Family of Christ Lutheran Church of Ham Lake, MN sent its third short-term mission team this year to serve across the border through Ysleta Lutheran Mission Human Care (YLM). The group of twenty people came with a wide spread of ages -thirteen the youngest and eighty-four the oldest. Men, women, and youth stepped onto the worksite ready to give their time and energy, each person bringing different strengths. They learned from each other, shared skills, and worked side by side with steady eagerness. It was beautiful to watch because God always provides the right people at the right moment.
This trip focused on building a house for Michelle Lira, a twenty-one-year-old University of Cd. Juarez student who serves as a deaconess at two of YLM’s partnering mission churches, Iglesias Luteranas Cristo Rey and La Santa Biblia. Many team members already knew Michelle from the LCMS Youth Gathering in New Orleans, where she served alongside YLM and volunteers from Family of Christ. Amy, one of the team leaders, shared how special it felt to serve someone so dedicated to the growth of the church in Cd. Juarez.