In 1915, the region in Central America we now know as “El Salvador,” meaning “The Savior,” was named by the Conquistador Pedro de Alvarano, who dedicated the land to Jesus Christ.
Nonnewaug senior Abigail Risi traveled to the country with members from her church, New Life, which is based in Trumbull, along with a few others to continue its Christian mission in the region.
“We had a total of 50 people,” she said. “I was actually one of the only teens. We might have had about 10 teens, and the rest were older.”
“It was in the middle of October, I think we came back on the 26th and it was a week. It was [my first time going to another country],” said Risi. “I was definitely scared because they speak a different language. I didn’t know what to expect. I was really excited just to be able to be away and just have that experience.”
For Risi, her first time outside of the United States was a very new experience. El Salvador, officially the Republic of El Salvador, is bordered on the northeast by Honduras, on the northwest by Guatemala, and on the south by the Pacific Ocean.
“We actually send our church there twice a year for a week, and there’s a construction team who works on the dorms, because it’s actually a program to teach missionaries,” Risi said.
Risi said the goal of the trip was to connect with the community there.
“[We wanted to] just really help them see that when they’re feeling alone, God is there because we know they’re going through a lot, especially their country is right now, so just knowing that someone is there for them,” she said.
While the country was new for Risi, connecting with people wasn’t.
“[She is] a very positive person that likes to try to help other people feel better,” said Charles Gholson, who was also on the trip and has known Risi for two years. “She’s very easy to talk to. I know a lot of people like [to] talk to [her] about stuff going on.”
The group takes on different roles when ministering in the country twice a year.
“We have one group who works in the dorms, then we have our medical team who is getting supplies, they’re helping those in need, different vaccinations, and stuff like that,” described Risi. “Me personally, I was on the evangelism team, and so we go out to schools and churches, and we do like a little show for kids, we do dances and stuff, pray over them.”
Risi said that even with the physical beauty of the tropical country, the spirituality and relationships with the people is what had an impact on her.
“I was literally thinking about it yesterday, how I miss some of the people that were there, even though they still go to my church and I see them every week,” she said. “I spent an entire week with them, 24/7, eating with them, just experiencing things with them, and I miss that so much.”
She became attached to the local children, too.
“I also miss seeing the kids. We would play soccer with them, and it didn’t matter how bad you were, they were just happy to be playing with you, so that was so much fun. And just different experiences that you have,” said Risi. “There was one girl who was having a hard time, and I was able to help her through it, and she gave me the biggest smile before I left, and it was just such a great thing to experience.”
Risi and the group were often working with kids, doing about four programs every day, singing, dancing, and talking with them. El Salvador is commonly thought of as a “Catholic country,” with a major percentage of its population identifying with Catholicism and Protestantism, though other denominations are very present, with over 96% of the population sharing a Christian background, according to the World Religion Database.
Amid their iconic statues and land, is a “prayer tower,” which Risi visited.
“It just had its anniversary of 20 years, I believe. When it first started, their goal was, they built it, they were going to have someone praying in there 24/7 for two years,” said Risi.
With her group, she visited the tower.
“People would take rotations and switch, but non-stop prayer for two years. They made it to twenty years I believe it was, maybe more, and there’s still prayer going on in there, it still hasn’t stopped,” Risi said, explaining the history of the tower. “So we visit, and they give us a little talk before we walk in just explaining that this was a holy place. The second floor was like an open room, you can sit, you can stand, you can walk around, whatever you’re comfortable with, it doesn’t matter. They have worship music playing. You just pray about your needs, your wants, you thank God.”
The group took the time to privately worship and then come together.
“One of the most beautiful moments was when a song came on that everyone knew, everyone in the room started singing,” Risi said. “Almost 50 of us, it was beautiful.”
Veterinary science student Brenna Maklary, who is also a senior at Nonnewaug, says Risi’s kindness and work ethic transfer just as easily to an academic setting.
“Abby always makes sure stuff gets done efficiently when we’re working together in vet class to take care of the animals,” Maklary said. “I know she has animals at home, and she’s very thorough with everything she does. She’s just an overall super nice person.”
Risi said the experience was foundational in building her testimony, as well as giving her new friendships and relationships that she will always value. For Risi, who plans on returning in March and the following year, the experience of the trip is hard to explain.
“It’s not even real,” she said. “Whatever God is telling you to do, you do,” Risi said. “I can’t even explain what I experienced. When you ask the people who have been there before, they say, ‘Just be open and just go,’ because you can’t explain it.”
