by Ashlyn Wright| Fall 2024 |
Before studying abroad, everyone was asking me if I was excited. Obviously, yes, but I had no idea what more would be in store for me here in the beautiful and unforgettable city of Montevideo. These experiences will forever be a memorable part of my life. However, I could never have expected the extent to which my life would change because of La Ruta college ministry.
Montevideo would’ve just been another place that I have visited if there was no La Ruta. I would’ve still loved the city and formed a new family with our program directors and professors, but the ministry as a whole stole my heart. Our lead program director, David Ossa, also works incredibly hard as the leader of La Ruta, while our assistant director, Liz Young, is one of the many young adults who make up the ministry. The concept of it, which is a part of CMF (Christian Missionary Fellowship) International, is to provide a safe space full of Christian love for college-age students. It combines secular and religious events to provide an entry into Christianity. Uruguay is a very secular nation, so many of the young adults at La Ruta aren’t Christian. However, this fact makes it that much more beautiful to see everyone coming to the events and talking about faith from all different backgrounds. Additionally, many of the young adults come, both permanently and temporarily, from all corners of the Earth. With many events every week, we built so many strong and beautiful relationships with people who are now friends and family.
One day, I was marveling with another ACU student and our assistant program director at how God has put His love and goodness in people who don’t even believe in Him. At La Ruta, Christian or not, they have all welcomed us with love that could only come from God. They could’ve welcomed us as temporary study-abroad students from America; however, from day one, we were family. There was never a moment there when I didn’t feel heard, despite not speaking Spanish perfectly, connected despite not knowing the culture, or loved despite only recently meeting these people. They have taught me more about Christian generosity, hospitality, and love than the majority of Christians in my life, although some of them have only been Christians for a short time, or still have not claimed Jesus as their savior.
After becoming aware of the beautiful concept of the ministry and how it has changed so many people’s lives, including mine, I now have a strong desire to help replicate this mission in another place. In the three months we have lived here, we have seen what secularism can do to people. Although Uruguayans are so loving and kind, on the inside, many are broken (reflected by the high suicide rate here) and searching for spirituality (shown in the great quantity of spiritual products and practices here). However, I have seen how the Christian environment of La Ruta has provided the love, support, and faith that people are so desperately looking for. As a psychology major who also has a passion for missions, this work is just so touching to me.
David, the leader of La Ruta, told me once that churches that support La Ruta often ask for numbers, like the number of baptisms. But these numbers don’t reflect how people from the ministry are bringing their non-Christian friends to church. They don’t reflect the beautiful and intentional blessing that my Jewish friend from there gave me, calling me the sister of Jesus despite not believing him to be his savior yet. And they don’t reflect how many lives have been filled overflowingly since arriving at La Ruta at rock bottom. For all of these reasons, La Ruta will forever be one of the truest families of God that I will ever have.
