You could say that I caught the Latin America "travel bug" about 10 years ago. Blessed to have visited many Central American countries, never have I visited a place quite like El Salvador. What is different?
Maybe it is the brokenness of a long civil war. Maybe it is Romero. Maybe it is the Jesuits. Maybe it is the Churchwomen. Maybe it is the physical beauty of the countryside. Maybe it is simply the people we encountered. Whatever it is, when I stepped foot in El Salvador, I knew I was standing on holy ground. "Sacred" is the word that describes this place for me.

During my short time in El Salvador I learned through story telling. Some intensely sorrowful, some incredibly jubilant, but all were part of the holy Gospel. The holy Gospel according to Maria, Rufina and Efraim -- these stories humanized the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ in the people of El Salvador and it is now my turn to re-tell these stories to keep the resurrected Christ alive. On this 20th anniversary, I remember the holy people who suffered attempting to keep Christ off the cross. In the midst of constant fear, they confronted the oppressors so innocent people would no longer be condemned to death. This is love. And upon my return from that holy place I was told,"Where there is love, there is hope, and where there is great love, there is great hope." Thank you, El Salvador, for giving me great hope.

Kate Linden
Assistant Director for Academic Initiatives:
Office of Student Success
Creighton University