VMM Retreat 2015

This past week we met in the shadow of Volcan Mombacho with five other volunteers, for Volunteer Missionary Movement (VMM)'s annual retreat. VMM-USA is a small organization, but its volunteers stationed in Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Guatemala are doing a lot of valuable work in Central America.

Throughout the week, we played innumerable games of Dutch Blitz, hiked around the crater of Volcan Mombacho, watched the stars from a roof-top terrace, ate four bags of chocolate, and reflected on the personal and social transformations inspired by our service in various workshops. We also got the chance to meet Father Fernando Cardenal, the famous Nicaraguan priest who ran the hugely impactful Nicaraguan literacy campaign in the early 1980s. Cardenal told us stories about the unifying force the literacy campaign had on Nicaraguans and spoke to us about our obligation to act to combat the systems of poverty and marginalization that dominate our world. This mandate is, of course, the mission that all of our fellow VMM volunteers work for in various ways in their various Central American countries. Here is how they do this.

Kelsey and Erika, Centro Cultural Batahola Norte, Managua, Nicaragua

Kelsey and Erika live across the street from the cultural center where they work in the poor Managua neighborhood of Batahola Norte. The center trains people from the neighborhood in English, computers, natural medicine, cooking, and various other things, as well as offering programs in violence prevention, singing and dancing groups, environmental issues, and lots of other cool things. Kelsey and Erika teach English and are involved in several other programs that the center offers. Recently, they've raised enough money through their home churches to be able to take a group of inner-city Managua kids out to the Bosawas nature reserve, where they'll learn about environmentalism and preserving this ecologically important rainforest. Kelsey and Erika also seem to know almost every person in their neighborhood; they often sit out on their front porch, greeting and chatting with people who pass by.

Like us, Kelsey and Erika are currently looking for two new volunteers to continue their work at the Batahola cultural center when they leave this September. If you or anyone you know might be interested in this great position, you can find more information about the job on their blog: https://bataholavolunteers.wordpress.com/apply/

Claire and Julie, SHARE, San Salvador, El Salvador

Claire and Julie started working at SHARE, an organization that promotes human rights and social justice in El Salvador, this past summer. El Salvador is a very difficult and dangerous place to live right now; Claire and Julie told us that drug-related gang violence in El Salvador currently kills an average of 17 people per day. And yet they bravely continue their work to promote life and growth in El Salvador. Julie coordinates, translates for, and leads delegations from the US that come down to support SHARE's work and learn about the situation and people of El Salvador. Claire writes articles for SHARE's publications and often attends rallies and marches for justice in San Salvador. You can learn more about SHARE on its website: http://www.share-elsalvador.org/

Pieter, CAPAZ, Quetzaltanango, Guatemala

Pieter is a gregarious Dutchman who has worked in Guatemala for 20+ years. He lives in Chiapas, Mexico with his family (including grandchildren), and makes a 6-hour commute to work in Guatemala every few days. Pieter is especially cool because he actually founded the organization CAPAZ. He helps educate indigenous Mayan farmers, most of whom are women, about how to properly raise and care for their animals – an effort that improves both their income and their diet. CAPAZ also teaches classes on alternative energy systems. Here is CAPAZ's website: http://www.fundacioncapaz.org/en/