“Built to Last”
Our last full workday of Week 1. It’s hard to believe how fast the week has flown by. Worship this morning was solid, as always. Brian led us into a deep conversation he had with God.
While looking at the results of our spiritual impact study on the Petri dishes, Brian pointed out that the dirtiest samples seemed to have the greatest impact. It led him to think about how, in life, people with the messiest backgrounds often make the greatest impact on God’s Kingdom when they turn things around and give their testimony. But then God challenged him, saying, “What about My Son, who had the greatest impact of anyone who ever lived and did so without any sin?”
Fair point, God.
But Brian pushed back, “Well, what about everyone besides Jesus?”
And God replied, “Your sin is as dirty as anyone else’s to Me.”
Touché, God. Sin is sin.
Brian also shared the story of Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite. When a newspaper mistakenly published Nobel’s obituary after his brother’s death, it described him as a man who made it possible to kill more people more quickly than anyone else. Nobel was horrified. That wake-up call led him to change his legacy by establishing the Nobel Prizes, awards that celebrate peace and human achievement.
God gives us so many resources and so much time. One day, we’ll have to give an account for how we used the gifts and blessings He’s entrusted to us. What will we be remembered for?
Today is also National Quitters Day, a day originally created to tease people who give up on their New Year’s resolutions. But Brian challenged us to reclaim it, to use this day to quit our habitual sins.
Today, we added a nail to our pockets as a reminder that Jesus Christ died for us. He took on all our past, present, and future sins. But God doesn’t just forgive, He calls us to repent and turn completely away from sin. Psalm 32 reminds us that God forgives not only our sin but also the guilt of our sin. He washes away every label we carry.
We ended devotion by taking communion together, a powerful way to reflect on Christ’s sacrifice.
Project Progress:
At lunch, we were welcomed to Pan Am with a song from their worship team. What an incredible honor! Lunch was fajita steak with warm flour tortillas, another fantastic meal.
Dinner was at Rudy’s BBQ, and the leadership team surprised us with a trip to Dairy Queen afterward! They shared how proud they were of how far we’ve come with the projects this week.
At the Chavez Family Home, Scott shared how impressed he was with how everything turned out, especially Josh’s vision for the front porch. It was an incredible addition, and Josh did an amazing job bringing it to life.
But the most powerful moment came when we dedicated the Chavez family home. We also surprised the family with a monetary gift to pay off the remaining loan on the land their house now stands on. When the mother heard the news, she broke down in tears, which definitely pulled some tears from a few of us, too. It was a truly special moment.
Over at Mini Mission 1, it’s incredible to see how far that project has come. We started the week with just a few metal poles sticking out of the ground. Now, there’s a massive roof covering the entire area, complete with lighting and electrical systems installed. The bathrooms were upgraded with new doors, lighting, and fully finished walls. This space is now ready to be used for God’s glory for years to come.
Reflecting on today, I’m reminded that the work we did wasn’t just physical, but also it was spiritual. The buildings we helped create and the relationships we built will leave a lasting impact.
Tomorrow we all head back home to our families, but I know God’s work is ongoing here, as the next group of men report and continue where we left off.
Time to rest. Good night, everyone.