Year Joined MKLM: 1991 Country: El Salvador City: San Salvador Focus:  Economic Development Education Environmental Development Healthcare Pastoral Project(s):  El Cedro Rual Develpment People Served: Directly: 730 children, 66 women, 154 families Indirectly: 700 families Project Goal(s): To accompany and enhance the lives of people living in the El Cedro rural district

Prior to joining MKLM, Erik worked in the computer industry as a Senior Software Engineer.
As an 18-year veteran of MKLM, Erik has served in diverse areas of MKLM. He served in rural Tanzania for eight years in a variety of pastoral and development ministries: teaching religion; helping in a bedded dispensary, health center and sewing school; providing outreach care to AIDS patients and the elderly; working with women's groups, youth and small Christian communities; providing leadership development and training; and with overseeing a twelve village parish in the Serengeti district, building multi purpose buildings, housing, a secondary school. Erik was on the region's finance committee and computerized the regions finances. Erik also held the position of Regional coordinator.

While at headquarters he served with Maryknoll Lay Missioners in NY as a member of the Finance department setting and maintaining the computer operations both at Bethany and the Cloister. Worked in the promotions department and did major donor visits throughout the Northeast. For a couple of years he was the regional coordinator. He was a Eucharistic minister, involved with RCIA and other programs at St. Ann's parish and volunteered with hospice.
He attended Spanish language school in Cochabamba, Bolivia. In Venezuela, he lived in a rural coffee farming community, did mission outreach programs, taught English and assisted in school classes, worked in a youth and women’s craft program and had responsibility for the community’s chapel. Was a Eucharistic minister, celebrated services for the local community. Was elected to be regional coordinator and responsible for terminating MKLM’s presence in Venezuela

Current Ministry
El Cedro Ministry
El Cedro, a poor rural community in the municipality of Panchimalco, is located in the hills south of San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador.   Approximately 700 families live in this remote area.  The main access is a dirt road that frequently is impassible in the rainy season. Buses run sporadically and are not dependable.  People walk long distances on steep winding paths. The basic houses are made of mud and bamboo and do not withstand the frequent tropical storms or earthquakes.  Many do not have access to electricity or running water.  Most adults are illiterate and have little or no formal education. The local school provides up to a ninth grade education.  Studying beyond that requires long commutes and transportation costs. Many youth never go to school or drop out early.

Underemployment is the major problem. Families are struggling to provide the bare necessities.  There are few men present.  When possible they work on farms or as security guards in the city.  After paying transportation costs, they are fortunate to earn $3 or $4 per day.  Life is expensive.  A typical meal consists of tortillas and beans, which the people cultivate themselves. Insecurity is rampant and violent robberies, even in broad daylight, are common.  Women tend to laborious daily family chores like hauling water, washing laundry in streams and collecting firewood.  To obtain any decent healthcare, one has to go to private clinics in Planes de Renderos, which is a 10 kilometer (about 6 miles) walk when there is no bus service.  People cannot afford to pay the fees or buy the medicines.
 
Education is critical to break the chain of poverty. Erik provides encouragement, training and personal development for the women. He teaches or sponsors literacy, computer and handicraft classes.  The women sell the handicrafts they produce.  Access to healthy foods is limited.  The garden project provides vegetables for the feeding program and hands on training so that the women will eventually be able to grow their own produce.  Working with the children and youth to continue with their formal and informal education is worthwhile for their future. Erik Teaches English in the local community school. Collaborating with the local government structure opens up new service opportunities.

Erik’s accomplishments through his El Cedro Ministry include:

• built a kitchen for a program that feeds 98 children 3 times a week
• put a roof over the center’s kitchen wash area
• assisted with the construction of 13 houses for needy families
• installed windows, a ceiling and computers in the local grammar school
• helped oversee a medical mission that served 267 people
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• supported a garden to provide vegetables to a feeding program for 118 children
      and the community
• accompanied students from Ohio Dominican University’s service learning program
• sponsored a literacy program and workshop for 36 women
• oversaw four women’s income development projects
• was a teaching assistant for 37 preschool children
• gave educational scholarships for 11 youth
• sponsored field trips
• provided material assistance such as medicines, food, and clothing to those in most need
• participated with the local governing board to identify community needs
• Helped construct 13 houses for local families
• Tutored students in English and Mathematics
• Taught English at the local grammar school.

 Through his projects, such as the ones above, Erik hopes that the women of the community will experience personal growth and development, the children and youth will continue with their education, the community will work together to provide a better quality of life for the people of El Cedro, and that the community will grow in its faith.

Due to the isolation, there is limited pastoral support available to the community.  A priest comes once a month to celebrate Mass.  Families must travel to San Salvador to receive the sacraments.  Erik hopes to work more formally in the pastoral area in the future, research is being done to build more houses for local families, a high school is on the drawing board, as well as a much needed clinic

Participating and planning with the local community fosters a collaborative model to address the local needs.  Discussions are underway regarding the possibilities of a health clinic, a small secondary school, a senior citizen’s program and the construction of more houses. Erik would like to continue to support the women and children with their personal and spiritual growth and development in whatever ways possible. A women’s prayer circle and other ongoing education options are being considered. As a group, El Cedro hopes to identify other potential programs and income generating opportunities.

Antigua Cuscatlan Ministry
Erik Teaches a couple of days a week English in the Local school. This entails teaching younger children some of the basics of the language, preparing many visual aids, and using a variety of teaching techniques. Erik Teaches 66 students in two different classes.

Divina Providencia
Involved in the Pharmacy, developed a database to keep track of their medicines, shelf life, usage, and inventory. This database has been divided into sections, one involved with daily usage while the other keeps track of inventories. Created a backup system as well, the information is stored on a flash drive on a daily basis.