A recent e-mail to Prof. Umanzor:
(reprinted with the kind permission of the author)

March 2004

I was browsing the internet reminiscing of our 1994 trip to El Salvador and I came across pictures you had posted on this website.  They brought back so many memories.  My step- daughter is working on a project for her 6th grade world language class and her assigned country is El Salvador.  We have talked for many hours this past week about my trip with you and M.O.V.E.  She has brought in pictures for her class to see, and has thoroughly enjoyed researching data with me. 

I had kept in touch with a mother of one of the little girls I met at the orphanage in San Miguel for a couple of years.  She was in the U.S. and was saving money in an attempt to send for her children.  It turned out she had five children in the orphanage.  I lost track of her after a while and frequently wonder what happened to her daughter Ester Orellana.  I gave her one of my rings so she could remember me.  Seeing the pictures on line of the orphanage made me think of Ester and her family.  She will always be in my heart as will the many wonderful people I met on that trip.  I know I have said this many times before, but thank you so much for putting that trip together along with Ann [Giombetti of M.O.V.E.].  It truly has made a lasting impression in my life.  I only hope that one day I will be able to return with my daughters and share that experience with them.  If not, I can only hope that I have instilled in them a sense of community and that they will each participate in a similar venture on their own.  After I contacting you regarding the earthquake, we all participated in fundraising in the Boston area. 

Take Care,

Kim Maglione-Conley

*homepage: M.O.V.E. ("Mobilization of Volunteer Efforts") at Saint Michael's College

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