The overarching theme that the Young Adult and Global Mission Program uses to perform their sense of mission is called accompaniment.  Reverend Raphael Malpica Padilla who is the executive of the YAGM program described accompaniment as “Walking together in solidarity that practices interdependence and mutuality”.  I really love this definition because it explains how everyone is not the same and comes from a different background.  Especially in international relationships, we will have different cultures and experiences that define who we are.  Accompaniment is also about recognizing differences and uniqueness.  Although we will have a lot of differences in different cultures, there will also be a lot of similarities.

          “Walking together in solidarity, that practices interdependence and mutuality”.  Solidarity is defined as having a common goal.  The other really cool thing that Reverend Malpica Padilla makes clear by using this definition is that we are all coming together in interdependence and mutuality, meaning that we are mutually dependent on each other.  What I get from this meaning is that cross-cultural people, people that do not have much in common can come together in understanding to find one common goal, one common interest to achieve the best possible outcome for everyone.  The goal is to unite the body of Christ.

          Using the accompaniment process, I will be present through good and bad times.  Reverend Malpica Padilla mentioned a concept in his presentation; he said “we should have a disturbing presence in the world”.  This statement resonated with me because I had no clue what it meant.  After his presentation, my hand was the first one up when he asked “Does anyone have any questions?”  I found myself asking “what does it mean to have a disturbing presence in the world?”  The summary of his response was “To empower people to live fully in the midst of the pain of the world, suffering with God and the people.”  Oddly enough it makes me feel so good about Young Adult and Global Missions because I will be suffering if others in Mexico are suffering.  I am called to live just like the people in Mexico live.  If some sort of disaster happens, I will be there with them.  I am not coming to live as a rich American to live above them on a higher income, but to live a life of simplicity with them.

          I will live with them in whatever they are experiencing and embrace the culture of the community.  The people I serve will know that my church is present in another location than just the United States.  The ELCA is present in Mexico, and Christ is present whenever we build relationships through accompaniment.