Melissa Ajabshir
Reading Sister Mary Margaret’s cursive note on pale blue stationery reminded me once again of the unshakable bonds between the project partners in Nicaragua and all of you.
In her letter I learned that Sister Mary Margaret volunteered with the Acahualinca Women’s Center from 1987 to 1992 and that she worked alongside founder Maria Elena Bonilla to establish the community library there. I also discovered that years later in 2015 she fielded questions from curious and thoughtful middle schoolers after recounting stories of her peace work in Nicaragua with them—and that the exchange sparked a car wash that raised over $1,200.
Sister Mary Margaret’s letter
Notes like hers are always inspiring and thankfully not uncommon. They’re among my very favorite parts of the work here in the stateside office—your letters—about life changing visits to Nicaragua, special memories with project partners, stories from Quaker House, or your resonance with grassroots efforts. Your notes are varied, but they never fail to ground me in the mission all over again. And they assure me that while the ProNica family may be spread across 30 states and 5 countries, no geographical distance can diminish our strength or unique affinity.
Melissa in Rio Blanco visiting the Martin Centeno Community
It’s this ProNica family that is very much on my heart as I lay down my role as stateside director. I feel profound appreciation as I prepare to depart this October for exciting new life endeavors. I extend gratitude to the staff, past and present, some of the most dedicated peace activists one could ever know. I thank Davida Johns for her mentorship. I send an enormous shout-out to the project partners for demonstrating that community-generated solutions are the most effective, lasting and dignified forms of global development, bar none. I extend gratitude to our advisory boards in the US and Nicaragua for guidance that is spiritual, practical, and indispensable. And to each and every one of you, please accept my sincere admiration for your remarkable bridge of friendship with Nicaragua.
The ProNica Board is nearing its selection of my successor. Whoever he or she is will have my full support in the transition and beyond. I can’t wait to meet that person and watch the ProNica family continue its good work in Nicaragua and its fine journey toward shared humanity.