Good evening. I will be attempting to give you all a word’s eye view of what POWER is doing on Group
One. Someone asked me at work yesterday if I was excited about my upcoming vacation. I told him that
I wouldn’t exactly call it a vacation. But on the other hand, I look forward to the trip all year. Our van
facilitator asked us all what our expectations were for the trip as we were traveling to Del Rio. We all
gave different answers. For me, I am looking forward to renewing my spiritual batteries. It is a chance
to forget about things back in the states and spend the week pounding nails, stapling insulation,
screwing down metal roofing, working as a TEAM to not only provide shelter, but school buildings &
kitchens. So we get blessed through those things, and also by giving out Bibles and sharing our love
with kids by putting on a huge festival at a church and see how good we have it back in the states. But
in addition to that, we experience a fellowship with other Christian men, sharing our prayers, hopes &
experiences through the countless hours driving down the roads from town to town in the vans, or
winding down at the end of a long day.
Our Bible memory verse- I Corinthians 13:11- “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as
a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” We are working on
spiritual maturity this trip.
We all made it to San Antonio with no hitches. No problems with passports, or side trips to Phoenix
this year. We had a great meal at Chopsticks, a Chinese smorgasborg in San Antonio then hopped in
the vans and headed to Del Rio. There are 71 of us, with a lot of veterans, along with some first timers.
After unloading the vans and finding our bunk bed in the dorms, we gathered in the dining roon, where
Dave Barnes, Bob Krull, Marty Read & Pat Schmelling gave us some introductory advice and
instructions. What’s new this year? Watch out for Border Patrol agents if you get too close to the tall
iron fence just across the road from Faith Mission (where we are staying in Del Rio). They are much
more vigilant. Smile at the Mexican guards when crossing the border every morning (nothing new
there) and the standard answer if asked why you are going to Mexico- tell them you are visiting a
church. The prep team (Ray, Cody, Brian, Barry & Bob) have been here one week already and will be
staying throughout all three groups efforts. They need a big THANK YOU!
The leadership team is trying something new this year. The first two groups will overlap their stays, so
that means there will be opportunity for new leaders to step up, and the coordination will be more
difficult. This is something you can be praying about.
Our group has broken up for the night. But I know there is work going on outside of my little space.
There are men helping to unload Louie’s 18 wheeler of his load of beans. There are others organizing
the vans. And I am being serenaded by the worship team as I type.
That is all for now.
-Doug