El Salvador
Across the planet, there are millions of people who do not know Jesus as their Lord.
We must be their friend and love them first of all, earning the opportunities to share the gospel of peace, and Jesus, with them. We do this by bringing a cup of cold water, providing food, helping with shelter, helping with clothing, helping with health issues, helping with educational issues…BEing their FRIEND while DOing life with them. Compassion is BEing more than DOing. Compassion is entering places of crisis & full immersion in full humanity.
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In January 2011, I (JD) visited the country of El Salvador. The people of El Salvador are still recovering from 12 years of civil unrest and numerous natural disasters. In addition, the people face daily fears of major gangs, poverty, hunger, poor water quality, and illiteracy. In our partnerships, such as World Vision, we are working in holistic processes with national leaders of El Salvador. Those leaders represent churches, agencies, government and international aid organizations.
We were privileged to witness a village see its first running water! What joy. Imagine what you could do with six extra hours a day? That is the average time it takes women in El Salvador to haul and heat water. Once this basic meet is met then they can focus on other issues such as education.
Churches in El Salvador have asked for training in Biblical studies, leadership development, and help creating an environment to foster heart and mind transformation in the next generation. There are many ways you can be part of our launching initiatives! Praying, sponsoring children, raising funds for water wells, forming training teams to go with CitiIMPACT to El Salvador are some of the ways we ask you to consider.
As Ricardo Calderon, MD, MPH, the National Director of World Vision, El Salvador implored me, “JD, please come and help us design an urban process that will change the generations of El Salvador citizens that matches our rural processes. They need your Hope!” Help us answer that cry, which reflects the request of Paul Otremba, a regional missions director for Central/South American countries as well as the Carribean, “JD, the needs are many spiritually and in the natural. Please join us in serving these great people.”
Enjoy this photo array taken by the photographer on our trip: http://stevenedwardphotography.smugmug.com/Events/World-Vision-El-Salvador-2011/
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| Country Statistics | |
| Population | 6 million |
| Land Mass | 8000 sq. miles |
| Life Expectancy | 72 years |
| Infant Mortality Rate | 24 / 1,000 |
| Literacy Rate | 80% |
| School Enrollment | 92% |
| Access to Safe Water | 84% |
| Average Annual Income (GNI per capita) | US$2450 |
- Overview
- How You Can Pray for Your Sponsored Child
El Salvador is located on the Pacific Coast of Central America between Guatemala and Honduras. The terrain of El Salvador can be divided into three main regions: the tropical coastal belt on the Pacific, a central upland area of valleys and plateaus, and a mountainous north.
Most Salvadorans are Mestizo—people of mixed Amerindian and European heritage. Spanish is the official language, though some groups speak Nahua. Natural resources include hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, and fertile farmland. More than 60 percent of people are employed in service occupations, and nearly one-third of adults are engaged in agriculture. Farm products include coffee, sugar, vegetables, cotton, shrimp, beef, and dairy products.
El Salvador’s recent history reflects both political and economic turbulence. In 1979, a civil war erupted and a military coup d’état resulted in a reformist military regime. Political instability and tragic violence followed for 12 years—resulting in nearly 75,000 deaths—and ended with a peace agreement in 1992.
Despite being the smallest country in Central America, El Salvador has the third largest economy. However, growth has been slow in recent years. Hurricane Mitch devastated the country in 1998, killing 200 and leaving 30,000 homeless. Earthquakes struck the nation in 2001, damaging 20 percent of the nation’s housing.
El Salvador’s woes were further exacerbated when a drought beset the country that summer and destroyed 80 percent of the crops. In 2001, El Salvador adopted the U.S. dollar as its currency. The current government has pursued economic diversification, showing some success in promoting textile production, international port services, and tourism. It has made a commitment to opening the economy to trade and investment. El Salvador was the first Central American country to implement a free trade agreement(CAFTA) with the U.S. in March 2006.
- Pray that your sponsored child might respond to God’s love and grace.
- Ask God to guide your sponsored child as he or she learns, grows, and moves toward a future full of hope and possibilities.
- Pray for God to protect the health of your sponsored child and his or her family.
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and Water Deep Design