pupusas and coke in a bag- only in el salvador

This is the lady that makes "tortillas" outside of our apartment... they taste nothing like what you're expecting- a little "chalk-ier" and thicker, yet still satisfying. 

Buenas!  Man we're stoked about the teams coming down... if I have to sweat so should you ;)  No, really, things are going really well down here.  Tonight we had dinner with an El Salvadorian family; we cooked homemade salsa, chicken, and veggies.  We also watched as the niños lick the brownie pan... I'm guessing they don't get them to often.  In actuality, it was really cool to be able to bless these people with a "feast."  Many of them don't eat three meals a day, and sometimes just a tortilla or a bag of chips is all they eat period.  

It's incredible to think that if I just stopped eating out for two months, I would probably have enough money leftover to feed a family for three months!  This morning the interns prayed that when we leave here, we leave here changed.  It's so easy to forget about a world that isn't part of our everyday environment.  But to forget about those in need certainly isn't to love them.

So, about my title... pupusas are what's up down here.  They're like a quesadilla with beans and cheese, and the best part is, they're like 40 cents a piece.  I like to put "chimol" (basically pico de gallo without the pico) and eat it like a taco.  It's a culinary masterpiece, and if you're coming down, you'll get your share of the goodness.  And, if you have any leftover coke, they keep the bottle, give you a straw, and put your coke in a bag.  It's hilarious.  

I've been thinking about how taking care of the environment is a commodity.  These people are, for the most part, in survival mode.  They care about where their next meal is coming from or how they're going to pay their $100 rent.  Consequently, the shabby cars they use fill the air with pollution, they throw their trash all over the neighborhood instead of purchasing trash cans or bags, and they don't think twice about not recycling.  It makes  me think of Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs.  Even knowing that surviving is THE priority, it's painful for me to watch, especially after just finishing a book about how to love God through taking care of the environment.    

Anyway, we're getting up early to spend the day with the Pastors' families.  Peace out.

Christian the intern (commonly called "sexy gato" down here for some strange reason)