Mary in Mexico

Hello!! Here you can find all content such as newsletters, updates, photos, etc. from my life in Mexico City serving with the ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) program! 

Thanks for visiting my site!

Why YAGM?

As I approached my college graduation this past year, I found myself wanting to take a year and do some kind of service program, preferably internationally. As I explored my options, I knew I wanted to improve my Spanish language abilities and participate in a program that I found to be ethical. I have known about YAGM ever since I was 11 years old when an alumn came to my church at the time and talked to our congregation about his year spent in Malaysia through YAGM, and I was instantly hooked. Ever since then, I would look at the YAGM page online, watch videos about it, and allow myself to be excited even when it was 10, 7, or 4 years away. Finally, when I was approaching my senior year of college, I knew it was time. I explored other options but knew ultimately that it was YAGM I truly wanted to pursue. However, I was still worried about the ethics of "mission" work supported by a mainly white church in the United States operating in countries with (often) people of less privilege than me, my friends, and many of those in the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.) I was relieved throughout the YAGM discernment weekend and orientation to understand that the program is built to emphasize living in an intentional community with your country location, uplifting/accompanying local programs and organizations, and learning from those we are to serve all through a lens of faith. It was immediately obvious to me that extensive measures were taken to ensure that the program truly serves those it is intended to and that volunteers are properly prepared to face the realities of a world rooted in colonialism, racism, capitalism, and injustice towards the earth and many of its inhabitants. Other faith-rooted international service year programs I explored did not seem to be very ethical and align with my worldview, and many that were not faith-based seemed ethical but were missing that faith component that I was craving. It was interesting to me to see the difference. Isn't it Christians who are specifically called to work towards justice in our broken world?? Just some food for thought. All this is to say that I am proud to be a volunteer through YAGM this year, and proud to be serving my community here in Mexico City.

So What Am I Actually Doing...?

What a great question!! I've been asked over and over during the months leading up to my YAGM year, and now that I'm here, I can finally answer! I am living in Mexico's capital, Mexico City which is a city of 23 million people located in the south-central region of the country. I live with my Mexican host mom Yuly who is a 30-something Lutheran pastor at the church next door. (Yes, I am parsonage-living again and I love that for me!!) Yuly is so much fun, and with it being just us two, it's an all-girl household full of lots of love and laughter. Monday through Friday I work at my site placement which is a migrant and refugee shelter called "Casa Tochan." I work there helping out with whatever needs done which mainly consists of signing guests in and out, conversing with many about the United States, and office work. On Sundays, I worship at church with Pastor Yuly and the small congregation she serves. (There aren't many Lutherans in Mexico believe it or not 😉.) 

If you'd like to know more about my work, Casa Tochan, or life in Mexico City, check out my September newsletter! You can find it under the "newsletter" tab above. If you aren't subscribed to my newsletter but would like to be, feel free to send me an email (you can find my email below) with your name and email address letting me know you'd like to receive it!