Forum > Introductions
Hi, I'm Sue B, your forum moderator. I'm also a member of Companeros.
I've been involved in the Our Sister Parish projects since my first trip to Berlin, El Salvador in 2001. I've been there 7 times (I think...), usually with a smallish delegation of 4-12 people. On one of those trips, I spent 5 weeks there on my own teaching English. I worked with the English classes at the local high school in the morning and taught ESL classes for adults and others in the community in the afternoons.
I'm a member of Westminster Presbyterian, which has a partnership with canton San Francisco, one of the closest cantons to Berlin proper. I've been involved with this community since the before the relationship was formed. The major project in that community was getting a solar panel installed on the church, school and most of the homes in the community. It was a huge effort and I'm really proud of the community for the way they worked together and made it happen.
For me, Our Sister Parish is a very personal thing. I've been there, I know the people there, and when I donate time or money to the projects, I know (or know who to ask) exactly where the money goes and how it is being used. The Pastoral Team is like family, going back to Berlin is like going home.
That's the nutshell version!
Sue B
Hi. I'm Mike Ark and I am a member of St. Boniface (Waukee, IA). I have traveled to the Berlin area 7 times with all but one of the delegations from our church. We tend to have delegation sizes of 9 - 14 people.
Our group is partnered with canton El Recreo. We have worked with them on a variety of projects; water collection, blankets, seed and fertilizer (multiple times), Send-a-kid- to-school (where we strive to make sure that every child that wants to attend school through high school has that opportunity), a new church building and other smaller projects.
I have had the opportunity to get to know the people of the canton and have established friendships with the people there. It continues to amaze me how our meager contributions to their existence have had such a profound impact on their outlook.
On our last trip one of the local men told me that people of other cantons have been asking what is going on in El Recreo because El Recreo seems to be accomplishing so much. (In Feb 08 they told us that a government official had seen their new church building. The official stated that since the government knew that they knew how to build a proper structure, the government was willing to give them money to build a new school. When we retuned in September (7 months later) it was done!!!) It just shows that when you give people hope that things can get better, they will work to see that things do get better.
Adios
Mike Ark
Wow Mike. That was great information. I didn't know about the school!
Ok... Hi everyone... I'm Kathy Mahler - Mission Co-Worker living here at La Casa Pastoral in Berlin. It is my job to help our church partners in whatever they need... communcation, information, transportation of goods... hosting their delegations, preparing itineraries and budgets... and I also am at the beck and call of the Pastoral Team for whatever they need - at ANY given time... I LOVE my job! I get to LITERALLY walk with the people here. And every day I learn more. And every day my love and gratitude grows. I'm a little dustier and often dirtier than I've ever been in my life - and the road can be difficult to traverse at times, but I am in good company and every day we make progress!.
So - who am I? I will try to put it in a nutshell also. But anyone who knows me knows I have a hard time with "brief" but I will try:
I have been coming to Berlin once a year since 2001 with my church delegations (Heartland Presbyterian Church). Then for 2 summers, my son Paul was a student intern here - volunteer teaching) so I used him as an excuse to come visit without a delegation. I did that 3 years in a row. Still continuing my annual trips with Heartland. Our partnership is with the Canton El Tablon Centro where we worked with the community to build a community clinic, kitchen, bathroom and sewing center with solar panels. We also assisted in the underground water tank and have helped grow the little elementary school to 9th grade (from 4th or 5th). We have now begun a NEW partnership with Caserio El Tablon Cerna. Their desire was to have a little school for their littlest ones. Ground broke just this October and I'm excited to say that kindergarten and first grade students will get to attend school for the very first time in that community in about 2 weeks!! Wow!
Back to me... so you know who I am...
I joined the Companeros Volunteers in Iowa I think in 2002 to become more involved - beyond my church partnership. What an eye opener to see all the partnerships! This is quite the wonderful model of mission!
Then I was the Project Coordinator for Don Justo Coffee with Dignity for about 4 years. (That was more excuse to visit the Pastoral Team w/o a delegation!)
When Bob Cook retired more than two years ago, I joined the Search Committee in hopes of helping to find the right person for the Co-Worker position. The process was long. We finally found a great candidate but he could not start for at least 6 months... so Bill Fischer spent time as interim Co-Worker. (Bill is also from Heartland Pres). When Bill had to come home, our candidate said there was another delay... so I thought long and hard and decided I NEEDED to do an interim stint as well. So I spent 6 months between October '07 and April '08 in Berlin hosting delegations and doing what I could to help keep the partnerships and communications thriving. Then I spent another month in June/July to host 2 other delegations... and I loved the work. It felt so right.
So in July... we found out that our candidate had to withdraw... That left us at square one in the search. So I searched MY heart. And it said I needed to apply for the job. Long story (a little) shorter... here I am...
And I feel so blessed.
I'm anxious to hear from LOTS of you. If you have questions - please never hesitate to contact me. And DO read my blog. You can access it here in this website. How easy is that?!
Thanks all for all you do for Our Sister Parish - read that: the people here on the mountain who have such hope for the future - with your love and solidarity!
Kathy Mahler
Hello, nice forum and nice to meet u all.
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reborn babies
Jifysisse
It's nice to know a little about the people involved in the various discussions. We don't need a full CV but it would be nice to know what brought you here, what your interest is in Our Sister Parish, whether you're currently involved in any of the projects, if so how, whether you've visited Berlin, etc.
If you'd like to post a message introducing yourself, please reply to this posting with the name you'll use on the site and the pertinent information you'd like to share.
I'll post one to get us started...