From March 8 to 15,听92 students from听麻豆传媒 (PBA)听spent听their听spring听break听spreading听God鈥檚 light听and serving听His people听through mission trips听to听Arizona,听Brazil,听Colombia, El Salvador,听Honduras, and Northern Ireland.听These mission trips not only gave students the opportunity to help others and听evangelize, but it听also听gave them the opportunity to听grow in their own faith.听听
Learn about their unique experiences听below.听听
A Rapid Rearrangement for the听Albanian Team听
This team听of 12 students听was initially听supposed to go to听Albania, but they were听unexpectedly redirected听to Northern听Ireland听for safety reasons.听However, the听last-minute听redirection allowed the team to temporarily fill听the听need of听a mission partner听there.听听
鈥淸The mission partners]听expressed their gratitude for our presence, which was clearly God’s providence, because the trip was so last minute,鈥澨齭aid Jake听Swad, a junior studying ministry leadership and a co-leader on the trip.听听
While in Belfast, the team evangelized to听other college students,听built meaningful relationships, and supported each other when faced with听challenges.听
鈥淲e were there for one another, really bearing each other鈥檚 burdens and picking听up each other听through encouragement and exhortation,鈥澨齋wad听said.听
An Allocated Land in Arizona听
The mission trip across the country helped 16 students share the Gospel and experience an unfamiliar culture by visiting the Navajo Nation reservation in Arizona where they served the Din茅 people. 听
The team听assisted听with light construction work and hosted a short Vacation Bible School program.听
鈥�Some days these projects felt minimal in the grand scheme of things. However, our eyes were opened to the impact the smallest projects have,鈥澨齭hared team leader Kyra Shirk, a sophomore studying ministry leadership.听
They also had the opportunity to hand out Bibles to children who did not have their own and build relationships with the local community.听
鈥淭here were days on this trip when I was challenged physically, emotionally, and spiritually,鈥� Shirk confided. 鈥淵et, [God] used those days to remind me of His presence and His character.鈥�听
Painting听Brazil听with the News听of Christ听
The team of 18 students in Brazil also had several opportunities to evangelize through ministry and community service projects. Every day, they organized and led activities for children, men, and women, respectively. They left a visible impact in the community by painting houses, a service which adds five to seven years to the longevity of the homes.听
鈥淸The trip]听helped us understand the global church and that God is much bigger than we imagined,鈥� shared co-leaders Luke Stevens, a junior studying computer science, and Gabriela Alves, a senior in the pre-pharmacy program.听鈥淏eing part of the body of Christ is a beautiful thing, and allows us to appreciate His power, His love for His children everywhere in the world. Missions makes us more aware of God鈥檚 sovereignty.鈥�听
Cultivating Curiosity in Colombia 听
The Columbia team听of 14 students听got to work with Calvary Church听to听cultivate听curiosity in the local children by sharing and answering questions about different careers that can be pursued through higher education. While answering these questions and educating the children, the team was also able to spark curiosity and answer questions about the Christian faith.听听听
鈥淭his trip taught us how to lean on God more and to keep our faith strong to better serve others around us,鈥� shared trip leaders Lilianna Rangel, a sophomore studying intercultural studies, and Daniel Lessa, a junior studying management and business administration.听
Living Water for El Salvador听
Many countries in the world struggle with access to clean water. In response to this need, the team听of 16 students听partnered with Filter of Hope to install water filters in听local听homes and听spread the Gospel simultaneously.听
鈥�Our team distributed 39 filters, 65 people heard the Gospel, 22 accepted Christ, and overall, 312 people were impacted,鈥� shared team leaders Ambar Pena, a sophomore studying nursing, and Gabriel Almeida, a sophomore studying exercise science. 鈥淲e not only gave these people filters, but we also connected them to the local church community.鈥澨�听
But the trip was not without challenges. The team faced physically taxing days and struggled with a language barrier. Although translators helped, the team was challenged to lean on and serve each other.
鈥淭his trip was such a blessing and a reminder of how powerful it is to serve others,鈥� said Pena and Almeida. 鈥淚t not only impacted the community we served but also changed us in ways we will carry for the rest of our lives.鈥�听
Building Futures in听Honduras听
The Honduras team听of 16 students听partnered听with the Children鈥檚 Impact Network听(CIN), an organization that rescues children from situations where they are experiencing abandonment, abuse, or neglect. Together, they听advanced construction on听an apartment-style building that,听when complete,听will听be used to house missionaries听near听the children听CIN听serves听in the听organization鈥檚听.
The team听got the opportunity to听care听and pray for orphans. They also partnered with a local pastor to听encourage听and pray for the听Christian community there听and led听a Sunday school program听about听Daniel and the听Lion鈥檚听Den听(Daniel 6:10-23)听for the听local听children.听听
鈥�We got to experience the renewing power of Christ in a very real way,鈥澨齭ummarized the trip leaders, Kennedy听Mosher, a junior studying ministry leadership and communications, and Luke Powell, a junior studying marketing.听
Learn more about PBA mission trips at听/campus-life/christian-community/student-missions/.
