“Here I go to work every day and I’m paid well. But in El Salvador, I’m appreciated! Everyone is so happy that we are there to build a school for the children they just can’t do enough for us.”
Mark Etherington made his first Seeds of Learning trip to El Salvador in the summer of 2004. When he returned the following year, the captivation was complete: Mark is a prisoner of love. Next month he’ll embark on his fifth trip to the land that firmly holds him in its grip.
Mixing cement, bending rebar, painting walls may be physically challenging labor, Mark says, “but we’re always encouraged to take a break and just hang out with the kids. That’s the best part of all. They adore us!”
On his third trip last August, as group leader for more than a dozen teens from around the country, Mark had brought along several story books. One day at recess they sat with the children on the cement outside their Seeds-of-Learning-built classroom. Mark says the youngsters were enthralled to hear stories in Spanish read by a bunch of gringo high schoolers.
Mark will lead again when Sonoma Valley High School teens travel in response to the Senior Project of Angela Steach. Each must pay the way so be on the lookout for their fund raising projects. I’ll mention just two: this Sunday from 7:00 a.m. to noon they’ll be on the parking lot at St. Leo’s Church on Agua Caliente to wash you cars, expecting only a free will donation. And on Wednesday, March 13th, you can support the kids simply by enjoying wonderful food at Mary’s Pizza Shack; 20% of sales at both Sonoma locations will be donated to the Seeds of Learning trip. Call Angela at 938-4222 for the coupon you’ll need.
Have you ever considered such a meaningful, rewarding and fun journey? Call Seeds of Learning at 938-0471 or Mark at 938-8138 to learn about joining Mark’s trip or another this summer. Or check out:
www.seedsoflearning.org.
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Mark Etherington with children of El Salvador.
Submitted Photo. |
