Abelines / San Miguel RegionANNUAL REPORT 2011

AR2011

equipping churches to transform communities

AR2011

REGIONAL OVERVIEW

PARTNER CHURCH PROFILES Piedra Angular, Abelines

Piedra Angular Church is a rural congregation of 85 members. ENLACE’s partnership with its pastor, Victorio Paz, began in 2001. He and his church were ENLACE’s �rst local church partner in the remote hamlet of Abelines; the closest town is a three-hour walk on foot. ENLACE’s �rst connection with Pastor Victorio was through a recommendation from leaders in a neighboring community.

The work of the church has had a revolutionary impact on the community. Historically, the area never had access to health care or clean water and only a few people had sanitation facilities. Access to clean water has increased from 1% to 79% and access and use of latrines has increased from 33% to 93%. The radical

transformation of Abelines inspired dozens of other churches to seek support from ENLACE to serve their communities. Pastor Victorio also serves as a member of ENLACE's Pastoral Steering Committee.

The goals for 2012 are to continue to strengthen the church's leadership through ongoing training and to facilitate the development of infrastructure, health and economic development projects. 

The Abelines region is comprised of 11 remote villages in El Salvador’s mountainous northeastern department of Morazan. The villages have a combined estimated popula-tion of over 12,000 people. The average resident has a third-grade education and is involved in small-scale subsistence farming. Farmers barely provide enough corn and beans to live on and occasionally have extra to sell. A recent study showed that most residents eat meat one time per month and eat vegetables one time per week. More than 75 percent of the inhabitants of this region live in extreme poverty, making less than one dollar per day.

Due to the profound impact that servant-leader churches have made in Abelines the region was expanded into the Department of San Miguel by including two new churches near the towns of Ciudad Barrios and Moncagua potentially impacting more than 100,000 people. As the number of ENLACE church partners grows exponentially, this area will be divided into two separate regions in 2012.

Existing US PartnerNew US PartnerNo US Partner

Getsemaní, Pajigua

Siloé, SirigualSiloe Church is a rural congregation of 62 members. In 2008 its pastor, Virgilio Ramos, learned about ENLACE through conversa-tions with Pastor Victorio Paz, from Abelines, who encouraged him to serve those in need in his community.

When Pastor Virgilio �rst began working with ENLACE, he was apprehensive and unsure of how his congregation would respond. As ENLACE walked the church through leadership training and as the church started doing projects, Pastor Virgilio said it became clear that he and his church had the strong desire to reach out and serve those in need. In addition to implementing home garden and latrine projects, the church has currently taken the lead on a major bridge project that will bene�t nine communities. As part of the project, the church is collaborating with the mayor's o�ce and all nine community associations.

The goals for 2012 are to continue to strengthen the church's leadership through ongoing coaching and training and to facilitate the development of infrastructure, health and economic develop-ment projects.

AR2011

equipping churches to transform communities

Getsemaní Church is a congregation of 75 members. Some of the church's leaders worked as members of the health committee in Abelines and after witnessing the incredible transformation there led by the Piedra Angular Church, they wanted to serve their community in the same way. They encouraged the church's pastor at the time, Andrés Membreño, to contact ENLACE, and in 2008 a partnership began. In 2011, Nelson Paz, became the new pastor and he remains committed to the same vision.

With ENLACE guidance, the church has helped organize the community association, created a housing committee, and estab-lished relationships with a variety of other organizations including World Vision, World Food Program and the local government. Some of the �rst projects they completed were latrine construc-tion, home gardens and a primary school building addition. As their passion for service has grown, their relationship to their neighbors has been strengthened and church membership has increased signi�cantly.

The goals for 2012 are to continue to strengthen the church’s leadership through ongoing coaching and training and to implement health, infrastructure and develop-ment projects such as housing and home garden expansion.

Emanuel, El Triunfo

Dios de la Profecía, La Estancia

Dios de la Profecía Church is a dynamic and well-organized congregation of 110 members. In 2009 its former pastor, Walter Herrera, learned about ENLACE though his friendship with the leaders of Piedra Angular Church in Abelines and decided to become a partner. Current pastor, David Martinez, along with a passionate young leadership team, have continued the partner-ship to better equip their church to serve the community.

Previously, the church had already identi�ed some urgent needs in the community, and had begun to build relationships with community organizations. With the help of ENLACE, the church further developed these relationships and also helped bring together organizations such as the community association and the Ministry of Health. As a result, the church and community worked together to open a medical clinic that provides care for residents of La Estancia and other neighboring communities.

The goals for 2012 are to continue to strengthen the church’s leadership through ongoing coaching and training and to facilitate the development of infrastructure, health and economic development projects such as building a new water tank and expanding the medical clinic.

Emanuel Church is a humble and hard-working, rural congregation of 45 members. In 2009 their pastor, Orlando Andrade, heard about ENLACE through conversations with Pastor Victorio Paz from the nearby community of Abelines.

As a result of working with World Vision and the local mayor’s o�ce, the church already had close relationships with its community. ENLACE helped to strengthen these existing relationships by helping the church to improve its organizational capacity and integration with other leaders and families of the community and by helping them to establish new relationships with the local community association, the Ministry of Health, and the local public school. As a result of these new intersections, the roof of the community's public school was repaired keeping over 200 students safe from the elements. Collaborating with the local health committee, the church hosted a medical team from the U.S. that served 360 people.

The goals for 2012 are to continue to strengthen the church's leader-ship through ongoing training and to facilitate the development of infrastructure projects, such as pedestrian bridges and housing, and health projects such as latrines, medical assistance and a water system.

AR2011

NEW CHURCH PARTNER PROFILES

Sendero de Dios Church

Location: El PlatanarChurch founded: 1967Pastor: Gerson RodríguezPastoring church since: 2003ENLACE partner since: 2011Introduced to ENLACE by: Dios de la Profecia Church, La EstanciaChurch members: 100Number of people impacted: 1600

Location: El Cerro, San SimónChurch founded: 1980Pastor: Carlos HernándezPastoring church since: 2010ENLACE partner since: 2011Introduced to ENLACE by: Apóstoles y Profetas, San Antonio El MoscoChurch members: 126Number of people impacted: 400

Jerusalén Church is a rural, service-minded congregation of 126 members. In 2011 its pastor, Carlos Hernández, learned about ENLACE through conversations with Pastor Tereso Jurado from nearby San Antonio El Mosco, who encouraged him to reach out and serve the community.

Pastor Carlos volunteered as a member of the community associa-tion for 10 years and also served as a member the local water board that worked to bring clean water to the community. As a founding member of these organizations, Pastor Carlos already had close ties with the community. As the church begins implementing projects this year, they will strengthen these existing relationships and also build new relationships with other organizations and residents.

The goals for 2012 are to continue to strengthen the church's leadership through ongoing coaching and training and to facilitate the development of health projects such as latrines, as well as infrastructure projects such as housing.

Sendero de Dios Church is a passionate congregation of 100 members. After seeing the impact of the Dios de la Profecía Church in La Estancia, the church desired to reach out to its community. Under the guidance of its pastor Gerson Rodriguez, who has a strong vision and passionate heart to serve others, the church had previously implemented projects such as road construction, home repairs, pedestrian stairs, food assistance and the construction of two adobe homes. However, the church wanted to increase its capacity to serve in other ways and asked for coaching from ENLACE. In December of 2011, Pastor Gerson along with four church leaders attended ENLACE'S Annual Pastors' Retreat which encouraged them on their path of service to their community.

The goals for 2012 are to continue to strengthen the church’s leadership through ongoing coaching and training and to facilitate the development of infrastructure, health and economic develop-ment projects such as construction of a pedestrian bridge and health projects.

Jerusalén Church

Apóstoles y Profetas Church is an enthusiastic, urban congre-gation of 120 members. In 2009 their pastor, Tereso Jurado, became intrigued by the work of the churches in Abelines. He decided to approach ENLACE to develop a strategy that would help his church transform its community.

Despite being located in one of the poorest municipalities in El Salvador, the church has found a way to make an impact through outreach. The church has built relationships with other organizations such as Compassion International, the Ministry of Health and developed a particularly strong relation-ship with their local mayor's o�ce. Together with these organi-zations, they have implemented projects such as latrines and health education programs. As part of the latrine project, the church helped reorganize the community association, and Pastor Tereso now serves as its president.

The goals for 2012 are to continue to strengthen church leadership through ongoing coaching training and to implement health, infrastructure and development projects such as housing and public restrooms.

Apóstoles y Profetas, San Antonio El Mosco

AR2011

CHURCH AND COMMUNITY PROGRAM

“The work of the church together with its community is the best thing we can do because everything has to begin with friendship, and through friendships we get to know those who don’t know God.”

Pastor Nelson Paz, Getsemaní Church

CHURCHES: CURRENT AND PROJECTED

PROJECTS ACTUAL COMMENT2011 2012 GOAL

Identify new partner churches

Train and coach committed partner churches

GOAL

5 2 8The number of interested churches continues to grow, and we should be able to identify at least six new interested churches in 2012.

We plan to be working with eight committed churches by the end of 2012.10 6* 8

In 2011 ENLACE trained and equipped over 139 church leaders on a monthly basis in eight churches in Abelines and San Miguel

*Principe de Paz Church in Charanga elected to drop out its work with ENLACE, but Dios de la Profecía Church in El Platanar and Emanuel Church in El Cerro cameon as committed churches.

AR2011

equipping churches to transform communitiesPROJECT REPORTS 2011

Women and children are those who most bene�t from home garden projects. Not only does their health improve as a result of adding nutritional food to their diets, but they often gain a new sense of personal worth and empowerment while caring for the gardens.

Dr. Zuleyma Chahin is helping to expand the health program into dozens of communities in the region. She provides primary health care through two clinics and is working with the Ministry of Health to lead local medical teams into remote areas.

Home Gardens

Medical Assistance and Health Training

Home Gardens

ENLACE’s medical doctor gave 7 medical workshops in Abelines and saw 160 patients in El Triunfo. Medical attention in Abelines is now being provided by the Ministry of Health in the existing clinic.

Technical assistance to 27 farmers to develop home gardens bene�ting 135 people.

PROJECT GOAL ACTUAL COMMENTS

Potable Water Training 15 members of the water board received ongoing training.

“I think the church’s heart is a�ected when they see people in need and so they lend a hand… Because not just anyone is willing to help someone in need. But they even helped me carry the materials for the house.”

Piedra Angular Church, Abelines

Getsemaní Church, Pajigua

Technical assistance to 40 farmers to develop home gardens bene�ting 120 people.

Pedestrian BridgeConstruction of a 49 - foot pedestrian bridge opening access to El Carbon.

7 Workshops160 Consultations

27 Gardens

50 Gardens

6 Workshops

35 Gardens

40 Gardens

2,835 Patients

Complete

8 Workshops

Completed

AR2011

equipping churches to transform communities

PROJECT GOAL ACTUAL COMMENTS

Emanuel Church, El Triunfo

Constructuin of a new Water tan

Home Construction Identi�ed 25 recipients and will begin construction in 2012.

Latrines Identi�ed 20 recipients to receive latrines bene�ting 98 people. Still pending funding.

Bridge Construction of a vehicular bridge to connect El Triunfo with Sirigual.

Water SystemCompleted the design of a water system (construction of water tanks and distribu-tion lines).

PendingFunding*

PendingFunding*

PendingFunding*

Funded for 2012

10 Homes

Identi�ed in 2011

Identi�ed in 2011

40 Latrines

Identi�ed in 2011

Identi�ed in 2011

Identi�ed in 2011

Identi�ed in 2011

Dios de la Profecía Church, La Estancia

Medical Assistance ENLACE’s medical doctor saw 1,736 people in La Estancia while conducting 14 workshops with local health committee.

1,736Consultations

Clinic Expansion Provide easy and a�ordable access to primary health care and medicines for 1,700 people.

Apóstoles y Profetas Church, San Antonio El Mosco

Public Restroom

Water Tank

“El Escobal” Street Repair

Home Construction

Latrines Construction of 40 latrines and mainte-nance training.

Construction of public restrooms in urban area.

Construction of 10 block homes bene�ting 48 people.

The local government will complete the 276 feet of road repair.

PROJECT REPORTS 2011

Replace 25 year-old tank and provide clean water to 1,290 people.

PendingFunding*

Pending Funding*

Pending Funding*

Pending Funding*

Pending Funding*

Cancelled

20 Latrines

Complete

Complete

*ENLACE helps the church and community to identify potential projects but does not commit to the project implementation until local and international funding is received.

AR2011

PROJECT REPORTS 2011

The local church, together with four neighboring communi-ties, worked hard over the past six years in order to con-struct a bridge that would provide a safer river crossing and improved school attendance during the rainy season. According to Principal of the public school, Ana Leticia Garay,“We have all put in a grain of sand, including the parents who have also worked towards this dream.”

Construction of a Medical Clinic

Homes

Home Gardens

The clinic project has been cancelled and is being managed by the National Government.

PROJECT GOAL ACTUAL COMMENTS

Medical AssistanceENLACE’s medical doctor conducted 9 workshops for health committe members in El Triunfo.

Getsemaní Church, Pajigua cont.

Public School ClassroomFinishing the construction of two preschool classrooms in the public school of Pajigua.Pending remaining funding.

Identi�ed 25 recipients and will begin construction in 2012.

HomesIdenti�ed more home recipients in Sirigual. Completed 9 in 2011 and will begin construc-tion of 16 corrugated steel homes in 2012.

Siloé Church, Sirigual

Technical assistance to 16 farmers to develop home gardens bene�tting 80 people. 20 more gardens will be started in 2012.

Pedestrian Bridge (Design and Budget)

Build a bridge bene�ting 4,350 people.

Emanuel Church, El Triunfo

Cancelled

In Progress

Funded for 2012

Funded for 2012

35 Gardens 16 Gardens

Pending Funding*

9 Workshops

2 Classrooms

Complete

10 Homes

10 Homes

Complete

Monthly Visits

*ENLACE helps the church and community to identify potential projects but does not commit to the project implementation until local and international funding is received.

Potable Water TrainingTechnical training of 15 board members to maintain existing sustainable water system.

10 Workshops

2 Workshopsand Follow-up

$ 7,657

PROJECT GOAL BUDGET COMMENTS

Nutrional Training

Home Gardens 20 Gardens Provide technical assistance to at least 20 farmers for the development of home gardens.

Nutrition programs for home garden recipients bene�ting 100 people.

$ 4,085

$ 6,400

School Classrooms Complete $ 27,370

Home Gardens

Home Construction

30 Gardens

25 Homes

$ 8,900

Funded Construction of 25 steel laminate housing bene�ting 125 people.

Finish the construction of two classrooms for the primary school bene�ting 500 students.

Provide technical assistance to at least 30 farmers for the development of home gardens.

Project design and fund a vehicular bridge bene�ting 4,300 people.

Home Gardens

Pedestrial Bridge

Bridge

Home Construction

Latrines 20 Latrines

Design and Fund

$ 6,40020 Gardens

TBD Design and Fund

Provide technical assistance to at least 20 farmers for the develop-ment of home gardens.

Construction of 10 adobe homes bene�ting 58 people.

Bridge construction to connect El Triunfo and Sirigual bene�ting 2,100 people.

Build 20 pit latrines, provide preven-tive health education and train community members on proper maintenance bene�ting 95 people.

TBD

$ 7,000

10 Homes $ 75,462

Homes (3 Pending Funding)

17 Homes $ 16,235 Construction of 17 steel laminate houses. 3 homes pending funding.

Piedra Angular Church, Abelines

Getsemaní Church, Pajigua

Siloé Church, Sirigual

Emanuel Church, El Triunfo

IDENTIFIED PROJECTS FOR 2012 equipping churches to transform communities

AR2011

IDENTIFIED PROJECTS FOR 2012

Design, construction and mainte-nance training.

Complete TBD

PROJECT GOAL BUDGET COMMENTS

Medical Assistance 10 Workshops ENLACE’s medical doctor will provide monthly training.

$ 4,140

Water Tank

Clinic Extension Complete $ 25,000

Medical Assistance 2,000 Consultations

Complete

$15,472

$ 27,000

Provide easy and a�ordable access to primary health care and medicines for more than 1,700 people.

Primary care and health programs.

Replace 25 year-old tank and provide clean water for 1,290 people.

Build 40 pit latrines, provide preven-tive health education and train community members on proper maintenance bene�ting 240 people.

Construction of 4 public restrooms bene�ting 5,300 people.

Home Construction

Public Restrooms

Latrines

Pedestrian Bridge Complete

$ 75,47210 Homes

TBD4 Public Restrooms

$ 14,00040 Latrines

Build 10 adobe homes bene�ting at least 60 people.

Construction of 20 adobe homes bene�ting 115 people.

$ 151,000

$17,500

20 Homes

Water System

Construction of 65 foot pedestrian bridge bene�ting 6 communities and 18,000 people.

Home Construction

Latrines 50 Latrines $ 25,600 Build 50 composting latrines, provide preventive health education and train community members on proper maintenance.

Emanuel Church, El Triunfo

Dios de la Profecia Church, La Estancia

Apóstoles y Profetas Church, San Antonio El Mosco

Sendero de Dios Church, El Platanar

Jerusalen Church, El Cerro

AR2011

Church Coach Profile: Isidro Ramírez

“The Gospel is not just a matter of words and theory, but of God’s love and compassion in action. The oppor-tunity to work with ENLACE was the moment that all the roads came together.”

ENLACE Church Coach in San Miguel and San José El Naranjo Regions

For ENLACE Church Coach, Isidro Ramírez, the journey to ENLACE began back in high school. At that time, he was not a Christian. Isidro grew up poor and saw his studies as a way out of poverty and a way to make something of his life. After being invited to church by a few class-mates, Isidro began to sense a profound change in his heart. Within six months of attending church, his entire perspective about himself and those around him was transformed. As a result, he began to take notice of those in need around him—their poverty, their addictions, their bereft experience of life without God. Isidro says that Christ’s love, like the unseen pull of gravity, began to draw him towards people rather than away from them.

This change in perspective meant that his studies were no longer about him. He wanted a vocation that served others and impacted people instead of a career that focused on him. His desire to study both agronomy and theology bloomed from this distinct outlook, and he began to serve as a pastor and agronomist. Even so, Isidro wasn’t sure how God would use all his skills and abilities together. To most people—and to most potential employers—his skills seemed comically unrelated.

Since 1997, ENLACE had been working with three churches in the region of Abelines / San Miguel. Home garden projects have played a fundamental role in helping churches reach out to their neighbors--addressing nutrition and economic needs. Isidro’s training in both theol-ogy and agronomy was a perfect �t. He began working in Abelines in 2008. After three years of toil, prayer, and dedication, there are now eight new churches actively engaged in their com-munities in this region.

In July of 2010, ENLACE asked Isidro to begin working with two churches in the San José El Naranjo region. In this short time, he has been a great inspiration to the pastors and has already helped the churches identify more than 10 new churches in the region who are also interested in transforming their communities.

equipping churches to transform communities

AR2011

Church Coach Profile: Julio Figueroa

“ENLACE brings transformation to the community by means of the relationships created by the gospel. The work that God has left to His church is not to have endless services and meetings, but to take the good news of Christ’s love to others...This is so important to the heart of Jesus; He is right there with them, eating, sleeping, enduring the hunger. To see this process [of transformation] develop is a job that requires one to know the community and the culture, bringing the gospel as something practical and simple, but with a lot of creativity, passion, and sacri�ce for others.”

ENLACE Church Coach in Abelines/ San Miguel Region

ENLACE Church Coach Julio Figueroa was hired in February of 2010. He has planted roots in his new job by cultivating strong relationships with both his colleagues and the residents of the Abelines/San Miguel region. Even though his life has not been easy, his new life of service is one for which he has always longed--a life that cultivates both the soil of people's hearts and of their own backyards.

Although Julio's work now involves harvesting, watering, and soil preparation, Julio's experi-ences and academic degrees were not in agriculture. When he was young, he was selected to play for a prestigious athletic team. Later he received a degree in Marketing from the Univer-sity of Central America José Simeón Cañas and also a degree in Ministry Studies from the Biblical Baptist Institute in the United States. However, his passion for people and his desire to share his life with them ultimately led him to a region close to Abelines where he was already working when he heard about ENLACE.

Upon learning more about ENLACE Julio decided that ENLACE was a perfect �t and applied for a job. He loved the idea of identifying simple and creative ways to help communities resolve problems of food security, access to clean water, and the need for adequate housing.

Julio has two adult sons who, according to him, de�ne his other passion; to be a good father. Julio sees his work with ENLACE as a way to show God's faithfulness and God’s heart for the world.

AR2011

The Power of a Vision-filled Church

Imagine living in a dirt-�oored home with a roof made of plastic and scrap metal and walls made of bamboo and crumbling adobe. Imagine living without electricity, a bath-room or a sense of security due to the lack of a front door. Imagine trying to care for seven children in such a place which is made even worse during the annual six-month rainy season.

This was Olga’s life until the Siloé Church stepped in and changed it forever.

“We used to have to get up in the middle of the night to cover the children so they wouldn’t get soaked. We would rush around to move our clothes...and wait for the rain to pass before going back to sleep,” said Olga through tears after hearing that members of the local church in Sirigual wanted to build her and her children a real home.

Olga’s situation is not rare in Abelines/San Miguel where fami-lies often live on less that one dollar a day and could never dream of building something better on their own. Nevertheless, humble local churches--congregations comprised of people in similar situations--are working together in sacri�ce and faith, responding to God’s call to serve their neighbors.

Through ENLACE’s coaching, churches not only learn to see themselves as salt and light in their communities but are also given tools and training on how to live out that vision. ENLACE helps churches organize themselves and identify their internal resources, connect to local organizations, and implement projects speci�cally identi�ed and designed based on local needs and contexts.

Along with the need for adequate housing, the topography of the Abelines/San Miguel region creates a speci�c challenge. The combination of mountainous terrain and a six-month rainy season makes routes to and from home, work or school treacherous. Gullies and steep moun-tainsides used as byways become dangerous due to �ash-�ooding and mudslides. Among other resulting problems, children miss weeks of school and local commerce is greatly e�ected.

Safe and dependable passage has always been a fundamental need in this region. However, building a bridge is no easy task. It takes a deep, concerted e�ort from a variety of sources. That is why poor, marginal areas are often the last to receive help. Even so, the bridge in Abelines (pictured above) is the third one built in this impoverished area. Five community associations, the local school and the mayor’s o�ce were all coordinated in an e�ort lead by four churches partnering with ENLACE. These churches also provided labor, materials and 36 percent of the funding. (The remaining funds came from U.S. donors.) This particular bridge serves 422 students and 1,776 residents in �ve di�erent communities.

Whether it be a house for one family or a bridge for entire communities, the profound transformation that can come when people capture God’s vision for the world is utterly amazing and powerful.

MOMENTUM STORIES

equipping churches to transform communities

5405 Alton Parkway Suite 5A Number 458

Irvine, CA 92604

Tel. 1-888-675-2313partner@enlaceonline.org

www.enlaceonline.org