May 17, 2018

I’m sorry José, I can only share this sad thing we’re living! Still we are very encouraged in our work and looking for how to help women planning self-help workshops to manage stress and anxiety in this social conflict. We know that with your prayers and our faith everything will improve, (IPM Project Partner).

IPM has a long, loving, history with Nicaragua and the Nicaraguan people. Augsburg College’s Casa Jaime Mayer (named for our co-founder, Jim Mayer) is just one living example of IPM’s legacy there—a rich legacy that we continue to live out in this our 44^thyear, through our local Partners, colleagues, and friends as the quote above illustrates quite personally.

As you may know, over the past few months, Nicaragua has been back in the news again in a manner that is eerily resonate for those of us whose history with that beautiful country and its resilient people goes back to the Iran-Contra affair and the proxy wars that tormented Central America in the 1980’s.

On one hand, in November the US Government sought to eliminate the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation that has allowed more than 2,500 Nicaraguans to remain in the USA for nearly two decades and replace it with provisional residency for 14 months before being forcibly repatriated. IPM stands with all those seeking to protect TPS and provide sanctuary for those whose protected status may soon be overturned, forcing them to abandon their US citizen children and livelihoods.

On the other, after his re-election to a third consecutive presidential term in November of last year, Daniel Ortega and his spouse, Rosario Murillo—the new vice-president and heir apparent—proposed in April to significantly alter the nation’s social security program. The immediate reaction from pensioners, veterans, and students was to take to the streets. The protests were brutally put down and more than sixty Nicaraguans were killed. The Nicaraguan government has subsequently withdrawn the proposed changes but the negotiation process for these and other necessary changes remains tense with a change in Nicaragua’s political leadership long overdue.

In addition to our longstanding accompaniment of IPM’s remarkable Nicaraguan Partners, we continue to offer Nicaraguan Immersion Experience Programs specifically because the type of work we claim as our purpose is not always easy or without risk. IPM’s Immersions generate income for our Partners and Regional Staff, just as they are a vital and concrete expression of our solidarity with the Nicaraguan people and the deep historical connection we share.  My colleagues, Fatima and Adela, from El Salvador will travel to Nicaragua in June to build upon their April visit there with former IPM International Board Member, Mark Falbo—who is helping us secure quantitative and qualitative background for our II International General Assembly in Cleveland (OH, USA)—and publically demonstrate IPM’s concrete commitment to accompanying our Nicaraguan colleagues and Partners.

Today, I would like to share with you some of the other moving quotes we have received from our Nicaraguan Partners, colleagues, and friends beginning on April 25 and through this morning:

We spent a difficult week, the government remains very calm, despite the big pressure the people are creating in the streets. At the end of the day, the government accepted a dialogue. We are hoping for the best to come out of this conversation. My family is well, thanks for asking.

Good morning dear Fatima, we deeply appreciate your solidarity and support for our people. From the beginning of the social conflict in Nicaragua until today, we have felt warmly embraced by the sincere affection of IPM family that have joined our sadness and prayers. Thank you !!

Our country has a lot of mourning and pain!! It is unfortunate this struggle between brothers that is endless with so much hatred and resentment on both sides.

The events of violence have brought mourning, pain and death to our people. The principles of our organization are ideological freedom, power freedom and religion freedom…We follow up the idea of creating an integral organization (all-inclusive) and keep perusing our dreams of creating an integral country (all-inclusive) as well; in which we are not a divided country but an inclusive country. We keep struggling to build a democratic, tolerant and fair society for everyone.

This past Monday, the dialogue proposed between the government and the Catholic Bishops proved inconclusive at best. The situation remains tense and reminds all of us just how fragile democracy and peace can be.

As members of the IPM Family we ask that you consider your response at this time:

• Write your Senators and Congressional Representatives to insist that the US Government refrain from making inflammatory statements about Nicaragua or covertly taking sides in this matter, since our intervention will only lessen the possibility for peaceful resolution at this time.
• Keep IPM’s Project Partners, colleagues, friends, and the Nicaraguan people at the center of your prayer life and/or meditation practice.
• Continue to support to IPM as we nurture the good work our Nicaraguan Partners are doing to promote justice and hope in their communities by donating at: https://www.ipmconnect.org/donations-2?viewmode=listor calling 1.866.932.4082.

Thank you for reading this and your continued willingness to stand alongside IPM as we seek to embody Jim Mayer’s prophetic vision of “exposing North Americans to the global realities of poverty and injustice, and challenging them with a new vision of society grounded in justice and love.” In Jim’s memory and in solidarity with the Nicaraguan people, we remain, faithfully yours.

Paz, Joe

Joseph F. Cistone, CEO

May 17, 2018