After 16 years of teaching at Mayer Lutheran High School, along with organizing and leading youth mission trips to Anapra, Mexico through Ysleta Lutheran Mission Human Care (YLM), Dave Lane, and his wife Deb, couldn’t stay away longer than his first year of retirement. For this couple, long-time supporters of YLM and its ministries in many ways, it was a natural step to bring members of their Servant Life Group, affiliated with Trinity Lutheran Church in Waconia, MN, to the place they consider “home.” These “young at heart” members were eager and ready to live out their faith by serving and loving God and people in Anapra.

Dave always told his Mayer students to interact with the families and play with their kids, for the mission work was not just about building a house, but also, and most importantly, about building a relationship with Jesus and the people they would meet.  This “young at heart” team was no different.

The team’s excitement at seeing their “family” –Rogelio, Miriam, and their two little boys, Dilan and Jeremy –was evident every morning. Rogelio, a mechanic, and the sole financial provider for their family of four, welcomed the team each morning before leaving for work. Most days, he would bring lunch back for the team before taking 6-year-old Dilan to school.

Dilan, a sweet little boy, helped paint the walls for his family’s new house.  He also got to go on the roof to give a “final inspection” of the work his aunt Gema, and Dave Dubbe, completed on the third day.  Miriam, a young mom in her twenties, kept a careful eye on one-year-old Jeremy.  The little boy’s eagerness to explore led to “helping” get tools for the team members. This team made up of parents (and grandparents) were more than happy to take the time to watch the kids, playing with them while Miriam helped contribute to the construction of her family’s little house. At the end of each day, Rogelio arrived in time say good-bye to the team. They all became one big family!

One big surprise no one saw coming was Gema, Miriam’s sister.  Almost 4 years ago, Mayer Lutheran High School—led by Dave and some of the members of the Servant Life Group –came to Anapra with 79 students and adults to build 5 houses in 5 days—to this day, that is a YLM record-breaking house-building week!  One of those five homes was for a young mother, Gema, and her young son.  It was, what YLM’s Servant Event Project Facilitator likes to say, a “divine coincidence”!

This “young at heart” team was “feeling it” by the end of each day. Their bodies weren’t as young as they used to be, and the hard work was taking a toll, but every morning, seeing the family and those two little boys, the strength of the love of Jesus empowered each one to continue with their labor of love.

The house was successfully completed and dedicated to the Lord on the fifth day. Miriam received the keys to this new house with a big smile, Rogelio next to her. Young Dilan, who had already endeared himself to the whole team, won even more of their hearts with a beautiful gesture –a piece of scrap lumber, on which he had drawn a picture of each man and woman on the team, with little hearts in each of them. He had signed it and included more hearts, finding the most precious way to say thank you for what this team had done for him and his family.

What beautiful lessons to be learned from children!

“Let the children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for such belongs the Kingdom of God.”   ~Matthew 19:14

Call us at (915) 858-2588 or email service@ylm.org for more information on what your church can do to further the Gospel through mission work!