A life on mission must begin somewhere. For several University of Mary Hardin-Baylor students, it began this December with Texans on Mission in North Carolina.
“For a few years, I’ve wanted to go on a mission trip,” sophomore Dani Rye said. “When I saw the global outreach stuff at UMHB, this looked like an awesome opportunity. I wanted to go and serve people. It seemed like a good experience to get out of your comfort and help people who need it.”
Rye was one of several UMHB students who took their first mission trip this December. They served disaster survivors in North Carolina, which has been hit hard in recent years by flooding and most recently Hurricane Helene.
A few months ago, a group of UMHB students signed up to go on a mission trip through the school’s Global Outreach program. They’d learned later in the semester where they would go after an interview process and prayer.
Working through TXM, the team of eight built wheelchair ramps, stuffed backpacks for students and prepared food boxes for those in need. Winter weather made the service crucial. Temperatures hovered in the low 20s as the students ministered.
“These students are some of the hardest working individuals I have had the pleasure of working alongside,” said Sabrina Pinales, TXM’s director of missions and discipleship. “Despite freezing temperatures, they completed several outdoor projects and blessed multiple families. The impact they have made will bless families for years to come.”
Something as simple as a wheelchair ramp is life-changing, said Jonah Sizemore, UMHB’s resident director who led the team.
“It’s their way in and out of the home. If they don’t have it, they can’t leave. They have to have people carry them out. This helps them live their life better.”
Efforts like this help students see the impact they can have if they live out their faith, Sizemore said. Small and large acts of service transform lives and give people the opportunity to share their faith. Mission work takes a variety of forms.
“This is a good starting point for kids who want to get into missions but have never been on a trip before,” he said. “This takes pressure off them. It’s a good starting point for them to see the physical work we can do.”
“Missions aren’t necessarily going to third world countries to share the Gospel with people who haven’t heard it,” Sizemore continued. “It’s working here with people who need help. That can be missions for us.”
The experience made Rye want to look for more ways she could live on mission.
“On the way back from the airport, I thought this was really such a great experience,” she said. “I’ve already applied for the Spring Break and the Summer trips. I have an interview next week!”
The mission service in North Carolina, it appears, is just a start.
