ABSTRACT
Martin Molina is a health promoter in the small village of El Achiotal located on the Pacific Coast of El Salvador. Like most evenings, all lights were off by 8 pm and most had settled quietly into their hammocks — a custom left over from the civil war that had just ended. That night, Martin was awakened by a knock at the door. He remained silent and listened as the knock grew frantic and more rapid. Finally, a familiar voice called his name. It was Mrs. Cruz, an elderly mother of six. Martin was relieved. Since his childhood he had heard stories of those who had answered the door in the night — they were usually recruited immediately into the military or disappeared at the hand of the infamous death squads.
