Year Joined MKLM: 1994 Country: Mexico City: Ciudad Juárez Focus: Pastoral Ministry, Education, Healthcare Project(s): 1) Listening Ministry for Non-Violence, 2) Medicine, Hope and Health in our Community, 3) Kids’ Street Library People Served: 1) 35 participants in 9-month program,  2) 12 volunteer therapists serving 30 patients in first month of service, 3) 350 children from six neighborhoods Project Goal(s): 1) Practice in the art of listening for personal and spiritual formation; 2) Provide economic and holistic healthcare, accompany and provide ongoing training for the 12 therapists who volunteer a the clinic; 3) Provide fun, educational activities to marginalized children and youth.

Personal Data
Originally from Port Angeles, WA, Karen was a high school Spanish teacher before becoming an MKLM missioner in 1994.  In 1998, Karen married fellow MKLM missioner, Jim Weaver, while they were both serving in Peru.  Their sons, Daniel and Jacob, were born in 2000 and 2007, and their daughter Emma was born in 2003.

Current Ministry  
Jim and Karen live with their family in Ciudad Juárez. They work with two Maryknoll priests and three Mexican Sisters (Siervas de los Pobres) in a parish serving six adjoining neighborhoods of Juárez, all of which are marginalized communities that struggle with lack of adequate housing, health care, sanitation, and water. 

Unfortunately, Ciudad Juárez has recently seen a dramatic increase in violence due to a current war between drug mafias.  Much of the drug trade from South America to the United States flows through Ciudad Juárez.

Commenting on her and her husband’s presence in their community, Karen says, “We have found it quite significant for ourselves and for the local people that we have been present in this moment of violence and uncertainty in our communities.  We’ve heard people express how much they appreciate the solidarity that comes from our presence here, as well as our service, in the midst of these distressing times.  We, as well, have found support and hope through the parishioners and community members around us.”

Karen has worked for two years with a team of Sisters and lay women on both sides of the border to offer the Listening Ministry for Non-Violence.  Through the 9-month Ministry of Listening program, two groups of 12-18 participants have grown in their understanding of spirituality and their recognition and articulation of God’s presence in their lives.  The format for each class is simple: a Bible reflection, a theme, and the practice of listening.  In each session two participants pair up while one person shares personally for 10-15 minutes on a given topic, and then listens while the other shares.  This ministry offers an opportunity for the participants to share their personal struggles and hopes in a meaningful way and to learn to listen without judging the other.  The participants, most of whom are women, confess that they really have no other opportunity to share at this level.

Every time a new participant joins the group, she cries for the first two or three sessions.  The gift of being heard touches all at a profound and life-changing level.  Both groups have been able to adapt the class content to address the current reality of violence in Juárez. Because of the overwhelming pervasiveness of violence in their lives, the participants find the group to be a calming and fulfilling non-violent respite in the listening group. 

A more recent ministry of Karen’s is a natural medicine clinic developed by parishioners to provide preventive, holistic and affordable health care.  The clinic, called “Medicine, Hope and Health in our Community” opened its doors June 7, 2009.  The initial expenses of equipping the clinic were covered by a grant through the Juárez diocesan Cáritas program.  Twelve parishioners have been trained to offer therapy in bioenergetics, reflexology, floral therapy, and body movement.  They have learned to prepare their own herbal medicines.  A doctor, also from the parish, and a trained massage therapist also offer their services at the clinic.  Karen participates on the coordinating team of the clinic, mentoring the therapists, nurturing group dynamics, and seeking additional training and support.  

Jim and Karen’s ministry, the Kids’ Street Library, tries to provide youth in their community a safe environment for learning and for fun, meaningful activities.  Jim and Karen load up their car, or “Book-Mobile,” with books, puzzles, games, and school supplies.  Arriving at a pre-determined street, they unload a few benches with their crates of materials, and invite the children over.  Safe, meaningful, organized youth activities in their neighborhoods are scarce.  The street library is helpful in reaching out to those who are not actively connected to the church.