Pastor Rafael with the Willow Creek team outside the christian school in Comecayo.

Over the past year, several leaders from Willow Creek Community Church have visited El Salvador to see how they can partner with ENLACE in the work of equipping churches to transform communities. As it turns out, ENLACE's model is a perfect fit for Willow Creek. Last year, they decided to partner with ENLACE and invest in the region of Santa Ana over the next five years, a commitment that will likely impact a large number of the region's 700,000 people in the coming years.

In July they sent their first short-term mission team in order to encourage and assist the New Jerusalem Church in Comecayo in their community transformation efforts. The team worked on one of the church's most significant initiatives to date: a 300-meter sidewalk that will serve to protect thousands of people in the area. In addition, the team visited Students getting out of school while Willow Creak team is working to build a side walk.15 needy families identified by the church and community and brought them basic food supplies and prayed with them. Pastor Wally Marshall also led a small seminar with the church helping them refine their cell-group efforts that have helped to grow the congregation to more than 1,000 members with dozens of sister churches in the region.

Team member Earl Casas wrote a blog during his trip and had this to say about the week,

I’ve seen poverty and violence while here. I’ve seen situations where it seems there should be no hope but I’ve also seen faith in action here. I’ve seen a force, stronger than the crippling grip the gangs can maintain, penetrating the darkness and pushing back the fear, loneliness, and hopelessness of the poor and destitute. I have seen the Church in action. As we left our new friends we were comforted to know that the work here continues through these compassionate brothers and sisters in Christ who are simply trying to live out their faith as God directs and in so doing they are changing their world.

By partnering with the region of Santa Ana, the Willow Creek Community Church will most certainly be part of the burgeoning transformation in the lives of tens of thousands of Salvadorans in the coming years. However, Earl Casas and the Willow Creek team learned a concept familiar to missionaries and donors; It is often through the act of giving that one receives the greatest blessing.

We came to be a blessing but instead were blessed. We came to bring hope but instead received it. We came to bring resources but left with much more than we gave. We came to teach and encourage but instead we learned and were inspired.

Contact us to find out how your church or organization can partner with ENLACE to make a direct and lasting impact in the lives of thousands of people in El Salvador.

Click here to donate or become a Friend of ENLACE and to help ENLACE work with 100 churches by 2015.

Click here to see the riveting story of Pastor Rafael Gonzalez, pastor of the New Jerusalem church in Comecayo.

Kim digging away inside the latrine hole.Reflections from ENLACE volunteer, Kim Frederick, on a week spent digging a hole in the rain.

Rain poured down in Las Animas last week as a team from the New Life Assemblies of God Church in Exeter, California chipped away at the hard ground in an effort to dig two latrines for families in need. As I so conveniently learned in graduate school, latrines play a major role in the health of a community by reducing fly propagation, water contamination, and the spread of disease. In fact, access to sanitation facilities, clean water, and preventive health education have been proven to reduce infant mortality rates by 50%... If only they could have explained to us, in grad school, what it is like to be deep inside the earth after the ladder is taken away, alone with only a shovel and a thought that someday where you are standing will be filled with human waste.

Click here to read her blog post at www.kimfrederick.com

Take a moment to read our Summer Newsletter highlighting ENLACE's Economic Development Program.

A donation of $100 will be leant nearly 30 times in the next 15 years totaling more than $1,500 of credit for ambitious entrepreneurs in  El Salvador.

$100 = $1,500

DONATE NOW!

by Martha Granados de Mancia, ENLACE Communications Coordinator

Francisco Gonzalez "Paquito" and his motherLuis Gonzalez, the father of long-time ENLACE employee Francisco “Paco” Gonzalez, passed away on June 15. It was a sad and emotional moment for many in the ENLACE family as we were reminded of our vulnerability and short life on this earth. However, it was also a moment to ponder on the legacy of a loving father. 

I’ve often heard people talk of God as a father, and when I think of the word ‘father’ I like to think of my childhood days; days when I was wasn’t afraid to express my feelings and sit with him, joking and smiling. Even running around outside, with his care and attention, I hadn't a worry in the world.

To think that we ought to be as children is an unusual thought these days, but it is also very important. Time passes and we often don’t notice that daily routines have captivated our attention, and what we should really be doing is sitting and admiring the life that our Father has given us. The death of Paco’s father put a stop to our normal routine of a work-week at ENLACE. We prayed for Paco’s mother, his sister and for Paco. We remembered the death of his twin brother, Felipe, while Paco was studying in Germany. We stopped. We took time to appreciate Paco’s life and be grateful for his presence in our lives.Some of the ENLACE staff during the funeral

It was beautiful to see Pastors Miguel Duran and Santos Carpio as well as community leaders like Dona Tonita, a lay leader of the Catholic Church in Las Delicas; They were all there in support of Paco, a man who has inspired their lives through his life and work. The Holy Spirit was also present filling us with peace and brought the family a sense of security thinking about Don Luis and his arrival at a place of rest. Luisa Gonzalez, Paco’s sister, said during the funeral ceremony, “My Dad was always happy. He showed us how to see things from a positive perspective and he urged us to remain united.” 

“Don Luis Gonzalez was 92 years old when he went to meet his Lord and his words through his daughter, Luisa, continue to instruct us to see life with a positive attitude while remaining united in love.

Storm causes Road Damage, Flash Floods and Landslides El Salvador’s vulnerability to natural disasters was made apparent once again as Tropical Storm Alex battered the country over the weekend. Flash flooding and landslides caused schools and businesses to close. At least three people died, and more than 1,200 people were forced from their homes. 

While this storm will make the news because of its severity and regional impact, it also highlights the fact that inadequate housing and infrastructure is compromised every year during the normal six-month rainy season in El Salvador. Storms such as Alex exacerbate an already challenged situation.

ENLACE works with local churches that identify opportunities to help reduce the effect of these storms and seasonal rains by building stable homes, retaining walls, bridges and improved roads.  Actual condition of the Road in Santa Maria

The Prince of Peace Church in San Martin has identified a road improvement project as one of their first initiatives to be completed in partnership with their community. They will pave a 254 meter section of this road which is heavily traveled by hundreds of people and is currently prone to landslides due to erosion and heavy rains.

The first stages of this initiative will cost approximately $31,000 and will include gutter construction, septic tank, and paving the road. Multiple local entities are already involved; The mayor's office is contributing more than $14,500 and the church and community is contributing approximately $3,200. ENLACE is committing to raise the final $3,333.50 with your support.

The local church and the community have worked hard overcoming obstacles in order to repair the road. The church is ready and willing to serve its community with this road construction.
-Gerson Ramirez
ENLACE Church Coach

 $30 will directly help the quality of life for three people in Santa Maria for years to come.

For as little as $30 you can help three people walk safely on this road and positively impact their daily lives! Partner with ENLACE, Prince of Peace Church and the San Martin communities today!

CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW (Select "Housing and Infrastrucutre Initiatives").