Maryknoll Lay Missioner, Gaby Hernandez, stands in front of the American, Bolivia, Vatican, and El Salvador flags signifying her connection to MKLM in America, her home nation of El Salvador, the Catholic connection from the Vatican, and her place of mission in Bolivia.

Susanne Beentjes

Mission Country: Tanzania

hometown: Purmerend, Netherlands

faith community: I am a Christian, but prefer not to put myself forward as a Catholic, even though my roots are there. In the Netherlands, there are churches from different streams supporting my mission work and I really appreciate that. When I am in the Netherlands, I always try to visit them. Here in Mwanza, we go to Petra City Church, because they have an active ministry for children and services are in English.

languages: Dutch and Kiswahili

travel: Various countries in Europe, Africa, and Asia. In total over 10 years living experience in Tanzania. I haven’t yet been to America.

Susanne Beentjes, originally from Purmerend in the Netherlands, brings more than a decade of experience in international public health, community development, and women’s empowerment—much of it shaped by her 10+ years living in Tanzania. A graduate of VU University Amsterdam with degrees in Health Sciences and International Public Health, she has worked across the sectors of pharmacy, human resources, and grassroots development. For the past six years, Susanne has served as a lay missionary with the Society of African Missions, helping lead the Lulu women’s empowerment project and co-founding a new initiative in Mwanza—the Work&Shop Creative Center, a collaborative space supporting young artisans as they build sustainable livelihoods for their families.

A native Dutch speaker who is also fluent in Kiswahili, Susanne is known for her calm, trustworthy presence and her belief in helping others “do it themselves,” walking alongside young women as they grow in confidence and agency. She draws strength from her Christian faith, her commitment to inclusion, and the Ubuntu wisdom that “I am because you are.”

Susanne and her partner are raising their children in Tanzania, where they enjoy hiking, swimming, and spending time by Lake Victoria. She says she will miss her parents, siblings, and grandmother back home—as well as brown bread and Dutch cheese—but feels deeply called to join the Maryknoll Lay Missioners community, drawn by its commitment to nonviolence, anti-racism, and solidarity.

Education:

Master’s degree in International Public Health (2010) and bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences (2008). Both from the VU university of Amsterdam.

work:

I have over 15 years work experience in the field of health, pharmacy, human resources, and community development. In the last six years I have been in Mwanza, Tanzania, working on a women-empowerment project, and currently we are working on a new initiative to build a community workspace, called Work&Shop Creative Center, where young craftsmen and women can come to work and sell their products through a joined shop space in order to help them gain income and take care of their families.

volunteer:

For the past six years, I have been a lay missionary with the SMA (Society of African Missions). Previously volunteered in the Netherlands with refugees.

hobbies:L

Spend time with my kids and partner, go swimming and hiking, and go to Lake Victoria. Mountain-biking in the neighborhood, play with our dogs in the garden, go to our community church on Sundays, be creative and make something new (alone, with the kids, or within our projects), meet with friends.

What motivated you to become a Maryknoll Lay Missioner?

To become a member of this beautiful community of faith where we thrive together to make a positive impact in the lives of communities who are on the margins of society. That’s my devotion! I want to make my best contribution to this for the time I am on this earth. Maryknoll seems for me the best-fit organization to do this.

Of MKLM’s 5 Core Values, please choose one and share an example of living it out.

Inclusion. During my mission work here in Tanzania, in our approaches, we are always inclusive. For example, in the Lulu project, we include young women of all races, religions, and ideologies. We treat every human being with respect and understand that everybody is different.

What personal gifts or strengths do you bring to mission?

I believe I can bring a positive attitude to mission, with great project management skills, creativity and collaboration with the people I work with. After many years living and working in Africa, I have learned to be open-minded, nonjudgmental, and patient. During mission work, you learn how to handle challenges on the way and be flexible in your approaches. I always try to focus on what is possible instead of what is not and to inspire and give others the confidence that they can do it. People often describe me as a calm, loving, and trustworthy person with a high sense of integrity. I try to respect each person in their own special way.

What does “solidarity” mean to you in the context of your mission?

First of all I have to think about the African phrase: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Here in Africa, it is all about communities (not individuals) that are living in solidarity with each other. Most of the time, changes only happen if the collective wants it, not just one person. If we want to go for change (impact), we have to show solidarity and find/join others who are sharing the same values.

What role does accompaniment play in your approach to mission?

I want to accompany people on their developmental journey with my skills, but at the same time, I also need guidance and support on my own path. I therefore view mission as a process of mutual giving and taking.