God always has our back

When Vilma Pop left her family and K'ekchi' community in the north of Guatemala, it was the first time she had traveled on her own. She was leaving behind a context where being a woman means, above all else, being a wife and a mother. In her community, the possibilities of being independent, traveling and learning about other cultures are mostly available to men.

Yet, that was exactly what Vilma was setting out to do. As she boarded the plane, filled with excitement and nerves, Vilma was distinguishing herself as the first K'ekchi' woman to participate in Young Anabaptist Mennonite Exchange Network (YAMEN).

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A joint program of MCC and Mennonite World Conference, YAMEN offers young adults from outside Canada and the U.S. a chance to serve internationally for a year.

Five other young adults would serve on the MCC team with Vilma during her time in Bolivia, lending encouragement to each other even as they worked in different assignments. And she had the support of those back home who had helped her make the decision to take part in YAMEN, including her pastor and the MCC connecting people's coordinator for Guatemala-El Salvador.

Her first few months in Bolivia were not easy. She faced many challenges and there were times when she wanted to return to her country. “I had to rely more on God during times when I was facing many changes and challenges in my life,” reflects Vilma. “I can say that through my prayers, reading the Bible, and relying on the support of the MCC Bolivia team and the church where I worshipped —as well as the congregation in my country and my family in Guatemala who were praying for me —all the support I received made me feel accompanied throughout each step and feel less sadness.”

The words of Matthew 6:33 stuck with her: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (NIV).

“This verse helped me a lot while I was in Bolivia,” she says, “because it was one of the purposes that I arrived with, as a participant in YAMEN, ‘serving in the name of Christ.’ It has inspired me to continue supporting others who need my help.” 

She found herself depending more on God and others, yet she also saw herself growing more independent. Moving to a new country, learning to navigate it and integrating into a new community challenged her to do things on her own. “Personally, the greatest satisfaction I could have gained is being more independent,” Vilma reflects.

She experienced transformation in other ways as well. During her year of YAMEN, Vilma served at a day care connected to the Bolivian Evangelical Mennonite Church. She remembers how, before arriving in Bolivia, she was daunted by the idea. “I always had this fear of working with children, of how to get along with them,” she recounts.

Then, in a classroom at Samuelito Daycare on the outskirts of Santa Cruz, something surprising happened. Surrounded by 20 children every day, Vilma discovered that in what was once a fear she had a gift. Her supervisor noticed it, too: “She has left her mark on the hearts of those of us who worked alongside her. I cannot thank her enough for all her help, support, affection and patience with the children,” says Aida Luz Hurtado, one of the directors at Samuelito Daycare.

Now back in Guatemala, Vilma hopes to bring her new skills and learnings into future opportunities in the church. “Now that I’ve worked more with children, I hope to be able to work with them in my country in the future,” she shares. “The most important thing is to have new visions for your future, both in your professional and personal life.”

Vilma reflects with gratitude on her year in Bolivia. She hopes to see other young people — including those from her own community — seize the opportunity to serve in another country though YAMEN. “I thank God for giving me the opportunity to meet wonderful people during my time participating in the YAMEN program. Being a participant in an MCC program is a great opportunity that opens doors to new goals, perspectives and visions, and to see life in a different way, in which you can support your church, your community or your country.”

Vilma also now recognizes that leaving your country isn’t just an opportunity to see new places and meet new people — it’s an experience that shifts your perspective on where you’re from. “At first, you might feel nervous or scared about what awaits you in another country, but that’s where the adventure begins: discovering new places, cultures, foods and people. But we can’t forget where we come from, our roots, valuing every aspect of our culture while we’re away from home.”

By participating in YAMEN, Vilma has shown her community, her country and, above all, herself, that it is possible to value your culture while challenging the barriers and stigmas you have grown up with. She has returned to Guatemala with the conviction to discern and build a different present — one in which she can serve from her own gifts and pursue the very experiences that bring them to light.

Vilma continues to find encouragement in Philippians 4:13 (NIV): I can do all this through him who gives me strength. “This verse makes me see that all dreams and desires of our hearts can become reality with God having our back and, above all, with great faith.”

Anika Bauman is Communications and Program Support Facilitator for MCC Bolivia. Vilma Pop served in Bolivia through YAMEN from 2024-2025.