A Library Built from Love: What Our Retreat in El Salvador Taught Me About Healing in Action

Johanna Olivas
Jul 26
3 min read

When we gather in sacred spaces, we often expect inner transformation—a shift in perspective, a deep exhale, a return to self. What I didn’t expect during our Joyful Awakening Retreat in El Salvador was that we would also help transform a community.

The Vision: Why a Library?

As children of immigrants, both myself and my co-host Cindy Luquin knew from the start that this retreat wasn’t just about rest and rejuvenation. We also felt a deep responsibility to give back meaningfully to the land and people hosting us. El Salvador holds a special place in Cindy's heart, as it is her father's homeland. So from the very beginning of planning, we were committed to creating an experience that honored the local community.

We partnered with the Mizata Foundation, part of Anti-Resort—the hotel that served as our retreat home. Through them, we were introduced to a local school and its dedicated teachers. We met with the school leaders before our retreat to truly understand their needs. What emerged was a simple but powerful idea: a library.

How We Raised $2,000 in Just Two Weeks

With only two weeks before our journey, we launched a GoFundMe and activated our communities. Retreat participants contributed, shared the link with their own circles, and spread the word with love. Donations even came from generous anonymous supporters. Together, we raised over $2,000—enough to seed something meaningful.

We brought down books in Spanish and English, school supplies, markers, crayons, activity kits, a brand-new printer, projector, and even a stereo system to create a warm, resource-rich space for learning.

The Day That Changed Everything

When we arrived at the school, the energy was palpable. The children lined up to shake our hands one by one as we unloaded supplies. There was a buzz in the air—joyful, curious, open-hearted.

Some of the boys began an impromptu soccer match on the blacktop with a few of our retreat guests. Others eagerly followed us into the building that would soon become their new library. We mopped floors, cleaned, built shelves, and organized everything into thoughtful stations—an English reading corner, an arts and crafts section, and a tech area with their new devices.

What we didn’t expect was how deeply the community would meet us with gratitude and warmth. Mothers, grandmothers, and even fathers came to witness the transformation. They made us pupusas, offered smiles and hugs, and even filmed a short thank-you video. Some of us joined them in the kitchen, learning how to make the beloved Salvadoran dish by hand.

Personal Reflections: Returning to Myself

As I looked around at the children, I couldn’t help but think of my own daughters, who are the same ages as many of the students we met. I reflected on the stark contrast between the educational resources my children have access to in the U.S. and what these children were working with. And yet—the joy, the pride, the sense of hope in that room was undeniable.

I felt humbled, cracked open, and more committed than ever to Luna Serenity’s deeper mission: creating sacred spaces for healing that ripple outward—into families, into schools, into the collective.

Healing in Action

Our retreat was not just a getaway. It was a living prayer. A reminder that healing isn’t separate from justice. That rest and action go hand in hand. That when we return to ourselves, we also rise in community.

To everyone who gave, who came, who witnessed, who served: thank you.

We planted something in Mizata that day. And it will grow for generations.