“But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”  Matthew 24:13

This was part of the Gospel reading the Sunday Family of Christ Lutheran Church from Ham Lake, MN, came to serve for the fourth week this year at Ysleta Lutheran Mission Human Care (YLM).  It was this verse the team used all week to help describe and encourage one another on persevering with their mission work in Cd. Juarez and YLM.

Families, couples, young and mature, experienced and 5 all-new YLM missionaries made up the team of eighteen. They all came ready to bless the border in various and thoughtful ways.  They faced several challenges within the first couple of days, from an unseasonable, late rain all day Sunday and 20+ mph winds all day Monday.  The team adjusted the usual day one plans on Sunday evening, unsure if it would work yet placing it all in God’s hands to guide their work in accordance with His plan.  The team endured these challenges, and more, accomplishing their mission—God’s plan –with much joy and exuberance.

One unexpected blessing for the change of plans was all the materials for the house were stored at Iglesia Luterana San Lucas in Anapra.  This would have normally resulted in more work, as the team would have to transport materials to the worksite in the morning, but due to the high winds on that first day of construction, the walls were framed and the exterior siding and trim painted at San Lucas.  When Tuesday morning arrived, the framed walls and siding were transported to the site of the new home, raised, squared, and bolted down by the end of their second day.

All credit must be given to God, something the team reminded each other of every day.  Their mornings and evenings always consisted of prayer and devotion, with more prayer taking place at the worksite, at the beginning and end of every workday. The evenings consisted of a dedicated time to share highs, lows, and God sightings, with many of the team members commenting on how well everyone was working together, filling in on any task needed to be done, many doing jobs they had not done before, and with guidance from those with experience, they ran with it from beginning to end.  They worked together, endured together, grew together, and had fun together.  In fact, as the team neared the end of the work week, several commented their low for the day was, “It’s almost over.”

Building a house was not all this 4^th Servant Event team from Family of Christ did during their week, though. Upon returning every evening to the YLM campus, several of the team members helped complete some needed repairs to the Kitchen building; leveling a concrete floor, repairing water leaks and walls, removing a problem sink and counter, and purchasing a new faucet for the commercial kitchen sink were just some of those tasks done before and after dinner.  A gift of love left for YLM was done by one of the team’s first-time missionaries, who is an artistic craftsman. The wooden LCMS cross he worked on into the early morning hours is the first thing one sees upon entering the Kitchen front door.

On Wednesday, they joined Iglesia Luterana La Santa Biblia for their morning devotion time, sharing fun fellowship with the members and children through games and Gospel inspired crafts.  For many of these missionaries, the experience of being with the kids of La Santa Biblia is one they enjoy, remember, and want to experience again and again. And on Saturday morning, they joined another favorite activity –YLM’s Food Pantry Drive-Thru. With smiles of joy and words of encouragement, several members of the team started early in the morning getting everything ready to serve families and individuals experiencing food insecurity.

What is at the center of such overflowing generosity and endurance?  It is hearts touched by the overflowing generosity of grace in their lives and the work of the Holy Spirit.  For these YLM Servant Event missionaries, God’s grace inspires thankfulness which inspires generosity.

God’s love endures.  For Family of Christ, it was evident every day. For those at YLM, it is evident with every YLM Servant Event mission team.  Join us at YLM to experience a new way of expressing God’s overflowing grace in your life.

Get a YLM Servant Event started today for next year!  Contact Luz Soto at 915-858-2588
or send an email to luz.soto@ylm.org for more information.