Today’s blog post is adapted from a photo essay shared by Lighthouse Resource Center Case Coordinator, Wilfredo, as he sums up the “happenings” of the past year at 1323, our street address.
The purpose of this photo essay is to share with you what is behind a face or name, where our clients can truly be found: in a smile, a gesture, a look, or a way of loving. It is to observe vulnerabilities and sensitivities, struggles with recovery, deepest emotional states, longings, battles, demons, joys, disorder and goodness. It is to see that which people outside of the Lighthouse might only see as social problems or statistics.
But here there is a safe place and an environment to be together and be themselves. As Henry says, “an oasis” where everyone can be themselves without prejudice or stigma.
These group and individual photos are compiled to show the meaningful work that has been carried out in 2025 at the Lighthouse Resource Center. Some of the things at #1323 have been joyful and others have been painful.
These are stories that were born here at the Lighthouse, and in their honor we write them down. We don’t write these stories to leave just a client number or even just a name because, for us at Mission To El Salvador, these are our brothers and sisters.
One story that stands out from early in the year is the loss of Samuel. He fought battles for much of his life just working to survive. to find a place to live and to fight stigma. He was a client who didn’t just come for something to eat, but who came to share his joy, sadness, worry and need. We remember him as a fighter full of friendship, joy, and charisma. He was always helpful, sharing his many virtues with our community.
Each year when return from Christmas break, we also do a revision of the “Relapse Prevention Plan” with our clients where we discuss with them the emotions they lived through during Christmas and the New Year celebrations. The clients expressed their constant struggles with addiction, loneliness, trauma, relationship with God, unfulfilled desires, lived experiences, and as one client mentioned, fears of ending up, “one step away from death.”
Beautiful eyes were the defining trait of another dear friend, Yajaira who we lost too soon. Perhaps her epitaph does not read that but it is how we remember her. She was a young women who faced hidden torments day after day in the form of her own demons and mental struggles. On top of that she faced poverty, illness, marginalization and abandonment. She found in the Lighthouse a safe place to have some of those burdens eased. She could eat a meal, get clothing, take and shower, and enjoy recreation and inclusion. She loved to sing and dance and smile.
“Only negative things happen to me,” says Nelson furrowing his brow while finishing his participation. M. expresses more, “I…a series of things, pleasure and frustration – pleasure from using, then the frustration of using crack…and there is something in my fractured personality that won’t let me stop.” Ovidio shares, “I am grateful to God to be alive.”
These comments all stood out in a men’s support group session from this year. The men shared the reality of their day to day life on the streets of El Salvador’s capital, trying to cope with the numerous emotional burdens due to culture and machismo that they are unable to heal. The photo above is of a project entitled “pride” by a client as a representation of something he is personally working on in his life.
“Salvador has died.”
These were the words of a neighbor after answering our client’s phone in late April. We were calling him for his follow up and food delivery. Salvador was no older than 40, a street vendor who sold garbage bags and small towels to make a living. He spent his days earning his daily bread and his nights on the sidewalks of Parque LIbertad. He would stay in the city for days on end to earn enough money to live because he couldn’t afford transportation.
He fought against economic hardship, lack of opportunities, social stigma, addiction, and many other challenges. We cared for him, provided follow-up, clothing, shoes and did everything we could to care for him as someone beloved and created in the image of God.
We take pride in the Lighthouse in honoring the women who are mothers. We recognize their noble work and responsibility. On Mother’s Day, we honored those who give the gift of raising children in El Salvador despite economic limitations, social problems, health issues and more. For us, they are a driving force that inspires and gives life to building a better society.
A highlight is “Breakfast with God” each week for our clients. After they nurture their bodies at breakfast, their nurture their souls in connection and communion with God. Throughout the year, we make it a priority as our clients anxiously await this intimate moment to connect with God, to listen and to learn from His Word.
We had a special graduation in July of the women in our Free The Girls program who completed our sales course. At the Lighthouse we don’t only give support, but we also provide preparation by empowering women in business and providing tools so they can manage their finances, savings and sales strategies. We want to see them participating in their own development and growth.
During the last week of every month of the year, we honor our birthday celebrants. That day becomes a party in the Lighthouse. Gifts are prepared, cakes and piñatas are purchased, games are organized and there is dancing, karaoke and other activities. Each party has more than 40 invited guests and every celebrant knows that they will receive a special gift!
To talk about Juanita is to narrate a life of violence, trafficking, addiction and poverty. She may have been invisible to society, but she was very visible to us in the Lighthouse. She enjoyed support groups, sewing, and sweets despite her diagnoses of diabetes. We supported her through the Level System and the Free The Girls project. We met her nutritional and spiritual needs. Only when receiving a gift she gave one of her rare smiles…genuine and beautiful, the reason we work here and what gives us hope.
Her loss marked another heartbreaking moment for our team this year.
Oscar has been actively participating in the Lighthouse but it has not been easy. He has many burdens – emotional, social and family related but on top of that he deals with the burden of addiction recovery.
He is an active person with a gift for service like no other. He has areas to grow and people to support and guide him, people who are mentors that are essential to his growth. He loves exercise and values punctuality along with many other skills that he has acquired throughout his life. In October, he celebrated a year of sobriety and he is still working hard. We join in his joy as the battle for recovery continues.
We recently had a visit with Don Jorge. If you were to describe a charismatic, playful person who smiles despite life’s challenges you would be describing him. But we also recognize his needs and problems as we work to find solutions to the things that make him vulnerable.
When we met him, he expressed his desire to be out of a vulnerable living situation in a shelter and into something more secure. Through our connections we got him into a care home and moved him there providing essential items. On this latest visit we brought more support. He expressed gratitude as he marks a year at the home. He feels well, comfortable and in touch with nature. It brings us such joy to support him .
We are thankful to offer a personal touch and care for those who are in our Level System. They are working to not only come to celebrations and activities but also commit to growth and therapy. As we finished up our activities in December, we gave some food bags to clients in need to help them get through the days when we are closed and we passed out “meals to go” to all of our clients.
It has been a year of so many emotions and it gave us joy to help each client that visits us, especially those that demonstrate a spirt of change, service, positive attitude, and a genuine interest to move forward and overcome the challenges that they face.
