Why the UGCC?

It has been about five years, half a decade since I discovered Byzantine Christianity. It has probably been about four since I discovered a church that stole my heart in the best of all matters, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC). In College, as I was returning to the faith after a few years of existentialist crisis, I was able to discover the beauty of Byzantine chants, liturgy, and prayers. I was introduced to the whole wide world beyond the systematic theology and analysis of faith that I had lived in for a few months. By sort of accident, while researching the option of becoming Orthodox, I encountered a man that stood out to me. The name of that man that since the first time that I have encountered seemed to me like a hero was, or better state is, Pat. Josyf Slipyj. It is from his life that a simple boy, from a humble family that originates from the villages of the mountains of Mexico, became in love with such a foreign Church. Patriarch Slipyj was not just a scholar. He was a man filled with love, compassion, and wisdom. He stood for me, not as a giant of the times, but a man that with kindness remains reachable to the world. It was through him, that I read so much about the beautiful land of Ukraine. The history, customs, and struggles of the people. Even though I am not from the land of Ukraine, I have encountered so much that I could relate to. When the Mexican people encountered the secularism of the then president Calles after the Mexican revolution that implemented Marx's views to the government in which made the Church and state supposedly separated. Even thought the government claimed such separation it took ownership of the churches, it created a state church and tried to convert the people by force. It persecuted us, closed our churches, sold them, transformed them into business, etc. I could see that pain, suffering, and after stories as well within the UGCC. Separated by an ocean, and yet I felt like I was not reading about a foreign Church, but my own Church. The stories of Met. Sheptypsky, Fr Omelyan Kovch, Fr Roman Lysko, brought me love and taught me about Christ in similar ways as the story of Fr Miguel Pro did. To die for Christ, and to live for him by defending the gospel not with swords, but with love. I haven't had the opportunity to live near a UGCC community. I have done the best with what u have by attending Latin and Orthodox Churches. It is not perfect, but it helps me until I can move to be near a parish. Yet, I have fallen in love with its history, tradition, and culture. Some people have tried to talk me out of joining the UGCC. They tell me it is a church for Ukrainians, that I will need to learn Ukrainian, or that not every Ukrainian likes foreigners. Yet, if I looked for a perfect church, I would die looking for one. The church in any of her beautiful ways has imperfections. She is a hospital for the sinners, not a monument made by perfect stones. The church needs men willing to bleed for her, cry for her, laugh with her, and stand with her. In my short life of 24 years, all I can say that I desire to do that with the UGCC. I love her, and I hope that she will love me back.