WHAT TO EXPECT: EL SALVADOR TRIPS

WHAT TO EXPECT: EL SALVADOR TRIPS So you’re going on a SHORT TERM Trip to El Salvador and want to know what to expect? Here are some details of what ...
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WHAT TO EXPECT: EL SALVADOR TRIPS

So you’re going on a SHORT TERM Trip to El Salvador and want to know what to expect? Here are some details of what your trip will look like.

Region and Purpose: Agua Viva El Salvador (AVES) is currently working in the Sonsonate region of El Salvador in and around Acajutla. Each year the AVES team partners with many groups from North America to make generational change through the gift of clean water and through the grace of the living water that is Jesus. Team members will use a DR 100, LS300 or PRD drill rig (depending on the ground formation) with our in-country drillers and work alongside our health and hygiene team to teach proper sanitation techniques. Our hope is that during the trip you will make meaningful relationships, experience a slower pace of life, and witness the faithfulness of God, returning home transformed.

Weather: Teams can expect warm and coastal weather, with highs in the 90s and lows in the 80s. If traveling during the rainy season (May to November), be sure to pack a light rain coat.

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Drink lots of water and take time to rest in the shade to avoid heat exhaustion.

Lodging: Teams will stay at the Living Water Team House located near Acajutla, in the community of Playa Salinitas. The home also serves as our El Salvador headquarters with offices, housing, and a workshop. Team members will be split by gender into four air-conditioned bedrooms. Each bedroom has a full bathroom. Sheets and pillows are provided, but bring your own towels. There is a pool (and the Pacific Ocean) on site, so pack a swimsuit! (Swimming in the ocean is permitted during low-tide only.)

Food: If you’re expecting to lose a few pounds on your trip – don’t! Our wonderful cooks won’t allow it. Team members will have a mixture of typical Salvadoran meals and everyday American fare. Expect to eat plenty of black beans, rice, tortillas, chicken, plantains, and eggs. One incredible blessing for team members is the opportunity to share a home cooked meal each work day prepared by the women of the community. These generous women work hard from morning until mealtime to lovingly and sacrificially prepare your lunch. The smile on their faces as you eat is a memory to last a lifetime. (Lunches are prepared with clean water provided by Living Water.)

Culture It cannot be stressed enough that the time spent in Central America is primarily about relationships. When establishing a relationship with a Salvadoran resident, it is very important to be sensitive to their culture. Central Americans as a whole are overwhelmingly kind and giving, and Salvadorans are no different. They are proud of their heritage and though there might be a sense of shyness at first, that will pass soon after greetings are shared.

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Tentative Itinerary (Subject to change)

SUNDAY: Special Cultural Issues to Note: » Latin American culture is generally very proper, so

be polite and use good manners. Do not be



abrasive, aggressive, or demanding. Body



language communicates much more than we



realize – seek to communicate what is in your



heart with your face and your actions.

» Arrive in San Salvador One of our field staff will pick the team up at the airport in San Salvador, drive the team to a restaurant for lunch, and then to the team house. Once at the house, team members can unpack and relax. In the evening the hygiene team will meet their lead for the week to discuss the next day's lessons.

Monday: » Community walk (see existing water source, meet villagers)

» Latin America is a male-dominated culture.

» Begin drilling and take soil samples



Whether we agree with it or not, as we are

» Hygiene, Bible stories, crafts, games



coming into their country, we must respect that.



Women need to dress extra modestly. Do not hold



extended eye contact with men, and do not



allow body orientation to become too close



as wrong intentions may be communicated.



Men can set a great example t hrough their



interactions with female team members and the



local women. These interactions will be watched



and can effect positive change.

The team will arrive at the village, meet its residents, be greeted by the mayor, pastor, or teachers, and walk to see the existing water source(s). This is vitally important relationshipbuilding time. Shake hands with everyone and smile; even if you do not speak Spanish this shows you care. After introductions, our field staff will pray and the drilling and hygiene teams will start their projects. The drill team will begin drilling

» Morality is very important to Salvadorans and

they have very high standards for Christians.



A Christian witness can easily be hurt by



something that might not be considered offensive



to North American Christians. For this reason, it



is very important that there is no consumption/



use of alcohol, drugs, or tobacco; no use of profanity



or innuendos, or inappropriate displays of affection.

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and taking soil samples in an effort to explore for water aquifers. The team may use mud-rotary, compressed air, or a combination of both drilling methods. The hygiene team and hygiene coordinator will meet with the women of the village. Finding ways to compliment the women and their homes is a great way to build relationships. Team members have the opportunity to encourage and communicate worth even if they don’t speak Spanish. Teams can be warm and welcoming with body language and our staff is happy to help translate.

advantage of this day. It is your last full day with the community - be intentional about solidifying the relationships you've been fostering throughout the week. In the morning the drill team will work on developing the well, and in the afternoon will clean the equipment and tools. While the well should be almost finished by the end of the first day, wells occasionally take longer than planned; be patient, flexible, and cover everything in prayer. When in doubt, remember: our field staff are the expert drillers. Never take action without their permission and always follow their lead. With God’s blessing, you will see a successful well. In the unlikely event that your team is unable to bring water, rest assured that our field staff will return to the community to attempt another well. We will always try every option to assist a community.

Tuesday:

» Complete pump installation

» Drill, case, flush, gravel pack » Hygiene, Bible stories, crafts, games Today, the drillers will drill the hole wider, insert PVC casing, flush the well, put in gravel pack, and may start developing/cleaning the well. The hygiene team will meet with the women and children, delivering hygiene and Bible lessons and deepening relationships.

Thursday: » Dedication ceremony The drillers will put the final touches on the well and there will be a dedication service. This is a time for the community to thank God for the well and thank the team for its part in bringing water and loving them. This can be an emotional day, and it can be difficult to say good-bye to people who have become very special to you. However, please do not leave behind any gifts or make

Wednesday: » Develop well, clean and pack equipment » Hygiene, Bible stories, crafts, games On this day, drillers will have more time to play with kids. Take advantage of this time! If you are on the hygiene team you will also want to take

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promises. While this feels instinctual, it can be damaging and the relationship should not be about what material possessions the community does or does not receive. Please do not provide your contact information except email, and only do so if willing to write bilingually. Be aware that this may initiate requests for money or travel to the States, which is something Living Water does not support. We recommend journaling when arriving back at the team house while the feelings, thoughts and images of the trip are still vivid.

Friday: » Tourist day » Pack Various activities will be offered and it is nice after a hard week to relax and enjoy some down time. Please continue to pray for the village and remember that they are in God’s hands. He was there before you came, and He will remain there after you leave.

Saturday: » Leave for home

El Salvador Staff

Sarah WILCOX Sarah is the Living Water staff member coordinating your trip to El Salvador. She loves working with the field staff in El Salvador and connecting US teams with our work. Sarah studied Finance and Spanish at Texas A&M University and likes to travel and run.

Carlos Carlos has been serving as the field director for AVES since 2007. Carlos, a trained pastor, has a deep love for all of God’s people. He is the proud husband to Norma and they are the parents of three beautiful girls.

Hygiene Crew » Norma has a passion to help women learn how to better care for their families. She has a lot of training, even more experience, and is a great aid to hygiene team members. Everyone loves her gentle smile and kind ways. » Lorena loves to work with the children in the community and it shows! She is a pastor's daughter and grew up learning a lot about God's love for His people. » Liz has a sweet spirit and loves to laugh. She cares deeply for the women and children of her country and is thankful to improve their lives by sharing her knowledge of hygiene and the Bible with them. Liz spent time as an au-pair in the US.

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Drilling & Pump Maintenance CREW » Enrique (Kike) is our most tenured AVES staffer. Since 2002, he has been a part of more than 150 well projects. Kike is a remarkable driller and an even better pursuer of God. Challenge Kike to cards or ping pong!

» Marvin and his wife, Luvi, work with our pump maintenance program. They visit existing well sites, where Marvin makes necessary repairs to keep the clean water flowing while Luvi teaches hygiene and Bible lessons. They are expecting their first child in 2013!

Also serving in El Salvador: Pedro carefully oversees our housing site and warehouse. Delores and Fran are our amazing,

» Stanley is a hardworking driller who began serving with AVES in 2004. He's a real character and prankster at heart! Stanley loves working in rural communities and makes immediate connections with the villagers. It’s a beautiful thing to witness.

kind-hearted cooks!

» Geremiah serves as the logistics coordinator and hosts teams at the drill site. Each morning, teams get to enjoy worship as he and the rest of the drill crew lead singing. When Geremiah’s not working with teams, you might find him catching waves in the Pacific Ocean or cheering on his favorite soccer team, FC Barcelona.

he’d ever seen. Paul

» Nelson has been with AVES since 2008 and serves as a driller. He enjoys connecting with teams and has a way of making everything more fun. You will love working with Nelson!

a Living Water Shallow Well Drill Training course

» Jose Antonio joined the AVES team in 2012 as an assistant driller. He is a childhood friend of Stan and loves soccer, the guitar and playing with kids at the drill site. Antonio worked at an orphanage in San Salvador prior to joining AVES.

LIVING WATER History: Paul Darilek moved to El Salvador in 1996 because he felt compelled to live in the poorest place worked in solidarity with victims of the civil war, planting corn, visiting widows, and waiting in line for dirty drinking water. Like most of his neighbors, Paul got sick from the water. In 1998, he signed up for where he met one of Living Water's founders, Harry Westmoreland. Shortly after, Harry and Paul traveled back to El Salvador to drill wells. AVES was born and to date over 375 communities have benefited from AVES wells. Paul still works with Living Water, raising awareness and cultivating relationships in the States.

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