Cuyultitan Sunday July 26
Trip Start
Jul 24, 2009
1
2
17
Trip End
Jul 31, 2009
Cuyiltitan El Salvador, El Salvador
Sunday, July 26, 2009
The name comes from the indigenous language of El Salvador, Nahuatl, and it means "Ciudad entre coyoles"
A coyol is a local fruit that is used a lot duing traditional celebrations among the indigenous mayans.
This community is new to CFCA so it has very few sponsored children.
We arrived to find kids and a few adults outside the church entrance blowing up balloons. They rushed inside when they saw us. As we entered the courtyard, they were all lined up holding balloons, signs and flowers, and they all started clapping. It was wonderful! I shook hands and greeted as many kids as a I could. One little girl stepped out and hugged me around the legs. A group of children spelled out "Bienvenidos queridos padrinos" (welcome dear godparents)with one letter each hanging around their necks. So many smiles!
We sat in the church yard for a program put on by the children. They danced and sang for us. The first perfomers were 2 little girls doing a modern hip shaking dance! We also had a boy and girl act out a traditional rhyme about a little green toad, statements from mothers, and a family band from a nearby community.
Mass was said by a priest who is Italian and whose Spanish was beautiful. He gave a wonderful homily. susie was one of the readers. Before the sign of peace the priest invited all the children to the altar. He invited them to go out and give us all hugs and kisses - best sign of peace ever!
After mass we had time to mingle with the kids and families. They got a little snack before leaving and then we had lunch of sandwiches and cookies.
After lunch we divided in 3 groups. Pat, Susie and I went in group 3 and we took the van to the home of a non sponsored little girl who lives with her mother, grandma and grandpa. The mother was at work - she takes the bus to the capital every day Wed through Sun and sells ice cream. The grandpa finds occasional work as a bricklayer - he is 60. I will let the pictures of the home speak for themselves. I got to do some translating here.
The hotel group (David, Gale and Dan, MIchael and us) were dropped off at the hotel and picked up for dinner.
I didn't keep track of the meals like I should have but they were all outstanding! Sharing time and then back to the hotel. We started a ritual of having a social hour poolside every night at the hotel.
