¡Hola!

My name is Valeria García Lara and I recently graduated from St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas with a degree in Speech Communication, Spanish and Visual Communication Design. My time at St. Mary's was truly an amazing experience that allowed me to grow as a student, as a professional and as an individual. My college experience challenged me to look at my own experiences in a different perspective. It challenged me to look at the world and what is happening. It instilled in me a desire to serve God and others.

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My freshman year at St. Mary's, I saw a flyer on the door of University Ministry titled: Ecuador Immersion Program. I had no idea what it was about, but my heart knew that was something I needed to be a part of. Four years later, I can say that a huge part of my collegiate career was influenced by my experience in Ecuador. The neighbors I had the opportunity to walk with, both in Ecuador and in the United States, challenged me, humbled me and inspired me. 

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Now, here I am - an official Rostro de Cristo volunteer who will spend the next year accompanying the Ecuadorian community. To be completely honest, I have no idea what this year will hold for me, but I pray to God that He gives me the faith, the humility and the strength to witness the lives of my brothers and sisters. I know that no words will ever make justice to the stories I will share, but someone I truly admire told me that "[I] can't not try". I hope that through this blog, I can invite you into my journey throughout the next year.

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Con cariño,