El Salvador is Number One

by Global Ministries | published on Oct 10, 2014

John Kleinschmidt – El Salvador

That is right. El Salvador is number one. Finally, after all these years, the tiny Central American country has taken over the top spot. In the beginning of 2005, it seemed that El Salvador would face stiff competition from the likes of Colombia, Honduras, and Guatemala, but the smallest country in all of Latin America somehow pulled off the upset. So, what are they number one in?

John Kleinschmidt – El Salvador

This intro might be a little misleading. El Salvador is not number one in soccer or the fastest developing country. They are number one in something less honourable than these. Maybe that is why I found this information on page 10 at the bottom with a simple header. When I read the article, it surprised me. El Salvador is the most violent country in all of Latin America. Second, Honduras was not really that close. The murder rate, according to La Prensa, was 55.4. That means out of every 100,000 habitants, 55 or so persons will be murdered during that year. To me, that number meant very little until I compared it with the murder rates of other countries. Honduras, number 2, had 40.6. Colombia gets the bronze with 31.2. Let’s compare El Salvador to the U.S. for a better perspective. El Salvador– 55.4 to the U.S.– 6.2. Nine times more likely to be murder in El Salvador than the U.S. The worst American cities might get as high as 20, but nothing close to this tiny country of 6 million people. Almost 4,000 people were murdered in El Salvador last year. The U.S. had 16,000 murders at of 300,000,000. El Salvador had one forth of that number, but out of only 6 million.

What is going on in El Salvador? What is the problem? Poverty, gangs, emigration, guns, political turmoil are all contributors to the violence problem in this country. Gangs, formed in the U.S., are almost unstoppable. The law is not a deterrent. The gangs frequently attack public buses, sometimes killing the driver and any who resist in any form. The gangs fight between themselves with many innocent people caught in the middle. The El Salvadoran gangs are modelled after U.S. gangs, but with out proper law enforcement, the gangs are out of control.

After twelve years of civil war, plenty of guns are in the country. Illegal arms, I have been told, can be easily purchased on the black market. It seems that legal arms are easily attainable with one-armed security guard at every store, restaurant, corner, and parking lot. (It was shocking for me). Guns here are only used to threaten, rob, and kill. There is no hunting…well of animals at least.

One-third of all El Salvadorans live in the U.S. They left El Salvador in search of hope. They left because there is really no way to break the glass ceiling. The wealthy have the money and the power. The government controls all major media communication, and it is no surprise that important information like being Number One is often buried deep within the pages of the newspaper. Opposition to the Government is met with threats and political intimidation. Many Salvadorans have become disenfranchised with government, while others are swept away with broken promises.

Money sent from Immigrants in the U.S. represents about half the GNP of the whole country. Many of these immigrants have left their children back in El Salvador. Their kids are left with little direction, and gang members often step in to fill the void. Gangs offer easy money in a place where no dollar comes easy. With all prices rising and pay decreasing, the whirlwind of emigration, desperation, and violence will continue.

I can personally say that the situation is becoming critical. El Salvador is Number One. Our attention must be drawn to this crisis. Global Ministries has had a long history in El Salvador and I hope that would continue. It is my job to let the member churches know what is going on here in El Salvador. I should have found more time to write about my experiences, but as my time here gets shorter, I realize I have a duty to share the story of El Salvador and the great work that our church does here. Our presence here and around the world is absolutely needed. Global Ministries finished its 12th house under my time here in El Salvador. It went to a grandmother, her daughter, and three little grandchildren. God left his mark with that family. Maybe, that is what El Salvador needs, more Love. I think Jesus said something about love and how it’s better than violence and sin and how the light conquers the dark or something to this nature. Ah Hah. He did say that, I have my Bible write here. Keep up the good work DOC and UCC, and hopefully with outpouring of God’s love we can make El Salvador Number 149 or something.

God Bless,
John Kleinschmidt
El Salvador

John Kleinschmidt is a Global Mission Intern with the Salvadoran Lutheran Synod, based in San Salvador. He serves as a construction consultant.

A Global Mission Intern is appointed by the Common Global Ministries Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ. This ministry is possible because of funds provided by the Week of Compassion of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).