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UNITY Lutheran Church Ministry Partner
El Salvador
Our Partnership
UNITY has enjoyed close and long-time partnerships in El Salvador – both with Cordero de Dios (“Lamb of God”) Lutheran Church and the community of Rutilio Grande. We are especially blessed by the gifts of our travelers, who minister so directly to the needs of others through their time, travel and dedication.
How YOU Can Help Our Partners In El Salvador
Travel on February Mission of Healing Trips
These week-long trips include four days of clinics as well as worship and relationship-building with our partners. Over the course of those four clinic days, travelers typically serve in four different churches and in approximately 20 communities, sharing their gifts in providing medical care, child care, dental, ophthalmology, medicine, behavioral health, kits and advice for proper hygiene to the local residents. During our February 2025 Mission of Healing Trip, our 22 travelers helped provide care to nearly 400 people! If you could use help thinking through whether this trip is right for you, please click to email Nicole Krause.
Travel on Summer Building Relationships
This is our yearly “relationship-building trip,” which folks have described as part Vacation Bible School, part summer camp, part cultural immersion-type feel. We visit both our El Salvador partners, the urban Lutheran community Cordero de Dios and the rural Catholic community Rutilio Grande. Trips typically take place in July or August, with trip applications being due approximately 3 months prior to the trip. (Applications will be posted to our Sign Up Webpage.)
We travel with great translators so Spanish is not required, though of course it is awesome to have. Backgrounds in camp ministry, education, youth, music or sports are especially helpful, but anyone is welcome to apply. The trip is strenuous and not for everyone, but it has a big impact in both directions if it is right for you. UNITY members will just pay their air fare and church will cover the rest of your expenses as a thank you for your service, otherwise cost is airfare + approximately $500 for food, lodging, and transportation. Need-based scholarships are always available. It is aways good to have a mix of first-time and returning travelers. If you could use help thinking through whether this trip is right for you, please contact Nicole.
Donate Toward Trips
Salvadoran kids and adults love working with arts and crafts between stops at the Health & Wellness Clinic. Items we typically take are listed below. If you can donate any of the items, please bring them to either campus, labeled “El Salvador Mission of Healing,” at least one week prior to the trip:
• Beads • Cording • Stickers
• Coloring Books for Kids & Adults
• Colored Pencils • Colored Markers
• Pencil Sharpeners • School Scissors
• Glue Sticks (non-liquid)
Other Supplies Needed:
• Reading Glasses (non-prescription, new rather than used)
• Toothbrushes
• Red Sendik’s Bags (for to-go items at clinic)
• Luggage: cloth-covered checked bag-sized pieces for our travelers
Questions about Donations? Contact Nicole.
Pray for our Travelers
Watch for names of travelers attending our upcoming trips, then lift up your prayers for their safety during these important times of ministry that are always life-changing – not only for our partners in El Salvador, but for our travelers who bless us with their gifts of time, talent, travel and compassion for others.
Sponsor Educational Scholarships
Each year you have an opportunity to change the lives of “our” kids at Cordero de Dios Church and the Rutilio Grande Community – many of whom we have known since they were little – through the El Salvador Scholarship Program. Thanks to your generosity, in Fall 2024 we were able to provide schooling opportunities to 50+ students. Your 2025 Lenten Offerings also went toward these educational scholarships, surpassing our goal of $17,000 by raising $18,546. Thank you for changing the lives of these students and their families through furthered education!
UNITY Contact (Cordero de Dios): Julie Hoesly
UNITY Contact (Rutilio Grande): Michael Horner-Ibler
UNITY Lutheran Church
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UNITY Lutheran Church - Cross of Life Campus, 20700 W. North Avenue, Brookfield, WI 53045
UNITY Lutheran Church - Christ the King Campus, 4600 Pilgrim Road, Brookfield, WI 53005
Phone: (262) 781-7600