A pastor comes to America to lead a new flock

 

Interviewee: Salvador Kavistan
Interviewer: Veronica Colon
Date: November 20, 1999

What is your full name?

Salvador Kavistan

What is your nationality?

My origin is USA citizen but I from Nicaraguense [Nicaragua].

What is your date of birth?

May 15, 1947

Where were you born?

A small city in Liberta de Chantales, Nicaragua.

When did you (move to the U.S./move from somewhere else in the U.S.) to Philadelphia?

When I came to United States, I went to Chicago.

Why did you leave your country/State/former place of residence?

To continue studying - that was the plan when I was a student.

What did you like/dislike about your home/country?

The family, the food and some other thing that are from there.

Why did you choose Philadelphia/U.S?

Well Philadelphia... like I work with the church, the plan that I present for work is because in Philadelphia there is lots of Hispanic and I had to work with them in evangelist.

How did you travel here?/What type of transportation did you use/take to travel here? How would you change that?

The transportation that I use was a car.

How did you find a place to live in Philly?

It was another pastor that was waiting for me and he help me to find a place to live.

With whom did you travel? [Who did you travel with?]

First, I came by myself and a friend from Costa Rica wanted to come to Wisconsin. Knowing that my wife is from Wisconsin. I was with my wife['s] family and that friend came to Wisconsin and when he notice that I was coming to Philadelphia he say to me that he want to come with me.

Give I thing you remember most about your home town and why?

Well... specialty Christmas, it reminds me a lot from my home town because Christmas always be a lot of party and lot of family reunion and we always be together that why when Christmas come it reminds us and we want to be more closer to the family.

How did your life change when you moved and what were the differences between the two places?

The differences was easily to do thing in United States and the opportunities that they for to work. That was the biggest difference, the thing was easier and better opportunities.

What did you expect about the US/Philly?

Well... I expect to finish studying and also to achieve the plans that I had. Those was the reason in all the movements that I did and we came over here for the plans that I had.

What did you come here to accomplish and what else do you feel you still need to do?

Well... I came to continue, like I say, before studying more and working in the act of evangelist and that is what I believe that I need to do because the Hispanic population increase and there is help and that is what I want to do.

What are the differences between when you came here and now?

I haven't notice the differences but in little things like the area of social aspect and when I came to Philadelphia the drug problems was not as bad as is today.

What did you sacrifice/leave behind when you left?

When I came from Wisconsin to Philadelphia I left my wife and my two kids for a short time but when I came from Central America to United States I left nothing, didn't had nothing. The only thing that I left was my family, bothers and sisters.

What problems did you encounter coming to the US/Philly?

The problem that I had was the language that was the major problem and also the changes of the weather: in winter is too cold and in summer is too hot. Where I use to live the climate was soft and good. That is the difference.

How much money did you have and where did you get it when you came to Philly/US?

When I came to Philadelphia I don't remember how much I had, but I remember that I went to Chicago and then when I paid all my plane ticket and the things that I needed I remember that I had only 40 dollars - that all I had when I went to Chicago.

How did you adapt to your new environment?

Well... the church is one of the culture adapt where that church is the same as in Central America. The same thing that say over there they say it over here, the same thing that they do they do it over here. The church atmosphere is different but the church constitutes a lot for it could be easier to adapt the environment because it is almost the same culture as over there.

Why do you think it was worth all your changes?

It was worth those changes because I though that I had more opportunities in my life, do better things and help others family.

What education did you have before/after you arrived?

When I got here I had a Bachelor of Arts and that was why I came here - to get my master degree.

Do you [ever] regret moving? Why or why not?

I don't regret moving because I think that everything came all right and each day is better and there wasn't a good experience but everything came out good.

What reason would/could make you go back to where you came from?

The only reason that I would go back is if my family need my help. That is the only reason.

Describe Your first job here. If you didn't have one, how did you get money?

The first job that I had was the same job that I have now. The thing that I do in church is studying the bible, preaching, help the people what they need, help them to look for a job and take them to places that they had to go like to the hospital. That was my job and the church would pay me.

Is there anything you would like to add?

Yes, that I am very happy in United States and I desire to study in the system of democracy of the United States. I always like to think that some day I would like to come, also I like the economic system and the capitalism. In those days there was a battle between communist and Catholics and always admired the United States system and that's what interest us.