After breakfast at the Super 8 Hotel, we traveled across the border, and stopped first at a shelter right across the border, where a guy named Hector has dedicated his life to ministering to the Mexicans who for whatever reason got stuck there, with no money and little hope. He has built a church and lodgings where there used to be a dump by the Rio Grande River. He relies on prayer to supply the needs. POWER has been a major contributor over the years, both in building projects and providing food. After we sang a few songs acapela, and Pat preached on Philippians 3:7, we went off on our different ways. My group drove to a little finger of land between a large drainage channel and a slew, where several hundred Mexicans (squatters) have made a home. The living conditions were terrible, with their sewage being dumped into the slew right behind their houses, with a long bumpy dirt road for access. Bruce Hepburn from Chicago, and his family, gave up all that they had in Chicago to come down to minister to these people. He had been coming down with his church for several years, and made the decision to dedicate his life to serving here. He drilled a deep well, and installed a PVC water line to provide clean water for all the houses. He has built about 20 new sturdy houses over the past 7 years. We were helping him build a fellowship hall. We also witnessed his wife Paula and helpers passing out food and clothing to about 100 people. The Hepburn’s also rely on prayer for all their needs!
We left for Alianza Christiana, known as the Dome Church, for lunch, then guess what, we switched projects again. I am beginning to think that there is a plan to this madness. We are learning that it is not about ourselves, but God! We are learning to be humble, which is hard for a lot of us. Our group stayed at the large church, and continued working on a second floor addition. I got the task of cutting fiberglass insulation, which was then installed in the walls and ceiling. Another group of guys were putting on the metal roof. We all kind of hung out as the day was drawing to a close at the church, and were joined by most of the other vans. Unfortunately we got stuck at the border crossing by not leaving early enough, so it was an hour wait to get through to the good old U.S of A. I am getting to learn more names. I might even challenge Marty to a contest to call out everybody by their name.
That is all, gentlemen (and others). (I added gentlemen) (that’s an inside joke).