Go Beyond

San Lucas, El Salvador

One of the most rewarding things about leading short-term teams to serve around the world is the opportunity to meet people. I have especially enjoyed the kindness and hospitality of people all over the world. This trip is no different. The people of El Salvador are among the kindest and most hospitable people I have ever met. Every day, one of the families that live near the site where we are drilling the water well invites our team to eat lunch in their home. These are people of humble means who live in homes constructed with a hodgepodge of materials. Every home we have visited has a dirt floor, no running water, no indoor plumbing, and some or no electricity. And yet, they do not hesitate to invite us into their homes and to share with us what little they have. This is one way in which they express their gratitude for what we are doing for their community. We have enjoyed our meals with the people this week. Every dish has been delicious and has been served with a smile.

Everybody in the village of San Lucas is excited about the water well and the fact that it will give them access to a clean source of water. You can sense gratitude in the air. Our hygiene training team has spent additional time with moms and kids talking about why it’s important to wash hands, brush teeth, and guard against the things that can pollute water sources and spread disease. These are the kinds of things we take for granted and that we teach to our children from the time they are very young. But, for kids in San Lucas it is all new information. Our hygiene team members have also been the beneficiaries of sweet expressions of gratitude, including gifts of mangos and other goodies.

Perhaps the most touching expression of gratitude came to us in the middle of the afternoon. After inserting the casing into the well we started the process of blowing out the muddy water in the well with compressed air. This is a process that takes a little time. As we sat under an awning waiting for the water to clear up, an elderly man approached us. Smiling, he took my hand and kissed it. He did the same to each of the men on the drilling team and then quietly went on his way. We were deeply touched and humbled by this man’s humble expression of gratitude. He did not come to us with fine speech or lots of words, only silence. The only thing he had go offer us was a simple kiss on the hand. That was his Hallmark card to each of us. This man’s kiss on the hand encouraged us, blessed us, affirmed us in our work, and spurred us on. Although we do not know this man’s name, we will never forget his kiss on the hand.