After a wonderful pancake breakfast we got on the bus and Carlos drove us to Santa Tecla for a Palm Sunday church procession and service. The church was called Parroquia de Nuestra Seņora de Guadalupe. The ceremony was elaborate and elegant that really reflected religion as a very important aspect in the Salvadorians' lives. The procession and service lasted for over 2 hours with hymns, bible readings, Communion and sermon. We then headed to a private house on the beach to have giant sandwiches for lunch. After our stomachs were full we had the choice of swimming in a beautiful pool or being tossed about in the waves on El Sunzal Beach.

At 7 O'clock Salvadorian time we arrived at the Castro family home where they hosted a farewell party for us all. A $1,700 donation was presented to the Cuscatlan Interact club for the Puerta de Amor orphanage to improve there plumbing, buy them a washing machine, fix their toilets, and install a new washroom. $1,500 was presented to the Rotaract club for their work in improving the bathroom facilities at a rural school. $1,300 was presented to the Rotary Club of Cuscatlan, who will use it to send back packs to the school in San Jose Villanueva and also to buy the teacher much needed supplies. The Rotary club was also presented with $1,000 for the San Salvador Maternity Hospital. $2,000 was presented to the Noroeste Rotary Club for their work at a nursing home where the mission made a contribution in 2002.

The farewell party was a great way to end an amazing trip. It was full of laughter that turned to tears when we were finally forced to say good-bye to the many friends we have all made here in El Salvador. These amazing people have made it difficult to leave. Even when we all return to our daily lives, regardless of school work, or jobs we will always be linked by this special trip.

Room 5: Suzie, Katelyn, Heather