by Terry Hickey
After an early breakfast at the hotel we set off at 7:00am for worship and devotions in the Chapel at the Border Mission in Hidalgo, Texas. Prior to our devotion time we heard from the director of Border Mission, Jerry McBright, who explained that Border Mission is a non-denominational ministry that has been serving the physical and spiritual needs on both sides of the Texas/Mexican border for the past 58 years.
During our devotion time Pastor Rick focused on Romans 12:1-2; which calls us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice. We were challenged to live in a way(s) that would glorify God; in what we do (Hands), where we go (Feet),what we say (Tongue), what we view (Eyes), what we listen to (Ears), what we think (Mind). Going out to a mission work site today was to be our act of worship … what a blessing!
Today we concentrated on three construction projects; a second story dormitory room for a small orphanage, a school house at another orphanage, and a storage building for Power Ministry supplies. The van to which I was assigned traveled a long distance to an outlying area of Reynosa, Mexico, where we worked on constructing two walls and the roof trusses for the second story of a new dormitory for the small orphanage run by Aroldo and Xochil Rios. They currently care for twelve children, but could increase that number when the dormitory is completed. This new structure will be air tight, warm and dry; which will be a big improvement over their current quarters.
By the way I do ascribe to the measure twice, cut once school; I did it many times today (!), as I again helped with the measuring and cutting of the lumber. I actually did use my hammer today(!), to bend over a nail that was sticking out of a scrap block of 2×4 (we left all the scrap ends to be used by the children as play items after we are gone).
Speaking of children at play … that pretty much sums up our afternoon at Rio Bravo Ministries, an orphanage and school, that currently cares for 52 children in the orphanage and 180 children in the school. Today we, along with a group of men from the Texas Power Ministry put on a carnival for over 700 children and their parents. Three hours of non-stop activity with over 15 games, many inflatables, family portrait opportunities, hot dogs on the grill and probably 2,000 or more little prizes for participating in the games …. did I mention lots of cotton candy! It was a blast watching children of all ages having fun, and parents being free to be childlike!
I mentioned above, that it is a blessing when we live our lives as a sacrifice to God, worshipping him through everything we do …. well today, I’m not sure who received the bigger blessing … the people we served, either in the morning or at the carnival … or the men of Power … IT WAS A VERY GOOD DAY worshipping the Lord … can I get an Amen!!