HOUSTON, Texas. – A youth group from Iglesia Bautista Nueva Jerusalen in Little Rock recently embarked on their first missions trip to Houston, Texas, sharing the love of Christ.
Arkansas Hispanic Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) President Diana Rodriguez, who is a member of the church and took part in the missions trip, said the group was comprised of three adults, a recent college graduate, and 11 students.
A few ladies from their church went on a mission trip to Peru two years ago, Rodriguez said. When they got back, several of their youth members expressed interest in mission work and their desire to go on a mission trip.
“I told them to start praying for God to show us where and when this could happen,” she said.
After sharing this with other Hispanic WMU presidents, Rodriguez said she had a few leads on potential missions locations but it wasn’t until after Sister Libo Krieg of Texas shared with her about the need they had at the mission centers in Houston, that Rodriguez believed she found where God wanted them to go. Krieg provided information, and Rodriguez contacted their coordinator, Cheryl, who explained the volunteer process.
“Cheryl emailed the mission center handbook with the information; it was very helpful. We started meeting every Friday to start planning,” she said. Dates were set and, in April, the students started fundraising. They did their own snack sales at church, detailed cars, and more to raise funds for the trip.
Once in Texas, the group stayed at the dorms of the Joy Mission Center, a center located in a community with a high Hispanic population.
“We were able and blessed to work with the Luevano family. Ernesto Luevano Jr. is the director and his dad, Pastor Ernesto, and his whole family is involved. We also worked with three wonderful and amazing missionary interns, Lexi, Maddie, and Kate. They were the ones making sure we stayed busy,” Rodriguez said.
The group participated in prayer walks in two communities, worked in the kids’ and youths’ club, did yard work, worked at the distribution center, took part in an outreach event and helped with the senior community.
“Every night, the kids were exhausted but so excited and joyful,” Rodriguez said. “Being on missions is showing God’s love to a lost world. We are the light in this very dark place.”
Rodriguez said the students expressed the impact this community, the mission center, the interns, and the pastor’s family had in their lives.
“They were able to see the need and how we as Christians can make an impact in the lives of the people that live without Jesus. They learned how dangerous it is, and how much need is all around,” she said. “They were able to connect and identify with some of these situations and they expressed how grateful and thankful they are to be walking with the Lord and to have families and parents that teach them about God. They were able to open up with the interns during their devotionals about some of the struggles they’re dealing with right now.”
Additionally, she said a couple of students felt God was confirming their call to missions as full time. Others felt the need to start a kids’ club in their community as well as a desire to learn more about God and grow in their faith.
“For me, it was a blessing to see these wonderful young people serving the Lord in the heat, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. nonstop. My prayer is that they will stay faithful. They are asking if we can go back next year. Others want to join so my prayer is that God will guide us and provide, and if it is His will, we might need another van,” she said. “I strongly believe that we need to encourage our youth to go out and serve God, starting at church, in our community, in our state, in our country and wherever God sends them.”
