And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:18-20
This summer, our family, along with five friends and three women from Philadelphia, embarked on a short-term mission trip to Rio Grande City, TX. Our mission was to run a Vacation Bible School for Elementary School children in a church there. Situated right on the Texas-Mexico border, Rio Grande City is about an 8-9 hour drive from Dallas. Given its location, safety was a major concern. With the increase in illegal border crossings and the rise in crime, I understood why some people were apprehensive. When I was recruiting members from our church, this issue came up frequently. Plus, with me being the only man on a team full of women, the concern was even more pronounced.
Before we set off, we gathered at one of the team member’s apartments for a prayer session. I sensed that safety was weighing heavily on everyone’s mind, so I asked if there was anything specific they were worried about that we could pray for. One person voiced their concern about safety, but another had a different fear—they hoped that by the end of the trip, we’d all still be friends. That caught my attention. I knew the mission trip coordinator from Philadelphia had mentioned it, but I hadn’t realized it was a concern for our Dallas team too. So, we prayed and entrusted our journey to God.
After the mission trip, I’m thrilled to share that not only did we return safely, but we also grew closer through the challenges we faced together. From preparing lessons for Vacation Bible School to handling a few unruly kids, hunting for supplies at Walmart and HEB, cooking meals together, figuring out sleeping arrangements that wouldn’t disturb anyone, washing and drying our team uniforms for the next day, and even dealing with a stray dog that kept trying to get into the church—we tackled it all. Our bond strengthened, and we formed deep, meaningful connections with the children, youth, and parents in Rio Grande City. When it was time to leave, there were tears all around.
There were many moments when our carefully laid plans didn’t work out, forcing us to improvise and adapt. But through these experiences, we learned that while our plans might seem good, God’s plans are even better. He protected us, and safety never became an issue.
Though we’ve always believed in God’s promise in Matthew 28:20: “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age,” working in His field allowed us to truly understand its meaning. I’m incredibly grateful for this experience, and without a doubt, we’re already looking forward to doing it all again next year.
Angga