When we first visited the community of Santa Cruz, just downstream of a collapsed bridge along the coastal highway of El Salvador, the community was nearly buried in sand. The streets were covered in several feet of sand and other debris, the houses that weren’t destroyed by the raging river waters were partially buried or filled with sand and mud, debris and trash covered the area and many of the houses, and broken building materials were dangerously strewn throughout the area. While other organizations and government officials had been through the area to see the damage and assess the situation, nothing had yet been done to actually improve the situation.

We moved our Bobcat, some shovels and wheelbarrows, and our manpower to the site a few days later and began clearing the streets by pushing sand back into the river. One by one we opened up streets. Once a street was clear, teams of people began at the street and started moving sand and debris until we reached the front door. During the next 10 days labor was carried out by HFTH-FCH staff, volunteers from the American School of San Salvador, a Global Builders team from the Fuller Center, and many of the homeowners and children of the community. It was an amazing display of spirit, energy, and hope.

Burgess Brown first worked in El Salvador in June 2009

MACON, Ga – Central High School student Burgess Brown, while working toward his Eagle Scout rank, plans to use his Eagle project to provide a new home for the families of Villa Fuller in San Luis Talpa, El Salvador. On Saturday, November 14, Brown will lead hundreds of high school students and families from the Macon community in a Walk for Walls to raise $5,000 for a home in Villa Fuller.

After participating in a Fuller Center for Housing Global Builders trip to El Salvador in June, seventeen year-old Burgess Brown found himself with a new passion to serve others and particularly with a heart for helping the people of El Salvador. Brown took part in a one-week trip with 26 other volunteers, led by Dianne Fuller and sponsored by Highland Hills Baptist Church in Macon, Ga. The group spent the week working side by side with the homeowners and families of Villa Fuller to build a poured concrete home, which will provide a local family with electricity, plumbing, and a decent permanent home ready to withstand the rains and hurricanes common in coastal El Salvador.

“Building a house in El Salvador was some of the most difficult, strenuous, and tiring work I have ever done,” said Brown. “But, when I saw the tin shacks and plastic structures where the families had lived before Villa Fuller was built, my heart broke. I knew that the work we were doing was worth every drop of sweat and every sore muscle that I experienced during the week,” Brown added.

Brown’s connection with the children and families in Villa Fuller continued after his return to Macon. In recent weeks, Brown has been spreading the word about the Walk for Walls by meeting with the Key Club at his high school, speaking at the Kiwanis Club and Rotary Club, and working with his church youth group to get the word out at other area high schools. “Enthusiasm for the event is already building, and I think we’ll have a really great turnout,” commented Brown. “I’m just glad to see the community of Macon showing up to help the growing community of Villa Fuller.”

The Walk for Walls will be held on a 1.5 mile course at the Georgia Industrial Children’s Home on North Mumford Road in Macon, beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 14. Participants are encouraged to solicit pledges for the number of miles that they plan to walk, or pay a $10 registration fee. Donations to the Walk for Walls event are also welcome. ViewPage 1 and Page 2 of the brochure.