This summer I had the opportunity to travel to some of the ecclesias in Central America with Bro. Ben Jones, Simi Hills, CA. We spent one week in El Salvador and one in Panama. We both really enjoyed the trip, and they were two very rich weeks. El Salvador especially was an interesting experience because of the cultural and linguistic differences compared to what we were used to in our daily lives.

El Salvador The people of the country are of Spanish and Indian descent, and the chief language is Spanish. The landscape is beautiful, as we soon saw when our plane was descending over the ocean, beach, and lush vegetation. It was about 7 a.m. when Ben woke me up to see it, and I am eternally grateful for the picturesque image planted in my head when I looked out the plane window. Most of our time was spent in and around the capital, San Salvador, but on a few occasions we got to see some of the scenery outside the city, including volcanoes, hills, lakes, and archaeological ruins. We made a couple trips to the beach, where the view consisted of palm trees, coconuts, clean sand, and the ocean, with mountains on the horizon when looking down the beach.

As a city, San Salvador is, in a word, busy. Many people use the bus system for transportation, which is an incredible system compared to what Ben and I are used to. On some routes, if you miss a bus, another one will be along in half a minute. One can imagine how many buses are seen travelling the streets at one time. Another popular mode of transportation is piling into the back of a pick-up truck and hanging on for the ride. This actually isn’t as bad as it might sound; since the streets are fairly congested, traffic doesn’t travel much over 35-40 mph. Traffic laws do exist, but at most intersections and roundabouts the right of way goes to the largest vehicle (perhaps the reason why riding on buses is so popular). Bro. Ed Binch, who lives there, told us that the one feature that is sure to work on all vehicles is the horn!

Humble accommodations
Almost everyone in the city lives quite humbly, especially the brethren and sisters. Many live together with extended family members, taking care of one another. They earn enough to survive, and the absence of materialism is noticeable -- and refreshing. We were treated as guests during our week’s stay, and the generosity that was extended in the form of meals, accommodations, and entertainment was humbling. Following the first memorial service, we were booked for the week with day trips and dinner dates galore. It was such a great help in keeping things in perspective as far as what we have in this life and what is really important. We are very grateful to the brethren and sisters and young people for their hospitality.

Ecclesial activities
As far as a typical ecclesial week in San Salvador, our arrival was on a Friday, and Friday evening we attended the weekly Bible class. Saturday afternoon the young people get together for the CJC (Spanish for CYC), which included a class and then fellowship afterward -- ping-pong being the game of choice. Sunday morning is the memorial service. Following the service, the children attend their respective Sunday School classes while the public lecture is given in the main hall, thus allowing for the lecture to be given on Sunday morning while the public would be planning to attend church anyway.

On Sunday evening, the young people get together at a city park to play volleyball for a couple hours. This provides an especially good means for fellowship since many attend and support the other ecclesias and Sunday schools throughout the country, so they are not all together in the morning. During the week, on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, the young people meet together in the home of a different brother and sister each time to do the readings and share in refreshments or a small meal.

High school Spanish helped It was good to have taken a few years of Spanish in high school, since it made the experience as rewarding as it was. We were able to communicate with the brothers and sisters and young people enough to get to know them well (they were very patient!).

Getting to know those we met at the CJC and ecclesia in San Salvador was an amazing experience. They are so strong in the Truth and I felt uplifted by the love they have for God and His way. It is something special we have with the Truth to be able to meet people from other places and befriend them and feel comfortable around them and in their homes, even on first visits. By seeing that same power at work even across language differences, I felt I was able to see what the Truth is all about. God’s word means the same to them as it does to any other believer. They are striving to live their lives just as all the brethren and sisters around the world are: to refrain from entangling ourselves with the affairs of this life that we may please Him who enlisted us as soldiers.

A most useful trip
The trip to Central America was extremely enjoyable and edifying. It was great to go with a friend, as we had each other to share the experience at the end of the day.

Ben and I would encourage anyone who has the opportunity to visit the ecclesias and young people there. It is well worth using vacation time toward it, and the friendships that are made will last a lifetime. An eternal lifetime.

Jacob Styles, Livonia, Michigan
November 1999