Good News from Bright Hill | June 2026

If this month’s update is arriving a little later than usual, it’s for a good reason: We’ve been busy!

June took us through three wonderful (and very full!) weeks in El Salvador with back-to-back mission teams, an incredible group of ETEAM students, Monday night outreach services, a beautiful quinceañera celebration, and so many moments that reminded us of God’s faithfulness.

We came home tired, grateful, and with lots of stories to tell. Here are a few of our favorites.

Love builds more than houses

Our first mission team arrived from Grace Bible Church’s Anderson Campus in College Station, joined by family members from San Antonio and Colorado. They came ready to serve, and God had a special project waiting for them.

Just before the team arrived, we learned that a woman in her seventies and her adult daughter were about to lose their home. Thankfully, we had a small house on our property that Robert believed could become a safe place for them to live. There was just one problem: it needed a lot of work.

This team didn’t hesitate.

They jumped into painting, repairing, cleaning, and transforming the house into a home. By the end of the week, the two women had moved in.

What a gift.

And somehow, that wasn’t all they accomplished.

They served in Bible studies, preached and shared testimonies during outreach, organized and reopened the SHIP Shop, entertained children while parents shopped, and even treated the kids to a wonderful puppet show.

Our week also took an unexpected turn when a tropical storm changed our excursion plans. Instead of the beach, one group explored San Salvador’s historic center while another enjoyed painting at Fernando Llort’s gallery. It wasn’t what we’d planned, but it turned into a memorable day all the same.

When people simply say “yes”

As the first team headed home, ten high school students and their two leaders arrived through International Missions’ ETEAM program.

Most of these students had never met before gathering for training in Nashville. Then they boarded a plane together and traveled to El Salvador with hearts ready to serve. They came from Missouri, Alabama, Texas, Tennessee, North Carolina, Illinois—and even Cuba, where one student joined the team after they arrived.

They immediately got to work.

They prepared every guest room for the next incoming team by making beds, stocking bathrooms, and making each room feel welcoming. Then they picked up sledgehammers and helped demolish walls as we continue expanding our original school building.

And, of course, they experienced their first pupusas with the Escudero family, a rite of passage for any first-time visitor to El Salvador!

Just days later, our second mission team arrived, creating the largest group we’ve ever hosted.

Together, these teams tackled mountains of demolition work, pushed countless wheelbarrows uphill, hauled bucket after bucket of rubble, served in children’s church and Bible studies, worked in the SHIP Shop, prepared meals for outreach, and visited neighbors to encourage and pray with them.

The work was hard.

The joy was even greater.

A night ten young women will never forget

In the middle of all that activity came one of the most beautiful evenings of the month—our quinceañera celebration.

For months, ten young women had been preparing through Bible studies led by Yeni Escudero, learning about their identity in Christ and what it means to become women who faithfully follow Him.

When the evening finally arrived, they were radiant.

Our teachers and family members transformed the space with beautiful decorations, and our kitchen buzzed with activity as staff members worked alongside the caterers to prepare dinner. (And if anyone ever finds the recipe for that amazing sauce, please let us know. We’re still thinking about it!)

Each young woman shared her favorite Bible verse and explained why it was meaningful to her. They were escorted in by someone special, prayed over, and presented with a Bible, flowers, and a ring as reminders of God’s love and the community surrounding them.

It was a celebration of much more than turning fifteen.

It was a celebration of young women growing in faith.

We’re especially grateful that Robert Posar from Oklahoma was with us that week. He beautifully captured the evening, giving these girls and their families photographs they’ll treasure for years to come.

Meanwhile…

We celebrated Father’s Day.

Our youngest students stole the show dressed as little dads in plaid shirts and tiny mustaches. They sang “Como Mi Papá” (“Like My Dad”), and we all found ourselves humming it for the rest of the week.

The older students brought plenty of energy too, leading everyone in a fun song that had the younger kids dancing and singing right along.

The dads were honored, the kids were adorable, and our hearts were full.

This year we’ve continued holding onto Hebrews 10:23:

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”

This month, we’ve seen God’s faithfulness through His people.

Every time there was a need, someone stepped in.

Sometimes it was with a paintbrush or a sledgehammer. Sometimes it was preparing a guest room for people they’d never met. Sometimes it was helping a fifteen-year-old put on a little blush or lipstick before one of the biggest moments of her life. Sometimes it was praying with a neighbor or serving a meal with a smile.

One of the greatest blessings of this ministry is watching people come to El Salvador, experience what God is doing here, and simply ask, “How can I help?”

Again and again, He provides exactly the right people at exactly the right time.

He who promised is faithful.

Ways you can pray this month:

• Pray for our summer mission trips. This is the biggest summer of teams we’ve had in a long time—possibly ever. Pray for preparations, travel, and for each person coming to use their God-given gifts and talents well as they serve.
• Pray for the girls participating in this year’s quinceañera celebration. They’re continuing through a Bible study, growing in faith, and learning what it means to become women who follow God.
• Pray for our young people who are helping lead music and serve during outreach nights. Pray they would continue maturing in Christ and growing into leaders within their community.

Thank you for continuing to walk alongside us in this ministry. Your prayers, generosity, and encouragement help make every one of these stories possible.

If this update encouraged you, feel free to share it with a friend. We love watching this community continue to grow.