This morning, men from ten states rolled out of bed with a single objective: make their way to San Antonio, TX. They started in Rome, GA and Riverside, CA; Oklahoma City and Maurice, IA. There were veterans and first-timers, all with a similar expectation of God working in big ways over the next week.
A couple of us, leaving with the Southern California contingent out of Long Beach, weren’t sure we’d make it. Bobby Biber and David McKnight were met with “you’re not on our list” from the Jet Blue counter agents. But Mark LeDuc, Power operations, came to the rescue; how could we have doubted? It’s clear God is in charge, here, not Jet Blue.
Those flying into Austin met the groups that came in to San Antonio directly, climbed into nine vans, and headed for dinner (chicken fried steak), then the 2 1/2 hour drive to Faith Mission in Del Rio, TX.
10:30 PM, guys grabbed their bags off the vans, claimed beds in the bunk house, and gathered for a general meeting to talk about tomorrow. “Before we get started,” Trip Director Doug Wible said, “let’s put the road blocks behind us.”
Men broke into prayer groups in areas where they had concerns: health, employment, marriage, family, spiritual renewal, addictions. “Take that burden, and fire a fast ball right to the wall,” Doug encouraged the guys.
Power’s Financial Manager Bob Krull stood up to talk about van driver responsibility. “How many of you guys,” he asked, motioning around the room, “are fathers of kids at home?” A lot of hands went up. “Van drivers, you just got an idea of the value of the cargo you’re carrying.”
Personnel Manager Marty Read (who headed off this evening for a Kmart run and late night bible study at the local IHOP) talked about being prepared tomorrow. “You’re 1700 miles from home,” he said. “If you miss the van, it’s a long walk.”
Tuesday in Acuna is shaping up to be quite a day.
Written by David McKnight
Pictures provided by Daniel Balboa
