Sometimes, I fear, Mexico City gets a bad rap. Images of organized crime, black markets, gang-ruled neighborhoods, and illness-inducing tap water crowd people’s minds, which explains the reaction from many who learned that eight Wheaton undergrads—all women—accompanied by a grad student and a staff member—also both women—just spent our spring break in CDMX.
Let me put your mind at ease: our experience was, in a word, beautiful.
Yes, I can confirm, those above things are true of the city. What’s also true is vibrantly colored buildings, deep and unwarranted hospitality shown by the city’s poorest, indescribably delicious food, and the tangible presence of the Lord on every street corner.
Every day looked a little different. But first, here’s a little context surrounding where exactly we were staying. Milamex is a nonprofit in Mexico City: an umbrella ministry which encompasses several other ministries under its banner. One of these ministries is Warm Heart, the guest house in which our group got to stay, along with 5-6 world-travelling backpackers. Did we sleep? Not much. Would I go back tomorrow? Absolutely.
On Sunday, our group divided into pairs and trios and joined Milamex staff members at various churches throughout the city. I don’t speak Spanish (yes, I felt unqualified for this trip!) and the language barrier was apparent at church. But, I learned while taking the Lord’s Supper, some things transcend words and are understood by Christians everywhere.
On Monday, we heard from Carlos and Cynthia—the future directors of Milamex—about the many ministries that Milamex incorporates, including Intezion: a ministry that focuses on physical wellness and embodied prayer and with which we got to participate in a yoga session.
On Tuesday, we piled into an Uber and drove about an hour to the suburbs of CDMX. There, we met Philip and Beauty—a Zimabwean couple who have dedicated their lives to living in and serving an urban poor community. A family from their church hosted us for lunch: nearly 40 people gathered around a line of folding tables crammed into a courtyard and gorged ourselves on the best enchiladas I’ve ever tasted. We also got to attend Philip and Beauty’s kids’ club, where we played games and worshiped with almost 20 children. Honestly, that was the most fun afternoon of the trip.
On Wednesday, we spent the day with El Pozo de Vida: a ministry that works to prevent trafficking amongst migrating individuals. At a migrant shelter, we ate pizza, played games, and chatted with the families housed there. An environment that could have been so heavy and dark was made bright by the undeserved kindness and love that welcomed Wheaton into that space.
Our group divided on Thursday: some visited the ministry Corazon Valiente, and participated in an after-school program for the children of Mexico City’s street vendors. Some of us visited the neighborhood of Tepito: a notoriously Godless area of the city in which God is still working powerfully through the few Christians who live there.
After a long Friday spent exploring the city and its anthropological museum, we were grateful to participate in Warm Heart’s weekly Shabbat dinner—good community and good food rested and recharged our exhausted bodies and souls.
And Saturday brought even more bodily and spiritual revival. Milamex hosted a 12-hour prayer gathering; we got to participate. Additionally, our group led a time of worship and a time of intercession, in which we prayed for global students.
The Lord is moving in Mexico City, and I think I speak for the whole group when I say that we will forever be grateful for the little taste we got of His power.
– Anna Ziel, class of ’26