Bonding between mission team members is practically a guarantee when they work together

The Ham Lake, Minnesota congregation has partnered with Ysleta Lutheran Mission Human Care (YLM) for long-term mission support since 2016, but when it comes to Servant Event mission trips, they’ve been serving the community of Anapra for much longer, sending a team every year, sometimes even two.

Ben, age ten, worked diligently to ensure all screws were covered to facilitate interior painting

This 2023, Family of Christ has committed to sending two teams, and for February, 22 of their 41 missionaries, arrived eager and ready to complete two houses for two elderly couples. Splitting up into two teams, they spent their days working hard, with the young ones as involved as the older ones.

This February team was one of those generational teams, where there was a 71-year gap between the youngest and the oldest, yet the teamwork that took place every day was a display of how God calls His children to be His body.

While the adult men worked to frame the walls, the women, youth and children worked together to paint the siding and trim. Virginia and her husband, one of the elderly couples who were blessed with one of the little houses, spent each day helping with painting, carrying materials, putting up sheetrock and other tasks to help the team committed to answer their prayers.

Karlee learning to safely use power tools to finish the details of the little brown and orange house

At the end of the week, the little white and purple house was completed, ready for Virginia and Ishmael to move in.

Virginia helps paint the trip for her little purple and white house

Just on the opposite side of the Anapra mesa, a little orange and brown house went up just as quickly. Ten-year-old Ben, and his sister Abigail, worked together to paint siding and trim, and the days when sheetrock began to go up, they made sure to cover all sheetrock screws with mud.

Meanwhile, Karlee, age eleven, learned how to use power tools, being taught, guided, and supervised by the Servant Event Facilitator throughout the process. Together with her mother, they successfully got the brown trim measured, cut, and nailed up on all outside corners, around the door and windows.

Yolanda, due to health issues and almost daily doctor visits, was unable to help, but she made sure to come out to visit with the team. Her husband, as the sole provider for them two, worked during the week, but both of them made sure to express their gratitude for the self-less gift of a home of their own.

For the Minnesota missionaries who worked to make these bright colored houses possible, it felt like they were leaving an imprint of themselves behind, yet they recognized the blessings they received in turn, strengthening their faith and giving them a new perspective of who they are called to be as children of God.

Give us a call at (915) 858-2588 or email luz.soto@ylm.org and find out how you can serve through Ysleta Lutheran Mission to help families in Mexico needing little houses, to provide specialized clinics, or to bring the Gospel to children through music, crafts, story telling, and play. There are many ways Servant Event mission teams serve and we will be blessed to work alongside you!