“Everything is connected,” explains Maryknoll Lay Missioner Peg
Vámosy. Together with the social justice committee of Monte San Juan Parish near Cojutepeque in the Cuscatlán department of El Salvador, Peg promotes sustainable agriculture to family farmers. She says with problems like climate change, concern for migrants and refugees, plastic waste, poverty, and the impact of the world wide pandemic “sometimes the problems seem so overwhelming that we have to break them down into more manageable pieces, but we must not fail to see their interconnectedness.”

Peg believes, “If local people see that they can have an impact when they work together, then environmental issues can become
opportunities for people to be the drivers of their own future. Once they feel empowered, they can then work together to solve all sorts of problems, not just environmental ones.” One challenge the families she works with faced was replacing their farming practices with new ones that often required more work. Many of those families who have experienced hunger said, “We need to have enough corn and beans to survive.” Peg understood that the need for more food “keeps them from taking the risk of growing their staple crops without chemical fertilizer which negatively impacts their harvest and helps farmers diversify into other crops. Still, I encourage them to try small plots, and the results we’ve had in our community field are being noticed. We’ve also started a poultry project, trying to grow most of the grains necessary to feed the chickens.” Peg’s ministry is also working to teach families how to use less plastic, recycle, conserve water, and plant more trees and diverse crops.

Working together the community is overcoming some of its challenges. Being involved in the agricultural ministry has given them hope. Community member Hernán says, “Our crops and what we are doing now give me hope. We know that God does not abandon us in spite of all the disasters that we as humanity have experienced. And the Spirit always keeps me ready to move forward and do things better.” Another community member Reinaldo says, “My hopes are that this idea of conserving our natural resources resonates within the whole population, that we can transform our environment so it is more livable, and that future generations can enjoy what we have been able to enjoy.” Peg said, “My hope comes from all the people here in El Salvador with whom I have the privilege and the pleasure of working. In spite of so many difficulties, they strive every day, trying to produce and provide the best for their children and for their future. Their generosity toward others with less and their unfailing concern for those beyond their own families, communities and country never ceases to amaze me.

Everyone in these agricultural and environmental ministry groups is
convinced of the need to preserve, protect, and care for our Common
Home, which gives me great hope to continue every day in our efforts. And
the children — like my neighbor, Daniel, who likes to learn about nature
and growing his own food — are a great sign of hope!”