Young Adults in Global Mission
Central is again blessed to be a part of the ELCA’s Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) program. This is our seventh opportunity to sponsor two young adults, (ages 21-29) as they grow in faith while working in partnership with our global companions. They serve in churches, schools, and social service ministries in a year of accompaniment, work, and relationship building with the local church and community. Since 2016, Central has had the privilege of participating in this program, each year getting to know and supporting two young adults in global service. We welcome them to Central, follow their activities through their blogs, and learn from their presentations upon return. Through these young people, we’ve traveled to Rwanda, Cambodia, Senegal, Madagascar, Mexico, Jerusalem/West Bank, Hungary, and Serbia. This year our two YAGMs are Boysen Olson and Isabelle Demarest. Take a moment to learn more about these two!
Boysen Olson
Serving in Cambodia
“Hi there! My name is Boysen Olson and thank you so much for supporting my year of service in Cambodia! My family and I hail from Northern Minnesota, where my father, Mark, serves as a Lutheran pastor/community developer on the White Earth Reservation and my mother, Sara, is a Physical Therapist in Bagley. I also have a younger brother, Palmer, who is in his Junior year at University of Minnesota-Duluth. Before my YAGM year, I studied Biology, Society, and the Environment with a minor in Leadership at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and graduated this past Spring. I’ve also worked the past 4 summers as a counselor at Christikon, a bible camp out in Montana just north of Yellowstone National Park. I chose to pursue the YAGM program in order to learn from and connect with people of different cultural backgrounds and perspectives than myself and I can’t wait to witness how God’s love is at work in the community I’ve been invited into.”
Isabelle Demarest
Serving in Argentina
“First, I wanted to say a huge thank you to Central Lutheran for this sponsorship! I am very appreciative of your support and prayers.
I graduated this past May from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities with a Business and Marketing Education major, as well as minors in Spanish and Business Law. I have been Lutheran all my life – I grew up going to Holy Nativity Lutheran Church in New Hope and attended Lutheran Campus Ministry during my time at the U.
I love all things outdoors – camping, hiking, etc. and some of my fondest memories are from time spent in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area! I really value spending time with my family and friends, and some of my other hobbies include reading, cooking, and listening to the latest Taylor Swift album 🙂 I pride myself on building strong relationships with people and being a source of positivity and light, especially during tough times.”
