Fellowship Southwest just returned from a vision trip to the Rio Grande Valley, introducing church leaders to our border ministry partners in Brownsville, Reynosa and the colonias. We were joined by ministers and lay leaders from the Austin-Waco area including Restore Austin, Vox Veniae and UBC Waco.

We began our experience in Brownsville, worshipping with our partner church, Iglesia Bautista West Brownsville. This mid-week worship service is always a special time of welcome to the migrants who come through the respite center at the church, celebrating them with flags from their home country. The following day, we helped the church serve food downtown to the unhoused population, many of whom are also immigrants. Afterward, we spent the afternoon organizing clothing donations in their clothes closet.

The next day we crossed the border into Reynosa and visited two shelters and joined a Haitian church for worship. We were accompanied by our partners, Edrei Rodriguez and Alma Ruth. We played with children, spoke with migrants, learned about the operations in each of the shelters, and distributed hot dogs and candy. And of course we sang, danced and prayed.

The final day of the trip was spent on the U.S. side of the border with FSW’s newest partner, Caly Fernandez, in a Colonia outside Donna, Texas. We walked the neighborhood block together, hoping the stray dogs were friendly, and heard about Caly’s dreams and plans for the community.

Every encounter in the borderlands is both incredibly difficult and joy-filled. We are privileged to meet the migrants and the people who serve them, and we leave inspired to advocate for easier journeys for them and those who come after them.

Fellowship Southwest hosts a vision trip like this one a couple of times each year. If you are interested in joining us on an upcoming trip, please fill out this interest form. You can also inquire how to put together a border trip for your church group.