Larissa Ortiz
Larissa had dreamed of becoming a long-term missionary since experiencing her first mission trip in 2003. She often wondered where she would be called to serve. In 2023, 20 years in the making, the Lord placed a love and a burden on her heart for the people of Japan. Larissa heard about WIM through a fellow WIM missionary and joined in 2024. She has a background in education and social work. In her downtime, she enjoys making friends in random places, bullet journaling, drinking tea, and listening to music.
While trying to learn more about Japanese culture, Larissa came across a YouTube video that featured hikikomori (pronounced HEE-KEY-CO-MO-REE), or shut-ins, and futoukou (pronounced FUU-TOE-KOE), or truant high and middle school children. Most hikikomori find themselves in a severe form of self-isolation, usually caused by a traumatic event(s) in their lives. Japanese culture places unspoken expectations and pressures on individuals. When these expectations go unmet, people can become paralyzed by shame and/or fear, which in turn makes it difficult to integrate into society. Historically, hikikomori have often been seen as a burden on their families and society at large. Families are often seen as enablers, which makes it difficult to ask for help. Being called or labeled "hikikomori" is used as a degrading term. Futoukou students usually quit school because of bullying, abuse of authority, or problems at home. If they later want to return to school, they must find alternative ways because it would be almost impossible to catch up in the school they left.
The Lord has given Larissa a desire to provide Hikikomori, Futoukou, and their families with an opportunity to learn English from a native speaker, using the Bible as the material. She also wants to provide the families with emotional support and practical, sought-after skills. Larissa desires to be the hands and feet of Christ by practically assisting families, such as making dinner, helping with cleaning around the home, or paying a utility bill. Larissa's heart's desire is to share the love and compassion of Jesus Christ with the hikikomori and their families by showing them they are loved, valued, and created with purpose. Sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ and walking with them through life is an honor.
Missionary #1329