From Mexico to Italy: A Story of Faith and Resilience

In this episode, I sit down with my longtime friend Estie to explore her incredible journey—from growing up as a missionary kid in Mexico, to teaching Sunday school at age 12, to working in juvenile detention and a pregnancy resource center, and eventually following God’s call all the way to Italy. We talk about: • What it’s really like growing up in ministry • Balancing missions work with family life • A dangerous moment that tested their faith • Kids ministry with limited resources • Serving teens in juvie and women in crisis • Learning to trust God through uncertainty • Her current work with church planting & the Piu Forti Project If you’re a pastor, parent, children’s ministry leader, missionary, or anyone who’s ever wondered how God shapes us through the hard and beautiful parts of life—this conversation is for you. Be encouraged and take notes! 💛 📚 Resources Mentioned • Calvary Kids Curriculum: https://calvarycurriculum.com • Piu Forti Project: https://piufortiproject.com • Estie’s Church in Italy (Turin): https://linktr.ee/calvarytorino?brid=Hmtluh-DilqxwCQX6dotbQ • Pregnancy Resource Center: 🎧 About Our Guest — Estie Estie grew up as a missionary kid in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where her family planted a church and served the community for decades. She started leading kids ministry at age 12 and has spent her adult life ministering to youth, women, and families. She has served in: • Kids ministry & children’s outreach • Juvenile detention education and mentorship • Pregnancy resource support • Youth ministry • Church planting • Cross-cultural missions Estie now lives in Italy, where she serves with a local church plant and helps lead the Piu Forti Project, creating Christ-centered resources for youth in Italian. Connect with Estie: Instagram: Piu Forti Project: https://piufortiproject.com Church Website: https://linktr.ee/calvarytorino?brid=Hmtluh-DilqxwCQX6dotbQ ✨ Want More Episodes Like This? 👉 Subscribe & turn on notifications 👉 Leave a comment with your biggest takeaway 👉 Share this episode with a ministry leader or parent who needs encouragement ✨ YouTube Chapters 00:00 – Intro Clips & Teaser 00:52 – Welcome + Meet Estie 01:16 – Encouragement for Parents & Ministry Leaders 02:03 – Estie’s Early Life & Family Background 03:16 – “Everyone Thought My Parents Were Crazy” 03:57 – Financial Struggles as Missionaries 04:41 – How Their Church Plant Began 05:39 – Kids Ministry Day Clubs in Mexico 07:01 – Starting the Church Building 07:22 – Growing Up in Ministry as a Kid 08:01 – Teaching Sunday School at Age 12 09:04 – Was It an Unfair Childhood? 09:40 – Calling, Responsibility & Resilience 10:27 – Ballet, Boundaries & Family Balance 11:07 – Siblings & Their Faith Today 12:10 – “I Wouldn’t Trade That Life for Anything” 13:20 – Character vs. Easy Life 14:19 – Childhood Joys & Community Life in Mexico 15:22 – The Dangerous Incident (Held at Gunpoint) 17:11 – God’s Protection During the Robbery 18:08 – Processing Trauma & Family Support 19:06 – Why They Stayed in Mexico 20:13 – Perspective on Safety in Missions 21:19 – Favorite Memories from Growing Up Overseas 22:22 – Seeing Former Kids Grow Up 23:03 – What Kids Ministry Looked Like in Mexico 24:04 – Leading Without Resources 25:18 – What Kids Remember Most in Ministry 26:09 – After High School → Bible College 26:59 – Becoming Interns + Meeting Hannah 28:13 – The Mexico Mission Trip Story 30:15 – The Chaos & Growth of CHS Ministry 31:11 – What Missions Prepared Her For 32:18 – Discipleship vs. Counseling 33:58 – After Bible College → Pregnancy Center & Juvie Work 34:34 – Serving in Juvenile Detention 35:12 – Is Juvie Dangerous? Her Experience 36:27 – The Need for Godly Men and Women in Juvie 37:31 – Stories from Inside 39:04 – Kids Deserve Second Chances 39:18 – Christian Pregnancy Center vs. Planned Parenthood 40:12 – What Support They Offered 41:02 – You Don’t Always Know the Outcome 41:38 – Helping Women Slow Down & Choose Wisely 42:42 – The Emotional Side of Pregnancy Ministry 43:05 – Juvie Work vs. Pregnancy Center Work 44:57 – Serving the Whole Family, Not Just the Baby 45:21 – Doing So Much Ministry for So Little Money 46:04 – Teaching Ballet & Making Ends Meet in the U.S. 46:29 – Closing the Washington Season 47:01 – The Trip to Europe That Changed Everything 48:10 – Feeling Called to Italy 49:27 – Moving to Italy Just Before COVID 50:09 – The Country Shuts Down 51:11 – Life in Italy During Lockdown 52:45 – Learning Italian the Hard Way 54:01 – Building Relationships After COVID 55:02 – Current Ministry in Italy 55:23 – The Piu Forti Project (Origin Story)