For over nineteen years, Mayer Lutheran High School has been sending high school youth as  missionaries to serve through Ysleta Lutheran Mission Human Care (YLM). Every year, as the school calendar wraps up, these dedicated students and chaperones head to Anapra, an impoverished colonia, to spend six meaningful days building homes and relationships. Working in smaller teams, they construct houses for families in need, and their mission is further enriched by moments spent playing with neighborhood children, sharing toys, soccer balls, and craft supplies. The atmosphere of joy is tangible, as the work of building not just homes but connections fill each day with purpose and love.

This year’s team of forty were mostly first-time missionaries, with middle schoolers from the newly established Mayer Lutheran Middle School joining the team, as well as high school seniors, adult chaperones, and even an exchange student from Spain named Hector. Hector’s bilingual skills made him an invaluable bridge between his team and the family they served.

“I’m so glad I came,” shared Hector. “Being able to share with my friends about the family we were building for made the experience even more meaningful.”

One particularly heartwarming moment came when Dillan, a young man from Anapra, recognized Gunnar, an adult chaperone, whom he had met during Gunnar’s own high school mission trip years ago. That moment was a testament to the lasting impact of these servant events—not just for the families served but for the missionaries themselves.

The days were filled with laughter, camaraderie, and meaningful connections. As the three houses took shape—brightly colored and full of promise—team members encouraged one another to stay on task, even as they paused to play and bond with the children. By the fourth day, the homes were nearly complete, needing only final touches like sanding walls, sealing seams, and framing doors and windows.

The hospitality shown by the families and the La Santa Biblia congregation added to the richness of the experience. Every day, the team was treated to homecooked meals lovingly prepared by the community. Their generosity deeply moved the missionaries, underscoring the beauty of mutual giving and receiving.

The trip concluded with a heartfelt house blessing service at La Santa Biblia. Pastor Javier Lozano invited team members to participate, making the moment even more personal and profound. The service was followed by a celebratory meal that brought everyone together in a shared spirit of gratitude and joy.

For those graduating seniors who had participated in these YLM Servant Event mission trips throughout their high school years, this final trip was especially poignant. Many reconnected with children they had grown to know over the years, passing the torch to first-time missionaries and encouraging them to embrace the mission wholeheartedly.

The impact of these trips is undeniable, touching lives across generations. Mayer Lutheran High School’s nineteen years of service stand as a testament to the lasting power of love and compassion freely given as a response to God’s own love given in His Son, Jesus Christ.

Could you see yourself leading a Servant Event Mission Team? Call (915) 858-2588 or email luz.soto@ylm.org to learn more about the 2025 Servant Event Teams and witness how your journey of service makes a lasting impact.