News 2 -- Advent, 1986

“That the war continues is a fact. That the goal of the Government and Armed Forces is to gain a military victory is bitter news. Bitter even more so when it is known that it is the U.S. that influences and controls all decisions made here in El Salvador.”

[In some of his letters Larry used the word womyn as his way of expressing the equality of women and men.
campo = farm field or farm region. Campesino(a) = peasant farmer]

NEWSLETTER # 2....FROM LARRY ROSEBAUGH/EL SALVADOR....
FRIENDS:
SHOULD YOU WRITE TO LARRY, PLEASE BE AWARE THAT HIS MAIL IS POSSIBLY MONITORED. DIRECT REFERENCE TO WHAT HE HAS SHARED WITH US COULD PUT HIM AND OTHERS IN JEOPARDY. mlp

Advent, 1986

Dear Friends:

In my first letter to you I took some time explaining how I got to El Salvador and how my past year in Mexico helped prepare the way for the work to be done here.

Many in positions of authority have a way of devaluating the life and person of the poor -- characterizing the oppressed as lazy, criminal, without intellectual capacity or the desire to work.

We who live among the 'marginalized' must be the voice for our friends whose right to express themselves is denied them.

If I can share the portion of the life of friends here, these letters to you will have fulfilled their purpose.

Benjamin is a man - 57 years of age – whose hair is black, without a sign of graying. He has worked in the campo since he was seven. This is more the custom than the exception as the knowledge of the land and how to tend it is one's means of survival.

The campesino family rises at 4 in the morning or earlier; the fire is started and coffee readied. Tortillas are put over the hot coals and tamales containing corn and sugar or a sample of meat are also on hand. And finally, breakfast is served.

While the food is being prepared Benjamin is busy sharpening what to us appears to be a hand sickle. In Spanish they are called 'cumas' and without the cuma and machete, the campesino would be lost.

The land that Benjamin and other campesinos work is on the hillside, very rocky and generally dry. Only one who has been born on this land could till it with any measure of success. It is here that the 'cuma' is used as a spade, a hoe, a sickle, a rake - all in one. Within three weeks after sowing the seeds, the hillside will be green with sturdy small stalks of corn.

As Christmas draws near the majority of campesinos begin to harvest the coffee crop. Early each morning trucks come by to take the people 30 or 40 kilometers to work. Entire families of men, womyn and children often work the harvest together. Though the pay is minimal it provides funds for food, school needs and other necessities.

Benjamin is mature and his faith unfaltering. Years ago he began to offer his assistance to the parish priest. As handyman, his skills and visions reach out in all directions. He was here the morning I arrived, preparing the altar, adjusting the microphone and calling the people far and near to participate in the liturgy.

We see a sort of mutual commitment to each other. In the mornings I try to work in the fields with him and he keeps close by to respond to the needs of the parish, which are many.

Benjamin, as other campesinos, is a person with tremendous energy and physical strength. His disciplined life has hued him into a person of faith and vision accompanied by an endurance to live with a multitude of obstacles and hardships.

So together we work in the fields, visit the villages close by and little by little share ideas with the people.

Our day usually ends with a decade of the rosary together and spontaneous prayers for the community, our families and friends both near and distant.

The news received each day is a burden often harder to swallow than the climb up the hillside or the hot sun of the campo.

That the war continues is a fact. That the goal of the Government and Armed Forces is to gain a military victory is bitter news. Bitter even more so when it is known that it is the U.S. that influences and controls all decisions made here in El Salvador.

To reach this goal of military victory while evading serious efforts to dialogue, the government has backed a new approach by the Armed Forces to win over the people, called: "United To Rebuild.” During the last two months we have watched this program develop among the people of this small city. It is a well planned program with hopes to carry it out extensively across the country.

The Government Armed Forces have had control of our town for over a year. A hundred or so soldiers live here and "guard" the city on all sides.

A few weeks ago a battalion arrived from the conflict area (war zones) of Morazan. About 250 soldiers camped out in the park across from the church, with their heavy artillery and all. Unknown to the people their unpublished goal was to initiate this program of "United To Rebuild.” The Colonel of the battalion called the entire population to an open demonstration. Each family was visited by two soldiers extending a personal invitation to attend this open meeting. Such an invitation necessitates a positive response.

So the park (plaza) was filled with over 400 people attending. Interestingly enough, we at the parish were not invited.

The Colonel opened and closed the meeting - over 2‑1/2 hours in all: "We are here to celebrate the birth of Christ which is a family celebration. We represent the forces that are working for peace and the human rights of all Salvadorans.

"We closed down the house of prostitution last night as it is a scandal and source of defamation in your community.

"For the good of all concerned, we will begin to arrest those here and in the countryside who are subversives and attached to the communist plot to destroy and rule in El Salvador.

"We want to work with the 'padres' and the Church, as I too am a Catholic and devout Christian."

At the very time the Colonel was speaking these eloquent words, arrests were in process. Three men from this town and 12 campesinos from the nearby villages were arrested. Enough arrests to put the people on edge and attain the attention and cooperation desired.

In the last three weeks, programs to repair the roads and pick up the garbage have begun. First the men, then the youth, and most recently the womyn who work in the market. The youth have been organized into their own organization promoting a dance to crown a "queen" on Christmas eve.

The children have been given several parties and the soldiers have handed out candy during the holidays, while the war goes on - while homes are destroyed and lives lost by the bombing of villages in Chalatenango and Morazan. Promoting peace, preaching the Gospel, and seeking a military victory all in the same breath. Quite a Christmas package.

What does this say to us? We are walking a delicate line. What we say and do must take into account the effects it will have on our Salvadoran sisters and brothers. At the same time this public expression of control over mind and body deepens our commitment; though it may mean a toned down outer approach, the intense inner search continues.

It is the 27th of December as I write these words. I write them with joy in my heart. Fifty children and youth received First Communion Christmas day and united with their families drank hot chocolate and ate freshly baked sweet bread.

Where does this find Benjamin, to whom I dedicate this newsletter? His heart and soul are very close to his people and those suffering most. He understands what is happening. He was indirectly asked not to ring the church bells at 5 in the morning as it wakens the troops sleeping in the Plaza. Until the message is delivered in person, I will continue to resume this Christian duty. (HA)

Hopefully, we can get back to the fields on a regular basis. Benjamin's heart is always in the campo, and work there is urgent.

This is enough for now. Again, many thanks for writing. We are for sure close in spirit. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Larry Rosebaugh