Like a River
The water is flowing today, not from the usual sources. My tears well up in my eyes and I’m not alone among my brothers, as we watch and listen to Hector and Marylou Luna of “Senda De Vida”, a refugee facility built on a former land fill in Reynosa. This is an incredible place and active demonstration of God’s love and provision! Talk about a transformation! It has become a tent city as refuges unable to cross into the United States, have gathered near the border of Brownsville Texas. Hector shares, some of the countries represented on this property to include Peru, Ukraine, Columbia, Guatemala, Ecuador, Chile, and Haiti with more coming in daily.
Hector begins to share his heart and describes how the men of POWER have impacted their ministry and him personally. Hector speaks and the tears well up in his eyes as they cascade down his cheeks, he describes, anticipating the visit by the men of POWER. Yes, POWER supports the ministry financially, provides resource and manpower for building projects and donations of food and clothing, but that is not what is on Hector’s heart in this moment. He shares that he looks forward to the companionship and relationships he has developed among the men of POWER over the years.
I shared in my first journal that we are being “worked on” and seeing Hector and Marylou, be so vulnerable, is an example of how believers can share their deepest struggles, without judgment and know that they are safe among fellow Christians. Hector proclaimed, “You are my family,” as Marylou has now joined him in tears. Yes, indeed, we are family stripping away all pretense, pride, and judgementalism. Love in its purest form, as God intended.
The Lunas are unable to leave the ministry for any time of rest or relaxation. Both Marylou and Hector explain, as Hector translates for this wife, that there is no one that can spell them or provide respite for them to get away for a holiday or a vacation.
Can you imagine this? Giving and giving with no break from the demands of feeding, housing, and clothing hundreds of people? Yet Hector smiles, that huge smile that fills the room with light, but behind that smile is tired soul. It is evident that they are desperate for a time of rest.
Lord, we ask with humble and believing hearts that you will provide rest for Marylou and Hector. In Christ. Amen!
I encourage you, right now in this moment and into the future, to pray continually for Hector and Marylou Luna! Pray, that God would provide leaders to help them with this enormous task and provide time for them to tend to their marriage and family.
Like a Flood
The gates opened and they poor in with smiles on their faces with expectations that today would be a great day for parents, children, and their families. And oh man! It was awesome, as they ran to the games and carnival rides scattered about the property. We had over 1,700 people in attendance during the three-and-a-half-hour event at the “Refugio de Ninos” orphanage. Our guys put on games with smiles and bantered with attendees, with the aid of interpreters and ministry partners that were well received. Thank you for coming along side of us! We couldn’t have done it without you!
Hole In One!
One of the highlights for me, was helping a young boy born with Down Syndrome. His mother helped him approach the “Corn Hole” game that we were putting on. In this game, the player, is charged to throw three bean bags into a hole usually some distance away. We adjusted the distance and difficulty of the game by moving children and adults up and back based on their age. We made allowances for those in wheelchairs, advanced age and/or an apparent handicap.
This little guy is as cute as it gets! I put him on the board. I then had him sit right next to the hole, so close, he could simply drop the bags into the hole. Crouched down to assist him, I us a hand-over-hand assist technique that I had used with my day treatment clients at a past position as a psychotherapist/case manager at a treatment facility.
He started to get quite good at it! In fact, he just kept coming back, running from his mother trailing behind him perhaps embarrassed and frustrated that she couldn’t contain his enthusiasm. Climbing on the board, he grabbed at the bean bags in my hands wanting me to “reload” him for another successful hole in one. Now he’s dropping the bags in one after the other without a miss!
Priceless!
In Christ,
Clark