ABOUT

LAVIDA

WHO ARE WE?

We are a ministry network for Hispanics and non-Hispanics who have a heart to reach U.S Hispanics for Christ. The LaVida ministry reaches across all Navigator Missions to serve laborers and staff that are Hispanic.

WHAT DO WE DO?

The focus of LaVida is to help carry out our Navigator Calling among US Hispanics by contributing to the Navigator Missions’ ability to reach, disciple and train Hispanic laborers and leaders.
LaVida will provide encouragement, shepherding, coaching, relational connectivity and be an influence multiplier.
LaVida is positioned as an integral core network of the U.S. Navigators to partner and develop new culturally relevant ways of reaching Hispanics.
LaVida events will serve as a catalyst for recruitment, connecting laborers and leaders in helping create momentum, training, mission alignment and vision casting for Hispanics in the US Navigators
LaVida will assist Navigator Missions and ministries in and recruiting the next generation of Hispanics and non-Hispanics laborers who have a heart for reaching US Hispanics for Christ.

Meet Our Team

Alicia Garcia

Co-Director

When I arrived as a freshman at Arizona State University from Texas, I knew no one. I walked around seeking Christian fellowship. After visiting a few different groups, it became apparent to me that The Navigators, unlike some of the other groups, cared for me beyond being a number in their ministry.

The Navs quickly became not just an organization, but my family. Being far from home, it was this community I grew to cherish. The Navigators placed strong importance on discipleship and helping me grow closer to God.

I met one-on-one with a staff woman, and for the first time in my life, I was reading the Bible—hungry for what God had to tell me! Going to the desert of Arizona was a time God set aside to refine my life. He brought me through healing of past hurts, and brought core lies to light, that I was not even aware existed!

I see great value and opportunity in spreading God’s truth on the college campus. My passion now is to see others experience the same personal relationship and freedom in Christ that I have come to know. After 11 years on staff in Southern California, Penn State, and Oregon, I am pleased to continue laboring on the Collegiate Leadership Team.

I want to equip, engage, and empower students to know their identity in Christ and labor for the Gospel both where they are and into the nations. I cannot wait to see God’s transforming power in each of our lives used for his Glory!

Sam Huxford

Co-Director

Sam Huxford was born in the Dominican Republic and lived there until he was 4, when he then moved to Miami. He became a believer at the age of 11 but it was when God introduced The Navigators to him in college at Florida State University where he wholeheartedly began to follow God. While studying finance, he felt the call to come on staff to reach students like him that came into college wanting to grow in their faith and also for the many students who don’t know Jesus.

He has been on staff with The Navigators in collegiate for 10 years. He was introduced to the LaVida Network several years ago which began his journey into embracing his ethnicity. Throughout this time, he has had the wonderful privilege of being married to his lovely wife Jennifer Huxford for 10 years, and they have four kids, Isabella, Aria, Luca, & Ezra. They are pioneering a collegiate ministry at Florida International University in Miami, FL. They desire to see students and non-students in Miami know the one, true God. Sam serves LaVida Network as the Director for the LaVida Conference.

Josh Borunda

Executive Team Member

Josh Borunda is on staff with the Collegiate mission of The Navigators. He was born and raised in El Paso, Texas, in the same home his grandfather purchased when he first moved to Texas from Mexico. As a 3rd generation Tejano, his love for good queso, homemade tortillas, and brisket reflect that intersection of Mexico and Texas.

He was the first in his family to leave home for college and moved to Lubbock, Texas to pursue a business degree at Texas Tech University. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business in 2010 and then pursued a master’s degree in business administration in 2012. During those years, the Lord ignited a passion to see young students commit their whole lives to following Jesus. Josh’s heart is for holistic disciplemakers who trust Jesus with every area of their lives. And for the next generation of Latinos as they wrestle with very real questions about life, God, and their ethnicity.

He currently serves as the South Central Associate Regional Director for Collegiate, helping to resource, develop and care for staff, students, and everyday disciplemakers across Texas. He also serves on the LaVida executive team and lives in San Marcos, TX with his awesome wife, Caitlin Borunda!

Miranda Peterson

Executive Team Member

Miranda is on staff with The Navigators. She graduated from the University of Georgia (go dawgs!) and came on staff with the collegiate mission at the University of South Carolina in 2020. She served there for three years and now serves with the Ministry of Partner Development for The Navigators. She loves being a part of and contributing to advancing the gospel in her roles by helping staff become healthy in their funding so they may fully focus on their ministries. She also serves on the LaVida executive team with the desire to see staff and non-staff thrive in their identity in Christ and ethnic identity to reach the nations to the ends of the earth.

Miranda, a Mexican Ecuadorian, Atlanta native, lives in Columbia, SC, with her husband, Grayson, and their daughter, Naomi, and have another baby on the way! Miranda enjoys eating yummy food (mole, pan de almidon and buffalo chicken dip are some of her all-time favorite dishes). She loves baking, doing yard work with Grayson, making barista-quality coffee drinks at home, and lots of relational time with her family and friends.

Chris Ballesteros

Leadership Team Member

Chris was raised in a small town in central California. During his time at University of California: San Diego, he met the Navigators. While their his heart was sparked to mentor and disciple other men. After graduating, he went on staff with the Navigators in 2018. Chris has served in several different context since joining staff. He has served on college campuses, in churches, and in the inner-city with urban youth. He is currently working on his Doctorate of Ministry at Western Seminary and lives in Merced, CA where he is focused on ministering to people in several context including high school, college, and church context.

Staff

Alex Mata

D4L Influencer