Spanish Immersion and Fellowship in Cuernavaca

This August, I was blessed to spend two weeks in Cuernavaca, Mexico, in the company of eleven other students from the dioceses of Oregon, Olympia, and Wisconsin. Together, we participated in a Spanish language immersion program organized by the Episcopal Diocese of Cuernavaca.

The program is remarkable not only for its excellent Spanish instruction—welcoming learners from beginning to advanced levels—but also for its mission. Proceeds from the school directly support the diocese’s ministries, providing food and medication for unhoused individuals, assistance to people with cancer and those in recovery, and vital programs for local youth. Every lesson taken helps sustain lives and communities.

Our group included both clergy and lay members of the Episcopal Church, along with a couple of non-Episcopal friends. Some came to improve their Spanish for ministry, others simply to fulfill a long-held dream of learning another language. We began each day with a brisk two-mile walk, followed by Morning Prayer and a delicious breakfast before diving into small-group classes of one to five students. With gifted (and endlessly patient) local teachers, we covered grammar, conversation, and culture—always with plenty of laughter woven in.

Beyond the classroom, our fellowship deepened as we shared meals, explored historic sites, worshipped together, climbed pyramids, floated through the water gardens, and even made chocolate straight from cacao beans. We also shared struggles and tender moments, finding strength in prayer and in one another.

The true testament to this program is that so many participants return year after year. It is more than language study—it is community, joy, and growth. I hope to see some of you there next summer!