In august I am planning to travel to El Salvador on a mission trip with my church. We will partner with the organization Christ for the City International and will work with at risk youth as well as food distribution and local outreach. This will be my third mission trip, previously I have traveled to Mexico and Slovakia/Hungary, and I am very excited to have the opportunity to go on another one. 

A little bit about El Salvador: 
El Salvador is a small country in Central America but carries with it a number of problems. Over 20 years ago gangs that were started in Los Angeles, California (MS-13 and Barrio 18) spread to countries like El Salvador when there leaders were deported. Today El Salvador is an  epicenter of the gang crisis, with Guatemala and Honduras, and experiences the highest murder rates in the world. 
The country experiences 65 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, which is more than triple to current rate of Mexico. About 40 percent of the population lives in extreme poverty which is why so many turn to the gangs. Because of this violence and hopelessness, parents send their children to countries like the United States to give them a chance at a different life. Last year US boarder patrol apprehended over 17,000 unaccompanied Salvadorian minors and many already here are threatened with deportation because of their immigration status. 

This is a country that could use some hope and love at a time like this and I am very excited and honored to get to go and be a part of that!