2024 Board of Directors Retreat

Thursday, March 28, 2024

The YPM USA Board of Directors held their annual on-site board meeting in Leona Vicario earlier this year.  In attendance were Jim Witmer, Reverend Mark Hughey, Reverend Mike Gross, Kathy Markgraf, Cynthia Robinson and Leslie Barrett. As usual, Wilian and Erly were amazing hosts and we enjoyed our time at the base. The new kitchen chefs prepared delicious traditional Yucatecan dishes like Sopa de Lima, Chilaquiles as well as fresh bread and tortillas…we did not leave hungry! Over the course of 3 days, we met with the YPM Mexico Board of Directors, Wilian, Erly and Ricardo, as well as heard detailed presentations from YPM’s attorney Rene, accountant Clara, and Instituto YPM’s administrator and attorney Eva. The team from the water plant, Fabiola and David, also shared a presentation with us. 

Letter from Brody Kasprzak – Volunteer at YPM

Tuesday, January 9, 2024

Hello my name is Brody and for the last two months of 2023, I had the opportunity to be a part of the organization, Yucatan Peninsula Mission (YPM). For the months of November and December I lived at the YPM base camp house in the town of Leona Vicario, Quintana Roo, with my host family and YPM directors, Wilian and Erly. During the two months at YPM, my primary vocations were teaching unofficial English classes, assisting in formal English classes at the YPM high school, and assisting at the YPM water plant. Secondarily, I delivered water and generally helped where and when I could. The following is a very condensed overview of my reasons for going to Leona Vicario, my favorite aspects of the journey, and then ending remarks.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year YPM Family!

Sunday, November 19, 2023

In this season of celebration and togetherness, I want to share reasons that we are thankful to God and to you for your trust in our cause. Your goodwill motivates and drives us to continue to work hard for the well-being of those we serve. This past August we graduated 37 students from YPM University and 4 from high school. These results are amazing! And thanks to YPM's educational projects, today, these young men and women will have a better opportunity for personal, family and community life.

2023 Year End Letter from YPM USA Board President

Sunday, November 19, 2023

Greetings from the YPM USA board president. This photo is one of my favorites from Northminster Presbyterian Church’s 2023 January mission trip.  Pastor Wilian and I were taking a "short" break from the work project. 2023 has been an eventful year for our YPM family: We hosted four week-long mission trips with three groups from Illinois and one group from Texas. The projects for all the groups took place at the Instituto YPM (IYPM) campus. The east wall enclosing the entire campus was completed along with the installation of a gate which will allow vehicles to park near the planned athletic facility.  Work also continued on the second classroom building erecting concrete columns on the second floor. Local artisans continued to work on the completing the first floor of the classrooms in second building. The work remaining for the second classroom building includes doors, flooring, electric service, and the restrooms. This work will be completed as funding is available. The primary project for 2024 will be working with the congregation in Kilometro Ochenta to build their permanent building. They have been meeting outdoors for several years.

Happy Summer Dear Friends and Family of YPM!

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

It’s been awhile since the last newsletter and we’ve got lots of news to share with you…

Mission Trip Groups to Leona Vicario Have Resumed!

With thanks to God, we have been blessed with some fantastic mission trip and construction groups this year and so much continues to be accomplished! If you haven’t been on a YPM trip in awhile, you won’t believe how much the Instituto campus is growing and what an amazing ministry is happening in this special part of the Yucatan. 

Northminster Presbyterian Church of Peoria, IL sent construction groups during 2 weeks in January, who worked on the perimeter wall around the university. This group had several sets of twins on the work crew - see if you can match up the siblings ;)

Wilian's Christmas Letter

Saturday, December 10, 2022

With thankfulness for all the YPM Family

Christmas is not just a birth, it is God coming to live with us, something we could never have done for ourselves

Fall 2022 Newsletter

Wednesday, September 14, 2022

What’s new at YPM: 

Happy Fall from all of us at Yucatan Peninsula Mission! 

We’ve had a very busy summer in Leona Vicario and wanted to update you with some of the highlights: 

YPM End of Year Letter 2021

Friday, December 31, 2021

Happy New Year to you and your family!

First, a personal note from Wilian: “I want to tell you that as a family we are well. Willie is two years away from completing his studies to be a doctor. He is currently studying virtually and living at home. Andre will finish high school next year. He will study at YPM High School and we will live at the base in Leona Vicario until he is done. We are excited about what God is doing and we put ourselves in His hands. Thank you for all your love, support and prayers and we wish you a very Happy 2022!”

YPM Visit Report, October 27-November 3, 2021

Friday, November 12, 2021

After a long flight delay, Wilian and Erly arrived in Denver on Wednesday evening. On Thursday morning, they joined me and some members of my church in bringing Communion to one of my home-bound members who had just turned 103 years old. Thursday evening, my church held a dinner gathering, and Wilian presented to them about the work of YPM.

YPM University Graduation

Friday, September 3, 2021