El Salvador Medical Mission
The Red Wedding (Game of Thrones metaphor)
OK, not a wedding, but massacre in holy places - In El Salvador and Guatemala. Until 1990 El Salvador was "owned" by 14 wealthy families. Everyone else was pretty much a serf. These oligarchies supported by corrupt military leaders repressed large sectors of the rural population leading to civil war.
Government-supported assassins gunned down Archbishop Oscar Romero at the altar shortly after he had publicly ordered Salvadoran soldiers to stop killing civilians. In December 1980, four U.S. churchwomen were assassinated in El Salvador, an act of brutality that brought the violence "home" to the U.S. public. The civil war waged well into the early 1990s.
Refugee is a four letter word
Fast forward to 2017. The revolutionaries prevailed and refugees are still trying to get settled. It's a struggle. Land grants have been passed and the regular people of El Salvador could use a hand.
Beck, you hate hot weather! Yes, but I answer to a higher calling
Myself and Indigo, my 14 yo daughter, have an opportunity to help settle refugees in El Salvador this August (HOT!). These communities have limited access to medical care and even more limited financial resources.
I will bring my nursing kung-fu and hard work ethic (general medical, orthopedics and wound care nursing) serving as part of a medical team in San Salvador. I'll also bring medical supplies with me.
Indigo doesn't like nursing but is willing to help too. She will work with school children (500 expected) and do some honest construction work if I can get her to wear the right boots.
Indi and I will come together to assist with the installation of solar panels in rural areas of El Salvador; places that have not known the miracle of electricity before.
I will use vacation time off of work as a RN at Swedish Covenant Hospital during my volunteerism. We will be travelling as part of a team from Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Chicago, IL. This will be the 20th year they have been participating in this mission. They have experience and know what needs doing!
How you can help
We are asking for financial contributions for travel, in-country room and board and vaccinations before we go.
Why this is not a free vacation for us
Indi and I will save and donate from our own funds. I have secured most of the time off of work, but I will have a few days that are unpaid. In addition to sweating in the equatorial sun it is a leap of financial faith for us too. Full disclosure: we plan to return home tan.
Where can I donate?
Every donation is tax deductible if donated through Pilgrim Lutheran Church: Make checks payable to Pilgrim Church with memo: Beck/Indi mission. Please mail checks to me at 2113 W. Giddings, #1, Chicago, IL 60625.
Any amount is welcome (I mean any!) and will be used for direct costs. Thank you for your partnership.
To learn more click here
