St. John’s Boyertown sends team to Mexico
Three years strong - Supporting programs that help to empower people in the state of Morelos, Mexico
Written by: Shannon Omlor of St John's Boyertown
Organized by St. John’s Lutheran Church in Boyertown, a team of eleven traveled to Cuernavaca, Mexico in February of 2025 to join with staff of Wellspring Karitas Foundation (Berwyn, PA) to observe, learn, and grow in faith. This is the third year that St. John’s has participated in this experience. 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. The team witnessed firsthand the 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.
Wellspring Karitas Foundation (karitasfoundation.org) 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.
After 2024’s 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 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.
St. John’s views this trip as a ‘reverse mission’ as opposed to a traditional church mission trip. Shannon Omlor states, “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.”
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. Ten-year old traveler, Tatum Friz recounts her feelings on the trip, “I 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 my 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.”
Amy Muzopappa reflects, “At first glance, we saw poverty and despair, but what we 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.”
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 our own community.
At St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Boyertown you are invited to witness all the amazing things God has been up to in our lives and community! We are purposed with creating totally devoted disciples of Jesus Christ with a focus on authentic worship, intentional relationships, sacrificial service, and radical generosity. We are committed to loving God and loving ALL people. To learn more visit stjohnsboyertown.org.
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