Living the Mission Through the Eyes of Children

Isaiah Patton recently traveled to Ecuador with his dad on a mission trip with First Union Congregational Church. At just ten years old, he was the youngest member of the team, but you wouldn’t have known it by the way he carried himself. From the moment he arrived, Isaiah stepped straight into the rhythm of the work—helping, listening, and connecting with the children as if he had known them his whole life. Laughter became their shared language, dissolving every barrier that age, culture, or translation might have created. More than once, we found Isaiah off on his own with a group of kids, chasing them through the courtyard in a rousing game of tag or sitting shoulder‑to‑shoulder at lunch, chatting away without any adults nearby to help translate. His presence reminded us that joy is a bridge, and that sometimes the youngest among us are the ones who show us what true connection looks like.

In his own words, Isaiah shares his experience:

My name is Isaiah Patton, and I’m 10 years old. I went to Ecuador in June of 2026 on my very first mission trip. The trip was fun and a little bit scary. I went because I’ve always wanted to leave the country and I like helping others. While we were there, we went to the children’s home, and I helped paint chairs. I played with the kids by chasing them around and playing soccer. I’m glad I went because it was good for me to get out of my comfort zone and help others. I’m looking forward to going back sometime - but this time with my whole family because I missed my mom... just my mom and not my siblings. Just kidding!