Jul 9, 2025 Despite it All

It’s the kind of call no team leader wants to get—especially not at 6 a.m. while their team is still in transit. 

“Hey Randy, sorry to wake you, but they won’t let us into the country.” 

Before every mission trip, the team gathers over Zoom to go over logistics, responsibilities, and spiritual preparation. And at every meeting, the same encouragement is given: Be flexible.  

It’s a given that flexibility is required when doing mission work—but in Bolivia, that phrase took on an entirely new meaning. 

From the moment the team touched ground until they returned home, the itinerary bent in every direction imaginable. The plan versus His plan, as it turned out, included more detours than anyone could have predicted. 

It started with visa complications. A tiny missing detail caused major delays at immigration in obtaining their visas, causing missed flights and a ripple effect of changes.  

Then came the illnesses—coughs, fevers, and lost voices.  

A stolen passport meant hours in embassies and long lines.  

Concerns arose when a team member’s place of birth triggered scrutiny over their re-entry, which led to hours of tracking down documents and phone calls. 

The team’s bus broke down halfway up a mountain. A translator didn’t show up. They got lost more than once. The bus keys were misplaced. Then came a global tech outage that took down apps and communications. 

At every turn, there was another obstacle. But at every turn, God provided a way through. 

“When I called Randy to let him know that they weren’t allowing us to get a visa due to a missing detail, it never crossed my mind that we might be sent home,” said Maddison, one of the team members. “I was frustrated after traveling nearly 20 hours. I was exhausted. But I never doubted. Despite everything, I hope we were able to show the peace that can be found in Him. Evangelism isn’t limited to pulpits or house visits—every step we take should point to Him.” 

And somehow, it all worked together. Despite the challenges, despite the unexpected delays and draining detours, the mission was a success. The gospel was preached. Seeds were planted. And by the end of the week, despite it all, 38 people chose to publicly declare their faith through baptism. 

That number—38—was more than a statistic. It was a reminder. That even in the chaos, God is at work. That His timing is perfect. That His purposes always prevail. 

“As it is written: ‘And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.’” 
—Romans 8:28 

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” 
—Ecclesiastes 3:11 

In the end, the story of this mission wasn’t just about what the team endured. It was about what God accomplished through it all. 

Check out the photo gallery from this mission trip.