Sometimes, hearing God clearly requires leaving behind the noise of everyday life. This past spring, Erik Larson joined fellow St. Paul members Zach and Apronis Matzen on a mission trip to Belize to serve at a children's home. The team set out to provide much-needed, hands-on help for children and ministry leaders. In the process, Erik discovered that serving others wasn't just about building stairs or repairing broken furniture—the jungle of Belize was the perfect place for a personal spiritual reset.

The children's home provides a safe, loving home for children whose parental rights have been terminated. Together, Erik, Zach and Apronis spent the week serving wherever they were needed, combining physical labor with opportunities to build relationships, encourage ministry leaders, and share Jesus' love through everyday moments.

"The kids need all the help they can get," Erik said. "The home does a phenomenal job of keeping sibling groups together and finding kids permanent homes." He was equally motivated to support the home's directors whose faithful leadership has transformed the ministry. "They need to know they don't have to do it all themselves," he said.

Throughout the week, Erik, Zach and Apronis tackled projects that made the campus safer and more functional. Among the larger projects was building a new set of emergency stairs behind the boys' house. They also modified a metal covering to create a safer path for children riding bicycles and took care of smaller repairs—from fixing broken drawers to repairing chairs.

But some of the most meaningful work happened in the moments between the projects. When a mechanical issue prevented the children from traveling to church on Sunday morning, Erik helped lead a devotion on campus. The week also gave the team opportunities simply to spend time with the children, including playing basketball and taking boys fishing. "One young man caught his first fish," Erik said. "That was a great moment."

While the trip allowed Erik to serve others, it also became a time of personal renewal. "Seeing how grateful the home's directors were to have some help made me realize how good I have it here," he said. "Their testimony also reminds me that God might still be preparing me for the greatest thing I'll do in my life."

Returning to the children's home has become a spiritual reset for him. "The home is holy ground," Erik said. "I always feel renewed in many ways, but especially spiritually, after spending a week there. I feel like it's easier to hear God out there in the jungle with much less manmade noise. Mission work is a way to slow down and experience life at a simple pace."

Erik hopes others at St. Paul will consider supporting the ministry in whatever way they can. "If you or someone in your family is even remotely interested in serving in Belize, please talk to Rachel Fruge or someone in leadership," he said. "It's less than a three-hour direct flight, and they speak English. You can pray, donate, or come down with us on a St. Paul trip."

The service of Erik, Zach and Apronis in Belize reflects our core value of Living Generously—offering our time, talents and presence to serve others and share Jesus' love.