Highlights--El Salvador Campaign, May 13-18

We just finished a great week with a team from First Baptist Ferguson, St. Louis, Missouri.  They came last May, as well, so we were very happy to see some of them again as well as to meet several new faces.

They arrived in the afternoon on Saturday and since we didn't have a campaign, we took them to the gringo market and to Los Planes for pupusas.  

On Sunday we visited our church in Lourdes and were able to be a part of their Mother's Day celebration, which included being serenaded by a traditional Mariachi singer.  

We had our first family festival on Sunday evening in Nueva Lourdes.

May Campaign, Part 1

We welcomed a team of 12 people from First Baptist, Ferguson, Missouri, to El Salvador on Saturday afternoon.  Don Laity joined the team, as well.  The Vida Nueva youth had a celebration for their mother's on Saturday night, so we were not able to schedule a family festival.  

We had orientation at the hotel at 4:00 p.m. and then Guillermo picked everyone up in the van and we went to Los Planes for a bit of tourism and some of the best pupusas in the country.  We had the opportunity to go to one of the national parks named, Puerto del Diablo (Devil's Doorway) which got it's name for the whistling sounds produced by the wind blowing between the clefts in the rocky precipices.  We did not have time to make the climb to the top, nor were we brave enough to zip line across the chasm.  

 

Our next stop was Coty's pupusaria.  She and Guillermo have been friends for more than ten years so it is one of our favorite spots for the Salvadoran specialty.  Mark Cote, the Ferguson team leader, was treated to the "giant" birthday pupusa.  

As I have often said, it's a very, very rare person who doesn't like pupusas and this team was no different--100% loved them.

Hayden is Here--Day 2

We walked to the hotel for the  9:00 a.m. service and Hayden ran into more friends from his last two mission trips--that boy is popular.  After the service, Hayden and I walked back to the apartment; we planned to go to the grocery store.  Unfortunately, we didn't realize that Stephen had the keys to the truck.  So, instead, we walked back to the hotel and waited for Stephen to finish playing for the 11:30 service and then ate lunch at Olive Garden.

We probably watched a baseball game in the afternoon; I don't really remember!  Then David and Maritza game by and we drove to Los Planes de Rendero to introduce Hayden to all th ings "corn."  He was a good sport and tried everything we put in front of him, although the crazy corn with mayo, mustard, black sauce and cheese was a little too much.

Later, Koky and Ena joined the five of us for pupusas at El Atico.  He definitely like the pupusas and the great view!  Of course, the company was outstanding, as well.  

Friends and Typical Salvadoran Food

The last three days have all brought new experiences . . . . Saturday, visit to Apaneca; Sunday, bowling; Monday, typical Salvadoran food in Los Planes.

We have had dinner with David and Maritza scheduled several times, but something has always interfered.  Last night, finally, we followed them to Los Planes, which is high above San Salvador.  Our appetizer was a stop just outside Balboa Park for "corn" in all it's typical forms--atol de alote, corn torta and elote loco (corn-on-the-cob.)  I have to admit we did the elote without the loco--just corn cut off the cob with cheese.  Everything was delicious.

After our appetizers, we went to their house and visited for awhile.  About 7:00 we drove to their favorite pupusa place, El Atico.  Not only were the pupusas awesome, but the view of the city is incredible!