Stride: Language year abroad

Manny Garcia did his language year abroad as a youth worker with a church in Colombia

Why did you decide to go on Stride?

I was a year and a half into my History and Spanish degree at Exeter and wondering about the options for my year abroad, which I saw as a great opportunity to get involved in Christian ministry somewhere in the Spanish-speaking world.

My obvious choice was Stride! Why? Because I'd been on a Step team during my gap year and loved it, and during that time I had met 'Striders' who seemed to be having an excellent time. The time frame fitted in perfectly, and I already had great faith in Latin Link.

What type of Stride placement was it?

Classic. I went out to Colombia for 11 months (spending Christmas/New Year in Ecuador renewing my visa), to work with a church doing mainly youth work, though I also got to help on their kids' project, do some teaching and translating, and get involved with the worship ministry.

What impacted you about your time on Stride?

So many things! Probably the biggest thing was being able to get so involved in church life, and being so welcomed. I made a lot of genuine friends in the church, and being on my own meant I just made Armenia my home and the church my community. The other thing was discovering and developing my own gifts, in youth work and worship leading.

How has that affected you since you got back to the UK?

I really loved working with young people and youth work in Colombia, but I recognised the heart for young people and skills I had learnt I could use just as well in the UK. As a result I looked for this sort of work when I was in my final year at uni, and I've ended up working the last three years for the Stewards Trust with young people, which I've loved doing.

The fact I was so involved in church and really felt a part of a family has meant I've looked for this since returning to the UK. I'm convinced this is how a church should be, and that as part of a family we should be actively involved in serving in some way.