By Allison Nors, Coordinator for Mission and Outreach
When I began my role as the Coordinator for Mission and Outreach at Saint Michael, I was eager for the possibility of international mission trips, but I never imagined that a single journey would so profoundly reshape my understanding of mission work and partnership. Growing up at a Methodist church in Keller, every summer I looked forward to mission trips to San Marcos, Austin, or even Dallas. Still, nothing prepared me for what I encountered on my first trip to Tela, Honduras: a living example of how God works through decades of faithful relationship, presence, and shared life.
The Tela mission trip involves three interconnected areas of service: Christian education, construction, and dental and optical care. Each day, part of the team returns to the Espiritu Santo Bilingual Episcopal School and a nearby rural “barrio” school to provide Christian education, while other team members visit different barrio schools to complete construction projects and work with the students. As the children wait for their fluoride treatments to dry, they participate in lessons, music, and crafts, while local adults receive reading glasses or sunglasses—simple items that are considered luxuries in this region.
Spending time in the barrios of Tela makes the contrast between life in Honduras and life in the United States unmistakable. Many of the schools consist of just one to three open-air classrooms serving kindergarten through sixth grade, with no indoor plumbing or air conditioning. Some are perched atop rocky mountain roads that require four-wheel drive vehicles simply to reach them, and many buildings are visibly deteriorating. Despite these conditions, the children were among the happiest and most attentive students I have ever encountered. Managing a classroom of thirty children alone would be overwhelming in the U.S., but in Honduras, the children sat quietly, listened carefully, and approached each activity with intention. As they carefully colored images of Saint Francis or decorated foam crowns with rhinestones and stickers, their focus and joy were unmistakable.
It was in one of these schools, in San Martín, that I met Andy—a child I will never forget. Andy was a bit older than most of the other students and immediately noticed the digital camera hanging around my neck. After I showed him how to use it, his face lit up as he discovered what he could do. I told him he could be my photographer for the day, and he took his role seriously. All morning, Andy documented his world: his classmates, his school, and the work unfolding around him. Nearly every photograph used in this article was taken by Andy. He has a remarkable eye for beauty and storytelling within his own community.
I often wish I could return those photos to Andy, to show him how meaningful they are to us. Though I cannot share the images with him, I hold onto the memories we made together and pray for him each time I look back at his photographs. Andy reminds me that mission work is not about fixing or saving, but about truly seeing one another as beloved children of God. It is a relationship that goes beyond a shared background or language.
One of the most powerful lessons from Tela is the generational impact of long-term partnership and dedication. The family that owns the hotel where our team stays has deep ties to Saint Michael; their daughter currently lives with a parish family in Dallas, and during our visit, they graciously hosted us with beachside dinners full of laughter, fellowship, and the joy of shared community, including time with their new grandbaby. Another young woman, Jenn, was a member of the Holy Spirit Episcopal Bilingual School senior class a decade ago. Following her graduation, she moved to the United States, earned a degree from SMU while living with a parish family, met her future husband in Dallas, and married him in Tela the weekend following the 2026 mission trip.
The partnership between Saint Michael and All Angels and Espíritu Santo Episcopal Church represents international mission work at its very best—rooted in commitment, mutuality, and shared life. I am deeply grateful to be part of this ongoing relationship and look forward to continuing to invest in our partnership with Tela for many years to come.
