Love and laughter—universal languages that melt away the differences in communication and culture. As we cross the mid-point of summer, STCH Ministries is serving children and families internationally and throughout Texas!

In El Salvador, under a corrugated tin roof surrounded by towering green trees and tropical-red blooms, the occasional screech of birds barely punctuated the sound of laughter. Ladies in this poverty-saturated town of Arce laughingly competed in the game of musical chairs. Ladies on mission from the E-320 church in Victoria, Texas shared from God’s word about hard things in life. “We are cast down, but not destroyed,” Paul wrote, and the message fit an environment where most women raise their children by themselves, life is hard and employment is always a struggle. They shared their personal experience of God’s grace, while other team members loved children with games, crafts and Bible stories through an interpreter.

More than 50 children in the Arce church and school are sponsored through the Samuel’s Fund Program. We were welcomed by children holding posters decorated with the name of each team member. As they eagerly sought the person for whom they had made this poster, there were glad exclamations and hugs all around. It was a joyful experience to meet with them and their mothers. Sponsorship means, “God sees me, loves me and knows my needs.” This afternoon we will deliver groceries to some of the Arce families, while two blessed families receive beds constructed by this team. The ministry continues later at the main site, Santa Tecla, with a meeting for men and boys to encourage them in their walk with God.

 A little further north in Belize, Danny Quintanilla is leading a group of young people and adults from our Boothe Campus. They came ready for work, ready to do anything that was needed to set up the facilities for the youth camp they helped lead this weekend.

On the first day of camp, James was sitting on the pier when a local Belizean young man, Stephen, sat down next to him. In their conversation, James shared the Gospel with him. The following night, after the message around the campfire, the pastor asked those who needed prayer to raise their hand. A few hands went up, along with Stephen. Three of the Boothe Campus boys surrounded him and prayed over him, as tears pooled in his eyes. Danny reported, “The Boothe Campus group has been very helpful doing whatever they are asked to do, and have formed friendships with everyone they have met.’’

At the same time, just a short hop across the Caribbean, two groups from Gonzales along with teachers from Crossroads Baptist are serving in the Dominican Republic. They are building more classrooms on top of the Villa Altagracia school, and constructing 10 tables for teachers. Others brought joy to the girls’ home in the Boca Chica area. One of our summer interns remarked, “ I saw God at work while we were visiting the girls’ home. Spending time with the girls, leading VBS, baking together and playing sports reminded me of God’s joy and love. Sharing those moments with them was a powerful reminder that even simple acts of love can reflect Christ.”

Medical clinics are a part of every mission team to the Dominican Republic. God worked through the gifts of young people who are passionate about medicine and eagerly gave their very best to serve others. Their willingness to work hard and use their gifts to care for people reminds us that God is raising up compassionate servants in this new generation of young adults to make a difference in the lives of others.

This spring we lost a dear friend and faithful mission trip leader when Rafe Jackson went Home to be with Jesus. His wife, Pam, knew she would be following his heart when she came to serve in his memory with her team. Her ministry to one of the Samuel’s Fund moms who had just lost her own mother was such a beautiful picture of God’s compassion. It was a reminder that God often uses our own pain to bring hope and comfort to others.

While mission teams serve in El Salvador, Belize and the Dominican Republic, back in our Texas world, children are cared for on the Boothe Campus and mothers and their children are recovering from trauma on our Marshall and Bluebonnet campuses. Christian counseling and Faith-focused classes address practical needs from Houston down to the Rio Grande Valley. Aware of the brokenness in the world around us, STCH Ministries is compelled to accomplish great things by faith, pointing others to that strong and mighty Refuge which we have in Christ.