CAPE GIRARDEAU MAN SERVES PEACE CORPS IN EL SALVADOR

Dennis Kluesner's mother remembers a boy always looking for ways to help. Starting this month, her son is helping the people of El Salvador build better water systems through the Peace Corps.

Kluesner, 31, signed up for a two-year hitch with the Peace Corps. He completed the initial training in May in Guatemala and has been assigned to a small community near San Salvador, El Salvador.

In a letter to his parents, Kluesner explained that his job includes helping the people of San Salvador build latrines and encouraging them to use the latrines. He also will be digging drainage pits and installing pumps on wells.

"There is very little trash collection down here, so most of it just gets thrown on the ground," he wrote.

Kluesner will also help the people learn to make their own bricks, needed for construction of the latrines. A goal of the Peace Corps is to provide skills in addition to new facilities.

His mother wasn't too surprised when Kluesner announced he was joining the Peace Corps.

"He was always kind of a quiet boy," his mother said. "But he was always wanting to help people."

Kluesner is one of seven children, son of Joe and Betty Kluesner of Cape Girardeau. He graduated from Notre Dame High School. He spent six years in the Missouri National Guard and is a journeyman plasterer. He recently graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with a degree in earth science.

"He isn't married. He just decided this was the time to go," his mother said.

Peace Corps volunteers aren't paid a salary, but receive a stipend for living expenses. Kluesner is living next to the governmental head of the village, a good arrangement, his mother explained. Other volunteers live in more primitive accommodations.

Kluesner spent 12 weeks in training before being assigned.

Part of the training was an intensive course in Spanish, the native language on El Salvador. "That's been the hardest thing, learning the language," his mother said.

Betty Kluesner said she can't call her son; he doesn't have a phone. They wait for letters and an occasional phone call.

"He called last week and was looking forward to getting started on what he went to do," she said.

He added that the weather in Central America is very hot and that he has learned to eat a lot of beans.