LET'S HELP SALVADOR

Interview with Suor Ana Beatriz Solito Sanchez, of the salesian order.

by Paola Maschio

Dear Sr. Ana, would you like to tell us a little about the origins of your vocation, and your mission in El Salvador?
The history of my vocation is the most beautiful gift I have ever received from God. My full name is Sr. Ana Beatriz Solito Sanchez, I was born in El Salvador, and I am extremely happy to be a Salesian sister, a Daughter of Mary Help of Christians. I have seen constantly how this tender Mother has accompanied me throughout the journey of my life.
My family consists of my parents, one brother, one sister and me, the oldest.
Mary has always played an important part in my life. I was born close to the Church of Mary Help of Christians and I studied in the college of Mary Help of Christians from nursery age right through to the final year of my schooling. Today I am a Daughter of Mary Help of Christians and I received my first Holy Communion and the sacrament of Confirmation on the 24th of May the actual feast day of Mary Help of Christians.
Reliving these moments of my life fills me with joy because I can see clearly the sense of my vocation that was born from the spirit of wanting to meet the needs of so many that are in need of our help. This reconciles itself with the spirit of our institution.
During my childhood years as I was growing up, my country was bleeding from the wounds inflicted by a civil war that had lasted approximately 12 years. I discovered how young people were being used, and I could never have brought myself to believe that young people were so willing to inflict pain and suffering on others had I not seen it with my own eyes.
At the same time I also discovered the face of true poverty and misery that was sweeping through my country, and so I decided to work in a really poor neighbourhood. It was there that I discovered something I had never seen before, and it was at that moment that I began to understand the spirit of Don Bosco (our founder). He used to say, "It is necessary to listen to and to understand our young people". "If they feel loved they too will love who we love", and I began to discover that this was oh so true. I had seen it for myself in some of my friends from the college, and it was at this point that I began to take a different sort of interest in this person called "Jesus". I would read his Words and feel him close to me, inviting me to do more, to answer a call that only I knew that I was feeling in my heart. It was like being stung by a mosquito that refuses to leave me alone. I began to pray and fell in love with Him and with young people, because I believe that Don Bosco was right. Young people are the best thing we possess and they are in need of people who love them in the same way, as does Mary Help of Christians.
It wasn't easy for my family to understand what was happening, particularly as they lived in the hope, my father especially, that their oldest daughter would get a degree. But when God calls one is forced to pay attention.
Finally, everyone welcomed and was even joyous about this beautiful "calling" of God.
That's why I am in El Salvador today and why I am now working in the Santa Ines college, one of the most severely damaged by the earthquake. It is here that I try to help people, who in addition to having lost everything, are in need of moral and spiritual support in order to overcome the nightmare they have lived through and to be able to believe and hope in the possibility of starting over again.
We have 1100 children and young adolescents in the college who live there during the working week, whilst at weekends a further 1100 young people and women who are most in need of our help, arrive from the outer areas. I thank the Lord and Mary Help of Christians every day for granting me the grace of being able to share every moment of my life with these people and of being able to offer them hope and love.




Can you tell us a little more about the current situation in El Salvador and the problems that present themselves on a daily basis in the wake of the terrible earthquake?
The face of EL SALVADOR TODAY is one of sadness and pain but the Lord gives us the strength to react and to keep our people united so that we can walk in hope. Without a doubt we were poor, but today the poor are beyond counting. Basic services such as water, electricity and telephone systems have become terribly expensive and many people now have no roof over their heads and winter has arrived. The earthquake destroyed many of the factories and therefore the numbers of unemployed are extremely high. Public well-being is at a terribly low ebb, and hospital departments have been seriously damaged. Churches, and in particular Santa Tecla, were totally flattened. There are still many places in the country that, because of the great distances and because they are out of range, have yet to receive any help . This means that we have the tragic scenario of people living out of doors, in the countryside, and under canvas or in makeshift hotels. There are many schools that still haven't reopened their doors.
People have faith and optimism and they are attempting to rebuild their small homes making use of whatever materials they have at their disposal. But there is also a great deal of anxiety and tension, a lot of grieving and they are in need of serenity at a psychological level.
However, as often happens in situations such as these, injustice has raised its ugly head and many forms of help have simply been lost or have never actually reach their intended destination of those most in need.
The priorities are not the most needy.
In our college for example the number of people in need of a grant to help with their studies is great, and we are trying where possible to try to meet these needs as our means allow. We have received no help whatsoever to date, and to think we have requested it from everywhere. The only reply has come from our Congregation drawing on its own means, but this is too little because what has been destroyed is vast.

What message would you like to leave our readers?
THANK YOU firstly to all to all of your readers for granting me this opportunity of bringing the reality of our country's difficult situation to their attention, and for allowing me to send out this message that will bring hope and help.
THANK YOU to all those who read this message because this already means that they are different kinds of people who are attempting to create a world filled with solidarity and love, and this is a great thing in a world where these values are generally crushed through selfishness and indifference.
THANK YOU because we know that God speaks through all things and today He is speaking through you.
May the Lord always bless you and may the Blessed Mary Help of Christians shower her favours upon you.

For Help : write to  Sor Ana soranasol@telemovil.net

or snd your help to :

BANCO CUSCATLAN CUENTA CORRIENTE # 1609-00679 A TRAVÉS DE CITYBANK

ASOCIACION EDUCACIONAL SALESIANA FMA COLEGIO SANTA INES

BACK