A moment that brought me joy during internship was a moment I had while in El Salvador. Our team had the opportunity to serve a community in an area called El Milagro. Milagro is a slum hidden behind some walls and shops. We entered with gloves and trash bags to pick up trash on the streets of Milagro. The trash collects on the street because of repetitive flooding and waste that is left from surrounding communities.
El Milagro is heavy, chaotic, and weighs on your heart because no person should have to live in those kind of conditions. In the midst of the chaos, an elderly couple walked out of their home. They greeted us with bright smiles and something to drink. I asked them for their names. they said Anna and Mario. They said that they had lived there for 15 years and that they were able to get through all the struggle because of the Lord.
We prayed for them and afterward Anna started to cry. I asked her if I could give her a hug and she said yes. we held each other for a long time and I told her that I was blessed to meet her. I also told her that she was a light in her community. Her presence, faith, and hospitality gave me so much joy. Afterwards, some of the interns started singing La Montana while picking up trash. This moment was very powerful as we were singing about how God and faith can move mountains- such as the mountain of poverty. This moment was stand out and I will carry with me forever.