by Terry Hickey
Our last full day of the trip started off with breakfast at Luby’s Cafeteria in Brownsville, Texas. After breakfast worship and devotions were held in the restaurant, as well. Pastor Richard recounted the story of the visit of Jesus to the home of Martha and Mary; where Martha complained to Jesus that Mary wasn’t helping with the meal preparations. Jesus informed Martha that she was overly concerned with the wrong things; and that Mary, who had been absorbed in the teachings of Jesus was better focused. The challenge was to avoid getting so single focused on what it is that you are doing … that you miss the opportunity to see where Jesus is at work around you, particularly in developing relationships with those that Jesus puts in your path.
After breakfast we headed to Matamorosa, Mexico and the Instituto Biblico Magdiel, a bible college; which for the past 76 years has been training young people to become ministers of the gospel. Power Ministry has been a strong supporter of the college for many years, and has done many construction projects on the campus. Our purpose today, however, was not building structures, but building-up and providing encouragement to the students.
The Power Team was divided into three groups, to spend time with each of the three classes of the students. I was part of the group visiting the class of first year students. Our first of several ice-breaker type games, where you said “My name is _____ , accompanied by a unique hand/body movement that everyone else had to repeat in sequence, proved to be very entertaining! It wasn’t long before several guitars appeared; and sound of familiar melodies helped to scale the initial language barrier.
A praise and prayer service followed in the Chapel, led by the student praise band. The praise time began at a simmer punctuated by enthusiastic clapping … but as the songs continued several students could be seen with hands reaching upward jumping up and down in time to the music. Then all of the students started to move from their seats to continue this free-spirited worship in front of the platform. Many of the Power Team men even joined the students jumping up and down with arms raised high … singing and dancing in praise to the Lord… a veritable Mosh Pit for Jesus! (!!!!).
What happened next was the real experience to savor …. The students were called to stand in front of the platform; and then the Power Team was called up to lay our hands on the students and pray for them …. Mexican Style. As the College Director called out each prayer need, all of our men began to pray our individual prayers simultaneously! As the director’s prayer pleas increased in rapidity and fervor, so did our individual prayer responses.
Then the students laid their hands on the men and prayed for us with even more intensity. the young students could be heard praying through audible tears! I could feel and hear the emotion of the student praying for me and of those around me. I spent the last part of the extended prayer time with my arms around the shoulders of the student who had been praying for me and the student standing next to me … holding them until their tears and the music subsided.
I have never experienced a prayer or praise time like that of today …
Please keep these young men and women in your prayers, as many of them struggle with many challenges that make it difficult to remain at the Instituto Biblica Magdiel, and complete their training; which is so necessary for the spiritual future of the people of Mexico.
After a pizza lunch with the student much picture taking, good-byes were said reluctantly; and the Power Team set off on a long ride back to San Antonio. The van ride was filled with thoughts of the spiritual high of the day, the activities and accomplishments of the week … and the excited anticipation of returning home to our loved ones tomorrow.
THAT IS ALL!!