By Yvonne Agriam
La Sierra University, founded on service and compassion, facilitates these values through global mission trips. Recently, La Sierra organized and sent groups of students to Hawaii and Mexico, where they had unforgettable experiences while working hard to leave lasting impacts on the communities visited.
Last summer, twelve students joined La Sierra’s Spiritual Life team for a mission trip to O’ahu. From June 26 to July 3, they helped local farmers maintain their farmland. From replanting taro patches to assisting with the fish pond’s upkeep, students witnessed the impact of their efforts and were able to experience the farmers’ livelihood firsthand. Larissa Suarez, who is a fourth-year student, explained her time in Hawaii and her first mission trip: “This trip impacted me greatly by having the opportunity to work in the nature God created for us.” Suarez described how some farmers did not have the financial resources to hire more workers to help in their farms. Thus, by helping the farmers replant their taro and assist in other farm tasks, Suarez felt that she was contributing to the livelihoods of these farmers. “Knowing how important the taro farms are to the Hawaiian community, I was also given the opportunity to lend a helping hand to those who are not fortunate enough to receive the help they may need,” said Suarez.
La Sierra participated in its second mission trip of the year to Ensenada, Mexico from Jan. 19 to Jan. 22. The trip was organized by Loma Linda University’s Students for International Missions Service (LLU SIMS) and coordinated by by the Pre-Health Adventist Missions program (PHAM), which La Sierra University’s Office of Academic and Career Services (OACS) Pre-Health Office started this year. Ten students from La Sierra and approximately 25 students from Loma Linda handed out food, hygiene products and toy bags to the surrounding towns of Ensenada.
The PHAM student missionaries also volunteered at two shelters in the area. The first shelter was dedicated to housing mothers and children who have experienced domestic abuse. Here, students split into two groups, with one group dedicated to socializing with the mothers while the other group devoted time to playing with the children. The second shelter was a children’s orphanage; in both places, the student missionaries played games, such as musical chairs, tag and card games. Caleb Kim, a third-year student who aided the Mexico PHAM mission trip, was greatly impacted by this experience. "It really showed me that, at my young age, I can literally change someone's life," he said. Kim realized that his presence offered more than mere companionship to the children seeking asylum from their abusive fathers. He was also demonstrating a positive male figure in their lives. “When we went to the first shelter, the host there mentioned that to all the male figures present, we were giving the children another masculine figure to look up to. That meant a lot to me because sometimes I don't think about my actions or what I say, but that can impact someone’s life,” said Kim.
Palau native and third-year student, Nobuyuki Yano, offered his perspective on the receiving end of mission work. Yano worked alongside student missionaries and teachers from the beginning of first grade through high school. Reflecting on his experience, Yano most remembers the educational and moral support he received from these missionaries. “They motivated me to go to school outside of Palau. They helped me with college applications and prepared me for what the United States would be like,” said Yano. Beyond academic assistance, Yano created meaningful connections with the student missionaries, maintaining contact with them to this day. “I still keep in touch with them and even attend church with them sometimes now that I am here at La Sierra University,” he added.
Another student whose life has been influenced by missionary aid is Elva Garcia, a third-year student hailing from Mexico. Garcia recalls Christian missionaries who would consistently visit her church, Bethel Elohim Evangelical Church. Garcia recalls the missionaries’ dedication to serving her community, from coordinating activities with the youth to assisting in construction work for other church members. “The kids loved having activities and snacks while the older women of the church loved cooking for them. Others did construction work and fixed or built houses,” said Garcia. These frequent missionary visits not only provided practical assistance but also fostered deep connections with Garcia’s family. “Some of them are friends with my family. Whenever they come, they stay at our house,” added Garcia.
Mission trips, which some have coined as “volunteerism,” have often been criticized as inefficient resources or as travel experiences that are mainly for the visitors rather than for the communities they aim to assist. While these criticisms may hold validity for some trips and should be considered by mission trip organizers, La Sierra's stories from both student missionaries and locals from mission fields reflect positively on La Sierra's mission work thus far. La Sierra continues to uphold its commitment to service, dedicating efforts to making a positive difference in the world.
