Each year, mission groups from across the country travel to Lydia Patterson Institute (LPI) in El Paso to experience life and ministry on the U.S.–Mexico border. What they discover is more than a service project—it’s an opportunity to grow in faith, build community, and walk alongside students whose daily journey inspires hope.
There is a lot of work to be done at LPI. From painting classrooms and repairing furniture to helping with light construction and campus improvements, mission groups play an important role in strengthening the school and its ministry. Others give their time tutoring students in English and other areas. Just as meaningful are the moments spent sharing breakfast or lunch with students, hearing their stories, and encouraging them face-to-face.
Many groups also take part in the “Walk in Their Shoes” experience, crossing into Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, to see firsthand the daily journey of LPI students.
Nearly 90% of students rise before dawn, cross the border, and travel up to four hours each way to attend school. Walking that path is a powerful way for visitors to understand both the challenges and the resilience that define our students’ lives.
Mission visits are flexible—groups stay from a couple of nights to a full week. Housing is available in LPI’s on-campus guesthouse, known as the Little White House, which accommodates up to 16 people with two bathrooms and a kitchen.
For larger groups or those who prefer other arrangements, many hotels are located nearby. A modest program fee helps cover lodging, utilities, and coordination, while also directly supporting the students of LPI and the mission of the school.
The registration process is simple and can be accessed online by visiting lpi-elpaso.org. Once your group signs up, our staff will be in touch to confirm details and design a schedule tailored to your needs.
Those who come to LPI rarely leave the same. One volunteer reflected, “We spent five days just blocks from the border wall, serving, praying, and learning. We came to give our time, but we left with a deeper faith and a new understanding of God’s love at work here.”
There is much to be done, and the hands, hearts, and prayers of your visiting mission groups can make a lasting difference. Service projects vary by season and need, but there is always meaningful work to be done. Examples include:
Clean up front yards and remove debris
Pull weeds, cut and treat grass, and sweep porches and walkways
Trim oleanders across the street and around the open parking lot
Remove grass from areas and replace with rock
Clean and organize rooms behind the chapel
Clean, sand, and paint doors, furniture, and outdoor surfaces
Move and spread river rock around the Little White House (guesthouse)
Clear rain-collecting drains along Florence Street
Come ready to serve, learn, and grow—and discover why a Mission Group Visit to Lydia Patterson Institute is both fun and spiritually transformative.
For more information contact the development office at LPI-development@lpi-elpaso.org or visit our web site at www. LPI-elpaso.org. Click here to Support our Mission
Leave a Legacy Gift contact Domingo Betancourt. d.betancourt@lpi-elpaso.org