Children waited, dressed in traditional Peruvian clothing and waving their country’s flag together with the stars and stripes of the American flag. They were welcoming a team of college students who had traveled thousands of miles with handmade signs that read, "welcome to our big family" and “thank you for sharing your love.”
For Paola Márquez Salinas, a student who went on the trip with Texans on Mission, that greeting marked the beginning of a week that would reshape her perspective on faith, gratitude and service.
Márquez, an international student from Honduras at Baptist University of the Americas in San Antonio, was one of eight students who traveled to Peru in July on a mission trip led by Texans on Mission. TXM’s Missions & Discipleship team worked in partnership with Go Now Missions and Baptist University of the Americas to make the trip a reality.
“I’m impressed with how Texans on Mission is working in that area,” Márquez said. “Not just with the water, not just the classes. They really care for the people there.”
Throughout the week, the team led vacation Bible school for approximately 280 students at three schools in different areas of Lima and Cajamarca. Students shared the Gospel through Bible lessons, crafts, games and Gold-to-Gold bracelets. They taught children the story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19, emphasizing that Jesus knows each person by name and loves them.
“Some students at the schools were well-versed in Scripture and had Bibles at home,” said Sabrina Pinales, TXM director of Missions & Discipleship. “Others were unfamiliar and curious to know who Jesus is.”
Specifically, the team served in communities where TXM has drilled wells to provide access to clean water. Students also visited a completed well and a drilling site currently under construction to understand the ministry’s long-term impact better.
Despite speaking different languages, the team found creative ways to build relationships.
“Even though there was a language barrier, that didn't stop anyone from sharing Christ,” Pinales said. “Whether it was playing games, sharing a Bible story, smiling or teaching the children a word in English, everyone was going above and beyond to try to build a connection.”
For Márquez, the joy she witnessed in the communities stood in stark contrast to the challenges families face. Many children are unable to obtain a quality education because they work to help their families survive.
“They don’t have many clothes or food,” Márquez said. “But they smile every day and received us with joy and hope.”
The ministry was reciprocal, she said. Peruvian students shared their own culture through traditional dances and performances. At one of the schools, Márquez said a class of preschoolers sang about the “secret light” they carried inside them — Jesus — and their desire to share that light with others. It’s something Márquez said she’ll remember forever.
By the end of the week, Pinales said their message had become clear.
“The kids felt loved,” she said. “The kids knew that they were special — that Jesus loved them. There was no question of any of that by the time we left.”
TXM Missions & Discipleship coordinator Ryan Welch said he was encouraged by how readily students stepped into their ministering roles. Students frequently initiated games with children, shared their testimonies through translators and adapted to changing circumstances throughout the week, he said.
“They saw the opportunity to share the Gospel,” Welch said. “As a group leader, I think it speaks to the group and their maturity.”
After serving the communities, the team gathered each evening for devotions, reflecting on what God had done during the day. Márquez also spent time helping fellow students learn Spanish phrases so they could connect more personally with the children the next day.
“I have been on other mission trips, but this team has been the best,” Márquez said. “They were always happy, always serving.”
Márquez said the experience continues to shape how she can minister to those around her.
“God touched our hearts in many ways,” Márquez said. “My prayer has been, ‘Lord, what is the next step?’ I'm willing to do anything. I want to be a light wherever I am.”