Yvonne was born in the Philippines, immigrated to the United States as a child, and grew up in Kent, WA. She holds a biology and anthropology undergraduate degree from Western Washington University and a Master of Divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary. Yvonne was commissioned in 2016 as a Global Mission Fellow (GMF) of the Global Board of Global Ministries (GBGM) and served in Germany working alongside refugees and the migrant ministries of Bremen United Methodist Church until 2018. After her time as a GMF, Yvonne served as a local pastor for Vegesack United Methodist Church for one year. She hopes her experience as a missionary will bridge her passion for serving the local church and commitment to justice through mission work. During her free time, Yvonne enjoys yoga, hiking, reading, and calligraphy.