I went down to El Salvador November 3-17 for a little R&R and to check on our scholarship students who were getting ready to finish up their academic year which runs from January to November.  Everyone is doing great and we are proud to say that three of our college students (pictured at left on a day trip to the Basilica of Esquipulas, Guatemala) are now done with their studies and will be receiving their degrees in May or June.  One of them, Mirian Elizabeth Clavel Vásquez, is an orphan who we have taken under our wing and she is now ready to give back what she has received by becoming a school teacher.  Perhaps our proudest moment will be to see Jorge Elias Pérez receive his college degree after being in our program for the past 8 years.  Jorge was 13 years old when he began 1^st Grade in the Catholic School that we built in Santo Domingo de Guzmán.  He was 16 in the 4^th Grade and year after year would keep coming back to learn more, even though he had to walk 45 minutes each way to get to school.  He lives with his elderly parents in a very humble house with no electricity or water.  Most other kids with his background would have not gone to school or would have dropped out after a few years in order to work in the fields.  Jorge is a model of patience and perseverance who literally has stood head and shoulders above his peers but now he gives hope and inspiration to all of the poor.  I had lunch with all of our scholarship students and I expressed how important it is for them to make the most of the opportunity that they have received through the generosity of you our donors.  I wish that you could hear their words of thanksgiving for this opportunity to secure a higher education.  In 2012 we hope to continue with construction of new classrooms and facilities for schools in El Salvador.  On behalf of the thousands of children that together we have helped over the past eight years, “Gracias por su apoyo – Thanks for your help.”

Father Keane

The World Series of Uno, live from El Salvador.

As the beginning of the Salvadoran school year approaches, craftsmen are putting the final touches on the two classrooms at Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe.  Walter uploaded upwards of 500 photos onto the photo site, and is sure to add more once the building is inaugurated and occupied.  I remember visiting this school on a particularly scorching afternoon about 3 years ago, and all that stood in that spot was a large rock.  It wasn’t a very useful rock, as it wasn’t appealing to the eye or good for climbing. Later, as I looked at the pictures of the workmen laboring to create a stable foundation for the new places of learning, a quote came to mind that you might recognize. “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and they beat upon that house, and it fell not, for it was founded on a rock.”

TLAU and the people of El Salvador thank you for being their rock.  The winter rains will fall again, the winds will rattle their tin roofs, and the earth may even shake as they have done before, but the children of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe are not alone.

A few young lads at Our Lady of Guadalupe take shelter from a summer storm while extending thanks to the students at JSerra who made the new classrooms possible.

Walter uploaded some photos of what looks like the ground-breaking for the new classrooms at Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe.  Only this ground-breaking is without all the pomp and circumstance that usually accompanies such an event.  Nope, no flashing bulbs or gilded shovels…just three laborers (likely parents) breaking ground. I hope all the students at JSerra get to see these.  There are sure to be many to follow!

So check out the photos.  The only thing I would have done different: glowsticks. Lots of glowsticks.

But campus minstry leader Robyn Gibson says the outpouring of support wasn’t just a fortunate consequence of several hundred cases of senioritis. In fact, after a sluggish start to the jeans day effort, the students found that if they were more vocal about the cause behind their efforts, other students were much more likely to give. So after only the first event of JSerra Catholic High senior campus ministry’s partnership with The Least Among Us, Virgen de Guadalupe already has $1200 to put toward the construction of its classrooms.

I’m thinking about contacting the school administrators to see if we can’t start selling days off or field trips to the beach. Methinks we could build enough classrooms for every child in El Salvador.

Take a look at these photos!

Señora de Guadalupe

“The goal of the class is to form students to be strong Christian leaders,” says Robyn. “But real leaders are nothing but servants who understand themselves to be part of a larger human family.”

The class was especially impressed with TLAU’s strategy to improve conditions in El Salvador: helping people help themselves while avoiding the “Santa Claus” approach to charitable giving, thereby preserving the dignity of those who need help while simultaneously encouraging a sense of stewardship.

Their plan for Virgen de Guadalupe? A benefit dance (any theme suggestions?), a jeans day where JSerra students may donate to the cause in exchange for the privilege of dressing down for a day, and possibly a family dinner night at a local diner.

“We’re all very excited about this,” their fearless leader adds.  “I honestly think my students will gain more than they give.”

And that they will.

My name is Wendy Rodriguez and my family is from San Pedro Puxtla. Although I was born here I was raised for a few years back in San Pedro Puxtla and most of my family is still there. I stumbled upon your website today while googling my town and I just want to say THANK YOU for helping my people.I think that the work you guys are doing, not only in my town but all over, is amazing.

Happy Holidays and God Bless,

Wendy Rodriguez