El Salvador Bridge Project

 

Santa Maria Bridge Project

The Santa Maria Bridge Project is soon to be ready to go. St. Matthew’s continues to be involved in the effort to complete the bridge in Santa Maria, El Salvador that will allow the small, poor community that is home to the congregation of Amor y Paz access to basic services in the larger community of Santa Maria. A group of engineering students from the University of Wisconsin–Madison visited the area from March 26–April 4 to set up local contacts, fine-tune the design and set up the final design and implementation process. Tim Nelson of St. Matthew’s was with the group, serving as the team’s mentor, and Chelsea and Elise Mannebach, who are members of St. Matthew’s and UW students were also with the group. Elise served as an interpreter, and both are working with community representatives to plan the completion of the project.

The photo here is from the 2010 Mission Trip. The group is meeting with engineers and officials from the Santa Maria area to discuss the Bridge project.

Though plans will be finalized in May, the building phase will not begin until the necessary funds can be raised. If you would like to contribute to this project, or if you are aware of potential funding sources, please talk with Gretchen Haugse or Pastor Chris.

Photo albums linked below are pictures to the Santa Maria Bridge during Mission Trips in 2009 and 2010

Videos: Santa Maria Bridge, January 2010 on this page [here]

Photo album: Santa Maria Bridge, January 2009 and January 2010 [here]

Photos: Santa Maria Bridge, January 2008 are below
 The following photos were taken during the first Mission Trip to El Salvador in 2008. More photos were taken in 2009 and 2010. That photo album is at the link above. (Click image to enlarge)

Videos: Santa Maria Bridge 2010
NOTE: It may take a few moments for the videos to load and play. Please be patient. To start each video, click the arrow below or in the middle of the video screen.
Controls for stopping, playing and adjusting the volume are part of the video player. Each video can also be seen in "full screen" mode using the little control button (it looks like an "x" with a dot in the middle).

Monday, January 11:
Historic meeting for Santa Maria Bridge

Monday, January 11:
On the Santa Maria Bridge - TV cameras appear!

 

Monday, January 11 (Local television report in Spanish):
Group visit to Santa Maria Bridge community --
Pastor Chris and others interviewed on video

Translation of TV report:
Twenty students from a Lutheran church in Wisconsin visited the Municipal of Saint Mary to help in the construction of a bridge that separates the community. The Americans heard stories of people being hurt from this bridge and they came to help. The construction of the bridge began but was never finished due to miscommunication. Therefore, they are hoping that through the alliance of the Lutheran churches this project can be completed to aid the inhabitants of the Saint Mary community.

About El Salvador

El Salvador is a Central American country nestled between Guatemala and Honduras, which borders the Pacific Ocean. With a population of 6.9 million, it is the most densely populated nation of the American mainland. El Salvador's economy is primarily agricultural, with farming employing about 40% of the workforce and accounting for a quarter of the gross national product. The country has endured significant destruction from natural disasters including frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. El Salvador is a developing country and is one of the 10 poorest countries in Latin America.

 

About our Synod Partnership with El Salvador

As part of the Companion Synod Program of the ELCA, the Greater Milwaukee Synod has been in partnership with the Iglesia Luterana Salvadoreña since June 1988.  Through the SHARE Foundation, the Greater Milwaukee Synod helped to sponsor a group of Salvadoran refugees who returned from Nicaragua and founded Comunidad Rutilio Grande in March, 1991.   

The Greater Milwaukee Synod El Salvador Committee works with the Sister Parish office of the Salvadoran Lutheran Church, encouraging the growth of relationships between congregations and individuals in Milwaukee and El Salvador.  The committee offers assistance with congregational visits in El Salvador and Salvadoran visits in the United States, and typically coordinates one or more synod delegation visits to El Salvador each year. 

The committee hosts educational events, provides resources and guest speakers to congregations, manages the allocation of donated funds, promotes development initiatives of the Salvadoran Lutheran Church and Comunidad Rutilio Grande, and encourages advocacy.  In every aspect, the committee promotes the use of the accompaniment model as Milwaukeeans and  Salvadorans work together on issues of importance to us as people of faith and advocacy.

The new Greater Milwaukee Synod El Salvador Committee Brochure (links are located both on the Synod Who We Are page and El Salvador Committee pages) is [here].

Endowment Fund Resources are located [here].

Resources for partners with El Salvador are located [here].

More information about our Synod and congregational El Salvador Partnership and many details [here].