Lutheran Women in Mexico Series: Señora Ibarra

Welcome to the fifth installment of the series on Lutheran Women in Mexico (previous posts from this series here). This week we're going to talk about Señora Wilma Ibarra. Señora Ibarra is originally from St. Louis, Missouri, but came down to Mexico in the 1940s. She's been here ever since. At 93, she is one of the pillars of the Lutheran church in Mexico.

You may be wondering how she got to Mexico. Here’s her story:

Señora Ibarra grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. There she met Juan Manuel Ibarra, a Mexican engineer who came to live in the United States for a few years. The two were married and in 1945, they moved to Mexico.

Shortly after arriving south of the border, Juan Manuel Ibarra decided to become a pastor. He studied for the ministry, and spent the remainder of his life working as a pastor. During this time, he founded the church El Redentor (Redeemer) in Torreón.

Señora Ibarra raised her family in Mexico. When her husband passed away in 1987, she decided to stay in Torreón. She now lives with one of her daughters and comes to church every Sunday.

Throughout her time in Mexico, Señora Ibarra has served as a mentor and source of inspiration for many women. Marlene Schlomer, a missionary wife living in Torreón, has known her for 17 years. “I have spent hours listening to stories of her amazing life,” Marlene says. “She has set a wonderful example of a Christian wife in her attitude of respect, love and duty toward her husband as he pursued his career first as an engineer and later his calling as a pioneering Lutheran pastor.”

At 93, Señora Ibarra is still a strong example to others. "She continues to show me, her family and friends the importance of faithful Bible study and worship as well as active support of the church, wherever God places you,” Marlene notes.

One of my favorite things about Señora Ibarra is that on Sunday, I never find her sitting alone silently. She’s always chatting with someone in English or Spanish. She's using her gifts and experiences to encourage others.

I recently asked her what her biggest blessing of being a Lutheran is. Her simple response says it all: “Knowing that my sins are forgiven and that soon I’ll be going to heaven.”

Thanks for encouraging me and so many others, Señora Ibarra, and may your light continue to shine.