Making Things New in Her Mother's Native Land: A Thank You to Michelle Zuniga

Michelle Zuniga is a passionate young woman who has truly impacted El Salvador through her service with ENLACE this past year. Michelle built intimate friendships with dozens of ENLACE staff as well as church and community members throughout El Salvador. In addition, she exhibited the true nature of the word ‘enlace’ by acting as a ‘link’ between local churches and dozens of groups from the U.S. As Jeff Costa of the Crossing said, it is evident that “God is with her as she serves side by side with each group that comes down.” This sentiment was reiterated by everyone who had the privelege of working with her. ENLACE’s medical doctor, Dr. Zuleyma Chahin, worked side by side with Michelle many times and says that Michelle worked “with a sense of compassion and God’s love that was reflected in all that she did.”

At ENLACE, we believe that restored relationships are at the root of any lasting change. By coming to her mother’s native land with an open heart to serve, the relationships that Michelle leaves behind will continue to help transform communities for many years to come!

Thank you, Michelle!

Contact us today if you are interested in applying for a long-term volunteer position with ENLACE!

New Volunteer Comes to Serve in Her Mother's Native Land

Michelle enjoying one of her first visits to an ENLACE communityMichelle Zúñiga, ENLACE's newest missionary-volunteer, first visited her mother's home-country of El Salvador when she was 16 years old. She was drawn by a desire to meet her mother's family and to experience the fascinating culture. She says that she was captivated by the kind and hardworking Salvadorans as well as by the beautiful mountains and beaches. However, El Salvador also revealed a world that was previously unknown to her; a world with vast inequalities, injustice, and a country left with gangs and serious problems with violence after struggling through a 12-year civil war. After returning to the US and becoming a Christian, Michelle felt a renewed desire to come to El Salvador, but this time in order to serve, and learn from a country with which she had fallen in love.

Michelle finished her studies in International and Cultural Studies in May of 2010. During her last year of study she decided to look for an organization that might give her the opportunity to return to El Salvador and serve the country that she loved so deeply. She wanted to find a way to help in the area of economic development with an organization that strives to serve as Christ did. She stumbled onto ENLACE's website in March of 2010 and decided to come for an exploratory trip.
Michelle (right, center) with ENLACE staff, and Douglas, a member of the New Jerusalem Church and housing recipient.

Michelle says that what she likes most about ENLACE is that it's an organization that is willing to "roll up its sleeves and get its hands dirty" while making a difference for Christ. The initial trip helped to confirm her desire to be a part of ENLACE as a volunteer and provoked her to commit to at least one year of service in her mother's home country. She says,

I’m happy to be here and anxious to see what I can learn through God’s people.

ENLACE is glad to welcome Michelle who will serve as a translator, short-term mission team leader, and assistant to the ENLACE church coaches who work throughout the country.

!Bienvenida Michelle!
 

Missionary-volunteers like Michelle are responsible for raising their living expenses through gifts and donations. If you would like to sponsor Michelle's valuable work with ENLACE, click here.