With several buildings on the Ysleta Lutheran Mission Human Care (YLM) campus serving as private residences, the need for repairs to be done in Building 2 after its recent vacancy was evident. God had clearly called the Drieling family to serve Him through this project, yet finding extensive time to spend at YLM proved to be a bit complicated. They prayed God would work out the timing.

Jonathan, Christine, and their five children ranging in ages from six months to 15 years began work in Building 2 in early spring. The building was in disrepair; floors, walls, and rooms would be needing deep cleaning, along with fresh paint and new furniture. The four room, one-bathroom house was emptied, and a long list of to-dos began to form.

El Paso was struck with heavy wind warnings the first week of the month, which was taken advantage of by the Drielings. All doors and windows were opened, airing out the building and making it easier to spend hours each day bringing new life to the residence. To begin their reparations, all four bedrooms needed attention in the form of scraping, cleaning, dusting, new mattresses, furniture, painting, bedding, and décor.

Through gracious donations from YLM staff, thrift store bargains, and online person-to-person markets, the Drielings successfully acquired what they needed for all four bedrooms. Once the bedrooms were completed, the next room to tackle was the kitchen. Due to lack of structural support, the ceiling had fallen, and after pondering how to do repairs with their limited construction knowledge, they sought God’s guidance and providence on this matter.

A mission team came to build a house across the border, which was efficiently completed in four days, leaving them with an extra workday. With several carpenters on their team, the remaining day of their week was used to add supports and repair the Building 2 kitchen ceiling, leaving it better and stronger for future use. The Drielings finished taping, mudding, and painting the kitchen ceiling before finding “new” appliances. Two of their children, Kiah and Silvja, helped clean out every cabinet and wash every dish, leaving the kitchen as good as new.

While they worked in the kitchen, the two youngest children, Xochitl and Eoin, played together, and the rest worked on the cove and living room. Multiple attempts at removing persistent odors from the cove carpet were unsuccessful, despite the thoughtful advice offered by many. Finally, they decided to replace the carpet and began to do research to find something affordable.

A local flooring shop had an affordable carpet remnant exactly the size of the cove space. Christine and Kiah installed it, added furniture and a rug to the living room area, greatly improving the living room and cove space. The bathroom, the most overwhelming part of the renovation project, had been left to the end, but it couldn’t be delayed any longer. It needed new plumbing, a new shower insert, toilet hookup, and flooring. The Drielings weren’t sure where to start, so they sought God’s guidance once again.

A gifted handyman, along with his wife, arrived at YLM with no plans but to help where needed. He took on the challenge of the bathroom, providing both excellent skill and materials. The Drieling family only needed to finish up some simple details once his departure date arrived. With that project being made manageable, they turned their attention to the laundry room and pantry, which hardly existed. The floor was completely rotted, and the needed electrical work left them with a new challenge to tackle.

YLM’s Servant Event Director had a few hours free, helping Jonathan tear out and build a solid new floor for the laundry room area. Then, Jonathan and their eldest child, Liam, spent hours figuring and re-figuring the electrical debacle and water supply. After endless reconfiguring and attempts, they found a solution, which led to them getting a “new” washer and dryer set, putting down tile over new subflooring, and painting walls and pantry shelves, resulting in a useable laundry room and pantry. Finally, time was made to create a new dining area by the entrance to the house. The front room was dark due to windows having been completely painted over.

Kiah used his art skills to etch an artistic scene into the paint, creating a lovely atmosphere in the new dining room when the sunlight shines through the window. Adding an area rug, a table, and art on the walls completed this room for a future of days and evenings filled with meals, conversations, and joy.

While the Drieling family washed, cleaned, and scrubbed with rags and cleaning solutions, the home was also cleansed at the end of their time at YLM with a house blessing by the vicar of San Pablo Lutheran Church, Alex Escarciga. The home was covered with layered blessings, prayers, and devotions held there throughout the repairs and remodeling, preparing it for God’s purpose and work.

Only God knows how Building 2 will be used for His kingdom work, and what stories and experiences will be shared within its walls. The prayer of the Drieling family is for God to send a person, or persons, called to love and serve Christ and others, just as their family faithfully answered God’s call to provide a clean and safe home for them.

If you would like to bring your family to serve through YLM, give us a call at (915) 858-2588 or send an email to luz.soto@ylm.org!

Article Written by Dr. Christine Drieling