Meet the TEAM

  • Darius and Suendy Ernst, Darius is from Alaska, and grew up around missions. Suendy is from Cancun, and has been serving in ministry from a young age. She did her DTS in Guadalajara, Mexico. Darius did his DTS in Colorado, Denver. Darius is a natural leader, teacher and father, who enjoys a good dad joke, and Suendy is passionate, empathetic, and has a huge heart for Mexico, and enjoys being in nature! They started a ministry in Cancun, Tree of Life Ministries, which later evolved into YWAM Cancun. Darius and Suendy are very loved and special to the base, with a natural way of discipleship, and a pastoral care for the staff at the base, and while working alongside them their passion for missions and ministry is contagious. Darius and Suendy reflect Jesus in all that they do, through compassion and grace. They are examples to singles, couples and families, and are a vital part of YWAM Cancun! Thank you Darius and Suendy!

  • Jamie from Pennsylvania, United States and Zaira from Cancun, Mexico, Jamie did his DTS in 2002, and Zaira in 2008, which happened to be a little extreme and in the middle of the jungle. Jamie and Zaira were part of Tree of Life Ministries, and then later also helped lay the foundation of YWAM Cancun, they are a very important part to the base, and have a very fun and unique way to lead. Zaira is talented and caring and enjoys building relationships, Jamie is fun likes adventures, and very much enjoys baked beans and high rise socks , they are very deeply cared for and loved by every person they come into contact with! The base is blessed and constantly encouraged by this family! Thank you Jamie and Zaira!

  • Damaris is from Veracruz, Mexico, but has been a longtime resident of Cancun. She has been serving the Lord since her youth, working with mission’s teams and in various ministries, Damaris has a heart for youth, and is passionate about the community that we work with Cuna Maya, she has a huge heart for disciplship. Chad is from Washington, and works as a teacher in Kingdom Academy, Chad is creative and fun, and his students are always excited to learn! Chad and Damaris are a blessing to YWAM Cancun!

  • Steidy, Quintana Roo, Mexico. She did her DTS in Cancun in 2009, and a secondary school of Principles of the Ministry of Children, Adolescents and Families, In Argentina in April 2009. Steidy is passionate about working with children and teenagers, and you can see her heart to want to transform the sphere of family, during her free time she enjoys spending time with family, and Steidy is known around for being able to imitate famous characters and dances! Having Steidy around in the base is a blessing to all of us, thank you Steidy!

  • David, Mexico City, He did his DTS in Cancun in 2021 and BSN in 2022, David is passionate about discipleship, and wants to be able to impact this new generation, by encouraging them in their relationship with God and through teaching the bible. David often finds joy in hard situations and makes light of it, such as his colorblindness, but David also enjoys Formula 1. The base has been a huge blessing to work alongside, Thank you David!

  • Libna, Mexico City she did her DTS in Cancun in 2021, and the school Of teachers for the nations in 2022, Libna works as a teacher in Cuna Maya, and is passionate about her students and has a natural way of teaching, Libna is caring, and loves people while serving them and being their friend, she likes music and when she laughs it contagious, it is an honor to be able to walk alongside Libna in work and in friendship, Thank you Libna for your passion for missions and this minsitry!

  • Abraham, or better known as Oso, is from Acapulco, Mexico, and Sara, from Maryland, United States.Sara did her DTS in 2011 In Atlanta, Georgia and Oso in Cancun, of 2017. Sara has a big heart for every person she meets, with the capability to touch and impact the lives of those around her, with the compassion and mercy that she carries, Oso is an amazing leader, and demostrates that while working with teams or in personal disciplship, together they know how to challange and push a team forward! This family is a Big blessing to the base, Thank you Sara and Oso for your hearts for this ministry!

  • Ramon and Diana are from Mexico City, Diana did her DTS in February of 2019, and Ramon did his in September of 2019, and they have been serving in the base together as a family. Diana is full time in the ministry of Kingdom Academy, and her heart for transforming families reflects a lot in the work she does there, and Ramon works full time in DTS, and is passionate about discipling the next generations. They both have a calling to missions, and that reflects in all the work that they do, It is a pleasure to have them be part of our team.

  • Josa, from Cancun, Mexico. In September 2018, he did his DTS with us. During 2019 he decided to become staff full time. During his DTS he focused heavily on worship, and the Lord blessed him in that area and now is the worship leader of the base. He has a servants heart, with a heart that gives and shares to those around him and is a huge coffee enthusiast! The base is blessed to have him.

  • Uziel, from Chetumal, Mexico. In February of 2011, He did his DTS, after his DTS he worked with the Ministry of Tree of Life from 2013-2015. In 2016 he went to be staff in a YWAM base in Canada. In 2020 to 2021 he was traveling to different bases and volunteering in YWAM. In 2022 Uziel made a commitment here in YWAM Cancun. He enjoys building relationships, and learning about different cultures, with passion for cooking and a heart for Asia. Uziel has been a blessing to our ministries for a long time, and we are glad to finally have him part of our family full time!

  • Mama Sode, the mother of Suendy and Zaira is from Oaxaca, Mexico. In 2007 she herself did a DTS in YWAM Cancun. She the started working in Tree of Life, then joined the YWAM team, She has always been involved in ministry through supporting her daughters and their work. . She spends much of her time cooking for the base and caring for her grandkids, two things in which she is very passionate about. Everyone, refers to her as Mama Sode, as she is caring and loving like a mother to all who enter in the base. The base would not be the same without her, its a HUGE blessing to have her here!

  • Meet Maday, she is from Veracruz, and did her DTS with u in september of 2023, with the outreach that went to Vietnam, during her time of the DTS she felt God calling her to missions, and in obediences she decided to stay on as staff after he DTS, she is full of life and has a very unique sense of humor, and it is a pleasure to have her be part of the family!

  • Meet Brooke, from South Carolina. In 2018, she did her DTS here in YWAM Cancun, and in 2022 she did her BSN. Joined staff of 2019, since then she has served in many of our ministries from Kingdom Academy as the ABC teacher, DTS to teams and media. She enjoys building relationships, discipleship and teaching, from children to classes in churches! Thank you Brooke for being here!

  • Kevin, Arizona, DTS in Louisville, Kentucky in 2020, and then later did a school of ministry development in 2021, and came to Cancun to be full time staff in 2022. Kevin is a natural teacher, from being a teacher in Kingdom Academy to preaching in a church during ministry time, Kevin likes apple juice and video games, and has a kind heart that he uses in ministry daily! Kevin you are an important part of this base, Thank you for all you do!

  • Meet Jovanna, she did her DTS here in YWAM Cancun in 2019, and she joined staff 2023, She works full time in Kingdom Academy, in the Learning Center, Jovanna is an excellent teacher that brings enthusiasm and determination to the school but also to the base, she is a very valued team member of YWAM Cancun.

  • Meet Max, he is from Peru, and ha been on staff with us since 2020, he is dedicated, perseverante, and always enjoys a fun adventure. Max has been working full time in Kingdom Academy and has been a blessing to the students and the families alike, and in the base he is a joy to have around! Thank you for your hard work, and being part of this family!

BECOMING STAFF

YWAM Cancun is always praying for new staff who have a passionate heart to serve, and willingness to learn and grow in their relationship with Christ. To be part of our base (as staff) it is required that you have successfully completed a DTS within YWAM.  The commiment is minimum of 2-years, this will help you become part of the family here on base, and have the ability to work in multiple areas of ministry, such as our Kingdom Ministies, Kingdom Academy, Kingdom Kids, Kingdom Salud, our training schools, DTS and secondary schools, and Short term outreachs. Please fill in our contact form for more information.