During Southwestern Adventist University’s spring break 2025, a group of 42 volunteers—including college and high school students, alumni, staff, and community members—left the routine of their daily lives behind and set out for the Navajo Nation. For more than 20 years, this annual mission trip has become a cornerstone of Southwestern Adventist University’s service tradition—a week of cultural exchange, community impact, and spiritual growth.

The group was hosted by the Gallup All Nations Seventh-day Adventist Church in New Mexico, which provided more than just a place to sleep — it served as the heart of the mission trip. Outfitted with basic accommodations and space for worship, the church has become a regular base for mission teams from across the country who come to serve in the Navajo Nation.

Each day, volunteers launched from Gallup to nearby project sites, adjusting to evolving schedules and unpredictable weather. The challenges were real, but so was the purpose — and the students quickly embraced both.

Working with Hands and Heart

Each day, students put their skills — and their energy — to work on construction projects that directly supported local ministry efforts. At the Window Rock Seventh-day Adventist Church, the team helped construct a new building to house bathrooms, digging trenches to install essential water lines and running internet cables to improve connectivity for the church space.

At their home base in Gallup, students worked on leveling two dormitory buildings used to house future mission teams and built sturdy new staircases and decks for safe entry. Over in Fort Defiance at the Rez Refuge Youth Center, the team re-roofed a storage shed and replaced flooring in several rooms, including the music room and offices.

“I’ve done mission trips before, but this one hit different,” said Cesar Gutierrez, a senior at SWAU. “You really saw how even small things — like digging a trench or fixing a roof — can make a huge difference when people need it.”

While they weren’t glamorous jobs they were foundational, both literally and figuratively, to keeping these spaces functional for the community.

Bridging Generations in Senior Centers

In Fort Defiance, Crystal, and St. Johns, students hosted day programs at local senior centers that brought warmth, creativity, and connection. Each event included a shared meal, a healthy cooking demonstration, and a range of activities designed to uplift and engage.

Students led seated mobility exercises, helped seniors paint tote bags and canvases, and facilitated cultural exchange. A few international students shared traditions from their home countries — creating moments of shared learning that honored both Navajo and the students’ own cultures.

These gatherings weren’t just about entertainment; they were about creating mutual respect, sparking joy, and honoring the wisdom of the elders.

Kids, Crafts, and Confidence in Kinlichee

Another area of ministry was the Vacation Bible School program in Kinlichee. Each afternoon, children gathered for crafts, games, songs, and spiritual lessons. Older kids earned Pathfinder honors, while the little ones found joy in moments of play and art.

“I connected with the kids so fast,” said SWAU freshman Eyrelynn Perea. “Even though we were only with them a few hours a day, you could see how much it meant to them. It just made me want to do more.”

Lilly Patterson, a senior from Chisholm Trail Academy, shared: “At first I was nervous, thinking, what am I even going to do that matters? But every day, I felt more confident. I saw that even just showing up and helping made a difference.”

Meeting Needs With Dignity, Learning Spiritual Lessons

Through a partnership with the Fort Defiance Indian Hospital Board’s Nahata’Dziil Public Health Nursing Department, students assisted in delivering water, firewood, clothing, and food to families across the reservation — many of whom live without consistent access to these essentials. The experience left a deep impression.

SWAU senior Gabrielle Almeida admitted, “I didn’t think I’d connect with anything. But it ended up being one of the best things I’ve ever done. I felt so much love here; it really opened my eyes to how much mission work matters. I want to do this again.”

“I’d never been to the Navajo Nation before,” said Twinkle Eapen, a senior at SWAU. “It was humbling. The people were so welcoming, and hearing their stories made me think about how different our lives are—but also how similar we are at heart.”

“You come thinking you’re here to help them, but really, they’re helping you too,” reflected Kenneth Serry, a trip sponsor. “It’s a reminder of how God works both ways.”

Whether through hauling supplies, leading worship, or simply showing up with a willing heart, each person on the trip played a vital role. And for many, this mission marked just the beginning.

“Now that I’ve seen what it’s like to really serve like this, I don’t want to stop,” Almeida reflected. “I want to find more mission trips, more ways to help. I want this to be part of my life.”