September in a Nutshell

One Last Stop in Colorado 🏔️

Before moving to Canada, I had one final stop in Colorado after returning from Peru.

About 7 hours after landing, I was already at an A.R.M.I. (Association of Related Ministries International) meeting supporting Javan and Dora Smith and reconnecting with Dr. Steve and Kay Cassell. It was great seeing them there even if we were just together in Peru! 

My final days in Colorado were mostly about packing, spending time with friends, experiencing a little bit of Charis as an alumni, and saying goodbye to a community I grew to love over my three years at Charis.

Taina and Juan Salas became part of my Charis journey during my second year, when they began visiting Colorado for conferences. The following year, they moved to Colorado to begin their first year at Charis while I completed Global Training.

We had a special year together, hosting gatherings, events, meals, and spaces where we simply gave the Holy Spirit room to move. Our community was beautifully diverse—different countries, cultures, languages, ages, and backgrounds brought together by Jesus. We worshipped, prayed, served, ate, laughed, cried, celebrated, and did a lot of life together. It was the best year I have ever had, and I truly mean that.

Having them open their home to host my send-off before I left for Canada meant the entire world to me.

That evening, on August 29, amidst close friends and loving partners, I shared an update on my fundraising, explained more about my internship in Canada, and shared the larger vision God has placed in my heart for Latin America, including some of the pastors and ministers who have already become part of that story.

Gabrielle led us in communion and spoke about the weightiness of Jesus’ sacrifice—His body so broken for us that it represented one wound, a level of suffering we will never fully comprehend. It brought the evening back to the reason behind everything: Jesus and what He has already done.

Several friends also prayed over me and shared words of encouragement. Fred Cunningham, who served with me in Ecuador, shared a vision of lights appearing throughout South America, then across the Americas, and eventually around the world. This impacted me a lot because it bears witness with what is already occurring in Peru.

Joybert, a minister and businessman from Cameroon, reminded me that I wasn’t being sent alone—that heaven has organized an army of angels to back what God called me to do and help me accomplish His purposes.

I was leaving Colorado with much more than two years of training. I was leaving with friendships, ministry partners, and a community that had become family.

My send-off felt less like a goodbye and more like exactly what it was—a sending into the next season. 

Hello, Canada! 

On September 1, I arrived in Toronto with 190 lbs of luggage to begin a completely new chapter.

After spending two years in Colorado at Charis, moving to another country was definitely a transition. New city, new transportation system, new routines, new people—and a new season of ministry.

I initially entered Canada as a visitor and was incredibly blessed by Arpi Burton, an Armenian-Lebanese powerhouse of a woman who welcomed me into her home and allowed me to keep all of my luggage there until I could move into my studio. Arpi works full-time in retail management while also faithfully serving AWMC and Charis Toronto as a facilitator and Bible study leader.

During that first week, I also visited the AWMC office and began getting acquainted with the team. Janice Jackson, the AWMC director, welcomed me warmly, gave me a tour of their new building, introduced me to my future coworkers, and gave me a glimpse of what the months ahead would look like.

Even with everything happening, I got to enjoy a little bit of Toronto life too! I visited Google Toronto, spent time with some family members, and visited one of my little cousins at his university apartment.

Before traveling to Puerto Rico, Ian and Daad Taylor from The Lord’s Ministry House Church also graciously hosted me for a weekend. I had recently met them in late August through ARMI before moving to Canada, so it was great to reconnect and spend time with them. Their hospitality was another reminder of how God continued to place people around me during the transition.

And then, just about a week after arriving in Canada, it was time to get on another plane!

REFRESH 2026: Ritmos de Gracia 🇵🇷

I flew back home to Puerto Rico for REFRESH 2026: Ritmos de Gracia, hosted at my home church, New Family Church in Añasco.

After months of preparation, it was awesome to see pastors, ministers, and leaders come together to worship, receive, rest, and be refreshed by the sweetness of the Gospel. Spending part of that conference with my mom, Dr. Stephania Uwakweh, was also a very special highlight of that weekend.

We were incredibly blessed to have Pastor Duane Sheriff as our keynote speaker, alongside Dr. Steve Cassell and Pastor Victor Santiago. I had the privilege of interpreting throughout the conference while also helping behind the scenes with logistics.

The heart of REFRESH is simple: those who continually pour into others also need opportunities to receive.

Our theme, Rhythms of Grace, centered around Jesus’ invitation in Matthew 11:28–30 to come to Him, receive His rest, and learn His way of living.

Pastor Duane has been ministering the Word for decades with a heart to help people grow in Christ. If you’d like to listen to more of his teachings and explore his resources, check out Duane Sheriff Ministries!

A huge shoutout to New Family Church’s incredible leadership—both in-house and extended. None of this would have been possible without the many ministries, teams, volunteers, and collaborators who served so faithfully and made REFRESH 2026 an unforgettable experience!

A Little Puerto Rican Fun 🍫🌴

The trip wasn’t all conference!

We visited JoJo’s Bean to Bar right in Añasco, where we toured their cacao farm and learned about the process of turning locally grown cacao into artisan chocolate.

And seriously—they make THE best chocolate in Puerto Rico. My personal favorite are their Coconut Cream Truffles!

🌱 Website: JoJo’s Bean to Bar
📱 Facebook: JoJo’s Bean to Bar LLC

After I returned to Canada, the rest of the team spent some time exploring the metro area and simply enjoying Puerto Rico together. After such a full conference schedule, I was glad they had some time to relax, have fun, and experience more of the island.

Back to Canada & Beginning My Internship

After returning to Toronto, I successfully obtained my religious worker VISA, moved into my studio and finally started settling into a routine.

One unexpected benefit of Toronto life has been all the walking! Between commuting, public transportation, and everyday errands, my legs are definitely stronger, and I genuinely feel healthier... (but I DEFINITELY miss having my own vehicle, lol).

I’ve also gotten to know my fellow interns and coworkers better, which has made the transition much sweeter.

My first week was focused on Operations, working alongside the AWM Director and Ministry Coordinator. It helped me become more familiar with meeting schedules, organizational structures, systems, communication, and the many behind-the-scenes pieces required to operate a ministry.

Over the next eight months, I’ll rotate through different  AWMC departments, including:

• Production — my first departmental rotation
• Charis Online
• Partner Relations
• Customer Care
• Charis Hybrid School — a separate two-month rotation
• IT & Tech
• Finances

I’ll also receive training in web development and marketing, among many others, along the way.

I’m glad I get to see how the different pieces of an international ministry function together while gaining practical experience across multiple areas.

The Church Hunt

Another important part of this move has been finding a local church home. Although New Family Church will always be my home base, I believe it’s important for every believer to be actively and physically connected to a local church body wherever God has them in that season.

I’ve visited three churches since arriving. Two of them still remain in my prayers, and I’m hoping to commit to one of them this month. I don't want to plant myself, I want God to plant me in "my place called there" during this season.

September was full—but good.

I moved countries, traveled back to Puerto Rico, interpreted at REFRESH, returned to Toronto, moved into my studio, began my internship, explored a new city, spent time with family, made new connections, and started building a new routine.

There is still plenty to learn and discover, but God has gone before me in every transition and the best is still yet to come. Thanks in advance for your support and prayers!