Videos
To Paraguay And Beyond – VIDEO

To Paraguay And Beyond – VIDEO

Featuring: Host: Kodiak Cox, Guest: Rylie Thompson

Duration: 11:27

See how God is leading a new and young generation of travelers to 'go big'. World traveler, Rylie Thompson shares about his 2025 solo travel and how he did that with a larger group of youth to Paraguay.

In this video highlighting Paraguay travel, Kodiak Cox, contributor to map - A Travel Lifestyle Magazine, talk with Rylie about all the aspects of the trip. This video along with the full cover story in map - A Travel Lifestyle Magazine can help younger travelers start to explore how a Christ-centered lifestyle can yield greater travel and life experiences and produce lasting value.

Read the full feature, A Teen's Medical Mission Experience in Paraguay in the Summer 2026 cover story of map - A Travel Lifestyle Magazine.

VIDEO SUMMARY

Riley Thompson, an 18-year-old American raised in Texas who has lived in Jordan and the UK, was interviewed by MAP magazine about his summer mission trip to Paraguay with an organization called Maranatha. He traveled as part of a group of roughly 150 people, serving on the medical team where he assisted with dentistry work — including giving injections and pulling teeth — alongside other medical professionals. The experience was eye-opening and educational, and Riley found it particularly moving that faith was so visibly present in Paraguay, a contrast to other places he had traveled.

Reflecting on the trip, Riley noted he wished he had stayed more focused on the people rather than wandering around, and the experience even sparked a new interest in oral surgery and dentistry. A seasoned solo traveler with visits to over 20 countries, Riley has funded his adventures by working since age 15 at a Michelin-star restaurant alongside his mother. He described the trip as large but personally meaningful, highlighted the great fellowship and worship on campus, and offered one practical tip for future travelers: bring your own pillow.