6:45 AM Central Time, and 65 men gather in the bunkhouse common room for breakfast, devotions — and project assignments. There are two churches being built, and what the crews this week get started, the crews next week will finish. Pastors Juan Guillen and Hugo and the local worshipers will have two amazing new buildings in which to gather and pray. And in Mexico, there is a tremendous need for prayer.
Close neighbor, America’s third largest trading partner, Mexico is described by many as a third world country. Where many US citizens may see pristine resort areas and sandy beaches, the POWER teams see extreme poverty, mixed with a dose of Hope. Gregg Massie of Riverside almost missed the trip this year. But God had other plans. Some of them included a JOY tour of Acuna with Faith Mission Director Pat Schmeling. “It was the best,” Gregg explained as he told the men in an after-dinner meeting about his experience.
A stop at an orphanage included a soccer game with the kids. Then the men drove through an area Pat has trouble getting local pastors to visit. Crime and drugs make it an unpopular, but important destination. “Just honk,” Pat said as they drove through a neighborhood. Residents gathered and heard testimony from several of the men, including Miguel Pascual, a first-year from Long Beach. Pat located a family he’d been looking for, and the team prayed with them, while offering knit beanies and blankets.The mother was so touched, she covered tears with a beanie pulled over her eyes.
Jeff Camire of Riverside worked the afternoon at one of the church builds, and talked about how they ended the morning behind schedule, but by the end of the day, God had made a way. The church was framed, the building of trusses finished and installed in short order. Many of these little miracles happen throughout the POWER trips. It will be interesting to see how God handles the rest of the week. Wednesday night after dinner, the team heads for Laredo.