People often join a mission trip believing they are going to change someone else’s life.
They pack their bags, prepare lessons and activities, pray for the children they will soon meet, and wonder how God might use them during the week ahead.
Then something unexpected happens.
They return home realizing that while they came to serve, they were changed as well.
At The Emiliani Project, we’ve heard this story time and time again. Every mission trip creates opportunities to encourage children in Colombia through education, recreation, faith, and friendship. Yet when volunteers reflect on their experience, many describe receiving something they never expected.
They leave with a deeper appreciation for community, a renewed perspective on faith, and relationships that continue long after the trip ends.
It Starts With One Simple “Yes”
As we recently shared on social media:
“Every act of kindness begins with one simple decision.”
Volunteering is more than giving your time. It is choosing to be present, to serve with purpose, and to become part of a story much bigger than yourself.
Every smile shared, every lesson taught, every hand extended, and every conversation with a child becomes part of something lasting.
When you say “yes” to serving, you don’t simply visit Colombia for a week.
You become part of a family committed to changing lives through love, compassion, and action.
Serving Looks Different Than You Might ExpectMany first-time volunteers wonder whether they have enough experience.
The good news is that you don’t need to be a teacher, counselor, or fluent Spanish speaker to make a meaningful impact.
As we shared in our recent article, Do You Need Experience for a Mission Trip?, what matters most is a willing heart.
Throughout the week, volunteers might help with games, crafts, educational activities, worship, conversations, or simply spend time listening and encouraging the children.
Sometimes the most meaningful ministry happens during ordinary moments.
Sharing a meal.
Painting together.
Laughing over a game.
Listening to a child’s story.
Those moments often become the ones volunteers remember most.
The Children Leave a Lasting Impression
One of the most common themes we hear from volunteers is surprise.
They arrive expecting to encourage the children.
Instead, the children encourage them.
Volunteer Ashley Goff described discovering a lifelong purpose through her experience with The Emiliani Project.
Alex Narelli reflected that the children gave the volunteers far more than the volunteers could ever give in return.
Edris Olomi shared that while he expected to make a difference in the children’s lives, it was the children and the Emiliani staff who transformed his own perspective.
Tim and Monica McNamara continue to speak about the joy they experienced simply spending time with the children and the lasting memories they carried home.
Although every volunteer’s story is unique, the message is remarkably consistent.
People arrive hoping to serve.
They leave inspired by resilience, generosity, joy, and faith.
Faith Becomes Something You Experience
Mission trips often deepen faith in ways that are difficult to describe until you’ve experienced one yourself.
Jesus reminds us in Matthew 25:35-40 that when we serve those in need, we are serving Him.
That truth becomes tangible during a week in Colombia.
You begin to see Christ in the smiles of children.
In conversations with families.
In shared meals.
In moments of worship.
In laughter that crosses language barriers.
Faith moves from being something you simply believe to something you actively live.
Why So Many Volunteers Return
One question we hear often is why so many volunteers choose to come back.
The answer usually isn’t about the destination.
It’s about the relationships.
The Emiliani Project isn’t simply a place to serve.
It becomes a community.
Volunteers build friendships with one another, develop lasting connections with the children, and often return year after year because they feel like they’ve become part of an extended family.
That sense of belonging reflects the very mission we hope to create for every child we serve.
Could God Be Calling You?
Every mission trip begins the same way.
With one decision.
One prayer.
One “yes.”
If you’ve ever wondered whether God might be calling you to serve, perhaps this is your invitation to take the next step.
Whether you’re a college student, young professional, parent, retiree, or serving with your church, there’s a place for you to make a meaningful difference.
Learn more about our upcoming mission trips and volunteer opportunities, explore how The Emiliani Project serves children throughout Colombia, or consider sponsoring a child to help provide lasting hope throughout the year.
One simple “yes” may change a child’s life.
It just might change yours as well.
