by Terry Hickey
Steak dinner Thursday night = steak and egg burritos Friday morning! ( in God’s economy nothing is wasted … not our time/talents … or last nights left-over steaks!
During morning devotions Pastor Rick Chobolla reminded us that being able to love others requires humility on our part … to put the needs of others before ourselves … that he who loves God must love his brother also.
That encouragement proved to be just the right charge for the day as the vans rolled out to continue work on the construction projects, and to set off on a Joy Tour tour to a local men’s prison. I was assigned to the Joy Tour van. After arriving at the prison and going through a security pat-down, we personally greeted the nearly 100 in the small prison yard. The yard is a stark concrete surface surrounded by high walls, crowned with twisted razor-wire. While the area was imposing, the men were remarkably friendly! The gospel message was presented through testimonies by two of the Power Team men, Missionary Mike McGee, Pastor Pat Schmeling and two very dynamic women from Pastor Pat’s church. Praise God, nearly two-thirds of the men responded to the invitation to accept Jesus!
After praying with many men who indicated that they had special needs; hygiene items, denim jeans, and lollipops were handed to the men along with handshakes and hugs. While these men did not look like the image you might have of a hardened prison inmate …. they certainly looked less so with cheeks bulging from lollipops!
Great progress was made at the two construction sites where the framing of three structures and exterior sheeting were completed; as well as the Faith Mission where many maintenance repairs and improvements were completed!
After lunch we were blessed to hear from Allen Ehlers, who with his wife, Charlene, had established Faith Mission International in 1962. They had met the physical and spiritual needs of the impoverished people living along the Texas-Mexican border in the Del Rio/Acuna area until 2004! Their story of faithful obedience to God’s calling is one of selfless hard work, supported by God’s miraculous provision! Pastor Pat Schmeling and his wife Sandra have continued the work of Faith Mission since 2004.
At 3:00PM we set off on a six hour caravan of nine vans, three support vehicles, and a semi-truck loaded with rice and beans … destination McAllen, Texas; our new home base for Saturday and Sunday’s work in and around the cities of Reynosa, Hildago, and Rio Bravo.