La vida loca con amor

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whatshouldwecallme:

October 20, 2011

Dear Family and Friends,

     I hope you are all doing well and that fall is in full swing.  As most of you may know, I am currently studying abroad in El Salvador this semester at the “Casa de la Solidaridad” or “House of Solidarity” program through Santa Clara University.  I have been able to take classes here at the University here in San Salvador, live in community with 26 other students from mostly Jesuit schools around the United States, as well as get to know Salvadoran scholarship students who live either in our houses, or houses close to where we stay.

One of the most important classes we are offered here is our “praxis class”- basically meaning our teachers are the people of El Salvador and our classroom is their lives. My praxis site is in Zacamil, a small remote community about a 45 minute drive outside of San Salvador, and then an hour walk up a very steep, muddy road. It is here that I have the opportunity to get to know the Sanos-Portillo family- Deysi (mother), Antonio (father), Jovani (22), Milton (20), Melvin (18), Deysi (16), Daniel (12), and Fatima (5). Milton and Guadalupe just recently brought baby Alison (2 months) into the world.

While I have not been doing a terrific job of keeping in touch and sharing how my experiences are going here, I have been journaling to reflect and remember all that we have had the opportunity to do and all we have gotten the chance to know.  I have already learned so much from the Salvadoran people, and I’m sure will do nothing but continue to be amazed by their love, friendship and resilience through the most difficult of situations.

Unfortunately, we are currently in the midst of one of these very difficult situations. A tropical depression has poured rain over El Salvador for more than a week now, dumping more rain on the country than 1998 ’ s devastating Hurricane Mitch.  The other day, President Funes declared a State of Calamity throughout the country, higher than a state of emergency. According to the most recent reports, there have been 68 deaths and 32,243 refugees, forced from their homes because of flooding or risk of landslides (La Prensa Grafica). The situation is affecting the whole Central American region with 29 deaths in Guatemala, 13 deaths in Honduras and 8 deaths in Nicaragua.

In many communities, the water has reached up to the roofs of homes and businesses. There are many families trapped in their homes, but the majority are currently in shelters indefinitely. The heavy rains have destroyed much of this season’s crops. There will be an increase in the prices of basic food staples including vegetables, corn, beans, and rice.

Specifically, this situation has taken a toll on many of the communities we have gotten to know so well these past two months. Currently, my praxis family is stuck in their house with little food, and basically no clean water. Jovani, the oldest son, is confined to a wheelchair, and therefore, it is very difficult for him to travel normally and is impossible at this point. We are currently making attempts to aid this family, as well as the many other communities.  A few of our friends in the Salvadoran student scholarship program also have family that are stranded in shelters and are in need of clothes, food, and water.

If you are at all interested in donating to the relief effort-please make donations for relief funds to Voices on the Border ON BEHALF OF ANADES (a Salvadoran NGO working with the most affected communities).

Here is their website, where you can find more information about the current situation and make a donation… http://votb.org/ (Click on “DONATE NOW”).

If you would like to donate directly towards our specific praxis communities, please e-mail or message me & a check can be sent to my home address.  

I am happy to answer any questions you may have or give more specific information. Thank you for your time and please know that any and all donations would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your time and solidarity.

Maria Smith

Casa de la Solidaridad, Fall 2011

The Sanos-Portillo Familia con Nate, my praxis partner & myself (right).