CARAVAN OF HOPE FOR THE SALVADORAN PEOPLE
A Caravan campaign among Lutheran congregations in the United States has collected relief supplies in order to be sent to the Salvadoran Lutheran Synod. The Salvadoran Lutheran Church will administrate and deliver the relief to the communities most needy. In the past the churches have demonstrated to be the most trusted, sensitive and fairly institutions in delivering relief to the affected communities.
St. John's Lutheran and the Greater Milwaukee Synod of the ELCA arranged for the donation of a small bus which is filled with relief and other supplies for El Salvador.
CARAVAN UPDATES Gracias a Dios! The Caravan has arrived in El Salvador!
April 3 Bob just called from the new Lutheran Center in San Salvador (a large home donated by someone in the US). They arrived at the El Salvador border at midnight last night. Of course, the border was closed; and their friends were waiting on the other side. They stayed overnight in a hostel, and crossed the border this AM at 9:30. (Bob says all the border crossings were "like a B movie" with music, vendors, and money changing hands.) They were met by Pastor Blanca Irma and another woman pastor whom we met last summer. They proceeded down the coast (Bob reports having stuffed lobster for lunch!) and had to stop at the airport to have the supplies checked by the military. Then into the city where the vehicles were unloaded so fast the drivers didn't have to lift a thing. The vehicles have been returned to the airport where they must stay until the titles clear. Tomorrow they are resting and making an official presentation of the supplies to the Lutheran church. Thursday they will visit some areas damaged by the earthquakes. Return to the US is now Friday or Sat. April 1 Hi everyone, The time was 9:30, and they were in Matias Romero about 2 hours from the Guatemalan border. They intend to cross the border, which may take some time, and stay in Guatemala for the night tonight (this is March 28 on the original itinerary). The vehicles and people are all fine, and the roads have improved somewhat. They are in good spirits as they look forward to seeing friends in El Salvador tomorrow. The weather is beautiful - 75 to 80 and sunny. The message ends with Gracias y Adios! Thanks again for all the prayers and support. Our pastor included the caravan in the announcements and prayers today as I know pastors around the US and in El Salvador did. March 30 Hi everyone, They are at the Villas del Palmar in Naulta, Mexico, about 2 hours north of Vera Cruz. Last night they were in a town about 1 hr north of Tampico where there was no phone Bob could use. The traveling has not been fast or easy. They actually went about 55 mph for 40 miles today - a veritable racing speed. However, their average speed is around 35 mph. Although the roads are paved, they are in very poor condition. Every village or town has speed bumps to slow traffic, and there are check points where they are stopped to have their papers checked. At both the villages and the check points people try to buy bicycles. People come out to greet them, also. Blanca Irma's husband Efrain is now driving the bus, since he's a mechanic; and Bob is helping James drive the van. They have passed some pretty areas, but the people are very poor. Most of the coastal driving has been at night so no chance to see the beauty. Everyone is fine. Tomorrow they hope to make it to the border of Guatemala. They ask for prayers for the trailer, since it's not certain how long the repairs will hold. The new return date to the US is 4/5. March 28, 10:20 p.m. Hi everyone,Just talked to Bob from Valle Hermoso, Mexico. This AM was spent doing some vehicle maintenance. They left Brownsville at 1 PM and made contact with an organization called Grupo Cobra which helps people get the proper credentials for entry into Mexico (for a price). After 3 1/2 hours there, they were told they would have to wait 72 hours for the titles of the vehicles to clear (lots of stolen vehicles going into Mexico). After they objected, they were taken by Grupo to the US Border Patrol office which gave them clearance into Mexico after Bob explained this was a humanitarian mission. After they returned to Grupo Cobra to get their vehicles, they spent 2 hours actually crossing the border. By then it was 7 PM. They had been told it's best to travel in daylight so didn't go very far into Mexico. Walter is now in the lead of the group. All vehicles and people are fine. I get to go to sleep earlier tonight! Shalom! Wednesday, March 28, 2001 5:56 AM Hi Everyone, Bob called about 1:20 AM from Brownsville, TX, where they had just arrived. They left Austin about 12 hours earlier for the 6 hour drive. The bus overheated; then someone accidently put in diesel rather than water, so the entire cooling system had to be drained and refilled. Luckily, one of the caravan members is a mechanic (not sure who put in the diesel - don't want to know!). Anyway, they ended up with 3 vehicles and 4 people. James Burnside is a writer from Dallas and is driving a van pulling a trailer with a total of 60 bicycles. Next is the bus with Bob driving. Last is a Jeep pick-up with Walter and Eduardo (sp?) who is a mechanic and an EMT - not sure where he's from. They had to leave a truck and trailer behind, because the truck was burning oil badly and probably wouldn't have survived the trip. The supplies will be sold. They were planning to sleep awhile and plan to drive to Vera Cruz today. Hope he can call me a little earlier tonight. |
CARAVAN ITINERARY