Journey

Thank you, Mission Adelante!

Thank you, Mission Adelante!

by Ryan Galue

My name is Ryan Galue, and today I want to share about my journey with Mission Adelante, the U.S. resettlement agency. I am Venezuelan and have been living in Colombia for nearly five years, where I managed to obtain legal status. This legal status was crucial, as one of the main requirements for participating in the resettlement program is having legal residency in Colombia. After several interviews, medical exams, and cultural orientation sessions, I finally received the life-changing news—I had been accepted into the program and would soon be traveling to the United States.

That moment was filled with immense joy. Achieving something I had long dreamed of, and doing so through a legal process, was an incredible feeling. But soon after the excitement came the inevitable doubts. What would the process be like? How would I be received? How would I be treated? I was about to emigrate again, starting from scratch, but I always remembered it wouldn’t be my first time.

The day of my departure finally arrived. The agency in Colombia supported me with excellence, from the moment they picked me up at my home in Colombia until I arrived at the airport and eventually at my first destination. I had mixed feelings and felt a lot of anxiety, but the thought that I would now be in a better position to support my family helped me calm down. After my first flight, I boarded another plane to Kansas City, Kansas, which is where I currently live.

Upon arriving at the airport in Kansas, I was warmly welcomed by people from Mission Adelante. A group of women greeted me with so much kindness, filling me with joy and confidence, which helped ease my anxiety. Mission Adelante has been a pillar throughout this process, assisting me with everything from the moment I arrived. They’ve helped me obtain all the necessary legal documents, guided me through the medical process, assisted with food, and helped me find a welcoming place to live where I could feel at home.

One of the most emotional moments came when I moved into my current apartment and saw photos of my family—people I love and miss dearly. I hope that one day soon, I’ll be able to have them here with me. For this, I owe a massive thank you and blessings to Mission Adelante and their entire team. From the person who picked me up at the airport to the ones helping with all my paperwork, I wish them all the best and hope that God continues to guide and support their excellent work.

P.S. As a proud Venezuelan from Maracaibo, I showed my gratitude by making empanadas for the staff at Mission Adelante—and now, they LOVE them! 🙂

Be part of our programs!

We are so excited for everything that is happening in our programs and we are grateful for all our volunteers who make everything possible. Would you consider partnering with us next trimester?

How can you help?

  • Pray for our program participants would create an impact in our community and grow with their walk with the Lord.

  • Volunteer – Come to Observation Nights. For more information visit: http://www.missionadelante.org/serve

  • Donate to join us in building a multicultural community of disciples making disciples.

To a New Beginning

To a New Beginning

By Erick Flores, Ministry Apprentice

I’m just at a loss for words on how my start at Mission Adelante has gone. I needed a new job as I was trying my best to leave a toxic and unhappy work environment. My older sister, Carla, showed me an open position at Mission Adelante, and suddenly the Lord blessed me with an open door to a whole new world of possibilities. Patrique reached out to me with a job offer and I happily accepted it. I prepared myself for weeks as I was entering a new journey in life.

I joined halfway into the second trimester of programs, which meant I was unable to get an easy start. Luckily, I was able to jump right in where I was needed and did a decent job! With an amazing staff welcoming me into Mission Adelante, I felt like I was home. We also had an amazing Summer Intern group and I built the best relationships with every single one of them. On top of that, Arts Camp started my second week of work, and it went amazing! Mikya did a great job teaching me how to be a leader; she’ll be handing off her throne to me as I will lead Arts Camp next year. Mikya did a great job passing on her responsibilities. I feel very prepared with no stress at all! Patrique also gave me an overview of Youth Club. I have started to get more and more comfortable leading some weeks and have grown my relationships with so many youth!  

Spending the summer with the interns definitely gave me brain rot! But in all honesty, I couldn’t have gotten through the summer without the interns. They just made every day fun and they would always come in with a smile on their faces, ready to spend the day learning! Even on a tough day, they just knew how to make me laugh and get me in a better mood. Joining them on their internship activities, I was able to learn more about the value of the internship, learn more about the city, and give back to the community by doing community service. I just loved seeing in the little time I had with them how they matured over the summer and were becoming young adults. I have very high hopes for their future! 

It makes me very happy that I was able to conclude this summer with end-of-trimester parties and retreats! At Arts Community, we had a dance party! At Youth Club, we played Olympic games and had a Lake House Retreat last weekend! At Kids Adelante, we ended with a water slide party! The Interns had a weekend away from KC to clear their minds before they entered the school year. And to top it all off, we threw a big summer party! It was definitely a very successful summer and I look forward to the third trimester when all our programs resume again! I’m going to end this article with a passage in the bible I looked up to as I was entering Mission Adelante, Proverbs 16:3 “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans”. I trusted the Lord to take me wherever he desires and He found the perfect home for me. 

Be part of our programs!

We are so excited for everything that is happening in our programs and we are grateful for all our volunteers who make everything possible. Would you consider partnering with us next trimester?

How can you help?

  • Pray for our program participants would create an impact in our community and grow with their walk with the Lord.

  • Volunteer – Come to our Observation Nights. For more information visit: http://www.missionadelante.org/serve

  • Donate to join us in building a multicultural community of disciples making disciples.

The Journey of Emigrating: My Personal Transformation

the inner Journey of Emigrating: My Personal Transformation

by Yanelis Lopez, CMA Director


Emigrating to another country has been one of the most profound and transformative experiences of my life. This journey has not only involved a change of residence but also an inner voyage that has led me to discover new facets of myself and even reevaluate my identity. It has been a process filled with challenges and revelations that have made me someone different. Because, of course, emigrating changes you and transforms your soul; in my case, it has been a liberating journey.

Leaving my homeland, my family, and friends was an extremely difficult decision. I vividly remember the day I packed my belongings, leaving behind everything that had previously come naturally to me to embark on the unknown. However, this detachment also led me to deeply value my roots and understand the importance of the connections I left behind.

Upon arriving in the US, I began to hear the word resilience very frequently... and it became a word that resonated deeply with me, describing the aftermath of the profound change faced by those who emigrate. Arriving in a new country was like starting from scratch. Learning a new language, adapting to different customs and social norms, and finding my place in a foreign community were challenges that tested my resilience. There were moments of frustration and loneliness, but each obstacle overcome taught me to be more flexible and to face the unknown courageously. Resilience became a constant companion on this journey.

As I navigated through these challenges, I began to discover internal strengths that I was unaware of. The ability to creatively solve problems, the courage to confront the unknown, and the perseverance to move forward despite obstacles were revealed and strengthened during this process. These experiences boosted my self-esteem and made me aware of my ability to adapt and thrive in adverse circumstances.

Emigrating allowed me to reconstruct and redefine my identity. Interacting with a new culture and integrating aspects of it with my own heritage led me to create a hybrid identity. This new perspective enriched my worldview and allowed me to appreciate cultural diversity in a deeper way. I became a more complex and complete version of myself.

Seeking belonging in a new community was an essential part of my migration experience. Building meaningful relationships and finding a sense of community was not easy, but each connection I made offered me support and a sense of home in my new environment. The support from my new friends helped me establish a stable emotional foundation in my new life.

Migration also led me to deeper reflection on my purpose in life and my faith. The challenges and distance from the familiar prompted me to seek deeper comfort and guidance in Jesus. He became an even more constant source of strength and hope during difficult times, providing me with a solid foundation on which to build my new life.

Emigrating has been an inward journey full of self-discovery, resilience, and personal growth. Not only did I rebuild my life in a new country, but I also rebuilt myself. Emigrating has transformed me, and I am deeply grateful.

Help Our Refugee Families

Your impact is huge for our refugee families! Currently, we are in need of:

  • Toys that are clean and in good shape for kids under the age of 3

  • Hygiene kits

  • Vacuums

You can also volunteer to help with administrative tasks like creating client files and notebooks and other resources.

For more information on how to be a part of this effort, contact our Reception and Placement Director, Amy Herman, at randpdirector@missionadelante.org.

Be part of our programs!

We are so excited for everything that is happening in our programs and we are grateful for all our volunteers who make everything possible. Would you consider partnering with us next trimester?

How can you help?

  • Pray for our program participants would create an impact in our community and grow with their walk with the Lord.

  • Volunteer – Come to Observation Nights. For more information visit: http://www.missionadelante.org/serve

  • Donate to join us in building a multicultural community of disciples making disciples.

Join Our On-Call Support Team!

Join Our “On-Call Support Team”!

by Kristen Maxwell, Refugee Resettlement Director


When I came back on staff with Mission Adelante, I expected many things. I expected to meet new people, learn about new cultures, be challenged, and have my idea of what the Lord could do to grow. One thing I did not expect was that I would be spending my days driving a 15-foot U-Haul around the city, but you do what you have to do when a family needs to move into their apartment. 

It has been almost one month since we received our first refugee family at Mission Adelante. We expect to have welcomed 27 new Kansans by the end of March, and we will be well on our way to meeting our goal of receiving 75 individuals by the end of fiscal year 2024, September 30.

As our first families settle in, we understand more about the need to utilize partners, volunteers, and other support. We prefer to continue developing Good Neighbor Teams (GNT) to walk alongside families and build lasting relationships as they figure out life in the United States. If you are interested in leading a GNT, please fill out this form: Refugee Resettlement Volunteer Interest. 

Sometimes, though, we have instances where families need support and either are not partnered with a GNT or members of the GNT are unavailable. That is why we want to build an On-Call Support Team. Our On-Call Support Team would be available to occasionally help with things like family move-ins, runs to the grocery store, trips to the thrift store to get seasonally appropriate clothing, or an introduction to the laundromat. Some roles within the on-call team would require a current background check and on file with Mission Adelante. Please complete the form below if you would like more information about being added to our on-call list: On Call Support Team Interest

We are very grateful for your prayers and support as we begin this journey. Thank you for being part of welcoming new Kansans with open arms.

Be part of our programs!

 We are so excited for everything that is happening in our programs and we are grateful for all our volunteers who make everything possible. Would you consider partnering with us next trimester?

How can you help?

  • Pray for our program participants would create an impact in our community and grow with their walk with the Lord.

  • Volunteer – Come to our volunteer Orientation. For more information visit: http://www.missionadelante.org/serve

  • Donate to join us in building a multicultural community of disciples making disciples.

A Praise for Two Years!

A Praise for Two Years!

by Patrique Harris, Youth Ministry Director

I can’t believe it has already been two years since I landed at the Kansas City International Airport to start my journey in full-time youth ministry at Mission Adelante! I have been so blessed to be on a top-tier team that has welcomed every bit of my spunk and supported me in loving people – specifically youth – from all places. When I reflect on what God has done these last two years, I have to give Him praise! So here’s a poem I wrote to express my praise!

I often forget the low times
I planned my path, but found little peace
Directionless, uneasy, struggling to trust God’s time 
I weep
And then one day in the stillness it is revealed 
Have faith and walk close to me 
But how, when, where and why, I delay
So in the emptiness I remained 
Then to my surprise he makes a way 
I take a risk, I get on a plane
A land I have never been
A path I never thought I’d trod
Yet with open arms they welcomed my new blood
It is divine when your natural gifts shine
My only judge, a God that reigns on high
Fulfillment I found in being me 
Encouraged by everyone I see
So two years later as I assess
I find myself in awe of life’s trek
Up and down, round and round
But in God’s company I feel found
I praise Him for pulse, purpose and provision
The miracle of being 
The loftiness of mission
The abundance of love
For these, I thank you God!

LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES?

VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION

Join our team of volunteers for the summer trimester and be part of "loving people from all places." Attend our volunteer orientation on May 20th and find your place serving kids, youth, or adults in the immigrant community in KCK

For more information about volunteer opportunities visit www.missionadelante.org/serve

Be part of our programs!

 We are so excited to start this year and we are grateful for all our volunteers who make everything possible. Would you consider partnering with us this trimester?

How can you help?

  • Pray for our program participants would create an impact in our community and grow with their walk with the Lord.

  • Volunteer – Come to our volunteer Orientation. For more information visit: http://www.missionadelante.org/serve

  • Donate to join us in building a multicultural community of disciples making disciples.