A Confident Call for a 'Re-match': SeaCoast Grace Visits El Salvador for the 5th Time

Some of the members of SeaCoast team after a soccer match in the community of San Antonio en Medio.SeaCoast Grace Church from Cypress, CA, continues to have an incredible impact in El Salvador by maintaining an ongoing relationship with the churches and communities in the San Jose El Naranjo region. The initiatives in which they have participated are improving the lives of an entire region of the country (the whole valley surrounding San Jose El Naranjo with more than 11 hamlets and over 10,000 people). Additionally, the relationships that have been formed by maintaining a multi-year connection with a specific region have given motivation to local church and community leaders, as year after year individuals like Debbie Demaree, who has been to the region on 5 different occasions, return to offer support through work and friendship.

This year, two teams came and partnered with the Voz Que Clama en el Desierto church in San Antonio to dig water channels and plant hundreds of plants and trees including pineapple and zacate in support of the reforestation efforts in the area. The reforestation initiative is vital in order to preserve the community's primary water source for years to come. The trees, water channels, and barrier plants will hold water in the area and will conserve the soil while protecting the land from erosion. In addition, the initiative will provide a variety of fruit trees for families in the area.

Sadly, Pedro Flores, pastor of the Voz Que Clama en el Desierto Church, suffered a stroke the night of SeaCoast’s arrival and was unable to be with the teams for most of the week. However, both teams had the opportunity to pray with him and his family, and thankfully he was well enough to attend the dedication service the last day of the trip.

SeaCoast team members plowing the land before planting trees in San Antonio en Medio. While Pastor Pedro rested with his family, the teams were not only supported by Pastor Pedro’s church, but also by community leaders and by individuals from the local Catholic parish. As in many Salvadoran communities, the community of San Antonio has experienced the wounds resulting from the great division between the Catholic and Protestant churches. However, in recent years there has been a miraculous mending of relationships that was evident during SeaCoast’s visit, as community members were joined together working for one cause. Exemplifying this newly-found unity the 20-year-old Catholic youth leader explained that the initiatives were not just for Protestants or Catholics, but that they are all united in the efforts to develop their community. “We are not separate,” he clarified, “We are one.”

When the SeaCoast team and community members were not planting trees, they were getting to know one another through sharing meals and conversation. There was also time for fellowship with the community through home visits, visits to the local public school, and community sports games. SeaCoast Grace has truly been walking alongside the pastors in this region over the years, as they have engaged in many efforts to transform their communities. The impact they have had in the region would not have been possible without their ongoing relationship with the pastors and community members and their sustained commitment to support and pray for this region. This year, the SeaCoast Grace team won the community soccer game that was played (with the help of some talented locals), and it is because of the church’s ongoing commitment that community members could declare with confidence that a “re-match” will be played next year.

Click here to see a photo gallery of the trip.

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