Exactly a year ago was my last visit, which then included besides visiting the churches also being an International Election Observer for the fifth time over 22 years. Now my ten day visit, March 6 - 16 will be focused on the...

Yesterday I was picked up by Partners Worldwide staff person Fabiola Bettaglio; I will be hosted by her family for the rest of my stay.  After breakfast she will bring me to the Conference room where the FECLAI visiting observers will be given orientation and...

there will be hundreds of Election Observers, both national and international, scattered around the country to do just that: observe.  In so many places in the world, as here, elections are often questioned as to their fairness...

A sad day, a happy day.While waiting for my ride to a special anniverary church service this morning a worker across the street who I have spoken with before talked to me.  With tears in his eyes he told me of the murder of...

For several reasons, I was not able to visit El Salvador this past year: I hope to be able to do so in the first quarter of 2018.   I have been in not totally regular contact with the pastors there, and with Hugo Aguilar, the Santa Tecla church member who coordinates...

After celebrating Mary Anne’s birthday in Gilbert, AZ (east of Phoenix where our youngest daughter now lives), the next morning I left for Central America via a layover long enough in Houston to make a stop at the nearby conference of Christian Churches Together...

THE WORD AND DEED PROJECT  This has been my main concern for the past several years, and is really getting on track, finally.  Two meetings were held with the coordinator and the two lead pastors.  We went over the projected goals and the accomplishments; real...

There are meetings with different "communities" (churches, IVCF) scheduled every day from Sunday to Sunday.  I'll be visiting the Seeds of a New Creation "casa" - the CRCNA's mission presence there which has risen in profile over the last while, in part owing to a...

My 2012 trip to El Salvador was at the very last possible hour, on Dec. 31 – I was picked up on schedule and dropped off at my lodging at 10:30 PM. The custom there is to shoot off fire-crackers and bottle rockets for both Christmas and New Years.  I later joked with...

Emails and progress reports from El Salvador  prompt me to write a quick update here.  The pace of the Project continues to be slower than I would like to see it, but there is progress.  Huizucar reports upcoming reception of about a dozen new members, including some...

This is a copy of a letter sent recently to donors:                     January 6, 2012     1753 Elser Lane, Escondido CA 92026Dear friend of the El Salvador Christian Reformed Word and Deed Project (ED-DD*):Greetings, and God’s peace to you, in these opening days of...

Another “Year of our Lord” find you well and doing your part to advance His Kingdom “on earth as it is in heaven.”  With fraternal appreciation,  Lou Wagenveld  * For any who might want a refresher, ED-DD stands for Evangelism/Discipleship –...