During spring break, track and field student-athletes Misha Gray, Joel Batres-Mena, and Melody Davis along with women's soccer student-athlete Lauren Green joined a team with Biblical Ministries Worldwide in El Salvador to serve alongside missionaries faithfully sharing the gospel in their community. Also partnering with Hannah's Hands, they worked with both children and adults, building relationships and supporting ongoing ministry efforts focused on meeting spiritual needs and encouraging local believers.

Throughout their time in El Salvador, they witnessed firsthand the dedication of the missionaries and local partners who pour their hearts into the people they serve. Long days of ministry reflected a deep desire that every person would hear and understand the life-giving message of the gospel. Through conversations, outreach opportunities, and time spent encouraging families, the student-athletes saw how the Lord is at work in many different ways across cultures and circumstances.

One memorable moment came even before arriving at their destination when a connection in Atlanta required the team to sprint across the airport to catch their flight. Despite the challenge, they arrived on time with their luggage — a reminder of God's faithfulness in both big and small details of the journey.

Everyone was especially impacted by the faithfulness of the missionaries who have served consistently over many years, even during difficult seasons marked by danger and uncertainty.

"It was really inspiring to see how God used consistent work of the missionaries over many years to have a huge impact on the community," Lauren Green said. "Their faith in God to lead is so powerful."

"[The missionaries] are up early and late to bed in order to minister and serve the people there," Misha Gray said. "They pour their heart for the Salvadoran people and desire that the Gospel is shared with everyone, because the Gospel is what gives us life."

Joel Batres-Mena was challenged by the ways God works through circumstances that may seem unexpected. "Hearing stories of the missionary when there was great danger in the country due to gang violence was very impactful because she remained faithful to spreading the Gospel," he said. "The lives of those we met in El Salvador truly affected me because they are full of gratitude and faith."

The missionaries in El Salvador inspired Melody Davis in a great way. "Despite our great efforts to serve the missionaries, they served us in an even greater way and were an even greater blessing to us," she said. "God has really used this trip to ignite my heart for missions."

This experience strengthened their desire to use their own gifts and opportunities to serve others and faithfully share the hope of the Gospel.