The Apex North Carolina Team from Hope Chapel in El Salvador
Raleigh, NC -- For months preceding the January 10th, 2010 trip to El Salvador, Chef Greg Lewis of Catering by Design, a well-respected catering firm in the Triangle area, was preparing for the week that he and his daughter would spend in Central America with a team from Apex, North Carolina's Hope Chapel, (http://www.hopenc.org).
In December, Chef Lewis and the other team members hosted a fund-raising wine dinner benefit at Catering by Design's offices in Cary, North Carolina. The net proceeds from the dinner would help fund the week of service in Central America led by Hannah's Hands, (http://www.hannahshands.org) an international medical mission group.
While in El Salvador, the Hope Chapel team spent time with people, both in San Salvador, and in remote villages. They did home repairs in a home for teenage girls and spent time with boys in an orphanage, playing with and interacting with the kids. They visited girls in prison and a home for young mothers. They hosted skits and song-singing events, soccer and games. At one point while doing outreach in a park, two men approached the group asked for prayers and help; one of them was a US citizen, a retired serviceman who was homeless, living in the streets of San Salvador.
While the team was on the west coast of Central America, across the Caribbean Sea from the east coast, the capital city of Haiti was devastated by an earthquake. The disaster inspired a global response, and a Hollywood organized Hope for Haiti telethon which raised an unprecedented $58 million dollars to help the earthquake victims.
"I urge anyone who is considering taking time to be of service to others to do it, especially with the urgent need now in Haiti," said Greg Lewis. "The week my daughter and I spent doing service in El Salvador opened our eyes and our hearts; it was spiritually strengthening. I will be doing this again."
Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/
