On the Go
EUC Delegation participate in constructing homes in El Salvador
The following is a pictorial account of a two week trip made by a delegation of parishoners from Emmanual United Church in Ottawa in March 2008
Homes nestled in vegetation
Dormant volcano
Countryside Oxen
Cobblestone Street in Suchitoto
Lake Suchitalan in Suchitoto
The Market
Victor loves his melons, papayas and avacados
Fresh water is carried to their homes
Over the past ten years, the town of Alegria in El Salvador has been rocked by major earthquakes, violence from civil unrest and on January 9, 2008 the assassination of Moises Funes, their mayor who was working to fight corruption and restore the dignity of the poorest citizens. Poverty has left people without the basic necessities of life and many men from the villages have been killed or have left the country in search of employment.
Without money and manpower, the people do not have the resources they need to rebuild. Housing in Alegria is not an investment or a status symbol, but is a basic necessity along with food and clothing. The sad reality is that many families have been surviving with inadequate shelter under tarps or in unstable buildings for years. Canadian churches in partnership with Iglesia Bautista Emmanuel Church in San Salvador have assembled several delegations from across Canada for March through the sumer of 2008 to help build basic, safe, clean homes for the people of Alegria.
Reverend Miguel Tomas Castro, pastor of Bautista Emmanuel Church as the host and co-ordinator of this housing project for the poor
The site where 10 homes were built
Rosie supervises the sand pile for making the cement at the construction site
Rosie goes to the site daily with her family to build their new house
Tiring work for a little girl playing in the sand all day
Human chain to move the construction materials to the site
Cement mix
House in progress
Modest home with a beautiful view
Brick and mortar
Proud receipients of a new home
Young Rosie came to the site everyday with her family and stole everyone’s heart
Progress has been made
Daniel, Rosie and friend
Alegria is 55 feet in elevation nestled on the side of a dormant volcano
Young helpers
Moises touring the housing site
Victor always ready for a break to make up music and lyrics
The Church where Oscar Romero was killed
Cathedral in Suchitoto
