Colombia
SOOP Director Arloa Bontrager visited a new partner location in Colombia, South America, this fall. Nestled in the Andes Mountains near Cachipay, about 50 miles from Bogota, our partners at Finca CREER (Center for Retreats and Meetings El Recreo) are seeking volunteers for a month or up to two years doing all manner of upkeep on the 12.5-acre campground: painting, gardening, carpentry and construction, cooking, sewing, plumbing and electrical work. Costs will be around $150 a month and will cover food and lodging. Contact Arloa for more details.
Mireya Acuña and her husband, Alveiro Rada, are the current hosts at the campground.
The center is in a beautiful, mountainous area of Colombia, a couple miles outside of Cachipay. The setting is rural and the atmosphere is peaceful and tranquil. This building has several apartments, one where the host family lives and others that can be utilized by SOOPers.
SOOPers can help in the kitchen during events such as this, a Colombian Mennonite retreat.
Part of the campus of
Academia Menonita Betania in Aibonito, Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico
SOOP is renewing relationships in the Caribbean, so a second Spanish-speaking location is now available. Academia Menonita Betania is a bilingual, Christian school located near the city of Aibonito on the beautiful island of Puerto Rico. The school is licensed and accredited and is a member of the Mennonite Education Agency.
A wide variety of opportunities are available to work alongside the staff doing office work, maintenance and construction work, teachers’ aides, assisting in the kitchen/cafeteria, and in the alumni office. Volunteers are welcome to select their projects.
Jose Luis Vargas, his wife, Linette Colon, and their children, Jose Luis and Gaby. Jose Luis is the pastor of the
Iglesia Menonita Betania, Bentania Mennonite Church, and conference moderator. Linette is our SOOP local coordinator.
An example of some of the food volunteers might get to enjoy.
