundraising activity for the Shalom Scholarship Fund.

Check out the pics here

Shalom Scholarship Luncheon THIS SUNDAY!!

Please join us THIS SUNDAY July 18th at 12:30pm for the 11th annual Shalom Scholarship Luncheon at Calvary Baptist Church (755 8th St NW, Washington, DC, near the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro). This year, for the very first time, we will have scholarship recipients from El Salvador who will share about how the funds have helped them attain their education! We will share delicious food and hear special music as well.

Tickets are only $10 and ALL of the money goes directly to scholarships (We have no administrative costs!)

The scholarship is designed to enable students in El Salvador to finish high school and go to college. “Shalom” is a Hebrew word meaning peace, welfare, safeness, hope, happiness and completeness.  The Scholarship is also called “Calmecac”  - the Mayan name for a school.

History: The scholarship was started in 1999 by Calvary member Laura Beth Blythe-Goodman as a school project. Laura Beth was in Cadette Girl Scouts (8th grade) in the spring of 1999 and wanted to do a project to earn her Silver Award- the second highest award in Girl Scouting.  She thought about collecting school supplies for children in El Salvador. She spoke with Pastor Edgar and his wife, Amparo, about this idea.  They were really excited and talked to her quite a bit about the challenges facing children in El Salvador.  As they talked, the idea of the scholarship emerged. Soon, Laura Beth organized a dinner and program to educate Calvary members about the challenges of education in El Salvador- particularly for children in our sister church, Shalom Baptist.  Laura Beth worked with the WMS to set up the scholarship fund.  The Latino Fellowship worked very hard to plan and make the meal – Roberto Reyes has been an instrumental part of the cooking since the beginning of the program almost 11 years ago!  In the first year, the program raised $4,000.

Despite all expectations that it would be a one-time event, the next year, Laura Beth started asking when Calvary could host the next dinner.  Of course, Pastor Edgar was happy to oblige. The annual dinner was moved to July and, with the support of Pastor Amy,  became part of the traditional “Christmas in July” celebration at Calvary.  Calvary also supports the scholarship through the Shalom Coffee project which sells organic fair-trade coffee.

Over the years, the program has supported three to eight students each year.  Some have had to take breaks to earn money for their family or for other personal reasons.  We have also celebrated three graduates: Armando Guerrero with a degree in business administration; Consuelo Hernandez with a degree in Social Work; and Lupita Torres with a degree in Education and further studies in pedagogy.  We have three current recipients: Isaias Cantarely, son of Pastor Fito, who is studying computer sciences; Magaly Cantarely, who is studying architecture; and her sister Emely Cantarely.

Administration: We are incredibly blessed to have Xochitl Palacios as the program administrator in San Salvador. Xochitl manages the funds, collaborates with the students and supports their efforts (even attending their graduations!) She is the eyes, ears and heart of Calvary and she translates the support of Calvary to every student. All of her efforts are pro bono so every penny goes to the program. The Scholarship is an exceptional program because it has NO administrative costs. All of the funding goes directly to the students. We are so grateful for Xochitl’s hard work and dedication to the students!

Future: As you can tell, the program has grown significantly in the last ten years. Our goal for 2010 is to raise $10,000 which will enable 10 students to attend school. If you would like to contribute, please click here and select “Shalom Scholarship fund” from the drop-down menu. Thank you for your support and please check back soon for upcoming fundraisers and more information about current scholarship recipients!

March for America, Shalom Scholarship and Calvary Statement on Immigration

This blog started as a way to document the trip to El Salvador last year. I’d like to broaden the focus a bit to include more about our ongoing relationships with the Salvadoran communities both in DC and El Salvador. There have been several exciting updates!

In March, members of the Calvary congregation joined Pastor Edgar Palacios and 200,000 others in the March for America. We supported a call for immigration reform. Specifically, we want policies that will treat individuals in the immigration system fairly and humanely. It was a beautiful and amazing gathering of people from all backgrounds and walks of life. Over 40 Calvary members attended. Pics below.

Just this week, Pastor Edgar and Xochitl lead a retreat of the Shalom scholarship students in El Salvador. See a few pics from their fun and educational time!

Back in DC, the Mission and Christian Education Boards of Calvary recently adopted this statement:

With full awareness and appreciation for the richness of our differing perspectives, we affirm our belief that all people, regardless of country of origin, nationality, race or legal status, are children of God and should be treated with dignity and respect. We welcome newcomers from different countries and recognize their contributions to Calvary. We affirm that their presence enriches the congregation of Calvary and we pledge to follow Paul’s instruction to “Welcome one another, just as Christ has welcomed you, to the glory of God” (Romans 15:7). To that end, we support practices that respect the value and worth of every individual and we advocate for humane and just treatment of every person in the context of immigration.

Stay tuned for more updates!

Reflections: Carol

Today’s Reflection is by Carol Blythe.

Our last stop on our trip to the state of Morazan was at El Mozote. Morazan is a mountainous region which borders Honduras.and much of the fighting during the war happened in this area. On the way to El Mozote we drove up mountainous roads and continued to be awed by beautiful views of mountains, valleys, farms, and small villages. And, as in the rest of the country, we also see many people as we pass through towns and villages, farms and country-side. This little country is filled with people, including many beautiful children. We arrived late in the day at El Mozote which had been site of a terrible massacre. The army had told many people in the area to come to El Mozote and they would be safe as operations were going to occur in the surrounding country-side. Instead of being safe, however, the army killed all the people who were gathered there. Our guide shared stories of that day that were just horrific. Only a few of the stones of the original church are left, but a new church has been built there with a beautiful mural on a side along with a “Garden of Innocents” remembering the children that died there. The mural begins with dark blue colors, as the killings happened in the night. The mural, however, moves from that dark panel along a rainbow onto panels that are lighter in color. The mural includes mostly images of children but also images of lightening bugs. The people said the day after the killings, they saw many lightening bugs in the area where they had never seen them before and they imagined they were the souls of the innocent children. The site is heart-breaking and at the same time, the mural and garden are beautiful. Then we proceeded to the kiosk where the women of El Mozote sell hand-crafted items. One of the people there told Rick that the site was deserted for a few years, but then many relatives of those who were killed have moved back and re-established the town. While we spent time in the kiosk, others in our group shared temporary tattoos of animals on the hands and arms of the children. Looking down the small street, you could see other children playing soccer at a field just on the edge of town. We also saw people in small stores and a some youth gathered at the “FMLN Revolutionary Youth” site. People were also sitting outside houses and talking to one another. This town was full of life. Eric talked about it being a sign of resurrection. And it is. But at the same time, how do we face the fact that there is an aching absence of those children and adults who died that day? How do we face the fact that many of the guns were provided by our own country to the Salvadoran army and many of the leaders of the massacre were trained at US army facilities? What is our call as we return to the US? — how can we do justice, how can we do mercy for the people of El Mozote and El Salvador? — how can we walk humbly with our God? I am grateful for this group I have traveled with — we have become a community committed to this partnership with the people we have met in El Salvador. I am grateful for the leadership of Edgar, Eric, Amparito, Xochitl, and Laura. I treasure comments made and questions asked by my fellow travelers, David & Gina, Josh, Sam, Amelia, and Rick. I look forward to struggling together to answer those difficult questions and I look forward to more laughter as we do so. At the end of the trip, I can sum up the El Salvador trip as being a time filled with learning about difficult and painful experiences and a time filled with beauty and laughter. On Friday, Oct 16 we traveled on a road used during the war for violence that has now been re-named the Route of Peace. In our devotional booklet for that same Friday, the verses Eric has included echo our experiences in El Mozote: “A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way . . . . . and the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Isaiah 35: 8, 10, May it be so, and may we help it to be so.

Reflections: Josh

Today’s reflection comes from Josh Keller: 

I feel honored to have served a week with my fellow members of Calvary in El Salvador.    I admit some parts of the week stretched me farther than others.  Listening to the ocean waves was much easier to take in vice the stories of injustice and life claimed by the ignorance of hate. 

The history of this country and what they had been though was a lot to wrap my head around but I also felt hope with witnessing many acts of humanitarian compassion on this trip.  God is found in these moments, the church community providing food for those who have not, the pastor who loves his youth so much he would drive them an hour for a possible scholarship, and a group of Gringos trying to figure out what is their part.  This is God at work amidst his people.

I feel like I am still processing the amount of work that needs to be done on a global level and what my part is as a solo act in this crazy thing called the world.  Many live without proper medical attention and some with a limited amount of food they can eat each day because they simply don’t have the resources.  What can I do to help?  What is my role and why has God allowed to ME to be born into this privileged life?  All these are questions that can be daunting and many times easier to just let alone.  Am I going to make a difference as one person?  Every time I think these thoughts, I hear……. “It just takes one.” 

It takes one, just one

And then one follows the other one

And then the other follows another one

Next thing you know you got a billion

People doing some wonderful things

People doing some powerful things

Let’s change and do some powerful things

Unity could be a wonderful thing

“BEP Union”

Reflections: David

Today’s reflection comes from David Grise: 

The warmth of our welcome almost exceeded the Central American heat.  We felt an immediate bond with the small congregation at the Light and Truth Baptist Church.  This perplexed me, for our lives could not be more different.   Calvary is an imposing structure in perhaps the most powerful city on the planet in perhaps the most wealthy country in the world.  Their church is a concrete block structure without windows on a mostly dirt road in a small village.  Those who are lucky enough to be employed may earn $5 for a 10-hour day.   We did not speak the same language, did not eat the same food, and my skin-tone made it obvious that the sun and I were not yet acquainted.

During the service, the Pastor called us to prayer.  Everyone began to kneel on the bare floor — a thin stiip of linoleum covered the concrete.   I was still pondering whether to risk one knee when the oldest member of the congregation, a 99-year-old woman wearing a bandage around her ankle, knelt beside us.  If she could do it, then so could I.

It was on my knees, praying with her for the basic needs of all humanity, that I began to understand our immediate bond.  Despite our many cultural and personal differences, what brought us together was far more powerful and important than what separated us.  In John 17, Jesus prays for all belivers that will come after him.  He prays that they will be “one.”   On October 11, 2009, I took the tiniest step in that direction.

Reflections: Rick

Today we start the first in a series of reflections written by Missions team members about their week. The first reflection, below, is by Rick Goodman.

 For over twenty years, I have wanted to go to El Salvador.  My first peace march was to oppose the U.S. support of the Salvadoran military.  Carol and I attended a march and a concert by Joan Baez for Peace for El Salvador.  I remember when Monsignor Romero asked President Carter to stop sending the military aid.  Carter ignored the plea.  I remember when Romero was killed, the nuns, the Jesuits.  I have long admired Father Rutilio Grande.  The connection to El Salvador is extensive, actually for all Americans due to our financing one side in the civil war there.

So, finally, I go. The blog covers the basics of the trip rather well.  I shall always remember trodding the sacred ground of UCA where the Jesuits and a mother and daughter were killed, the Cathedral where protests and battles occurred, the guerilla camp, and El Mozete.  There was something to break your heart and then lift you up each day.

Seeing the profound respect that so many people had for Edgar was wonderful.  

Hearing so much about the country and its situation through the voice of Amparito was great.

Xochitl’s logistical skills were always in evidence.

Paula was delightful.

Travelling with a small group of diverse, thoughtful, funny, and caring people enriched my personal experience.

The Shalom scholars and candidates inspire me to keep going in life no matter what.

I was humbled by how much the rural church that we spent the day with focused on helping others.

Finally, I shall find it easy now to measure social policy.  The questions are somehow simple.  Does what I do, what the church does, what the government or non-profits do, benefit the woman we met who makes $4 a day to feed three people?  Does anything we do help the three little children who walk up into the hills and come down carrying wood to provide fuel for their stove?   I hope our actions at Calvary and elsewhere can make the very real hopes being discussed in El Salvador at this time become a reality for all its people.

Home again

David’s tearful goodbye to Moose Gusto, our mascot

Carol is very excited about the magnet Paula gave her

Laura and the Palacios family

Saying adios!

Final Group pic

We made it!

Our luggage made it! All smiles!

Back home!

It has been a long day of travel. We began with goodbyes to our amazing hosts. Xochitl and her family really went above and beyond to give us such an spectacular week. If you need to travel at all in Central America, you need to talk to Xochitl! Amparo deserves a medal for all of her hard translation work this week. And of course, Pastor Edgar: he radiates joy and traveling alongside him through his country is something so moving that we will need many more posts to describe it. But for now, we will just say muchas gracias to the entire family and their many friends for welcoming us, teaching us and letting us explore their incredible home.

In our discussion this morning, we described how it was like the Palacios family created a “bubble wrap” around our trip that allowed us to explore so many different facets of the country. It is so rare that you get to be immersed in a culture in only a week and feel totally safe and cared for by people who are a part of the culture. We are truly grateful for their hard work and open hearts.

We are also excited to share all that we have seen, learned and experienced with our friends in the US, especially at Calvary. It is the end of the trip, but the beginning of a new energy for our relationship with our friends in El Salvador. We will continue the blog to keep you updated on our activities and we will hope you will check back often!