Day of the Dead

Although the Day of the Dead in El Salvador isn’t celebrated with the same flair as it is in other Latino countries, many people here do spend the day visiting and decorating the graves of their loved ones.   I had the honor of celebrating the occasion with Sonia and her children who repainted the gravesite of Gema; Sonia’s oldest daughter who passed away a few years ago from lupus.  We went to the rural cemetery where Gema is buried and the photos capture the way in which Salvadorans traditionally adorn the tombs of those who passed.

Sonia and children decorating Gema's grave.

Water filter training for San Pedro Perulapán

During PazSalud’s General Mission, our physicians identify patients with water-borne diseases and prescribe water filters for their use at home.  PazSalud purchases filters for these patients as well other locals then, working with CIS, they provide the training and follow-up needed to ensure the water filters are used and maintained correctly.

CIS water filter promoter, Luis, recently met with patients in San Pedro Perulapán to train them in the need for, the assembly of, and proper use of the Sawyer water filter and I attended to represent PazSalud and maintain our connection with the community.  PazSalud is committed to working with our mission sites long after our teams have left and providing low-cost water filters is one of the many ways we honor this commitment.

Luis training patients on water filter assembly, use and maintenance

Assembling the filter

Some of the filter recipients with filters ready to go