Hales Corners Lutheran Church (HCLC) from Hales Corners, WI, is passionate about partnering with other ministries to bring the Gospel to the nations, locally and globally. In 2021, the missions pastor of Hales Corners, Rev. Dr. Christian Wood, came down to Ysleta Lutheran Mission Human Care (YLM) to see how HCLC could partner with YLM. He met YLM’s mission-church partners, witnessed their work, and saw several of the houses built by previous Servant Event teams.

In 2022, a team of three came to YLM, eager to assist wherever they were needed. Three days were spent rebuilding the porch of a disabled woman. They also collaborated with YLM staff to create project proposals, their diverse skills a tremendous asset to the growth and advancement of YLM’s mission and vision.

This year, a team of five, two returnees and three newcomers, helped renovate an 83-year-old man’s four-room house in Juarez. Felipe, who had volunteered at YLM for over fifteen years, was grateful for their help. The house originally lacked wiring, insulation, and a metal roof. It’s exterior walls, made of chicken wire and stucco, were crumbling, especially around the window casings.

Felipe’s sons helped gut all the inside of the four rooms. When the team arrived on Monday morning, the designated foreman, Jerry, an architect by trade, assessed the situation before assigning tasks.

The metal tin roof was completed by lunch time, even adding a little overhand to shade the front gate area where Felipe sits to watch the people and cars go by. The women of the team worked together to remove protruding nails and screws, measuring, and cutting insulation to fit between the studs.

Jerry, along with YLM’s Servant Event Projects Director, cut and installed drywall, incorporating electrical wiring added by Felipe’s sons.

“This team of five worked hard,” Scott, the Projects Director, shared with the rest of the YLM staff on the third day, “They divided and conquered, accomplished so much, and worked so well together.”

On Friday, a house blessing ceremony was a moving experience for everyone. Pastor Jose Hernandez led everyone through each room of the house, praying, praising, and reading Scripture to remind everyone God’s the builder of our faith and our eternal home.

If you are interested in scheduling a Servant Event mission trip through YLM, call (915) 858-2588 or reach out through email at luz.soto@ylm.org