Six volunteers from Michigan traveled to the Borderland to spend a week sharing something many families need: access to clean drinking water, health and hygiene education, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Working alongside Ysleta Lutheran Mission Human Care (YLM) and its partner congregations in Ciudad Juárez, MOST Ministries brought 200 water filters, 200 hygiene kits, and a willingness to serve the communities of Anapra and KM30. Their visit was another opportunity to strengthen the outreach efforts of Iglesia Luterana Cristo Rey and Iglesia Luterana La Santa Biblia, helping these congregations connect with their neighbors through simple acts of kindness.
The excitement began before the team even arrived. With 200 buckets and water filters delivered ahead of time, Pastors Guillermo Leyva and Oscar Saavedra began inviting their communities to participate. Through social media, group messages, and flyers, they shared information about the upcoming clinics, encouraging families to take advantage of the opportunity.
For three members of the MOST Ministries team, this was a return visit to YLM. The other three were experiencing the mission and its work along the El Paso and Ciudad Juárez border for the first time. Together, they arrived at Iglesia Luterana Cristo Rey on Monday morning, ready to serve.
Their first task was preparing the water filtration systems. Buckets, filters, and tools were arranged as the team began assembling the units for families attending the clinic. Throughout the day, volunteers worked alongside members of the congregation, providing instruction on the use of the filters, sharing health and hygiene information, and taking time to speak with those who came.
For Pastor Guillermo Leyva, who recently began serving Cristo Rey, the clinic offered an opportunity to introduce himself and his congregation to people living in the surrounding community.
None of the individuals who attended the clinic were members of Cristo Rey, but the conversations and relationships formed throughout the day opened a door for continued outreach.
Pastor Leyva shared how much it meant to see people leaving the clinic with smiles on their faces.
“The Sunday after, one of them came to the church service. It was such a great joy to see him there and I am grateful for the outreach support MOST offers through these clinics.”
For a pastor beginning his ministry in a new community, seeing someone return to worship following an outreach event is a meaningful encouragement. The clinic provided more than a water filter for a family. It created an opportunity for someone to become acquainted with the congregation, hear about its ministry, and take a step through its doors.
The team continued its work at Iglesia Luterana La Santa Biblia in Anapra, one of YLM’s largest partner congregations, where they spent two days serving families from the surrounding community.
During their time there, close to 100 water filtration systems were distributed, along with hygiene kits and other items. Pastor Oscar Saavedra and a member of the congregation assisted with translation, helping the team communicate with families and explain the proper use and care of the filters.
Pastor Saavedra also joined in the activities with the children, taking time to engage with the younger members of the community while the team worked with their families. These moments of interaction are an important part of the relationship between MOST Ministries, YLM, and the congregations they serve. The clinics provide practical resources families can use in their homes, while giving pastors and congregation members opportunities to meet their neighbors, build relationships, and share the love of Christ.
For families receiving a water filtration system, the benefit continues long after the team returns home. For the congregations, the relationships begun during the clinics provide opportunities for continued ministry within their communities. This is why YLM values its partnership with MOST Ministries. Rather than working independently of the local churches, MOST serves alongside them, supporting their efforts to reach people through mercy ministry and the sharing of the Gospel.
By the end of the week, the six volunteers had spent time in communities on the other side of the border, worked alongside pastors and congregation members, and formed new friendships. Three returned home with a deeper connection to a mission they already knew, while three others had experienced YLM’s work for the first time.
As they prepared to return to Michigan, the team expressed joy in the work accomplished and an eagerness to share what they had experienced with others. They wanted to know how they could help tell the story of YLM and the ministry taking place along the El Paso and Ciudad Juárez border. Their week of service may have come to an end, but the work continues through the congregations and pastors who remain present in these communities. Through partnerships like MOST Ministries, YLM continues helping congregations care for their neighbors, build relationships, and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, changing lives every day through simple acts of kindness.
