This Spring Break, I had the privilege of leading 14 students and our female intern on a 10-day mission trip to Chile, where we partnered with a new ministry called Refugio Ágape.

Refugio Ágape was founded by a Chilean couple, Luis and Bernardita. After losing both of their sons—Reuben at age 9 and Bruno at just 8 months—to a neurodegenerative disease, they felt called to serve other families walking a similar road.

Today, they minister to around 70 Chilean families whose children have the same terminal condition and require constant, around-the-clock care. The physical, emotional, and spiritual toll on these families is immense.

Luis and Bernardita come alongside them offering counseling, practical support, and the hope of the gospel. During our trip, we had the opportunity to visit one of these families. We met Manuel, an 11-year-old who has been bedridden since early childhood, and his mother, Maccarina. With no father present, Maccarina faithfully cares for Manuel every day. The small room we visited is the same space where they have spent most of the past 11 years.

Our role on this trip was to support Refugio Ágape by helping build a new retreat center. This space will allow families to come, free of charge, for rest, counseling, and to hear the good news of Jesus. The building we worked on (pictured above) will eventually host up to five families at a time.

On our first full day of construction, a group of us was assigned to what we quickly dubbed “The Pit.” It was a massive pile of dirt that needed to be broken up, moved, and spread across the site to level the ground and prepare for a future building extension. The work itself was simple but demanding. It included: breaking apart hardened mud, shoveling it into a wheelbarrow, and hauling it across the site. Not exactly glamorous.

And yet, it became one of the trip's highlights. The “pit crew” leaned into the challenge, embraced the grind, and even gave each other nicknames along the way. What started as a tough, unremarkable task turned into a source of joy, camaraderie, and shared purpose.

One of the most moving parts of the trip was experiencing the incredible hospitality of our Chilean hosts. Because of our group size, we were split up to stay with host families which was something I initially worried about, since on past trips we had always stayed together. It didn’t take long, though, for it to become one of the greatest blessings of the entire experience.

Time and again, our students said that their host families and the other Chileans we met were among the main highlights of the trip. Even with the language barrier, since most of our hosts spoke little to no English, we formed genuine connections and clearly saw the love of Jesus on display.

Our hosts welcomed us into their homes, cared for us, and generously provided for our needs. Each night, we would gather in homes often no larger than 1,000 square feet, yet filled with warmth, laughter, and fellowship. They gave so much, even when they had so little.

Many went far beyond what we could have expected including driving an hour each day to the work site to help with construction or prepare meals for our team. When challenges arose, like vehicles breaking down, others stepped in immediately, offering their time, resources, and transportation without hesitation. On one occasion, when a home’s water was shut off, another family opened their doors so people could shower, even though it was nearly midnight.

One day at the job site, we received the news that one of the children Luis and Bernardita had been ministering to had passed away. We took time to pray for the family. That night, after a full day of construction and with everyone exhausted and ready for bed, Luis and Bernardita traveled to the child’s home. They stayed with the grieving family until 4:30 a.m., offering comfort and prayer—despite having every excuse not to go.

The way Chileans care for and love one another is truly remarkable, and it was a profound gift to witness it firsthand.

Refugio Agape: While our time in Chile has come to an end, Luis and Bernardita remain there faithfully ministering to families. With winter approaching, there isn’t much work that can be done on the retreat center until next year. In the meantime, they will continue meeting with these families, offering care, encouragement, and the hope and love of Jesus.

RUF at Tennessee Tech: I believe the Lord used our time in Chile to transform the students who went. I’m excited to see how witnessing the Chileans’ hospitality, finding joy in serving others, and gaining a fuller understanding of the breadth of God’s Kingdom will shape our students’ lives and the life of Tennessee Tech as a whole. Already, I’ve spoken with students who want to return to Chile next year, are considering pursuing global missions after graduation, and are thinking about how to take what they learned this week and apply it to their own communities. I’m also excited about the deeper friendships that were formed between our staff and the students who went. I never cease to be amazed at how Jesus can bring such different people together in meaningful ways.