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El Salvador is very beautiful. The large volcano of San
Vicente (in photo above) is a constant source of wonder to me, particularly
at sunset. The colors frame the volcano, and I keep expecting a pterodactyl
to go flying by.
The rainy season is just finishing up, so everything
is very lush and green. Surprisingly, it's been pretty hot, and it hasn't
bothered me at all. I don't know if that's from being acclimatized in
Honduras, or just accepting the inevitable, but I'm very happy about
it, because I thought it might be a problem for me. We'll see how I
feel in April and May, when it gets really hot, like in the 100s.
One last story before I go. Yesterday was All Soul's
Day, a day much celebrated here. All over the country people go to the
cemeteries with big wreaths of cedar, and whatever mélange of
gaudy fake flowers they can afford. (Seriously, there was nothing I
saw that remotely resembled what I would consider a classy flower arrangement,
but all were very bright, and, I guess, festive.) The people talk to
family and neighbors, buy ice cream from circulating vendors, etc. They're
not grave or even respectful, really, in the sense I'm used to when
people are in a cemetery. People step and sit on the graves, even strangers,
and just sort of lounge around.
I went with Josefa and her mom. Lots of people died in
the civil war, or even in the earthquake in February, but I didn't see
anyone looking all that sad. A healthy attitude, I think, perhaps founded
in the deep Christian faith of the people, who are mostly Catholic or
Evangelical. So, it was a good day.
Well, I hope each and every one of you is very well.
You have been much in my prayers. The schedule here is very much to
my liking, up at 5 a.m. and in bed again by 8, although I've cheated
the last few nights by staying up late to read The Lord of the
Rings. I finished last night around midnight. Tolkien is a genius!
Anyway, what I meant to say is the nice regular schedule
makes it easier for daily prayer, which is a big plus. Man does not
live by bread alone! Or tortillas, in this case. If anyone wants to
write to me down here, that would be spectacular! I promise to write
back.
PCV Ben Hasse, Apartado Postal 1947
Correo Nacional, Centro de Gobierno San Salvador, El Salvador ben_hasse@hotmail.com
God Bless or Que Dios les bendiga, Ben Hasse
