Our Y’s Missionary Family Making an Impact

While many Ys focus on local outreach, we took our mission international, making us one of the few Ys to offer mission trips and sponsor a full-time missionary.

The Y’s mission trips were born from a simple yet powerful question: “What can we bring to this community that they don’t already have? A different worldview.” That mindset shaped the Y’s commitment to service beyond our local communities.

Karlee (Webb) Mendoza began her journey with the Y in 2016 as our Youth and Teen Director. After two mission trips to Esperanza Viva (EV), a Christian youth home and orphanage in Puebla, Mexico, Karlee felt called to serve there full-time. With guidance from the Y’s Director of Spiritual Development, Bruce Osborn, the Y officially commissioned her as a missionary with Living Hope in 2020.

Since then, Karlee has served in Puebla, first as an English teacher and now as head of marketing, sharing the impact of Living Hope’s work. “What I love about Living Hope is that they never stop,” Karlee says. “Like the Y, they are always looking into the community—what’s the need?”

In 2022, Karlee married Erick Mendoza, whose journey at EV began as a teenager. Feeling called to serve, Erick returned as a full-time missionary and now teaches physical education at Nations School, on the campus of Esperanza Viva. “I always felt called to be a pastor, but during my first week at Nations School, I realized something—when I’m with the kids, teaching, that’s where I can make a real impact,” Erick shares, “When I see the kids smile and enjoy their time in class, it inspires me to keep following and serving God the way He has called me.”

Now serving as a missionary family, Karlee, Erick, and their young son, Ezekiel, are surrounded by the love of the children at EV, whom they consider family. Expecting their second child in April 2025, they plan to put down roots by building a home in Puebla by Esperanza Viva.

Since launching its global mission efforts in 2018, the Y has sent multiple teams to Esperanza Viva. Karlee and Erick feel like an extension of the Y family, and every time a Y team visits, that bond strengthens. For those considering a mission trip, Karlee encourages: “Just do it. Sign up—God has something bigger planned than you can imagine. Once you experience it, it changes your world”

As Karlee and Erick continue their journey, they remain deeply grateful. “Over the past several years, God has provided every step of the way and made it abundantly clear this is where we are supposed to be,” Karlee shares.