In the February heat, over 100 men and women gathered under a large tree in what shade they could find, fanning their faces as they listened to words from local Pastor, Geovanni Rivas. This was the first church and community meeting in San Antonio, a hamlet located in the municipality of San Jose El Naranjo (SJEN). ENLACE has been working in this area for over 10 years. The hamlet is made up of hard-working families that live on less than $1500 per year, face water contamination issues and have limited access to good housing, food and basic healthcare. The leaders at San Antonio Church asked the community to help brainstorm and identify opportunities that most needed attention. The community really responded to the invitation! As is often the case, access to water and “revamping the current water system” was the primary concern but latrine construction, housing and medical clinic visits were all also present on the wish list as together the church and community dreamed of possibilities.
This first terrific response to a church-called community meeting—in which over half of the families in the community were represented—encourages us to anticipate great things to come. Although San Antonio is a new partner, this meeting came as a fruit of a relationship between Pastor Marcos Melara of the Jersalem church located in SJEN proper and San Antonio ‘s pastor, Geovanni Rivas. After Pastor Geovanni’s church saw what was happening through Marcos’ church—health improvements, housing iniatives, increased community unity, etc.—he and his leadership desired that same work of the Spirit in their community. When the opportunity came, Pastor Geovanni and his church leaders jumped at the chance to begin working with ENLACE within their own hamlet.
ENLACE believes that the excellent turn-out of this first church and community meeting marks an exciting moment for the community of San Antonio and indicates that the local church has already done a lot of groundwork. Please join us in praying for the communities in San Jose El Naranjo, the San Antonio Church, Pastor Rivas and the ENLACE staff working in the community. We are excited to see what God will do in and through them in the years to come.