Grace and peace to you from San Salvador, El Salvador!

Nearly all of the members of our February 2014 Thrivent Builds/Habitat for Humanity El Salvador Mission Team have arrived in San Salvador. There are a few who are still in route, but they should be here soon. They may have to write a blog post at some point this week with the highlights travel adventure to El Salvador this year!

This is my third or fourth trip to El Salvador, I’m not sure. I’ve passed by the monument in this picture each time I’ve been here, but never took time to notice it before. This monument greets you as you leave the San Salvador airport property and make your way into the city of San Salvador – El Salvador’s largest.

It is of the Christ. In one hand Jesus is offering the sign for peace. In the other hand is a dove. The metal used to create this breathtaking piece of art is from weapons that Salvadorans used to kill one another during the Salvadoran Civil war. It’s a reminder of the horror of civil war and a lasting monument of hope for peace. The saying in the middle of it reads, “La Paz Sea Com Vosotros” which simply translates into English as, “Peace be with you.”

There are presidential elections taking place in El Salvador tomorrow – Sunday, February 2, 2014. It’s quite interesting to be here during this time. Needless to say, the focus in this part of the world is in fact NOT on the Superbowl tomorrow.

May our brothers and sisters in Christ in El Salvador continue to seek peace as they celebrate election  process tomorrow. May this week’s Mission Team arriving from a land very different than this find peace in their work and relationships with the Salvadoran people. And may they discover that same kind of peace in their work and relationships when they return home.

May Christ’s peace be with you,

Pastor Craig