Working with Mennonite World Conference

In my blog posts thus far, I have written about the people I have met, the places I’ve been, the food I’ve eaten, and the activities I’ve experienced, but I have not yet shared what I am actually doing in Colombia. And so in today’s blog, I’d like to explain what I hope is my contribution to the worldwide mission of Mennonite Central Committee (MCC).

I am working through MCC for one of its partners, the Mennonite World Conference (MWC). This nonprofit partner works with Anabaptist churches around the world. Although staff and volunteers work in many countries, the head quarters for MWC is here in Bogota. I work in the communications department. It is our goal to connect these churches together by sharing stories, events and activities. 

Our team consists of a diverse group of people from Colombia, the United States, Canada and France. There are three of us working in communications. My supervisor, Kristina is from Canada, but works here in Bogota. Another team member, Karla, works from her home in Winnipeg, Canada. As a communications team, we talk regularly through apps such as Slack (a messaging system for businesses) and Skype. Together we update “Info,” our monthly newsletter, “Courier,” our bi-yearly magazine, as well as collect stories, news and articles for the MWC website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram sites. 

A few of my co-workers out for a coffee break: (Left to right) Nelson, Anna, Kristina, and me

The focus of my work is to keep all our social media sites and web pages relevant and interesting. At times I also work with editing and sorting through our photo library. Our website and all social media apps are published in three languages: English, French, and Spanish. 

I am thankful for the opportunity to learn and grow in this new role. After working at a bakery for about nine months, it took some adjustment to sit at a desk for most of the day. However, I appreciate my colleagues and the work that MCC is doing around the world. I get to witness God’s work in His church and share that with others through various media venues. It is rewarding knowing I am bringing members of the MWC church together and strengthening those relationships.

Click on the image to view our "Year Review" video.

Check out a few of the social media sites that I update and if you have any questions, send me a note to my email address: taressa.vandam@gmail.com

MWC’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MennoniteWorldConference/

MWC’s website: https://www.mwc-cmm.org

Read about MWC’s mission here: https://www.mwc-cmm.org/content/what-we-do