by Eli Sierra, Legacy Covenant Fellowship When God plants a seed in your heart, remarkable things can happen. For my wife, Leanne, and me, that seed came in the form of a mission trip to Guatemala with Nicolás Fund For Education (NFE)—a trip that deepened our faith, strengthened our marriage, and revealed God’s faithfulness in ways we never imagined.  A Seed Planted Through Faith and Education  For more than a decade, I had a front-row seat to my wife Leanne’s love for NFE, where she proudly served as an Administrative Assistant. My name is Eli Sierra, and I live in Dallas, Texas, where I teach Chemistry and also serve as the pastor of a small church. Faith and education have always been woven into the fabric of our lives, which is why Leanne’s work with NFE felt so deeply connected to our shared values.  One evening last year, Leanne shared photos of a mission trip team working in the Ixil region of Guatemala. It was a casual moment, but something stirred in me as I looked at those faces and learned about this unique mission. Nicolas Christian School (NCS), part of the NFE organization, not only fosters education but also centers its mission on faith—two cornerstones of our lives.  Before I knew it, Leanne and I were dreaming up a special way to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary in 2025. We could have picked a beach vacation or dinner at a fancy restaurant, but God had something weightier in mind. We would travel to Guatemala together—leaning into a calling that combined service, learning, and faith.  Preparing Our Hearts  Before departing, our mission trip leader, Becky, organized regular virtual team meetings. …

I just returned from my second mission trip to Guatemala. And I hope that these reflections won’t come across as cliché or emotionally charged reactions to short-term missions abroad. Because the more I engage in missions, the more I realize what missions truly are. I used to think the goal of overseas missions was to bring God to places of physical or spiritual poverty. But the kids and teachers in the Ixil region of Guatemala keep teaching me something different: Missions isn’t about bringing God somewhere. It’s about recognizing how fully present He already is. Every time I go, I plan to bring my light, joy, and faith to share with these kids. But somehow, I always come back carrying theirs. It’s the strangest, most beautiful thing—something I think anyone who’s done missions overseas might understand. When I’m with the students at Nicolás Christian School, I feel like I have everything I could ever need. There’s something sacred about being with people who aren’t glued to their phones, who are curious without judgment, kind without trying to be, and playful as if the world were already whole. Many of these students live in shacks. Their families have walked through genocide. They face food insecurity, limited access to healthcare and education, and a lack of consistent electricity. And yet— They are some of the most joyful people I’ve ever met. That reality always stops me in my tracks, especially when I compare it to what I see back home. In the U.S., the youth I minister to live in comfort. They have everything they could ever want or need at their fingertips. But when we recently asked some 7th graders what …