The first Living Water regional conference in El Salvador was a tremendous success, with just over 100 participants from 18 different yearly meetings and groups of Friends in Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua, plus Bolivia and the United States. The planning committee, including representatives from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador met a few times in person and a few times by web conference over the last year, and this led to a good balance of participation from their three countries, and a positive feeling of shared responsibility. The local arrangements committee in El Salvador was amazing.
The home groups, which are now planned for all four consultations, were originally a suggestion from Central America, particularly from members of the planning committee who had attended the World Gathering of Young Friends in 2005 and the 6th World Conference in 2012. They were a highlight of the conference for many people. The groups of 6-10 Friends from different countries and yearly meetings offered an opportunity to get to know a cross-section of participants, to reflect on the presentations, and to prepare an evaluation of the conference.
Two of the most highly rated parts of the conference were the presentations by Esteban Ajnota of INELA Bolivia on leadership and bivocational ministry, and the Quaker history presentation by David Byrne of Evangelical Friends Church-Mid-America Yearly Meeting and Instituto ALMA. Some of the topics that were suggested for future events were workshops about the environment, spiritual disciplines, and more on leadership.
More people said they came to meet new people than because of the specific topics of the workshops. For about two-thirds, it was the first time they ever participated in an FWCC event. One Friend said, "I had heard before about these conferences and had felt an interest in participating in them. It was a great experience that I would gladly participate in again."
When asked, "what did you learn that you will take back to your local church/ meeting?" Friends said, "Lessons learned in the workshops of intercultural communication and bivocational leadership." "A little history of the Friends, the silent worship, and a little from the workshops." "There are different ways to communicate with others, we must find a way to convey our message, and that if we desire the living water to flow in others, we first have to make it flow in us."
Programmed devotionals were held at the beginning and end of each day, with Friends from different countries leading in prayer, music, Bible reading and vocal messages as a way of grounding each plenary session. Unprogrammed worship was held on Saturday afternoon before dinner and Sunday morning right after breakfast. 50-75 people came and the vocal ministry was deep and frequent.
Lily Lopez Montero, a young Friend from the National Evangelical Friends Church of Guatemala, wrote, "A New Experience! One that still echoes in me. Meeting there with people from different places, customs, feeling all together, it was like being at home. It confirmed for me that we, the children of God, are one body and we must seek a common sense to work together and please the Father, our Lord. It's so special to know that no matter the language, or race, we all have something to contribute, and moreover, to learn to share our love and understanding of different ways. 'Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.' [Psalm 133]
It was so pleasing and moving to participate for the first time in my life in a silent worship and to be able to feel the need to let God speak and organize it in His own way. I was left with several challenges to live up to, that I was born to serve, I who have the privilege of belonging to the Quaker movement, of being washed in the blood of Christ, and I need to put not only my hands to work, but my whole life. Gratitude: Your care was so special, brothers and sisters of FWCC. Thanks for organizing this excellent conference, that makes me let THE LIVING WATER FLOW (more and more in me) and to not let it become stagnant, standing in a puddle. Blessings dear brothers and sisters!"