The pastor of El Shaddai Church, Javier Salazar, made a special point on Sunday of telling the Community Covenant congregation that “the team really encouraged his people at a crucial time,” says Don Olson, pastor of Community Covenant.
Salazar was traveling to Vancouver, British Columbia, to talk with a church about establishing an orphanage, but he wanted to make sure he stopped at Community Covenant to express his gratitude and give an update.
The church team had traveled to help El Shaddai with its foundation after a sewage leak weakened the structure and left a stench. The church now is going strong and has 300 people involved, Salazar reported with the aid of an interpreter.
Covenant Missionary Gary Sander in Medellin emailed Olson to say Salazar wanted to make the stop. While bringing his greetings, Salazar kept tapping his chest to express his fondness and appreciation for Sander’s assistance over many years.
The timing of the visit was great, says Olson, because the church was celebrating Soupfest 2005 – an annual meal that benefits Covenant World Relief. Families brought 22 different kinds of soup as well as bread and pie. Salazar gave the blessing.
“It was perfect as we thought about the church around the world,” says Olson. Salazar later visited the homes of several people who made the mission trip.
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