Day 2 – “Leaving a Mark”
Although the morning came a little too early, it was a great start to the day. We began by giving glory to God through worship, led by Cody Gibbs, filling the room with praise. Brian Park then led our devotion, bringing us deeper into the trip’s theme of Kingdom Impact.
Brian spoke about the different ways God impacts our lives. For some, it’s like a slow, peaceful walk that ends in His warm embrace. But for others—sometimes for me—God shows up with a mighty fist and knocks us down, shouting, “Wake up! It’s time to go to work.” His impact isn’t always gentle, and it certainly isn’t easy. This reminded me of my own testimony—the moments I stumbled, only to find Jesus standing there, hand extended, ready to lift me back up.
Brian encouraged us to reflect on the people who have shaped our lives. The truth is, how we live today can change someone else’s path—potentially even their eternity.
We leave a mark everywhere we go. Whether it’s fingerprints, hair, or thousands of skin cells, we leave traces behind. To drive this point home, Brian had a little science experiment planned for the week. He brought Petri dishes, and we swabbed various things—fingerprints, the bottoms of shoes, the inside of our mouths, even Robbie’s keyboard. We’re excited (and maybe a little nervous) to see what kind of “impact” shows up in those dishes.
After a few announcements, Marty gave us his classic “that is all” and we loaded into the vans, ready to tackle the day’s assignments. Our main projects for today—and the rest of the week—were building the Chavez family’s home and repairing the roof at Mini Mission 1.
At the Chavez family site, progress was steady and rewarding. By the end of the day, all four exterior walls and three interior walls were framed, with siding going up on two exteriors. The Chavez family—mom, dad, son, and daughter—stayed with us throughout the build, and their gratitude was evident in every smile and hug. Each time a wall went up, their faces lit up with joy. The son even jumped in to help, picking up new skills as we worked. Moments like these remind me why we’re here.
Lunch was quick but satisfying—a round of hot dogs and sauerkraut at Pan Am. Everyone was eager to return to the projects, while one group headed out for a joy tour.
As the day wound down, we crossed back over the border to Faith Mission for dinner. Texas Roadhouse catered the meal (always a treat), but the highlight of the evening was a special celebration for Louie Davenport. We dedicated the orphanage warehouse building in his honor, unveiling a beautiful plaque. It was an incredible moment to recognize Louie’s lasting impact on this ministry.
Day 2 was incredible, full of hard work, meaningful connections, and God’s undeniable presence. As we turn in for the night, we pray that Day 3 brings even more opportunities to serve and be changed. Time for some much-needed rest.