“Even in the smallest places can a garden grow.”
This line from Noah Gunderson’s song, “Garden,” captures the essence of a CD recording tour with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Alberta in Guatemala and El Salvador.
In tiny rural villages, places that have seen dark violent pasts, in very small ways peace is growing. I was fortunate enough to witness this while travelling with MCC staff and friends for 13 days in January. Throughout our trip peace was found in the simple acts of showing up, listening to people and making music together.
MCC Alberta was invited by MCC in Guatemala and El Salvador to visit both countries and record a fifth fundraising CD with recording artists Kim Thiessen, Darryl Neustaedter Barg and Jon Guenter. The past four CDs have raised more than $750,000 for MCC’s work with HIV/AIDS; this one will support both AIDS and peace work.
One thing that really struck me was the way everyone responded to Kim, Darryl and Jon’s performances. They were wowed, perceiving them as “professionals.” Some were intimidated at first, but after a few days of recording and collaborating, the local musicians began to own their own talent in a new way. The Canadian musicians related with them, including their ideas and providing space for real collaboration, validating their skills.
The Amar Choir was one of these groups. Amar is a program working to make music in the most violent of Guatemala City’s barrios. Its mission is to help people realize their strengths and gifts through music. While recording on the last day, one of the members of the choir said that we “came to show [them their] gifts.” We didn’t give anything, but were simply present for people who are often ignored and marginalized by their government and social structures all the time.
Antony Sanchez, the Guatemalan MCC representative, said, “The project raises money, but the act of coming to Guatemala is a great gift of peace and justice by being here and creating the opportunity for people to take part.”
Staying with these people, eating with them and then working on such a unique project, broke down barriers and gave recognition and affirmation to the groups.
I learned first-hand that music is a powerful tool for growing peace. The music project gave me a way to connect with the individuals while we were there and communicate with them beyond my terribly limited Spanish. Singing gave us something to make facial expressions about: rolling our eyes when it was taking forever for many musicians to agree, smiling at each other, and laughing at myself trying to sing in Spanish.
Two choir members corrected me numerous times on my pronunciation of “Y al reir, halar o solo escuchar,” and “Que asi me llamas.” They’re like tongue twisters and you have to sing them!
Music can transcend language, culture and differences to unite people. This was a small group of musicians in a little church, recording a few songs, but it had a big impact. Gustavo Ramirez, a very bright, exuberant singer from Perquin, El Salvador, said, “For every person playing music, there is one less person carrying a gun.” I would add, too, that there’s one more person with a way to work through trauma, or one less person standing alone.
Megan Enns is youth and peace program coordinator for Mennonite Central Committee Alberta. She is a member of Foothills Mennonite Church, Calgary.
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