Some thoughts

This is just some things I've been thinking about as we've been meeting families and learning about the history and culture of El Salvador.

1. After the civil war in the 1980s,  El Salvadoran people now have freedom to express religion, and they're totally embracing it. There are buses that say things like "Christ is our savior," or "Glory to God" or have Bible verses on them. People can walk through the streets with Bibles or religious books. I'm Christian, and in my faith we're taught to say grace before eating a meal. In the States, I might not always bow my head and take a full couple of minutes to thank God, but I might "think" a prayer "real quick" in my head. Here, I'm definitely not alone in bowing my head before a meal and giving thanks--silently--to God. People here are humble; they may not have much, but they don't complain or ask for handouts. They work, and even though their situation may be tough, they still care about the earthquakes in Los Angeles and the starving children of Africa. The hero of El Salvador is a Catholic Archbishop known as Monsenor Romero. You know what he did? He worked and walked with the people, and he continued to hold mass during a time when being Catholic was illegal. I may not be Catholic, but I respect someone who's willing to live and die selflessly if it benefits his  people. That is the attitude that Christ wants all of us to have toward our brethren.

2. People here are super polite! Even in the big cities, everyone takes time to say "buenas" (short for good morning/afternoon/evening) to people, even strangers, they see on the street. Whenever someone passes someone else, or gets up from a table, one always says "con permiso," (excuse me). Driving through small towns like Suchitoto, Las Trincheras, Sonsonate, even to big cities like San Salvador and Santa Tecla, one sees people just sitting out on the sidewalks, talking, or visiting over the walls that separate their houses, or walking hand-in-hand through parks and streets and roads. People here TALK to each other! Yes, almost everyone has a cell phone (or two), but they still prefer to get together and talk face to face! Most of the communities are very loving and touching, holding hands, hugging, etc. Kids I meet for the first time smile and take my hand just to hold it and walk with me and just BE. Life in the States is pretty impersonal. People hide their emotions for some reason, and people hide from other people. It's a lonely culture.