The morning after we arrived in Guatemala, the team and I dove right into ministry. It was early, after a full day of travel, and we were invited to do a skate demo at a local school in Guatemala City. The idea had been brought up just the night before by Dr. Brady, the founder of Reskate. I had a loose picture in my head of what it might look like, but I couldn't put a finger on what it would actually feel like to be there.
We skated in a packed auditorium filled with wide-eyed kids laughing and cheering. We shared Jesus with them in the middle of all the energy and excitement. Maybe it was the ollies over kids that caught their attention, or the wipeouts (mostly mine), but whatever it was, the Lord was moving. Afterward, the kids came up to talk, and what struck me most was how intentional our whole team was in those moments—listening, connecting, praying. It was a truly special snapshot of how authentic and genuine ministry can and should be. Skateboarding created space for relationships, and relationships opened the door for truth.
Later, in San Pedrito, we helped host a Red Bull skate contest with Reskate. It was wild. The crowd was massive—not just skaters, but locals and families, and people curious about what was happening. There was a shared excitement in the air, and again, it became more than just a contest. We taught kids how to skate, prayed with strangers, and shared why we came: not just to skate, but to bring the good news of Jesus. And they listened. That still surprises me. Why would a crowd in Guatemala stop to hear some skaters from the States talk about Jesus? I think it comes down to trust. The kind that Ride Nature and Reskate have been building for years. And community, something that skateboarding fosters so naturally.
In El Salvador, we got the chance to do some street skating at a popular plaza. People stopped and stared—some curious, some skeptical, others entertained. What stood out most to me that day were the conversations that followed. Locals came up and asked who we were, what we were doing, and that opened the door to talk about Ride Nature, and more importantly, about Jesus. Again, I was humbled by how open they were to listen—not just to a foreigner, but to someone talking about hope, redemption, and truth. Maybe it's the shared love for skateboarding that creates that bridge. Perhaps it's just God doing what only He can do.
To close out our time in El Salvador, we met up with our longtime ministry partners, Christian Surfers, at their chapter in Majahual. It was such a rad time—sharing testimonies, praying together, and encouraging one another in the work God is doing.
The next day, we hit the beach to host a Skim Contest together. The turnout was incredible, and for our trip leaders and missions coordinators, Jacqui and Ethan Rushing, it was a full-circle moment. Just a year earlier, they had stood on that same beach handing out boards and loving on the local kids. Many of those same kids showed up again with the very boards they had received the year prior, and were so stoked to be reunited with us.
One of those kids, "Bryan," even tracked down our Airbnb. Standing at our front door, skateboard in hand, he asked if he could hang out. Of course, we said yes—and the rest of the day was spent with Bryan swimming in the pool, laughing, and enjoying our time together.
There are so many stories I could share, snapshots of moments that meant the world to us. But missions are never just about the moments. God's work isn't confined to the highlight reel. It stretches beyond what we see, beyond what we understand. And that, more than anything, is what I'm grateful for.
