December 2004
A look to the dreams of the past,
those dreams that inform the present
It was a rainy afternoon. I was waiting at the
little chapel of our refugee camp at Mesa Grande,
Honduras, for the youth group's rehearsal on
a play about Anne Frank. Sergio, a seminarian
who used to help us with acting skills, was
waiting along with me. While we waited, we started
talking, and he asked me, "Teresa, what
do you want to do when you grow up? When you
go back to El Salvador? I answered, "If
I don't die here at this refugee camp, I will
pay my debt.” Sergio seemed confused and
continued asking, "I thought that your
family owned some land in Chalatenango."
I explained, "I am not referring to a monetary
debt. What I mean is to pay back a moral and
spiritual debt." With whom? Sergio asked.
Then, I told him, "The debt I have with
the poor, with my people who have everyday needs,
with people like you who believe in solidarity.
Just think about it, if you did not have so
much love for us, wouldn't you be preparing
to have Christmas with your family in Guatemala...and
you would not be here." Sergio then told
me, "You are right, I choose to service
the poor. This why I am here among all of you,
and I see how you are heading on the same path."
I wanted to add one more thing about my vision
and said to him, "The way I see my option
is clear and simple. I am choosing life. I am
choosing to serve the poor and maybe I will
do it by being a nun or a lay leader. I just
know I have a commitment to better this world.
I have such a great admiration for people like
you Sergio, and people like Father Gerardo,
Ana, Scott and all those solidarity warriors
from foreign countries, who are risking their
lives for our cause. Maybe one day, I may be
fighting for the indigenous in your country
or somewhere else, who knows?" And our
conversation ended.
Twenty years have passed since that afternoon,
since that conversation. I can look back and
say that my decision was the correct one and
was worthwhile. I have been able to be a part
of the struggle thanks to all those wonderful
brothers and sisters who have accompanied my
path, who have offered their lives for justice
and to whom I have tried to imitate their unconditional
pledge to end the systematic oppression that
causes death.
The prophetic words of our Pastor Monsigñor
Romero were true then and are true now when
he declared, "In the name of the people
who are the victims of death, I implore you:
Stop the repression." We need to make those
words a reality from wherever we are and however
we can.
I am currently working for the SHARE Foundation
as the Development Associate. SHARE, as you
may know, has accompanied the people of El Salvador
for 23 years through their struggle for social
justice. I am extremely happy to be part of
the wonderful team that is made up of staff,
volunteers, donors, and friends who have a vision
of solidarity with the marginalized.
I have the privilege of having under my responsibilities
being able to connect with our base of sustainers,
who provide much needed support for SHARE. Your
faithfulness is admirable. Your commitment and
solidarity with the Salvadoran people through
the work of SHARE is commendable. For me, you
all are the living cells of our organization
and the particles of life that hold the hope
of so many Salvadoran families.
We are at the end of another year, and it time
to share our blessings and express our gratitude.
SHARE wants to thank you for all these years
of economic and spiritual support to the communities
we accompany. In his homily dated December 16,
1979, Romero said, "The person who has
two coats, give one to the one that has none.
The person that has a little bit to eat, share
with another. This is precisely what we do in
a society founded in true solidarity."
I know many of you are doing exactly that.
You share from the little you may have, and
it is really inspiring to see your children
and friends take on a commitment to help SHARE,
and they write to us and say, "I will do
in memory of my father or mother and I want
to continue with what they started."
We are walking together sowing seeds of hope
until our harvest shows in the lives of the
poor. We count on you for keeping this vision
alive. Happy Holidays.
From the bottom of my heart,
Teresa Cruz
Development Associate
I invite you to continue with the people
of El Salvador in 2005, to celebrate with us
the 25th anniversary of Monseñor Romero,
the 4 U.S. churchwomen and the 75,000 civilians
assassinated during the war, and to celebrate
25 years of solidarity.”
©
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Campaign for Peace