YAGM Mexico
Country Coordinator Newsletter
From march to may 2024
Soliette
I am an ELCA missionary in the position of Country Coordinator for the Young Adults in Global Mission Program in Mexico. I am originally from Nicaragua, I am an ordained Lutheran pastor, and I am a doctor in General Medicine.
Maia Isabel
The photo is our beautiful two year and eight month old daughter on her first day of school. She is not in kindergarten yet, but we found a daycare that has a school adaptation program for toddlers, and she loves it!
David
Aside from helping me with the program's social media and managing the small food businesses he has in Nicaragua, he enjoys exercising and running around the Lutheran Center in Mexico City.
Participation at the YAGM
Discernment Interview Placement Event
At the beginning of March I traveled to Chicago to participate in the DIP event. One of the blessings was meeting in person and sharing quality time with my fellow and friend, Paola, the country coordinator for Argentina. In addition from participating in the scheduled activities, we took a few trips to see the most iconic places in Chicago.
Pre-DIP
It was very revitalizing to take a few days to share time with the YAGM team and the coordinators of the programs from other countries. The space in which we talk about placements can be tiring and stressful, but we cannot deny the presence of the Holy Spirit who was with us at all times. I cannot be more grateful for all these people that God has put in my path.
DIP
In this picture with my fellow country coordinators waiting for the arrival of applicants for the YAGM 2024-2025 cycle to the DIP event.
Country room
During DIP, after revealing to the 2024-2025 applicants in which country they had been placed, we had sessions in small rooms where we talked to them about the culture, generalities of the country, and a little information about the service sites. It was very nice to experience the vibe of the group. I ask for your prayers in this preparation process that they and I have in this period, before their arrival in Mexico in August 2024.
Cuddled up on my return
Because of DIP, I was away from home for 11 days, and every time I leave home for several days, when I return Maia doesn't let go of me even to go to the bathroom. Those hugs and affection make all the effort worth it!
Let us celebrate the resurrection..
I feel truly blessed to be part of a congregation like "Cristo", where all members are like a true family. Celebrating together the resurrection of our Lord and remembering the immense love of God fills my heart with joy. This day I was invited to give the blessing to the congregation.
Foreigners who congregate at "Cristo"
At "Cristo" we talk a lot about being an inclusive church, sharing God's love with everyone. And this can also be seen represented in the openness to foreigners in this congregation. From left to right: Carine (Brazil), Pr. Moises, Pr. Angela, Mayra (Bolivia), Lizzy (USA), and I (Nicaragua).
Maia´s first Easter egg hunt
It was a nice experience to explain to Maia the symbolism of the chocolate eggs for us as Christians, and to share the hope and joy of the resurrection. Of course, the part she liked the most was eating the chocolates she found!
YAGM Spring Retreat
At times, there is anxiety about the future in the volunteers, thinking about their return and their reintegration in the United States, what's next? Work? Studies? But one of the calls in our retreat was to be present, present with the families that adopted them as part of themselves, present with the congregations that accompanied and embraced them since their arrival in Mexico, and present in their places of service, where they have given much, but also, they have received much.
We had the opportunity to travel to Oaxaca, where we reflected, but we also had the opportunity to learn more about the culture, history and gastronomy of Mexico.
Day trip to "Hierve el agua"
We took some time to get to know the iconic places in this part of the country. The waterfalls you see in the background are not actually made of water, but rather a system of petrified waterfalls, formed by calcium carbonate. The waterfalls are of natural origin and were formed thousands of years ago by the runoff of water with a high mineral content.
Posing with cacti and their insects
The cacti you see behind have "cochinillas", which are a worm that lives in these types of plants, and that the artisans of Oaxaca use to dye wool. Here is the trick part, they crush them, and with their blood they can dye in different shades of red, magenta and orange.
Making choices MAD (to Make a Difference)
One of the things I enjoy most in my position as YAGM coordinator is organizing retreats, devising tools and methods to reflect on different topics. For this retreat I divided the reflection into two parts, the first, MAKING CHOICES, for which we studied five different biblical texts. And for the second part I used the acronym MAD, which means TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, in which we focused on Matthew 5:13-16.
What does it mean to be salt and light? What is our calling? How do we continue walking in this mission? How have we been salt and light in the time we have been serving as YAGM? And how have others been salt and light for us in this experience?
These were very rich, long, interesting discussions, and full of many feelings. Personally, I feel very blessed to be able to accompany these young people, and to be a witness and testimony of their commitment to the mission of Jesus Christ.
Love for ballet
A cute photo never hurts! Maia loves princesses and loves ballet, so she constantly makes us dress her up as a "ballerina princess", and we are seriously thinking about enrolling her in dance classes. We feel very blessed to see her growing up healthy, happy, and surrounded by lots of love.
Workshop on Psychological First Aid
This activity was very interesting. The ILM Migration Ministry organized a workshop to give us tools on how to care for people in crisis situations. It was a very good experience, mainly because they made us see the importance of giving psychological first aid in the first 48 hours. We all shared personal experiences of crises in which we received support and in which we did not, and we analyzed the differences, in addition to studying real cases of life stories of migrants who are in the shelters that the migration ministry supports.
Picnic at Desierto de Los Leones
One of my volunteers' host family organized a picnic to which all the volunteers were invited (except Shannon because she couldn't come from Guadalajara). They also invited Pr. Juliana (who is the pastor that the ILM has designated to accompany the program on their behalf), and me with my family. They prepared DELICIOUS food, we had a very pleasant time, and it was very nice to feel the affection that the families have not only for the volunteers, but for the program itself.
First convent in Mexico
At the picnic site we were also able to visit a convent that was built at the beginning of the 17th century. It was built by the Order of the Discalced Carmelites.
We had a very pleasant time, walking through the gardens, Maia (my daughter) and Justin (one of my YAGM) playing with bubbles, chatting in the hallways with so much history. A very blessed time!
Walk in the park
We walked for hours in the middle of nature, it was an excellent time to recharge our energy to give it our all in this final stage of the YAGM year 2023-2024, and although it is not emotionally easy to prepare to say goodbye, we prepare to close this time together with joy and gratitude for the gift that God gave us of having known each other.
Pentecost Celebration
This day was very special, as the reflection was very hopeful. We did a joint study of the Bible, and the question was: why does Jesus leave us his Spirit? All Christians have a calling, and Jesus leaves his Spirit with us, but we, when we confess ourselves to be believers, must behave as such. We are called to be instruments of love, justice, and solidarity. We are called not to remain still, we are called to liberation.
Shannon Baker baked cookies
At the end of May I started doing my volunteer evaluation visits, it feels like time has gone by so fast.
My first visit was to Shannon in Guadalajara, we joke a lot because her last name is Baker, and she likes to bake. At the migrant house "El Refugio", where she serves from Tuesday to Thursday, they enjoy her cookies and cakes almost weekly, she has been a blessing to the staff and the migrants, but I am convinced that they have also been a huge blessing to her. I am very proud of this cohort.
Ahualulco
This is a rural town on the outskirts of Guadalajara, about an hour and 20 minutes away. There is an ILM congregation here called "Espiritu Santo", which is pastored by Ari Trejo, and where Shannon also helps with Sunday school for children and confirmation classes. Worship services are held on Saturdays.
"Fe"
This is the congregation presided over by the Pastor President of the ILM, Roberto Trejo, and where Pr. Ari Trejo is co-pastor. Shannon actively participates every Sunday in the youth ministry.
I am personally very grateful for the openness of this congregation to receive Shannon, but also me and my entire family. And despite the distance, I must thank them for their accompaniment in the grieving process for the loss of my grandmother.
Please keep Elizabeth, Justin, Mary, Shannon and Simon in your prayers as they complete their service, so that they can close this cycle filled with love, joy and gratitude.
If you made it this far and read everything, THANK YOU VERY MUCH! I know it is a lot of information. Thank you all for your prayers, and many thanks to the sponsoring congregations that make it possible for me to continue on this mission.
If you want to see a little of the day-to-day, or simply not wait three months to find out what we are doing, you can follow us on our social media:
@soliettelopez
YAGM Mexico
YOUR SUPPORT MAKES A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE! HERE’S HOW TO GIVE:
By check: Make payable to “Evangelical Lutheran Church in America” with “Claudia Soliette Lopez Ortega GCS2134” in the memo line.
Give through your synod office or mail your check to: Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 1809, Merrifield, VA 22116-8009.
By credit or debit card: See ELCA.org/MissionaryGiving or call 800-638-3522 and specify “Claudia Soliette Lopez Ortega GCS2134.”
By automatic monthly bank withdrawal, or to establish a covenant of prayer, communication and support: Contact 800-638-3522, ext. 2820, or globalchurch@elca.org.