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In the coming months, MCC LACA is republishing stories from the Life Stories project produced by seeders from the MCC Bolivia program. The Life Stories project is an attempt to show how the reflective peacebuilding of seeders has taken shape in unique relationships with people in Bolivian communities. The range of personalities of both seeders and their interviewees shows how reflective peacebuilding can vary enormously. The hope of this project is that, through intentional engagement between the seeders and the project participants, a larger story of mutual transformation will emerge.
Grecia Estefanny Melendez Ramirez, from Iquitos, Perú and the Christian Mennonite Church of Iquitos, served in Oruro, Bolivia with the Center for Holistic Development (CDI) as part of the Seed II program with MCC Bolivia.
Delia Cabezas was born in the city of Oruro, Bolivia. She is a fighter, patient in achieving her goals, and passionate about service since she was a child. From a young age her life has been difficult. “I didn’t have a full childhood, nor happiness; it was all work. Not a period of youth when I could go out and have fun.” However, this has not been an obstacle for her to live in love and help others.
Since her mother’s death, she has been brave, starting work as a nanny when she was 9 years old. “Since then, the lack of affection in the home made me think that my childhood was over.”
Delia has spoken her parents’ language, Aymara, since she was a child. She often prefers to speak Aymara because she feels more comfortable. “I can understand and explain things more. Singing in Aymara is an inexplicable joy as well.” As a young woman she loved church and was passionate about serving as a Sunday School teacher. Her experience in child care and desire to share encouraged her to relate to children.
Photo: Anna Vogt
She married at the age of 18, creating a beautiful family with 2 sons and 2 daughters. Today they are the driving force of her life. “When I got married I became very attached to my husband and I can say that I began to have a better life with fullness, confidence, love and joy that flooded me. My husband helped me a lot from then on.” When Delia was 24, she began to volunteer as a tutor in a project started in the church with the support of an international organization. She dedicated herself to working for children. She recalls, “preparing messages of reflection and encouragement for those who went through situations such as a separation of their parents.”
After several years Delia left the project to take care of her children at home. Then, two years ago she returned to work, this time in an area she also enjoys, food preparation. “I take advantage of the time to advise the children while they are in the kitchen and often tell them stories to more easily explain the realities of their families.” She continues to be a Sunday School teacher in the church, teaching Aymara to the elderly, and showing love and passion, skills that encourage others to follow her example.
Delia loves to make pollo al horno (baked chicken). This dish is a favorite of all the children in the project. For Delia it is a source of pride to know that the children enjoy the food, “especially when they go running to the kitchen to ask for a little more, because that means that the effort is worth it. When the children call me sister, the food is delicious, I feel I did a great job.”
Photo: Anna Vogt
Participating in MCC’s Seed Bolivia program has given me the opportunity to be part of the Holistic Development Center in Oruro. Working with children is challenging due to the very context in which they live.
Children are deeply affected by abandonment and family disintegration. Most of the project participants are from low-economic families and must look for alternative ways to survive. Some children help their parents work in the fields. Others take care of their younger siblings, cook for themselves, or go to school alone. The parents, working in the streets or out of town, don’t spend much time with their children.
In Seed I practiced reflecting on each moment I lived. The CDI project allowed me to think about the situations that children live every day and pushes me to recognize everything I have and thank God for my experiences with the children.
Delia has won my heart by being a hardworking and passionate woman, and, above all, she has always encouraged me. Her words of encouragement are, “you can Grecia!”, “we are going to make it!”, and “we will do our best!”
I will remember Delia’s words: “Today I can say that every effort, tear and trial has been worth it. I have a beautiful family united and happy even in the midst of any adversity that may arise. We are like a rope with many knots pressing hard to resist and move forward.”
Photo: Anna Vogt