Caravan of Hope is a mission to provide school buses and ambulances to remote areas in El Salvador. The Padre spends his spiritual leave each year driving a school bus for 12 days from Toronto to El Salvador; 3 or 4 days visiting villages and flies home. The support money comes from these fellowship lunches.
As I observed the lunches being prepared by such happy hands and faces, I was touched by the joy and peace in this congregation of immagrants. People that had suffered hardships bigger than we can even begin to imagin to cross 3 countries and no less than 8 states to get to build new homes in a new land. And yet, they joyfully prepared, served, and cleaned after the meals. They haven't lost sight that community education is important and most importantly they haven't lost sight of who is the center of the church and all that they do - Jesus.
I also thought back today to the Islamic Center we visited this week - very stark in comparison to the Hindu Temple we visited earlier in the day - and how the two use their vast differences to serve. One through its oppulence and wealth, brings people to see, so they can hear the story. One in it's starness, invites the community to come and have their needs met - education, retreat and fellowship - basketball, community game nights, food and clothing banks etc. They are open from 4:30 AM to 11 PM, to mee the needs of the community. "We" close our doors at 5 and go home. HMMMM---
Sometimes, when I think of the financial struggles that plague us all, I forget about the people who refuse to limit God by saying "we can't afford "it"...instead they open their hearts, their minds and say "come on in God", show us the way.
Jose, Kim, Padre San Lorenzo Church Toronto Canada
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