PLAINVIEW – A team of students, faculty, and staff from Wayland Baptist University have returned from the university’s seventh trip to Honduras, where they participated in a week-long medical mission to rural villages near Granadilla. The mission—led by Dr. Adam Reinhart, Dean of the Kenneth L. Mattox School of Mathematics and Sciences, with assistance from Donnie Brown, Director of Spiritual Life—combined medical outreach with gospel-centered ministry.
Dr. Rebekah Grigsby, Dean of the Ben and Betha Mieth School of Nursing at Wayland’s San Antonio campus, made the trip. Other participants included Olivia Fisher, Sarai Segura, Jazmin Ortega, Dylan Dodd, Carter Biggs, Rogelio Saucedo, Peyton North, Chloe Ratheal and Ellen Bruffey.
The trip, part of an ongoing partnership with Joseph Denton and Tree of Life International, offered students in pre-health programs hands-on experience in health screenings, medication distribution, and anti-parasite treatments. But organizers say the trip is about much more than physical care.
“What excited me most was seeing students use their gifts and abilities to serve others and share the gospel,” Brown said. “This isn’t just about doing good—it’s about equipping students to live missionally, both in Honduras and when they return home.”
Dr. Reinhart, who has led each of the seven Wayland teams since the partnership began, says the mission trip has lasting effects far beyond its five packed days in-country.
“Having led this trip seven times, every other year, I get the added long-term perspective of seeing the seeds that were planted on previous trips grow into thriving ministries,” Dr. Reinhart said. “The Wayland teams were the first to go into many villages that Joe and Tree of Life Ministries works with now. Seeing children that we previously worked with grow up and become leaders in the ministry is amazing to see.”
“Going on mission with my students is one of the reasons I love being at Wayland,” Dr. Reinhart continued. “The professor-student roles vanish. My students become colleagues as we meet medical needs, pray, worship, and share the love of Jesus in a tangible way together.”
The Wayland team split into groups to visit homes in rural communities, conducting blood pressure and blood sugar checks, delivering anti-parasitic medications, and referring patients with urgent needs to local medical providers. In partnership with a volunteer doctor, the team served both children and adults, often returning to homes to follow up with critical care and medication.
“Many of the children we work with received full medical evaluations thanks to the WBU team,” Denton said. “One little girl suffering from severe parasite-related pain was back to full health after just one treatment.”
Dr. Reinhart said the team was blessed to have Dr. Grigsby on the trip.
“The experience and care she brought to the trip benefited our students as much as the people we were working with in Honduras,” he said.
While medicine opened doors, students were encouraged to keep their mission centered on Christ.
“On a medical mission trip, it’s easy to get caught up in tasks and forget to talk about Jesus,” Brown explained. “One of my key roles was reminding our team why we were really there—to share the love of Christ through both word and deed.”
Students also led children’s ministry programs in several villages, including church services and day-long kids clubs filled with Bible lessons, games, and meals. The relationships formed during those programs left a deep impression on the team.
“The spiritual impact left the deepest mark,” said student Chloe Ratheal. “We prayed with families, worshiped with local believers, and saw God’s love cross every language barrier.”
Senior Olivia Fischer reflected on the experience as a joyful, humbling, and unforgettable time of service.
“Honduras 2025 was filled with joy and heartbreak—but mostly with God’s love,” she said. “Every single memory and friendship made will last a lifetime.”
The Wayland team also helped pour the foundation for a second apartment that Tree of Life will use to house at-risk children. Denton, whose organization now cares for 10 children unable to live with their families, expressed gratitude for the team’s physical labor and spiritual encouragement.
“WBU always brings great groups, but this was one of the best,” Denton said. “Their presence was not only a blessing to our children and communities, but also an incredible encouragement to our family and leaders.”
That impact is intentional. In addition to physical and spiritual ministry, Brown emphasized the importance of helping students return home with a renewed sense of mission.
“Our goal is not just to help students have a meaningful experience,” he said. “It’s to help them discover how to live on mission every day, wherever they are.”
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