First Presbyterian celebrates 20 years of ministry to El Salvador

On Oct. 4, more than 150 people gathered at First Presbyterian Church to celebrate the 20 years of ministry to El Salvador in which the church has been involved.

Former minister of the church, the Rev. Bill Calhoun, delivered the message and co-led communion for World Communion Sunday with current pastor, the Rev. Meghan Davis. A time of fellowship followed during which participants looked at photos and videos and shared memories of the many delegations to El Salvador. A light luncheon included pupusas, a typical food in El Salvador, and a pupusa cooking demonstration was conducted by Karem Carballos, a Salvadoran friend currently living in Pella.

Participants were invited to make their own pupusa. Remarks were made by several delegation participants including the first Mission Co-worker to El Salvador for the Presbytery of Des Moines, the Rev. Bob Cook. The event concluded with the smashing of piñatas on the front lawn, followed by cake and coffee.

First Presbyterian has sent nearly 20 delegations to El Salvador since 1995, beginning with medical delegations to the many rural villages around Berlin, El Salvador and more recently partnering with the village of Munoces.

Friendship between the villagers and the church members has led to scholarships for young people to go to high school, improved water quality and storage facility, fertilizer and seeds to improve harvest yield, new latrines for families without facilities, and many other projects. Delegates have reported that traveling to El Salvador has changed their lives and expanded their view of the world.