Westminster Mission Intern heads to El Salvador Teaching English

Des Moines Westminster Presbyterian Church member Alisha Lundberg is traveling to Berlín, El Salvador to begin her 6-week teaching English experience. Below is an excerpt from her blog http://alilorraine.blogspot.com  (The blog name is in memory of Alisha’s father, who called her “Ali Lorraine” and always encouraged her to travel and create her own adventures.)

“Hola a todos! As most of you know by now I will be leaving on February 8th to spend 6 weeks in the town of Berlín in Usulután, El Salvador. There I will be teaching English in a local school and a community class, and trying to gain a better understanding of the school system. I will be able to work on my Spanish language skills, learn more about the town of Berlín, and eat beans every day! Most importantly, I will be spending time with some of the most loving and generous people I have ever met. It is truly a blessing to be received into a community with open arms and open hearts. The happiness and hopefulness of the people never ceases to amaze me, especially when they are faced with tremendous social and economic injustice. I hope their kindness and positive thinking will rub off on me, and that I will be able to bring a part of that joy back to the U.S. with me… ~ Con cariño, Alisha Lundberg

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FMLN president-elect, Mauricio Funes, won the popular election on Sunday, March 15, 2009 in what is being called a historic moment. After two decades of conservative rule, the people of El Salvador have spoken and a newly elected FMLN candidate prepares to take office. FMLN president-elect, Mauricio Funes, won the popular election on Sunday, March 15, 2009 in what is being called a historic moment. Mr. Funes will take office on June 1, 2009. He succeeds ARENA President Antonio Saca.

Mr. Funes led the polls Sunday night with 51.2% of the vote. It is reported that Mr. Funes compares himself to the likes of President Obama and will lead the country by model of Brazil’s president, Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva.

For years the FMLN, the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front, has been fighting against an ultra-conservative government, the ARENA party. The polls were calm with a sense of rising excitement as the night went on.

For those of us who have been to El Salvador, I’m sure you can picture the sea of RED being displayed and flown with pride. As with many other Central American countries, El Salvador has elected themselves a leftist party in hopes to rectify some of the injustice suffered and endured.

While Mr. Funes may have won the election, his battle in most respects is just beginning. He faces a change in government during some of the most recent dire economic constraints the world has seen in years. He is reported as stating that his first priority will be to tackle the economic crisis, find jobs for returning migrants, invest in farming to reduce the dependence on imported food, and fight tax evasion by the wealthy.

A country that we have all come to love has a new sense of excitement and fear with new leadership taking office. Excitement that a better life may be realized under the leadership of Mr. Funes and the FMLN party and for some, a sense of fear with the exiting of the ARENA party. That sense of fear is driven by one word – change!

Please be sure to check out the US and International coverage of the Salvadoran elections. Many articles can be found at: The New York Times, Reuters, and The Washington Post.

If you have been or were an election monitor, I would love to hear from you. Please contact me at jpirtle13@hotmail.com so you can share your story.