Walking With El Salvador

Yellow and white paper flags lined the little street that leads uphill to the chapel at Divina Providencia. Each flag featured a hand-colored, cut out figure of Monseñor Oscar Romero. I chuckled to myself, thinking of of the Flat Martins we have colored with children for Reformation Day, and of course, Flat Stanley from the beloved children's book. I think Saint Romero might also chuckle at the idea of children coloring Flat Oscars and taking him on adventures with them, or pasting him onto a fluttery flag next to the noni trees at Divina Providencia. Flat Martin Luther hanging out in my office Yellow and white paper chains decorated the chapel fence. The doorway was arched with white and yellow flowers. We peered inside: not too many people yet. The altar was beautifully surrounded by hundreds of yellow and white roses. This is the altar where 45 years ago today, Oscar Romero stood saying mass and where he fell - murdered by an assassin's bullet. Many years and many masses of ...

We got up at 4 AM so we could be in the community for the celebration in the madrugada (the wee hours of the morning). Most of the people who care about this tradition are grandparents now.  Well, we are too. We arrived at about 5:30. The light was on inside the church.  The streets were quiet except for the harmonies of the chicharras, the roosters and the songbirds waking in the trees.   Back in the day, the first fireworks exploded over ramshackle rooftops at 1 AM and 2 AM, and by 3 AM, people would begin to gather at the church. The women would have been up all night stirring the chuco and the men would start making speeches interspersed with traditional music pushed into the community over a loudspeaker. By 5 AM, the party was alive with children squealing at the fireworks and sparklers. Families would huddle together in the cool morning air, dunking their pan francés into their cups of warm chuco . The pastor would pray and lead everyone in singing Las Mañanit...

Maquilíshuat tree blooms in March - the national tree of El Salvador Welcome to the month of March, the hottest and dustiest time of the year in El Salvador, when trees begin to flower, and when everyone awaits the one surprise rain shower which will birth the song of the chicharras (cicadas).  El Salvador has official holidays which are celebrated with a paid day off, and other holidays which are observed but folks still need to go to work.  So far, our journey through the calendar of monthly holidays has included only one paid holiday: New Year's Day.  There are officially no paid holidays in February or March (unless the Holy Week holidays fall in March).  Of course, businesses and organizations can give their employees time off for other celebrations as they may choose. March 8:  International Women's Day In El Salvador, the observance of the International Day of the Woman is highlighted throughout the month of March.  This is the month when women's adv...

The sound of fireworks echoes through the cool night air.  It is late.  For some reason the stink of sewer gases is strong tonight.  We closed the windows but can still hear the pops and booms and barking dogs. Several hours ago, we walked to the UCA (Central American University) to see the colorful carpets and walk in the annual pilgrimage in honor of the Jesuit martyrs.  Flocks of small green parrots accompanied us on the walk, migrating from their daytime roosts near where we live and their nests in the trees on campus.  Their calls were loud enough to compete with the noise of the city traffic. We arrived on campus just in time to view the colorful sand and salt carpets before the sun set.  The themes are consistent from year to year, calling for peace, justice and love for one another and all of creation.  Following his recent canonization, Saint Oscar Romero was featured prominently this year, not only in the carpets, but throughout the refle...

In honor of the canonization of Archbishop Oscar Romero as a recognized Saint in the Roman Catholic faith, I would like to share a few photos from my collection.  Romero's words, actions and faith inspire Christians and advocates of social justice across boundaries of country, culture and denomination.  Our very first visit with our Lutheran sister church in El Salvador.  Note the poster of Archbishop Romero on the front wall.  The community is named Heroes in the Faith.  The first street in the community is named for Monseñor Romero. A simple painting of Romero in a community named for Rutilio Grande Lutheran women from a small rural community visiting Romero's home Rutilio Grande poster, Fernando Llort boxes, "Flat Martin" (Martin Luther) in a handmade clay cup commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, and a Romero candle. Can you identify these 4 men? Palm Sunday 2018 at our Lutheran Church in El Salvador - Don't kill Pr...