Relationships, an article by Rick & Shelley Mack
The Mack Family has been visiting COAR and El Salvador since 2004
From the Mack family visit 2004, L-R: Claire, Valeria (14), Phil, Daniela (13), Rick
2015—Rick and Valeria
2025, L-R: Rick, Valeria, Shelley, Luis
COAR is built on relationships: between children, families, staff, its surrounding communities, and its supporters. Our family’s relationship with COAR began simply by reading about it in our early married life in the Cleveland Diocese Universe Bulletin as we became supporters of the Cleveland Latin American Mission Team (CLAM) in the 1980s.
Years later, our then pastor, Fr. Bob Sanson, led us to take that relationship to the next level in 2004 when Rick and our two children joined a visit to COAR through St. Joseph Church, Strongsville. For three summers, Rick and our children visited COAR, developing relationships with the children and falling in love with the people and culture of El Salvador. As St. Joseph Church developed a relationship with the parish in nearby San Josè Villanueva, Rick began annual trips with his runners and staff members from his school to build homes and participate in projects through Epilogos Charities, begun by Mike & Susie Jenkins who had their own relationship with COAR [more about Mike & Susie and Epilogos].
Each time they made new friends and enjoyed visiting with earlier friends again. During his trips, Rick’s group was often visited by Valeria, who lived at COAR from the age of 10 – 20. Rick and our children first met her when she was 13 years old. After 2015, Rick’s trips were suspended due to gang violence, but social media and online translation apps allowed our relationship with Valeria to continue.
In February, 2025, we both went to El Salvador through an Epilogos service trip to help build houses, repaint a street mural, and visit schools. This was Rick’s 11th trip and Shelley’s first. It felt like coming home, seeing many people we had met over the years, including high school teachers who had stayed with us when they visited Ohio.
We were grateful to be able to visit COAR one afternoon and meet the girls who live there now as well as several staff members to enjoy ice cream and a Silly String fiesta. One of the best parts of the trip was seeing Valeria. Since first meeting her 21 years ago, she has grown into a successful and joyful 34 year old young woman with a beautiful smile and incredibly kind and loving heart. We had the chance to spend the day with her and her boyfriend, see the house they have just attained, and then see them again for another short visit before we left. Our relationship with Valeria is a treasure we celebrate.
During our visit, the man who drove us to her home found out that she had lived at COAR. With teary eyes, he gave her a huge hug. The love for COAR and its children from Salvadorans in nearby communities is another wonderful relationship to treasure.
"Do you have pictures of me when I was young?"
P.S.
This article prompted more exchanges including a request we often get:
for pictures.
Valeria was delighted to see pictures of her younger self while she lived at COAR. Her brothers, Juan Carlos and Harrison also lived at COAR briefly after the traumatic deaths of both of their parents. COAR was able to find pictures and sponsor letters from them. Valeria remembers well writing letters to her sponsors.
Though she was not able to meet her sponsors, the relationship she has with the Mack family has lasted and grown with great thanks to all COAR has done in all of their lives.
