Day three was a challenging day with wind chill starting in the teens, and a lot of the men wishing they had worn their long underwear before heading out in the morning. It didn’t seem to warm up much through the day, but when you’re doing God’s work, you don’t think about the cold much. Building projects wrapping for the day in Acuna – and waiting for the second week crew to complete – included two churches and a house. Actually, not a house. “It’s a home,” explained Doug Wibble of Riverside, POWER Trip Director. The Casas family really appreciate what the men are doing for them. When the second week crew comes in, they’ll put on roofs for the churches, finish the work started, and maybe even begin new projects. David McClellan, also of Riverside, and POWER Construction Coordinator, has been here since early in the month. “Everything is right on schedule,” he said.
Buddy Sliva of New Castle, Washington worked with Martin Foster of Rome, GA this morning, siding Pastor Hugo’s new church building. By the end of the day, all the buildings were enclosed and secured with windows and doors installed.
But it’s not all about hammers and nails, sometimes the building and repair work involves souls. This afternoon’s JOY (Jesus, Others, You) tour of Acuna included a stop at a prison. Gregg “TwoGee” Francabandera of Long Beach shared his faith and his testimony with these forgotten men, standing in a very cold prison yard. Miguel Pascual, also of Long Beach, interpreted in Spanish, and then a few minutes later prayed with one of the guards, who told him he would have be worshipping and praying with the team and the prisoners had he not been on duty. God was really working there.
As we leave Acuna and Del Rio, pray for this prison ministry, and for Faith Mission and its work in Acuna, and keep them in your prayers through the year. Next stop: Laredo Stepping Stone.