Spiritual Formation | 1/12/2026 4:48:00 PM

Written by Lucy Litwin
 
If I had to describe our time in El Salvador in a single phrase, it would be one spoken by our dear friend Humberto: "Radical obedience powered by the Holy Spirit." I witnessed this on full display in the faithful lives of the Sports Impact International staff—Humberto, Mirna, and Hilda—in the humble hearts of the families who welcomed us into their homes, and in the powerful conversations within our group that broke chains and united us in Christ.
 
Going into this trip, I proudly believed our group would radically change the lives of the people in El Salvador by sharing the gospel with them. Instead, I witnessed the gospel being lived out firsthand—through the staff members, the kids we served, and within our own group. I had to set aside my pride and recognize the work the Lord was already doing in El Salvador, humbly accepting the opportunity to partner alongside our friends there to strengthen one another in Christ. I can confidently say our group lived all in, painted with love, and finished on empty.
 
As I reflect on our time in El Salvador, several themes stand out: joyous surrender, vulnerability, humility, and obedience.
 
Of all these lessons, the first—and most visible—was the joy that overflowed from lives fully surrendered to Christ. I saw pure joy in the smiles of the kids we encountered, the staff's radical trust in the Lord with every detail of the ministry, and the boldness our group displayed despite our lack of Spanish skills! We trusted that Christ would work—and He exceeded our expectations. We learned that true joy is found only in Jesus, and we witnessed the life-changing power of surrender as testimonies were shared and freedom followed.
 
I felt the joy of the Lord most deeply at Vito Guarto, an orphanage for individuals with special needs. Most of us didn't want to leave that beautiful place, but we found comfort in knowing the joy and presence of the Lord already dwell there, sustaining and protecting them. Many of us, myself included, felt a sense of displacement upon returning home. El Salvador felt like home because of the joy we experienced there. Yet the Holy Spirit gently reminded me that Jesus is our home.
 
As Nehemiah says in Nehemiah 8:10, "The joy of the Lord is your strength." As meaningful as El Salvador was—and as precious as our physical homes are—our true home is found in the Lord. What a joy it is to share that sense of home and unity in Christ with our Salvadoran brothers and sisters. I pray that we strengthened one another, just as they strengthened us to carry the mission forward at Lipscomb and in our hometowns.
 
That joy created a safe place—one where vulnerability could exist without fear. Flowing naturally from that joy was a level of vulnerability I had never experienced within a group before. There was no awkward stage; we jumped headfirst into the beautiful mess of one another's lives. We confessed raw sins and laid them at the foot of the cross. Many shared their testimonies, and many experienced deliverance from the chains of sin—it was incredible to witness.
 
Intentional conversations filled our bus rides and our workdays while painting the house. Stories were shared, prayers were prayed, and lives were changed because each person was willing to set aside pride and testify to the work the Lord had done in their life.I saw remarkable boldness in this group—not shame over past lives, but courage to use those stories to highlight God's redemption. I learned that our testimonies aren't about us; they are about Him. From that vulnerability grew a beautiful unity. Our group drew closer each day, embodying the truth of 1 Corinthians 12:12–27: "Our bodies have many parts…This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other."  We truly need the ears just as much as we need the eyes!
 
As the week went on, I saw how essential every person's gifts were to the work before us. One day while painting the house, Hannah and Mikey led the charge with skill and direction. Their leadership was necessary—but so was the quiet, faithful service of Regan and Megan, who cared for the three children outside while their grandmother stepped away. Though they weren't holding paintbrushes the entire time, their role was vital in accomplishing the task.
 
We also learned how subtly the enemy tries to divide the body through comparison. During our nightly debrief, once one person confessed that lie, nearly everyone else admitted to wrestling with it as well. When we named it for what it was, we were able to see the beauty of our differences—not as competition, but as strength. How gracious the Lord is to redeem lies by transforming them into truth.
 
As our hearts became more open to one another, the Lord revealed another lesson we all needed: humility. Vulnerability stripped away our masks, exposing the pride still present in each of us. Before arriving, our leaders told us the staff would always outserve us—but I wasn't prepared for the depth of humility displayed by Humberto, Mirna, and Hilda. Though we came to serve, they continually served us—in word, deed, and prayer. Their lives have been devoted to serving their community for fourteen years, not just a random week in December.
 
What if we lived like that? What if every day became an opportunity to serve where we work, live, and go to school? The Holy Spirit reminded me of the Great Commission, where Jesus commands us to "go and make disciples."  In Greek, "go" means "as you are going." Every believer—not just pastors or missionaries—is called to live this out daily. As you are going to work, school, or your neighborhood, make disciples, serve faithfully, and love wholeheartedly.
 
This week revealed my pride for what it was and taught me lasting lessons in humility. I witnessed my group serve selflessly, the staff pour into us tirelessly, and children live joyfully despite their circumstances. We are deeply blessed—and now called to use those blessings to bless others. From that humility grew a deeper understanding of obedience—not forced, but joyful and faithful. What makes this mission trip and the SII ministry so special is that this isn't a one-time effort. This is their every week. We stepped into what was normal for them and came away completely exhausted—yet deeply fulfilled. Why should we return to "normal" lives that revolve around ourselves? We were created for more!
 
We caught a glimpse of how Jesus lived—fully present, pouring Himself out daily, yet faithfully withdrawing to spend time with the Father. I'm convicted by how often my schedule, my phone, my desires, and myself take priority.
 
What if we truly lived as though life wasn't about us—because it isn't! I boldly pray that no one in El Salvador remembers our names, but remembers only the name of Jesus. I pray they felt Him through our smiles, our broken Spanish, the games we played, the hugs we gave, and the gifts we shared—not because of what we did, but because of what Jesus has done.
 
As I reflect on our time there, I realize how much more we gained than we gave. Yes, we played soccer, painted a house, distributed Christmas gifts, and built relationships—but more than anything, we glimpsed the Kingdom of God. A Kingdom that includes every nation, tribe, and tongue. One that breaks down social and cultural barriers and overflows with grace, truth, joy, peace, presence, and mercy. We saw Jesus everywhere.
 
When we live obediently and attentively, our eyes begin to open to where Jesus already is. One passage the Holy Spirit highlighted for us was Matthew 25:34–46, where Jesus teaches that when we feed, welcome, clothe, and care for others, we are serving Him.
 
Humberto once shared a story of "seeing Jesus." He explained that God prompted him to give his leftover money to a man who walked into a restaurant—and in doing so, he encountered Jesus. That's what he meant. We encounter Jesus constantly, yet so often we miss Him.
 
Opportunities surround us every day. One night, as our group reflected together, we listened to a song with the lyrics, "Open the eyes of my heart, I want to see You." For the first time, I truly understood it. Our hearts must be trained to look for Him—because He is all around us. Once I started looking, I began to see Jesus in every person we encountered, believer or not. Seeing the image of God in everyone transformed my understanding of His love for humanity.
 
Coming home doesn't mark the end of this mission—it marks the beginning of living it out daily. Our group is eager to bring Jesus, along with a piece of El Salvador, back to our teams at Lipscomb.
 
My prayer is that we continue to live joyfully surrendered, vulnerably honest, humbly serving, and faithfully obedient—living all in, eyes open, as we follow wherever the Lord sends us next.