Sunday after lunch, the team headed to Anapra to meet their family and see the building site

Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church of Pierre, SD came this year for their sixth mission trip through Ysleta Lutheran Mission Human Care (YLMHC), bringing a small team of nine and a ton of eagerness to share the Gospel in word and deed. Three of their team members were first time missionaries to Mexico, and experienced the joy of distributing Bibles, children’s books, toy cars, and even little girl pillowcase dresses on top of building a house for a family of three.

For Kristell, her 6-year-old son Mateo, and her aunt Elidia, this small team was an answer to a desperate prayer that started several months ago. Late last year, Kristell and her son were living with Elidia, and while Kristell worked at one of the downtown Juarez factories, Elidia took care of Mateo, ensuring he arrived to and from primary school safely.

Mateo and Cassandra worked together to set the studs for their last wall in place

Kristell was blessed with her aunt’s support, as her parents were unwilling to help or support her as a young single mother. Unfortunately, Elidia was living in a small house belonging to her daughter, who for unknown reasons, asked the three of them to leave.

Several cold nights were spent in Kristell’s van, and Mateo was taken out of school to save money for the little plot of land Kristell was purchasing in payments. It was a difficult situation for all three, and when Rosy Lira from Iglesia Luterana La Santa Biblia found out, she opened the San Lucas dormitory to this little family in need. Elidia helped maintain the dormitory clean, which served as a refugee shelter for two years before serious repair needs closed it down, along with the church, and watched over Mateo while Kristell worked.

Wednesday morning and afternoon spent at La Santa Biblia, where children and adults were fed God’s Word, His care, along with hot dogs, cookies, chips, and watermelon

The care and compassion of the congregation of La Santa Biblia made it possible for Kristell’s request for a house to be marked as urgent, which allowed for the team from Faith-Pierre to be able to provide the materials and labor as an answer to prayer. The dedication of this small team had the house completely done by Thursday, with tiny little details taken care of on Friday before the dedication and celebration took place. The tears in both Kristell and Elidia’s eyes as they received their keys were all the thanks this team needed.

Children learned of God’s love displayed at creation

Faith-Pierre ensures their missionaries have opportunities to share God’s love in multiple ways. Aside from building this little family’s house, they also did a one-day Vacation Bible School at La Santa Biblia, where they were able to feed all present, children and adults, a fun lunch of hot dogs, chips, watermelon, and cold water. Children’s brand-new clothing were distributed to those present, along with coloring books, beaded bracelets, wooden toy cars, sandals, and Spanish Bibles.

In between all the building, playing, singing, teaching, painting, and Bible giving, the team enjoyed several opportunities to explore downtown El Paso, as well as visit the market in downtown Juarez, where after distributing the last of their Spanish Bibles, they purchased their souvenirs for family and friends back in Pierre.

Before they left, this team went ahead and scheduled for their seventh mission trip, all of them excited at the possibility of returning next year to share God’s love with a new family, with new people, and experience God’s blessings through the mission work accomplished.

If interested in scheduling a mission trip with YLMHC, give us a call at (915) 858-2588 or email luz.soto@ylm.org for more information!