El Salvador: Day 8 - "Politicians, The UCA, the MUTE Museum and Santa Tecla"

Today is Friday, and we have been in the country for exactly one week now.  This morning we went to the National Assembly (El Salvador's Legislature) and toured the building.  Take a look:

We also had the opportunity to meet with representatives of the two main political parties here in El Salvador.  Our first meeting with a politician was with Rolando from the FMLN and here are some pictures:

We then met with David, a young politician from the Arena party (the party that was in power throughout the civil war from 1980 to 1992, and all the way to 2008 when the FMLN elected their first president). Here are some pictures:

This whole room was basically a shrine to Roberto d'Aubuisson, the founder of the Arena Party (who was trained and supported throughout the civil war by our US military) and the military mastermind that began the US-trained "Death Squads" during the civil war.   Here is the portrait of Mayor d'Aubuisson that stood behind David throughout his presentation, among other mementos:

(i will admit I was physically anxious sitting in that room and seeing the presence of a man who was responsible for so much evil being lifted up as a hero)

After our lunch we went to the UCA (University of Central America) where six Jesuits and two women were assassinated in an overnight surprise attack by the Salvadoran government's army in 1989:

The rose garden that stands as a memorial to all who died that day: 

After spending some quiet time on the campus and in the chapel, we went to a former army prison that had been abandoned after the war before being turned into an art museum.  I have to say that it felt eerie to be in the same place where human rights abuse occurred, but it was also interesting to see that space now filled with beautiful art: 

The very small and haunting "torture room":

We then ate dinner and hung out in that community of Santa Tecla.   It is an artistic, bohemian kind of place with lots of bars and small businesses.  They also closed off the street for booths to sell stuff, tables and chairs for outdoor dining, and many, many bars and restaurants.  It was a good night hanging out with my friends:

And Sarah getting her first taste of Elotes Loco (boiled corn on a stick, with mayo, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire Sauce, and bits of cheese.  Do you think she liked it?:

This evening, I would say that the picture I would offer for how God is moving among us looks like the Book of Genesis.  I feel like God is hovering or vibrating over the deep chaos that is "pregnant with being."  There is a lot of creative power brewing, but not a lot of clarity at this point.  We'll see how God continues to use our experiences here.

Hold us in your prayers when you think of us.

Paz, 

Pastor Gregg/Gregorio