First PC of Port Townsend set out to raise $65,000 to build 16 homes in Santa Elena, El Salvador.  The money was loaned to them from an anonymous donor in their church.  During intervening months, they have received generous contributions from many individuals in their church membership and in the larger community.  NPSP, through the Emerging Mission Grant fund, contributed $4,000.  The project also received generous donations from our NPSP sister congregations of Whidbey PC in Oak Harbor, First PC of Quilcene, and a dazzling $4,000 contribution from the 21 members of Clallam Bay!  To date, First PC of Port Townsend has received almost $70,000, and contributions continue to come in. Any contributions over the needed expenses for home construction will be directed to other needs the Santa Elena community will decide.

Currently First PC of Port Townsend is waiting to hear about the construction progress in order to send a group to assist.  

Another piece of this Santa Elena miracle was the repayment.  If First PC of Port Townsend paid back the loan within six months (December 1), the donor would make a $2,000 contribution and the repayment amount would be reduced to $63,000.  When their treasurer gave the $63,000 check to the donor, the donor said the financial fund from which the loan was drawn had decreased in value by 20% because of the economic downturn since May.  Therefore, if the donor had not loaned the $65,000 for the Santa Elena project, it would have lost $13,000 in value.  So, even with the donor’s $2,000 contribution, s/he had “saved” $11,000 because the funds had been “loaned” out to build homes of dignity in Santa Elena.  Apparently, God can crunch economic figures!

One final celebration, in the 2009 Mission Yearbook on Saturday, October 3, 2009, First PC of Townsend’s project in Santa Elena in spotlighted!