Heartland and El Tablon

Where is El Tablon?
What is Heartland's mission regarding El Tablon?
What is the status of Heartland's mission?
What are the next steps in Heartland's mission?
What is the history of Heartland's mission?

For more information on the happenings in El Tablon, go to http://www.oursisterparish.org

Background graphic courtesy of the SHARE Foundation

Click here to read a letter received from Rev. Bob Cook on November 28, 2001.

Click here to read Bill Fischer's notes from the August 2002 trip to El Salvador.

Click here to read an update from Bob Cook and to view some pictures of the progress on the construction.

Click here to read Anna Williams' reflections from the August 2004 trip to El Salvador.

Where is El Tablon?

The canton of El Tablon is located in the area surrounding Berlin, El Salvador. Here's a map which shows El Salvador in relation to the United States. And here's a map of El Salvador itself.
Top of the page

What is Heartland's mission regarding El Tablon?

Heartland Presbyterian Church has made a five year commitment to a mission project in El Tablon, El Salvador. Heartland will raise funds to build a sewing cooperative building which can be used by the women of El Tablon to make clothing for the community's use, and for possible sale outside of El Salvador. The building will also be used as a birthing center, schoolhouse, and meeting place.
The overall goal of the mission is to offer friendship and support to the village of El Tablon. Future plans include developing a plan to bring potable water to the village.
Top of the page

What is the status of Heartland's mission?

A mission trip to El Tablon was completed in August, 2003. A delegation of 8 went to El Salvador for a week and spent three days in El Tablon. The highlight of the visit was a feast to celebrate the completion and dedication of the buildings (including the kitchen).
Top of the page

What are the next steps in Heartland's mission?

A delegation of 13 is planning to visit El Salvador February 11-18 2004. Among the events planned for this delegation is the installation of solar panels on the sewing center, in order that the sewing cooperative can work year around and during evening hours, with lights and electrical sewing machines. The delegation will also spend some time in San Salvador learning about the situation of the forthcoming elections in March 2004, and the possible impact of a power shift in the Salvadoran legislature and presidency. The trip will also include a visit to El Mozote, the site of a massacre during the war during the 1980's.
Top of the page

What is the history of Heartland's mission?

2003 In August 2003, a delegation of 8 went to El Salvador for a week and spent three days in El Tablon. The highlight of the visit was a feast to celebrate the completion and dedication of the buildings (including the kitchen).
In February 2003, a delegation of 7 went to El Salvador for a week, the highlight of which was house to house visits with each family in El Tablon during our three day stay. The delegation had the honor of sleeping in the newly constructed buildings, designated to serve as a clinic, bathrooms, and a sewing center. A large kitchen was scheduled to be started as soon as the flooring of the sewing center was finished.

2000 Heartland Presbyterian Pastor Mark Davis travels to El Tablon with a delegation from five churches in the greater Des Moines and Newton, IA areas, to strengthen the relationship with the communities of Berlin, El Tablon, and Quezeltepaque and to proceed with plans for building a center for the sewing cooperative in El Tablon. The following week a medical delegation from Newton arrives to work in Berlin and some of the surrounding Cantones. In August, Heartland member Bill Fischer leads a delegation of eleven persons from churches in the greater Des Moines area to visit Berlin, El Tablon, Quezeltepaque, and some of the sites around El Salvador where the victims of the war are commemorated.

1999 The third medical delegation from Newton First goes to Berlin. In August, a delegation from Heartland Presbyterian Church in Clive goes to El Tablon, and upon their return, arranges for a young girl, Milagro Grenados, and her mother Haydee, to travel to Des Moines for medical treatment. They stay with a member of the Heartland congregation. The delegates present an opportunity to the Heartland congregation for building a sewing cooperative in El Tablon, which can also serve as a birthing center. Heartland Presbyterian votes to begin fundraising for the project, committing to a five year mission in El Tablon, with long term goals of developing a stable water supply for the community, and improving educational opportunities for the children of El Tablon.

1998 The second medical delegation from Newton First spends a week in Berlin and visits Parish communities.

1997 Three members of the parish team (Friar Jesus Gomez and two lay workers) travel to Des Moines and visit with more than twenty congregations in the Presbytery during their ten day stay. Friar Gomez speaks to Heartland Presbyterian during Worship Under the Oaks service and makes congregation aware of the situation in El Tablon. A Heartland member, takes on the task of arranging for transportation of medical supplies to El Tablon, effectively supplying a medical clinic that continues to run today.

1996 Friar Carlos Torres, head of the Parish of San Jose pastoral team, visits the Presbytery of Des Moines. Annika Lister Stroope joins the Parish team as a Presbytery representative and supports the sewing project and natural medicines project. She helps with preparations for the first medical delegation from Iowa to the Parish. In August, the first medical delegation organized by First Presbyterian Church of Newton spends a week in Berlin.

1995 The Presbytery's Social Ministries Task Force votes to designate the Parish of San Jose as permanent recipient of half of the Presbytery's Rural Harvest Offering.

1994 Rev. Bob Notman-Cook is invited to join the parish team in Berlin, El Salvador, which serves the community of El Tablon. The Presbytery broadens its relationship outreach to the Parish of San Jose, located in Berlin. Rev. Cook helps establish a sewing project and a natural medicines project in several communities served by the Parish. In August, Pastors for Peace deliver several treadle sewing machines to Berlin.

1993 The first official delegation from the Presbytery visits El Tablon, strengthening the community relationship.

1992 The Presbytery raises funds to rebuild the elementary school in El Tablon.

1991 The Presbytery of Des Moines voted to formalize a parish relationship with the community of El Tablon.

1990 The Presbyterian Hunger Program refers a grant request to the Presbytery of Des Moines, for consideration for its annual Rural Harvest Offering. The request was for the small, rural community of El Tablon, El Salvador, seeking financial assistance for agricultural development. Rev. Bob Cook visited the community several times.

Top of the page

2003	In August 2003, a delegation of 8 went to El Salvador for a week and spent three days in El Tablon. The highlight of the visit was a feast to celebrate the completion and dedication of the buildings (including the kitchen). In February 2003, a delegation of 7 went to El Salvador for a week, the highlight of which was house to house visits with each family in El Tablon during our three day stay. The delegation had the honor of sleeping in the newly constructed buildings, designated to serve as a clinic, bathrooms, and a sewing center. A large kitchen was scheduled to be started as soon as the flooring of the sewing center was finished.
2000	Heartland Presbyterian Pastor Mark Davis travels to El Tablon with a delegation from five churches in the greater Des Moines and Newton, IA areas, to strengthen the relationship with the communities of Berlin, El Tablon, and Quezeltepaque and to proceed with plans for building a center for the sewing cooperative in El Tablon. The following week a medical delegation from Newton arrives to work in Berlin and some of the surrounding Cantones. In August, Heartland member Bill Fischer leads a delegation of eleven persons from churches in the greater Des Moines area to visit Berlin, El Tablon, Quezeltepaque, and some of the sites around El Salvador where the victims of the war are commemorated.
1999	The third medical delegation from Newton First goes to Berlin. In August, a delegation from Heartland Presbyterian Church in Clive goes to El Tablon, and upon their return, arranges for a young girl, Milagro Grenados, and her mother Haydee, to travel to Des Moines for medical treatment. They stay with a member of the Heartland congregation. The delegates present an opportunity to the Heartland congregation for building a sewing cooperative in El Tablon, which can also serve as a birthing center. Heartland Presbyterian votes to begin fundraising for the project, committing to a five year mission in El Tablon, with long term goals of developing a stable water supply for the community, and improving educational opportunities for the children of El Tablon.
1998	The second medical delegation from Newton First spends a week in Berlin and visits Parish communities.
1997	Three members of the parish team (Friar Jesus Gomez and two lay workers) travel to Des Moines and visit with more than twenty congregations in the Presbytery during their ten day stay. Friar Gomez speaks to Heartland Presbyterian during Worship Under the Oaks service and makes congregation aware of the situation in El Tablon. A Heartland member, takes on the task of arranging for transportation of medical supplies to El Tablon, effectively supplying a medical clinic that continues to run today.
1996	Friar Carlos Torres, head of the Parish of San Jose pastoral team, visits the Presbytery of Des Moines. Annika Lister Stroope joins the Parish team as a Presbytery representative and supports the sewing project and natural medicines project. She helps with preparations for the first medical delegation from Iowa to the Parish. In August, the first medical delegation organized by First Presbyterian Church of Newton spends a week in Berlin.
1995	The Presbytery's Social Ministries Task Force votes to designate the Parish of San Jose as permanent recipient of half of the Presbytery's Rural Harvest Offering.
1994	Rev. Bob Notman-Cook is invited to join the parish team in Berlin, El Salvador, which serves the community of El Tablon. The Presbytery broadens its relationship outreach to the Parish of San Jose, located in Berlin. Rev. Cook helps establish a sewing project and a natural medicines project in several communities served by the Parish. In August, Pastors for Peace deliver several treadle sewing machines to Berlin.
1993	The first official delegation from the Presbytery visits El Tablon, strengthening the community relationship.
1992	The Presbytery raises funds to rebuild the elementary school in El Tablon.
1991	The Presbytery of Des Moines voted to formalize a parish relationship with the community of El Tablon.
1990	The Presbyterian Hunger Program refers a grant request to the Presbytery of Des Moines, for consideration for its annual Rural Harvest Offering. The request was for the small, rural community of El Tablon, El Salvador, seeking financial assistance for agricultural development. Rev. Bob Cook visited the community several times.