Friends, Sorry to be the bearer of sad news. We received a phonecall from Mario, from Carasque, now living in Washington, letting us know news he'd just heard. On Friday night, two young people from the village, Ismael and Nelson, who had just started as students at the University of Central America in San Salvador, were riding a mini-bus in San Salvador. The bus was held up and robbed. Ismael was shot and killed, and Nelson was seriously wounded with a knife. Ismael was the son of the across-the-road neighbors of the community house (Bangor house) where many of us have stayed in Carasque. His parents are Chepa and Don Felipe, and his sisters are Lupe, who visited Bangor on the youth tour, and Angela, who is one of the popular teachers. We just spoke with Jesse, who spent the day in Carasque at the mass and burial. He and Ismael were good friends. He describes the whole community as utterly distraught with sadness at this senseless loss. Ismael was a gentle young man who had just accomplished the incredibly difficult task of getting into the university. Everyone is really worried about Nelson, who is still in the hospital in critical care. Jesse will be going back out to the community in a week. If you'd like to send any messages along with him, you can email Jesse by Saturday, at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Meanwhile, we hold our Carasque brothers and sisters in our hearts. With love, Katherine
Jonathan Falk
RR 2, Box 7162
Carmel, ME 04419
(207)848-2433
