St. John’s Lutheran Church in Boyertown sent a team of 11 to Cuernavaca, Mexico, in February to observe, learn, and grow in faith.
Joining the staff of Wellspring Karitas Foundation of Berwyn, the team witnessed grassroots projects developed in Mexico that allow local disabled people to have full-time, fair-wage employment; encourage young people to stay in school through alternative education; support local farmers, and feed marginalized populations and build community.
St. John’s Boyertown became involved with Wellspring Karitas through a personal connection. This is the third year that St. John’s has participated in this experience.
Wellspring Karitas Foundation partners with Mexican communities on social, educational and economic revitalization projects. In collaboration with local efforts, Wellspring Karitas develops programs, provides technical assistance, and leverages financial support in a spirit of democracy and reciprocity, empowering people to improve their lives and to assist one another in their individual and collective liberation, according to karitasfoundation.org.
After the 2024 trip, two of St. John’s student travelers presented a proposal to the Boyertown Rotary Club for funding of a water capture system for the migrant camp school. The funding was provided and through the dedication and perseverance of these students, the 2025 team witnessed the location being dedicated to the future installation of the water capture system at the school. Clean water for these students means fewer sick days, more days in school, better focus, and a hope and vision of bigger possibilities for their future, according to the release.
As part of their mission to be a church engaged and active with others outside of their church walls, the team included not only congregation members of St. John’s, but also Boyertown community members.
St. John’s views this trip as a reverse mission as opposed to a traditional church mission trip.
“We travel to Cuernavaca to experience another culture’s way of connecting with each other, their community, and God. It’s not about bringing our ideas to them, but more about learning how they’ve developed and maintain a thriving organization,” Shannon Omlor, communications coordinator at St. John’s, said in the release.
Throughout the trip, the team was encouraged to not only see where God was at work, but to notice how their bodies physically responded to the circumstances they were experiencing.
Tatum Friz, 10, saw a little boy working in the sugarcane field: “That made my stomach shrink. It made me feel sad, and it made me feel grateful for what I had. I also know that other people in this group felt the same way.”
Another thing that made her stomach grow was at the migrant school.
“All of us went outside with lots of other students there and played soccer with the little kids. And that just made me feel really great,” said Friz.
Amy Muzopappa said that at first glance, they saw poverty and despair, but what they experienced was love, connection and unity.
“When we opened our hearts and trusted God’s plan, we were able to understand that those who appear to have less in many ways have an abundance. We were introduced to a joy that doesn’t come from cosas or things,” Muzopappa said in the release.
St. John’s team members look forward to sharing their experiences with the congregation and wider community, including ways that the trip will bear fruit and plant seeds in their own community.
For more about St. John’s Lutheran Church in Boyertown, visit stjohnsboyertown.org.
Source: Berkshire mont
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