After El Salvador's earthquake, Jose found
himself in the midst of a remarkable relief effort that never made the
news.
Jose is a member of a Church of God
congregation in the town of Alegria, in El Salvador's Usulutan province.
Government reports show that more than 265,000 people are without adequate
food, shelter or clean water in Usulutan and officials say it's the hardest
hit province in the country.
Once communication lines were restored, Church of God leaders in Alegria contacted Christian friends in Leon, Nicaragua about their plight.
The Christians in Leon were willing to help but needed donations of relief supplies to take to the needy in Alegria.
So they contacted Food for the Hungry and several other organizations to obtain plastic sheeting, water containers, food and medicines for the trip. Members of various churches in Leon donated food and used clothing, and others offered the use of several trucks for transport.
Meanwhile, Jose wrestled with deciding what was best for his family. He had tried to build an earthquake-proof home using bricks and steel-reinforced cement pillars. But even that construction didn't hold. Jose works as a mason and carpenter and knew that the quake-induced cracks in the walls made it too dangerous to live in the house.
So like many of their neighbors, Jose's family decided to sleep outside in tents made of plastic sheeting. And like so many others they prayed for some sort of relief.
When the group from Nicaragua arrived at Jose's church he received a few kilos of maize, beans and other staple foods to feed his family.
But unlike many relief recipients Jose didn't just passively receive. He also aided his neighbors by giving his time. When the trucks arrived with the supplies Jose helped divide the goods into smaller packages.
The participation of Jose and the Nicaraguan Christians demonstrates a key principle in Food for the Hungry's relief strategy. In areas where the church exists Food for the Hungry trains local congregations how to respond when disaster strikes. So when future disasters occur, churches can respond quickly and appropriately within their own communities.
Food for the Hungry's efforts train local churches not only in the process of relief, but also to see that even small, poor congregations can contribute something to reach out to their community.
In Jose's case the only thing he had to give was time. But in combination with resources from other Christians, Jose was able to reach out.
"I think this aid is very good -- it's heaven sent," says Jose.