ENLACE el salvador - picture gallery - Thy Kingdom Come: The Gateway Church's First Visit to El Salvador

picture gallery > Thy Kingdom Come: The Gateway Church's First Visit to El Salvador (11)

A team from The Gateway Church in Des Moines, Iowa, traveled to El Salvador for the first time to spend the week of March 3-10 with Pastor Marta Vaquerano, her church Palabra de Poder and the community of Anemona. Their task was to help build tilapia tanks, but from the very beginning the team was just as focused on building relationships and connecting with the community. While making great advances toward finishing tilapia ponds, the group also held a children’s program and brought food and encouragement to the poorest families in Anemona. Both the team and the community eagerly await Gateway’s next trip.

Church in Anemona

On Sunday, the team attended a church service at Palabra de Poder. Team Leader and Gateway Church Outreach and Worship Pastor, Jeremy Harder, preached about the Good Samaritan and shared his musical talents in song. The church prayed for the team, and vice versa, including Gary Benshoof (L) and Kenny Wayne (R) pictured here with Pastor Marta.
Heavy Lifting

Team member Seth Roecker, and community member, Juan Elias, carry sand to make concrete. Pictured here is the Pan-American highway which borders Anemona.
Waist Deep

The team plus Juan Elias, Carlos Duran, Fatima Muñoz, community members, David Gonzalez (ENLACE agriculture engineer), and Pastor Marta's son, Walter Vaquerano who is also a Palabra de Poder Church leader, stand together near Walter’s tank. Soon it will be home to 200 tilapia fish and provide much needed additional income to the Vaquerano family.
Tight Quarters

Team member Dave Evereth and Giovanni Muñoz, the son of one of the community leaders, chip away at the sides of a tank. According to team leader, Jeremy Harder, the project was great for relationship building. “The ponds are so small that only a few people can work in them at once. This really allows others in the group to be actively building a relationship with those gathered to see the what’s happening. I really love the emphasis on building relationship that ENLACE stressed.”
Sharing Stories

Maria Luz Beltran, a beneficiary, talking with Melissa Mefford (ENLACE Missionary Volunteer) and team member Kate Allen. Maria Luz lives with her seventeen-year-old granddaughter whom she raised and who is grieving the loss of her father who recently passed away. Maria Luz washes clothes to make a living. She said the tilapia will be a big blessing from God.
Lots Of Love

Team member Kaitlyn Myers, and her friend Tanya spent the week laughing, playing, and hanging out together. One morning, Kaitlyn traveled to another community, El Espino, and used her skills as a physical therapist to help families with special needs.
Boys Will Be Boys

Team member Joey Leaming, affectionately called "Chepe" all week, enjoys hugs and laughter with boys from the community. On Tuesday afternoon, the team provided a children’s program at the church complete with jump ropes, frisbees, coloring books, crayons, candy, and most importantly...soccer balls! After working hard all morning, everyone enjoyed playing with kids for the afternoon.
Precious Moments!

Team Leader and Gateway Church Outreach and Worship Pastor, Jeremy Harder, with baby Katerin. The team helped build the tank for Katerin’s family; her father, Carlos Duran, is a professional mason and worked with the team all week at multiple sites. He and his family were overjoyed with the team's desire to help and build a friendship with them.
Lord I lift Your Name On High

At the project dedication, the team, ENLACE staff, church members, community members, and beneficiaries gathered together to celebrate the week, new friendships, and the blessing of tilapia tanks. Everyone sang “Lord I Lift Your Name on High” in English and Spanish.
John 13

In a demonstration of honor and respect, team leader, Jessica Stewart, washes Pastor Marta’s feet as Jesus did for his disciples. The team gathered around to lift up Pastor Marta and the church in prayer during this special time at the project dedication.
More than a Project

The 11-member team spent the week helping build tilapia tanks, but more importantly, sharing Christ’s love and building relationships with the community of Anemona.