Puget Sound Adventist Academy students went to Belize for a spring break mission trip that combined construction work, children’s ministry and outreach March 22–29, 2026. What the 19 students experienced left a lasting impact on the community they served and on the students themselves.
The group partnered with Faith FM Belize, an Adventist radio ministry based in Santa Elena, Belize. Students stayed at the ministry’s mission house and served in the nearby village of Billy White, helping with construction at an Adventist elementary school.
Their primary task was helping complete an eating area for the school. In Belize, where schools are private, the government provides food to schools with functioning kitchen facilities. By helping finish the structure, students contributed to creating a sustainable food source for children who attend the school.
The project is led by Dennis Borland, a Belize local whose ministry combines Christian broadcasting, education and community outreach. Borland hopes to expand educational opportunities for young people in Belize. His next goal is to build an Adventist high school on the same property so students can continue their education close to home.
PSAA students also led Vacation Bible School programs, played games and built relationships with children. “Each of us would gather about 10 kids to have a prayer and do a small activity,” said Abril Aguilar, PSAA junior. “Their hugs and smiles were enough to make our day. It was incredibly heartwarming to see how giving and loving they were, even though we had just met them.”
By the end of the week, the children could often be seen running hand-in-hand with PSAA students. “This trip is something I will never forget, not just because of the fun we had, but because of the perspective it gave me,” said Lisi Allen, PSAA junior. “It reminded me to be grateful for the opportunities I have and to not take them for granted.”
After returning home, several students began discussing ways to support the children and ministry, and one student is exploring ways to help pay tuition for a child he met.
“I feel grateful for this mission trip,” said Troy Ahrens, PSAA chaplain and mission trip sponsor. “Our students were involved in worthwhile outreach and made incredible connections with the elementary kids. I feel full with God’s blessings as I reflect on the ways the Holy Spirit worked through our team and through the people in Belize.”
As Faith FM Belize expands its radio ministry and plans for a future Adventist high school in Billy White, Borland hopes additional mission groups will partner in the ongoing work. To learn more, contact Borland at faithfmbelize@gmail.com.
Students and Dennis Borland (right) unload bags of concrete for the construction site at Billy White Primary School.
Abril Aguilar and Valeria Nizovtsev, PSAA juniors, assist in the construction of a space that will support meal service for students.
Students visit Faith FM Belize, a radio station that broadcasts hope to the surrounding community.
The PSAA mission trip team and some Billy White Primary School students stand next to the completed construction project.
PSAA students build relationships with local students through prayer, games and other VBS activities.
