Landaverde, Nataly Andrea Monterroza
Nataly Andrea Monterroza Landaverde is an international Global Mission Fellow with the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries, engaged in a two-year term of service.
The Global Mission Fellows program takes young adults ages 20-30 out of their home environments and places them in new contexts for mission experience and service. The program has a strong emphasis on faith and justice. Global Mission Fellows become active parts of their new local communities. They connect the church in mission across cultural and geographical boundaries. They grow in personal and social holiness and become strong young leaders working to build just communities in a peaceful world.
She was born and raised in Central America and later moved to Santa Ana where she pursued her education and began her professional journey. She has been a lay member of Iglesia Evangelica Metodista Nueva Jerusale (Central America) since childhood and even celebrated her first birthday at the First United Methodist Church in Central America.
“At that time,” she said, “my family attended church, but we couldn’t have imagined that my mom would become the pastor of that same church nine years later. My whole life has been filled with church. I have always felt near God, working in different ministries such as youth, children or worship.”
Deeply inspired by her mother’s joyful dedication to church service, Nataly grew up with a heart inclined toward helping others and a deep appreciation for God’s creation, finding joy and peace surrounded by plants, animals and moments of connection with the natural world. Over the years, her role in the church has evolved significantly. She taught children’s Sunday school, served as a youth leader in her early 20s, and most recently sang in the worship ministry.
“Since I was little,” she said, “I’ve known that God chose me for a bigger purpose. I want to make significant changes to help others. I’ve tried to accomplish this, but it’s a very difficult mission without leaving everything else behind. I know something is missing in my life, and God is calling me to make changes.”
Nataly is confident that serving as a Global Mission Fellow is the right choice for her.
“I have always felt motivated to dedicate my time fully to helping others and supporting causes that serve the greater good,” she said. “However, it has been a very complicated dream to balance with all of my everyday responsibilities. During college, I focused completely on finishing my degree in architecture. When I graduated, I centered all my efforts on starting my professional life and finding a good job. But now, five years later, I have been feeling a little overwhelmed by the efforts I’ve put into creating a comfortable life at home. Although I enjoy what I do for a living, I feel that what I’m doing doesn’t contribute in a meaningful way to any social change.”
Nataly and her husband had planned to emigrate to Europe to study and had everything ready, but then she heard about Global Mission Fellows. “I felt it was like a call from God because everything else can wait,” she said. “I can postpone my plans, but God’s timing is perfect. If I was already prepared to go away for my own purposes, I know I can do it for others first.
“Besides that, I feel this could be a great chance to reinvent myself and explore all the other talents that might be hidden or overshadowed by my current work. Perhaps after this experience, I can change the course of my career and find a way to align my primary ideals with my skills.
“But mainly,” Nataly continued, “I see this opportunity as a way to dedicate two years of my life to others and to God, not focusing on career growth, but rather, with a willing spirit, to give back a small portion of my life in gratitude for all that I’ve already received.”
As an architect and a teacher, Nataly has developed a strong foundation in design, which she believes could greatly benefit the community as a fellow.
“A creative mind,” she said, “can generate great ideas whenever and wherever needed. My skills in creating functional and aesthetic spaces will allow me to understand the needs of the community, ensuring designs that could be sustainable and adaptable. I’ve always been passionate about creating inclusive spaces that accommodate diverse populations.”
Nataly’s experience working with diverse groups of people, as a leader in her job, church and student associations, has equipped her with abilities to communicate effectively and understand different perspectives. She is passionate about collaboration and looks forward to leading teams to engage with community members and everyone involved to make sure that their voices are heard in the idea-generation process.
By bringing together her design expertise and her commitment to community engagement, Nataly seeks to develop opportunities that not only address immediate needs but also inspire and uplift communities for years to come. One of her core beliefs is that God can be reflected in every aspect of life — in the people we meet, the work we do and even in the quiet beauty of nature. This perspective fuels her desire to live intentionally and serve passionately, always seeking traces of God’s presence in everyday moments.