The last week of May brought a burst of energy to Ysleta Lutheran Mission Human Care (YLM) as our first summer Servant Event team arrived on campus. Nineteen participants from Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in Pierre, South Dakota stepped out of their bus, ready to serve, laugh, sweat, and love well. Their group included four adult leaders, young adults, and high school students connected with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Many returned from last year, and a few came for the first time, eager to see what God might do.
This marks Faith Pierre’s ninth year partnering with YLM to build homes for families in need across the border. Their story with us began in 2017 when Dennis and Carolyn Ryckman, and their three teenagers, joined a small nine-person team for their first trip. They had served with other mission organizations before, but once they learned about YLM, they decided to give it a try. They have stayed with YLM ever since, and their commitment has shaped a beautiful legacy of service.
The Ryckman family has become one of YLM’s strongest champions. They talk about the mission with joy, invite others into the work, and have helped build a culture of service within their congregation. Each year, those fundraising for the Servant Event mission week together to provide lawn care, repairs, tree cutting, and leaf raking for members of their church and neighbors in their community. They accept whatever donation people feel led to give, turning simple acts of kindness into support for their mission trip. It is year-round teamwork building towards one powerful week.
And what a week it was. In just three and a half days, the team builds a home for a family in need. They also painted the interior of two other family homes, bringing fresh color, care, and dignity into spaces where families gather, rest, and grow. They helped with a two-day VBS filled with Bible story skits, songs, games, and the kind of laughter that echoes long after the team heads home. They distribute more than 1,000 Spanish Bibles, children’s Bible storybooks, and small wooden toy cars lovingly crafted by an elderly member of their congregation. Every part of the week is carried out with joy, humility, and a deep desire to share Christ’s love.
Faith Pierre has also become a mentoring team in recent years. They welcome individuals from other churches who want to learn more about YLM and its mission. This year, one of those individuals was Austin Angerman from Faith Lutheran Church in Georgetown, Texas. He joined the team to observe, learn, and serve alongside them, and he helped lead the two-day VBS with several of the young adults. His presence added to the joy of the week and reflected the growing reach of this ministry.
Faith Pierre’s arrival each year feels like family coming home. Their dedication, their heart for service, and their willingness to bring others along continue to bless YLM and the families we serve. Their story reminds us how God uses ordinary people, steady faithfulness, and simple acts of love to build something beautiful.
Call us at (915) 858-2588 or send an email to luz.soto@ylm.org for more information on how you and your family, friends, or church family, can make an impact on eternity here in the El Paso/Cd. Juarez border!
