2013 Power Ministry Trip Week 2 Day 7: Finishing Thoughts

A Letter from the editor:

As I sit here at the 24 hour Jim's Restaurant over a 1:00 am Texas sized breakfast with 13 other men I can't help but reflect the past two weeks that have flown by. The men that have come and gone and the lives that have changed and even the lives that have yet to change. The faces around the table are tired and energized all at the same moment. The camaraderie between each pair of figures is strong as each head swings back and forth discussing the events of the day to the guy on the left and the right. A few bibles are open around the 5 tables that have been pressed up against each other as we attempt to be as close as possible. A few digital copies on iPhones are also alive as Janice, our waitress,  takes our orders. 

Why is this such a significant point to the trip? It's the point that we start to cling on to the moment. Told hold tight to what we have experienced thru the week. We have given so much and exhausted our bodies, minds and patience. Yet we take these wee hours in the morning to force ourselves to connect one last time to the men that we have grown with over the past week, or for the few of us two weeks. 

We talk about the events of the day and things that have transpired.  One of which is us visiting Magdel the Bible college in Matamoros. Such an impactful day for first timers and veterans alike. The Holy spirit is very apparent as the students shout out prayers of protection over us, our travels, our children and wives and our relationship with our Creator. They desire for us to just be faithful to The calling before us. 

This week we took sometime to spend time with them as we learn about their lives and to know where they will be headed after they graduate the school. To help them in their journey we provided them with shoes. To keep them warm on cold nights we give them bedding. To help them make it to the end of the year we give them encouragement and lots of prayers.  Yes this is probably the single most emotional day of the trip with hugging and crying involved. Over a course of 3 years, which is the students full program, we will have spend 3 days together possibly totally 15 hours or 30 hours if you include both week's men.  Yet the students tell us that they look forward to our visit each year as we leave such a lasting impression on them.

It's a great ending to a long trip. And likewise it a great cap as we end our late nights together and share with other men our favorite bible verses. 

Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

This is my favorite verse. Every year I am reminded of this as I leave my home, wife and my cares at home and am shuttled across the country and forced to trust that God has everything the way He wants it. He wants my full undivided attention.  No distractions and not to be second place.  I love my God and I want what He wants because it is good and perfect.

Men will come home today changed for the better.  This is possible thru God alone.  It's a once a year trip for all of us men but as tired as we are we are so energized and excited for the year ahead. 

Daniel Balboa

2013 Power Ministry Trip Week 2 Day 6: A Day of Finishing Up and Saying Good Byes

Hey Ya'll! We had a great time today on our last day to work on projects. It all started off with our devotion at the Power Church in Hildago, Tx. The pastor there is a Power member Named Ezekiel and it was wonderful to see him again and to be able to share Doug's devotion in his church. Soon after that was finished, we loaded up and headed back across the border into Reynosa to finish our projects there. God blessed me with getting to work with my brother in law, Patrick Cash today and that was a real treat to get to work together for God. While we were working, there were several other projects going on at the same time in different locations around Reynosa. Most of the team members worked at at the Aleanza Christiana working on a large two story building for new classrooms for the students there. This is the same church we attended yesterday with all the people of Reynosa and it was greta to get to give back to the church and help out with the building there. There are lots of pictures from there and you can see for yourself just how big that project was.
Another project that was under way today was another dorm out at the Refugio orphanage, where we held the festival yesterday. What a good feeling to be able to give back to these kids and families who blessed our lives so much in the last few days. To top it all off, the kids and staff at the Refugio treated us to an incredible lunch, home made right there at there their place. It was unbelievable to see these kids serve us and be grateful for the opportunity to do so. Talk about a humbling experience. Words can't explain how we felt to see those huge smiles and big wide eyes shinning when we walked in the room. It was better than any heart breaking scene in a Hollywood movie, trust me!
One thing that was pretty special to me today was at the completion of a new roof on a clinic at Senda De Vida, the pastor there (who I've gotten to know over the last 4 years), presented the Power team with a plaque and a "banner" his wife had made for us in appreciation for all the work on the new clinic. If you look through Daniel's pictures, you might even be able to catch a peek of your's truly getting to receive them on behalf of Power. Knowing Pastor Hector and all the hard work he does for the people in Reynosa, it was a very moving moment for myself and the rest of the guys on the project. Be sure to check out the pics and see for yourself!

Well after a long day of trying to wrap up everything we could on our last "official work day" of the trip, we've now loaded up in the vans (were getting pretty good at that by now) and made our way down to Brownsville to get ready to go to Instituto Biblico Magdiel to see the students at the Bible school. This is always a great way to wrap up the trip and spend some time with students who are learning how to head out in the world to be missionaries or preachers themselves. It really makes you want to get into the Bible when you meet a 20 year old who knows the bible inside and out and can tell you things about it that you might not know.  Tomorrow we'll spend some time with the students of each class and then head over too the gym to have a "Godly jam session" with them and the band they have. Its a pretty cool time to relax and just "let your hair down" (if you've seen me in any pictures, you know this is a pretty difficult thing for me to do!)

Before I head out, let me thank ya'll for reading the blog and keeping up with the events each day with Daniels pictures. It really means a lot to us while were gone to know you're there checking on us.  A special thanks goes out to Sarah from Oregon for reading each night, Ben is a great guy and I feel very lucky to have him as a friend, even if he lives on the complete opposite corner of the country (by the way, he's the one that made the comment about having a tough act to follow Sunday at the church!)

As the trip starts to wind down,  you can tell all the guys have been spending way too much time together as any barriers that might have been there from people from so many different places, are now clearly gone and were all acting like a bunch of kids again with each other. Maybe its just a guy thing? One thing is for certain though, all of us that are married surly miss our wives and can't wait to get home to see them. I know I'll be glad to see mine (I love you and miss you Sally!).  This trip is a highlight of the year for me and Ii wouldn't trade it for the world, but its always nice to come home!

Todays Power theme was "A day is not complete until you can do something for someone who can never repay you". Thats a great thought and seems to be exactly why we stopped in Reynosa these last two days. I felt sure we were doing what we have been doing for people who could never repay us for it.....And then they give us a plaque and send in the children with those smiles...... I guess our day is not as complete as I thought it was.

Ya'll take care and God Bless, we'll be home soon!!

2013 Power Ministry Trip Week 2 Day 5: Giving to the Children

Hey Ya'll, its me, Larry again with todays post. What a great day we had today as we all got some much needed sleep and didn't have to be ready until 9 AM and trust me on this, that was a blessing!! After everyone woke up and loaded the vans we headed down to Alienza Christiana Church in Reynosa, or as we call it on Power, our church away from home.  Before our church service, we were treated to another devotion from Doug Husen on Genesis 12 and Abraham trusting God and demonstrating it by going out on just faith. Thats pretty much what we try to do in Power as once we arrive, we really don't have much information on our projects, but when they read out our names and send us to the work sites, we head that way trusting the decisions they've made and looking forward to doing Gods work. Most of the time, everything is set up just as we hoped and everything we need is waiting on us. Of course theres a few times it doesn't go exactly as planned, but I think thats just God saying "I gave you a brain, make good choices and use it" and wanting to see how we do on our own. Its kinda like taking the training wheels off a bike, You know what you should do, but theres still some questions as to "what now?" I'm pretty sure God gets a laugh out of some of the choices we make and thinks to himself "I taught you better than that". Either way as long as you have faith and follow through with Gods plan, its gonna be OK.

After devotion we all went to the church service and were treated to outstanding music and some serious soul raising prayers from the Mexican people. What a wonderful feeling to walk back into the dome church and feel the love of God from all the people at the service. At one point they called the entire Power team up on the stage and we enjoyed some more songs and thank goodness there were many more people singing out in the crowd to cary the songs we were trying to sing to them. We may do great work for the Mexican people, but we aren't a church choir by any means!! Three of our Power members were chosen to speak to the 2,000 plus church members at the service and our first speaker was Craig Guinn (the member I talked about yesterday in the blog) and what a story he had for not only the people in the church, but for the rest of the power team. He talked about being a professional firefighter and being in a building when the floor gave way and falling to the story below and suffering burns over his entire body. Suffering in pain and feeling as if this was the end. He told how he said a prayer and prepared to meet God and at that moment, all the pain went away and he felt like he was laying in his bed at home, in peace. He talked about how that experience was not what he had planned for his life but apparently it was what God had planned and how his recovery and whole life has exceeded what the doctors thought would happen from then on. I can tell ya, there wasn't a dry eye in the church, including the Power team, when he finished with his story. The team member standing next to me made the comment "thats gonna be a tough story to follow for whoever is next" and I agreed completely as I was the next scheduled speaker for the service. Personally I was hoping they would end the service with one of the most inspiring life stories I had ever heard, but apparently, that wasn't God's plan as I slowly made my way to the podium. I did manage to deliver my message on how we may come down here and build for them, but the prayers they give us far outweighs anything we could possible give them. To be honest, my mind and heart were still trying to process everything that Craig had talked about. Following me was Doug Husen (another person who always has a strong message to deliver, how did I get roped into speaking between these two guys?) and Doug's message was short, sweet and to the point as he prayed for the church to continue growing and doing Gods work out in the Reynosa community.

After the service, we headed out to Refugio orphanage to host what has to be the greatest festival of all times as we are honored by almost 300 children from the orphanage and the surrounding neighborhood as we ran all sets of games and activities throughout the afternoon. No matter how tired we might have been before, seeing the joy on their faces and looking into their eyes just re-engerized your soul with something I can't even start to describe in this blog. It was truly a moment that will live in our hearts forever.

Todays Power theme is "we make a living by what we make, we make a life by what we give", I'd like to tell ya that we gave those kids one heck of a festival and it was all about us giving but that would be backwards..by the smiles and looks of joy those kids gave us today, they made our life by what we were able to receive.

Thanks again for the continued support and prayers, were on the downside of the trip now and looking forward to getting back home and seeing everyone back home.

2013 Power Trip Week 2 Day 4: Battling It Out!

Once again we wee treated to an outstanding devotion from Doug Husen this morning and he delivered the message from 1 Samuel about the willingness of David. Now we all know the story of David and Goliath but I never though of it the way Doug delivered it. Doug spoke on how David charged into battle against an enemy that had not been beaten and he didn't hesitate one little bit to face those odds. I always thought of it as a great story about overcoming fear and odds that were against you, but never thought about how I would face that same situation. I'm pretty sure I would not fly into battle as quickly as David did. Maybe even take some time to scout out my enemy and do some planning, anything to postpone what seemed to be a no win situation. But not David, he obeyed God and went straight in with no fear and did just what God told him to do. Maybe thats why we all love coming on the Power trip each year, 'cause God tells us to do it, but it sure is easy when its something we look forward too. Dougs message ended with how we should face life like David, and be willing to do whatever God tells us, not just want we want to do or is convenient for us. This is especially true at home and work sometimes and was a great message before we headed across the border into Reynosa to work on our projects today. Speaking of projects, all the men were busy trying to do Godly work today on everything that was assigned to us. It was another great "re meet" day as I got to work with a couple of old friends from California today. Tom Maddux and Robert Gjurgevich have been on power for several years and it was a real treat to spend the morning with old friends building a cooler (a BIG cooler!!!) at the Border Mission. This afternoon, our group had the opportunity to work on a clinic at Senda de Vida and what a blessing it was to work with the men I got to work with. Veterans and rookies all stepped up to come together as one team with one heart beet and one goal and we charged into our challenge of finishing a roof for the clinic. It was awesome to get to meet one of those rookies (he sure didn't act like a rookie today) and that was Craig Guinn from South Carolina, other than the fact he's a Clemson fan, he is one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet and always has a smile on his face. Now when I thought our group had "charged into battle" with todays assignment, when we arrived back at Alianza Christiana (the Dome Church), God had a humbling moment for us as we pulled in and saw what the other groups had accomplished today. Several of the groups had worked together to build classrooms for the high school students at the church and you wouldn't believe what they got finished today. It was a large, 2 story building to house all the new classrooms at the church (did I mention the building was BIG???)I know Daniel was around that job site today so be sure to check out all the pics from there and see for yourself how much work they accomplished in just one day (so much for our charging in to finish a roof...these guys knocked out a whole building, did I mention it was HUGE???) Apparently, everyone listened to Doug's devotion and felt the urge to charge into battle.You really don't want to miss seeing all those pictures, I know he got some good ones and you can see for yourself how busy those work crews were. Tomorrow is a special day for the trip, yes its the day we get to go visit the service at the Dome Church, and then do a carnival for over 1,000 kids all afternoon, but the big news is we get to sleep in and don't have to be ready to leave until 9 AM!! Its must be a typo somewhere in the schedule but We'll take any sleep we can get by now! As I mentioned we visit the Alianza Christiana and then head out to Refugio Orphanage to give the kids a festival during the afternoon. It doesn't matter how tired anyone is, when its time for the festival and you see all the kids smiling faces and appreciation they have for us doing the carnival, it makes you feel like you could run forever. Those kids bring more energy to us and any Red Bull or any other energy drink could. And thats the truth!!! Well, its time to get ready for the big day tomorrow so be sure to check out the progress everyone made on todays assignments and see for yourself all the work the guys finished at the Dome Church. Thanks again for the prayers and support and please know we are all praying for you guys back home and we can't wait to get back to see ya as soon as we can!!

2013 Power Trip Week 2 Day 3: We Came, We Sawed, We Finished All Our Projects!

Hi ya'll, its me, Larry Johnson again tonight with the latest news from the 2nd week of Power Mission trip 2013, week 2. Today was another great day (aren't they all?) on the trip as we finished up every one of our projects in Acuna, Mexico. Each of the teams headed out with one goal in mind and that was to do Gods work and let the Spirit of the Lord show through our actions as we completed the houses and school rooms for the people in Acuna. The day started off with another devotional from Doug from Genesis 39 about having integrity and being able to avoid temptations. He spoke on how it actually takes more integrity or power to just walk away from temptations, than to try and tough it out or fight them. One way we can help ourselves avoid temptations is not not be a chameleon and change your colors depending on your surroundings. If you say your a Christian, then act like a Christian, period. It reminded me of my favorite verses in the bible and thats James 1:22 "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves, Do what it says". This is not always an easy thing to do (especially where I'm from on Saturday afternoons in the Fall, its hard to show love for other SEC teams when your team is playing them!) But I know we should try. I always relate this verse to sports teams I work with back home as the "Nike verse...just Do It" its an easy reminder to help keep these verses in your mind. As we worked on our projects, it was another great opportunity to meet new friends again and "re meet" some old ones I haven't caught up with yet. I'm telling ya folks, there was some super work going on and I was blessed to get to work with Tom Hayes again and he is an inspiring guy (not to mention a great worker, but don't tell him I said that). Also working on the house was Brian Nelson and Sean Randell, it was good to get to work with these guys again after all the trips we've been on but haven't gotten to work together that much. I hope you guys are keepin' up with our progress by looking at all Daniel's pictures he puts up each day. If he doesn't have a hammer in his hand, he's got his camera and sneaking around every corner trying to get all those pics you guys enjoy, and I know, thats no easy task! Thanks Daniel!! After finishing up the houses, the greatest thrill was getting to present the keys to their new house to the families and see the happiness and joy on their faces. All that was missing was Ty Pennington with a bull horn and a bunch of people yelling "Driver...Move that bus!!!" Even without that there,it was an incredible moment and definitely a "Home Improvement" and we were just blessed to be part of it. Now after the projects were finished and we met back at Faith Mission, it was time for an incredible meal prepared by our food crew and then on to the vans for a long ride to Laredo for dinner, followed by an even longer ride on down to McAllen. Even though the rides were long, it provided some great time to talk to different guys on the van and get to hear each others story (actually, it was a great time to get some sleep too if you wanted!) I'm happy to say that after a 6+ hour van ride we are now all in McAllen for the night and getting ready for tomorrows projects here in McAllen and across the border in Reynosa. We can't wait to see what God has in store for us tomorrow, be sure to check back in and see what happens next, it promises to be great (its Gods plan so you know its going to be great!!) Before I go, I almost forgot to tell ya about todays Power theme and that is "Life is like a game of tennis; the player that serves well, seldom loses". If thats the case, then the Power team definitely won today and will win the rest of the days. Game, set, and match. Thanks again for keeping up with us and your continued prayers and support, as the days get longer and start to blend together we can definitely use the support. we'll see ya tomorrow with more updates from POWER. Take care ya'll, Larry

Prayer Requests for the trip.

Some may be aware that we have an on going prayer list but if you don't then we want to make it known. The prayer list is normally updated at night. Here is the link. http://www.powerministry.com/pr_pr.php Thanks Prayer Warriors!

Power Trip 2013 Week 2 Day 2 - Warmer Weather in Acuna

Hi ya'll, this is Larry Johnson from Georgia with tonights blog about everything that happened on the POWER mission trip today in Acuna, Mexico. This mornings speaker was Doug Husen from Corona, California and what a great message he delivered to start off our week of missions! Doug's theme was from 2nd Peter and he talked about the goal of a Christian life. God wants us to have "Christ Likeness" in our thoughts and just as importantly in our actions. He also talked about how God blessed Solomon with wisdom and then showed how to truly gain wisdom... we must seek knowledge of Christ, for true knowledge comes from Him. He then challenged us to "know God more" and try to have people seek us for our knowledge of Christ.

Doug also mentioned his friend Rick and how he modeled his life after Christ and what an inspiration he was. One thing that Rick did that really stood out was transmitted Christ to his children for it to be passed on for many, many generations, what a great blessing!!

The Power theme of the day was "Make new friends, but cherish the old ones". This was a great way to start the week since there are so many new friends on the trip that we have yet to meet. Not to mention all the old ones from the years past that we enjoy getting to see again.

Once we headed across the border and started on our projects, this was an excellent time to work on everything that was mentioned during our morning devotions. As all the men were put into their groups, there were plenty of new faces in each group and it didn't take long to meet them and making new friendships. Two of the new friends I met today were Al Crescencio from Ridgecrest and Hurley Baird from Redding. What a great set of guys I've had the fortune to work with and really get to know today. As for "old friends" I did get to work with Ben Sullivan from Oregon and several other guys from the Riverside group and let me tell ya folks, we picked up right from where we left off last year and it was like we never missed a beat! That's really one of the hidden "treasures" of the Power group, being able to surround yourself with God loving men that always seem to bring the best out of each other (except for when you are trying to sleep and everyone is snoring!)

Our project was to build a house for the Rivera family and we're almost finished with it. Good thing too, 'cause tomorrow we only have one session on the work sites and then it's a long drive down to Mcallen, Tx to get ready for the next set of opportunities God has waiting for us. 

There were three other projects going on today and I really wish I could have been at all of 'em to meet more new friends and catch up with old ones, but unfortunately you can't meet everyone in just one day. Thank goodness we have lots more projects to work on with plenty of opportunities to share with each other. 

We do want to thank everyone for all their continued prayers and blessings while we are gone from our homes and families. They're all much appreciated and we hope you know we're all praying for you too while we are away. Please keep them coming!!!

Well, it's getting late and after a long first day and then a long night of cleaning the vans and helping  Patrick Cash from Georgia load Louie's truck so it's ready tomorrow (with several thousand pounds of beans and rice), I think it's time to head out and get some shut eye, or at least I'll try. All those new and old friends I just mentioned are already asleep and there is a chorus of "snores" coming from the rooms!

Keep checking up on us with the Power Facebook page!
Take care and God Bless,
Larry Johnson

BREAKING NEWS!!!

You may be aware that the Flicker account is having issues. We are quickly making changes on the fly to better serve our Power Ministry Community. We are now pushing all the image to Facebook in a Groups page.

 The link is https://www.facebook.com/groups/POWERMINISTRY.ORG/

Please Add yourself, other Power Members, and any others that may need to be aware of this page.

All the images are up and complete for you to View, Tag, and even Download to your computer. If you have any issues please leave a message on this post with an email include and the Admin will contact you as soon as we have internet connection again. Thank you and God Bless.

2013 Week 2, Day 1: We are at Faith Mission International

Again we have arrived! Faith Mission in Del Rio, Texas.

We have shown up with 59 guys total for the trip with 17 of them from Ridgecrest, CA.  Many of you may know David Burkett from Faith Mission Ministry in El Cenizo, Tx.  This week his son-in-law Christian Trevino has joined us for the long haul.  His interpreting skills with be a great asset this week.

After having a great dinner with some fried cat fish and corn bread we head out for Del Rio Texas. The trip is long and hard but with a co-pilot beside the driver it makes the drive bearable.

We arrive at Faith Mission International about 11:00pm and after some quick briefing for the guys we head out to take care of some chores before bed.  Gassing the vehicles and cleaning them for the next day is a job for some of the new guys.  We even stock them with Bibles and stuffed animals for the children tomorrow.

We are willing servants for God and we are excited to see where our journey will take us tomorrow.

2013 Week 1, Day 7: Worship at the Dome Church, and Homeward Bound

It's the last day in Mexico for this week's POWER team!

First, a quick breakfast at the hotel -- for those who didn't sleep in too late. Then it's boarding the vans for our trip to Reynosa and the Dome Church: Alianza Cristiana.

It's also one last opportunity for Craig Gilbert to share his message to the team on what it means to be a man of POWER, and that is appropriating the power that God has given you. "If you don't," Craig said, "you're just an ordinary man."

Craig told the story of Hezekiah's response to the Assyrian king's threat against Jerusalem. Hezekiah was a man of power, but his kingdom was threatened by a vicious army, known to be superior in the region. What did he do? He prayed to God, who sent an angel that destroyed the enemy.

"How many soldiers in Hezekiah's army had to lift a weapon?" asked Craig, "Not one."

"There is a great power among us, and we don't even know what it's capable of," said Craig, adding: "We're still trying to do it our way, when the greatest battles ever fought were won with this power." And you receive it, he added, by just surrendering to it. "The thing that distinguishes us as Christians is not a cross around our neck, it's a surrendered life."

Following the devotion, the POWER team headed over to the church, and took their seats. No more construction projects today -- but they were still building relationships.

When it was time to head on stage, both POWER teams, totaling more than 100 men, sang and provided testimony. It was a highlight of the service, attended by more than 1,000 people.

Tomorrow is wrap up day, and return home for most of the Week 1 attendees.

2013 Week 1, Day 6: Festival at the Dome Church

Today and tomorrow, we're back in Reynosa at the Dome Church: Alianza Cristiana. While there were work projects in the morning, this afternoon's work sites were cleaned up, and the POWER teams prepped for the festival, which drew hundreds of local children and their parents to the church.

You might notice I said POWER teams in that last paragraph. While most days you only see the men wearing ONE color shirt, today there were two -- with the brilliant blue color worn by the POWER team of Compass Christian Church in Colleyville, TX.

This independent POWER group is a brethren organization to POWER Ministries, running their own mission trips to the Texas / Mexico border. While their trip this week focused on a project at the Rio Bravo Children's Home in Reynosa, they joined their POWER brothers at Alianza for the festival  today, and morning services tomorrow.

Today started with our POWER team departing the hotel at 7 AM for Border Mission and the continued Men of POWER devotion led by Craig Gilbert. Today's devotion focused on Men of Reliance.

"When you look at all the great men in Hebrews 11," said Craig, "one thing you'll find is that they all relied on God." Craig explained that to be a man of reliance, you had to start by understanding that God has a plan; you had to rely on God -- and then you had to be a man on whom others can rely. 

"Life is like a game of tennis," said Craig. "The one who serves best, seldom loses."

Today's assignments included continued work on the high school at Alianza and the clinic at Senda de Vida. There was also a cooler project at Border Missions. In the relationship-building department, there was bowling with the orphan kids from Big Heart -- and of course a LOT of festival prep.

Scheduled to start at 2 PM, this year's festival kicked off with the POWER puppet team stirring up a ton of excitement with the local children (not to mention silly string everywhere, and cannons shooting miniature soccer balls out to the crowd). The food crew prepared and distributed 1,500 hot dogs. There were games for the kids, cotton candy and popcorn. A photo booth provided near-instant souvenirs. Before we knew it, it was 6 PM and the festival winded down.

Sunday is another Getaway Day! The POWER team will be packed when they climb on the vans, and head for church services in Reynosa, and then they'll be on their way back to San Antonio. But more on that tomorrow!

2013 Week 1, Day 5: Magdiel Bible School

GRADUATING CLASS OF 2013

Today is a day a lot of the POWER guys look forward to every year, and that's visiting Magdiel Bible School (find it on Google Maps by clicking here: Instituto Biblico Magdiel). It's in Matamoros, directly across the border from Brownsville. This is a relationship building day!

Magdiel has graduated more than 1,500 students, many of whom have gone on to become influential spiritual leaders throughout North America. POWER is committed to supporting the mission at Magdiel, and a visit from the POWER team helps the students raise money -- but more importantly to meet with Godly men who care about the Magdiel mission, and about them personally.

More on that in a moment!

This morning the POWER team jumped in the vans before 7 AM, and headed for Luby's Cafeteria. While not generally open for breakfast, today is different. Luby's opens for breakfast just for the POWER team today, and we fill the restaurant. But great food is not the only thing on the menu.

Continuing his men of POWER devotion, Craig Gilbert spoke today on Endurance. He talked about Noah, and how it took him 75 or more years to build the ark, while the world around him scoffed. He was a man of endurance, and trusted God in his word. Craig explained that God wants us to persevere. Even in the face of those who may scoff at what we do. "Perseverance," said Craig, "means you get back up when you fall down."

He talked about how to build endurance, ancient runners would train with rocks tied to their ankles. "Then when it was time for the race," Craig said, "they would throw them off." That made the event for which they were training easier to run. 

Craig used this to compare becoming men of endurance by throwing off the things that hinder.

In Hebrews it says, "Let us throw off everything that hinders, and the sin that so easily entangles."

"All the trials and things of this life are NOTHING in the arms of Jesus," Craig said.

After the devotion, Dave Johnson got up to speak about Magdiel. "It just hit me that there are two people who aren't with us today," he said, "and they're Ray and Jessie Morelock." He added, "None of us would be in this room if it weren't for these two." 

Morelock was director at Magdiel from 1952 - 2008. When he passed away, the school went through a difficult period of transition. Today, it has passed through to the other side, and is growing again. Morelock's name is included on a sticker on every box of bibles POWER distributes as a remembrance of what God accomplished through this man.

New dorms, a dining hall and worship center were started over the past few years -- with the dorms just a cinder block shell when the POWER team arrived in 2012. When we arrived at Magdiel today, they appeared completed. Footings were about to be set for new classrooms, and the POWER team jumped into the excavation, praying over the new construction.

But today was not a day for building projects; it was a day for building relationships. The POWER team was split into groups, and each group went to one of three classrooms (one each for first, second and third year students).

Joe Ramirez of Grand Terrace, CA played facilitator in the third year classroom. To help students and POWER men get to know each other, he brought up the POWER men, five at a time, asking the students to "vote" for the POWER man who they thought met a certain profile, like job, and special interests -- a little like the old game show What's My Line, and with some very funny picks. Young POWER guy Enrique Mejia of Reynosa was the interpreter.

Afterward, the room was divided into two teams, combining both POWER men and Magdiel students on each team for a game of Bible pictionary. Students received sweatshirts and backpacks from POWER, and sold tee shirts as a fund raiser. Lunch followed, and extended fellowship. Then before we knew it, time to leave. Dinner, and a drive back to McAllen.

During the night's prayer team meeting, the students of Magdiel and the future spiritual leaders of Mexico were lifted up. 15 guys participated in the prayer team, and a lot of ground was covered. In addition to the students, we've had guys who were sick, men dealing with issues at home and work, family members needing prayer; what a great opportunity. To find out more about the prayer and praise reports, go to the POWER websites prayer and praise page.

Tomorrow we're back in Reynosa, continuing work on the building projects -- then it's our annual festival time at Alianza Cristiana (the domed church). There are going to be some great photos and terrific stories to tell!

2013 Week 1, Day 4: Reynosa and Hidalgo -- then Traveling to Brownsville

After a very short night, the POWER men were up again early this morning. If they had the time, they ate a fast breakfast at the hotel -- and along with their luggage were on the vans by 7 AM. Next stop, devotion time at Ezequiel Aljandro's POWER church in Hidalgo, TX (just across the border from Reynosa).

Pastor Ezequiel has been on the POWER trip before, and joined the group again this week. When he opened his storefront church in Hidalgo, he asked the POWER leadership team permission to use the name. Now, the POWER men were meeting at the POWER church for morning devotion and assignments.

Craig Gilbert continued the devotion he started two days earlier in Del Rio. "To be a man of POWER, you have to be a man of WISDOM," he said. Using Solomon as the great example, Craig pointed out that Solomon sought after wisdom. "You have to look for it and ask for it -- and then you'll be blessed by it," Craig added.

"Wisdom will keep us out of trouble," Craig said. "It will keep us on the path to holiness and righteousness."

Devotion over, and ready to issue assignments, Dave Barnes chimed in: "The day is not complete until you can do something for someone who can NEVER repay you." Today, we had that opportunity.

Building projects included a high school at the Alianza (Dome) Church in Reynosa, completing a senior citizens dorm, a clinic at Senda de Vida and shelves at the POWER church.

If you have followed this week's blog, you know that POWER is also involved in building relationships -- and today, that meant the puppet team performing for the children at Refugio Orphanage School. A work team also headed over to Border Mission on the Texas side of the border to handle the logistics of delivery of rice and beans and bibles to several locations. 

More hygiene kits, jeans and socks went on vehicles for delivery during the Reynosa Jail visit scheduled in the afternoon. After the visit, like the multiplication of loaves and fishes, there were enough extra socks and hygiene kits to deliver to Senda de Vida, where the director had been praying for socks and toothpaste for the men.

Following the projects, it was dinner at Rudy's BBQ, and then traveling farther south to Brownsville, where the POWER men stayed the night. Tomorrow, it's a visit to Magdiel Bible School in Matamoros.

2013 Week 1, Day 3 - The Work Continues!

In case you dropped by to see the Day 3 blog posting, and saw the great photos, but nothing else -- well, like everything during POWER week, there's a story behind this. And this story involves a dead battery in the POWER truck. 

If you noticed the "Getaway Day!" posting from the road, we had just finished up lunch at Faith Mission, and were on our way to Laredo for dinner at the Sirloin Stockade. Then it was down to the McAllen and Hidalgo area across the border from Reynosa. To put that into perspective, click on this link for a Google Map of the 329 mile 6+ hour drive (not including dinner in Laredo!).

After we wrapped up our visit to the restaurant, van and driving assignments were passed out. Your blogger David McKnight of Riverside, CA was assigned to drive the Box truck. Before leaving, however, we found a dead battery in the POWER truck. So instead of getting on the road for the three hour drive to McAllen, we tried jumping the POWER truck's battery with the Box truck's battery. 

After a few attempts, we tried pulling the truck to start it. That did the trick! We were off to the hotel in McAllen. It's just that we didn't arrive until after 3 AM. So, your tired blogger chose sleep over blogging.

But, we're back tonight! And here's a recap of Day 3...

Craig Gilbert continued his POWER devotion this morning. "To be men of POWER," Craig said, "you must also be men of obedience." Craig explained how a man of obedience acts and trusts -- and that results in blessings. He used the example of how a parent expects his child should be obedient 100% of the time.

"How obedient are you to God?" Craig asked. "25%. Maybe," he said, answering his own question. "Hey, we have horses at the ranch," he added. "If they were performing at 25%, they'd be at the glue factory!" Then he spoke about how acting and trusting results in blessings.

"There is a simple formula throughout scripture: FAITH + OBEDIENCE = BLESSINGS." And he used the example of Abraham in Genesis 22:17-18, where because of Abraham's obedience through testing, God blessed him and his descendants. "If you want God's favor," said Craig, "you'd better be obedient."

And in fact, that's what many of the POWER men are doing this week. They feel a calling to participate in the annual POWER trips, and many come back again and again.

Continuing on the theme of building, David McClellan explained the importance of getting the projects as far along as possible: "We'd like to get the siding and the roof on at the Ramirez home project -- since the family is sleeping under a piece of canvas right now." As is always the case, these building projects impact many people.

Today the POWER teams worked on Sunday School rooms for Pastor Geraldo, two houses, a storefront at Mission 1 -- and the JOY (Jesus, Others, You) Tour in Acuna, where the local children are blessed through POWER's attention to the poor neighborhoods in the city. Be sure to view the photos if you haven't already.

Well... You already have an idea of how the day ended. Tomorrow, building projects continue in Reynosa!

Getaway Day!

Week 1 projects are where they need to be in Acuna. We had lunch back at Faith Mission, and are loading up the vans right now for our first leg heading southeast for McAllen -- with a stop in Laredo for dinner. Pray for a safe caravan. More on today after we get in to the Best Western tonight. We're off!

2013 Week 1, Day 2: POWER Week Begins in Earnest

Building. That's what everyone expects to do when they come on the annual POWER trip. 

Swinging hammers. Pounding nails. Chop saws and sawdust; there was plenty of that today. Walls were framed and roof trusses built with amazing speed.

In Ciudad Acuña, across the Rio Grande from Del Rio, TX, two homes were started -- along with Sunday school classrooms, church pews and tables. But that's not the only building going on during POWER week.

Relationships are built. Relationships between the men, between POWER Ministry and the missions it supports and with the people of Mexico in the cities that POWER touches.

Dave Barnes started Tuesday morning talking about how he loves it when people ask him what church POWER represents, expecting there is a denomination behind all this; there isn't. It's God working in the lives of men from all over the country. 

This year, that means 44 different churches. 11 different states. 59 cities around the USA. 

Craig Gilbert of Shiloh Ranch in Florissant, CO kicked off this morning's devotion by asking "What's the number one question men ask other men when they meet for the first time?" The answer: "What do you do?"

Craig added, "Not once have I ever heard the question asked, what kind of man are you?" He went on to explain that God cares more about the kind of person we are, then about what we do. "When you ARE a man of God, you DO great things," said Craig.

"You are difference makers," he said. We have an opportunity to make a difference in our homes, in our communities and in our neighborhoods. "When Jesus makes a difference in your life," said Craig, "He makes a difference in your families."

David McClellan of Riverside is a master builder and Construction Director for the annual POWER trips. In speaking about today's building projects, he echoed Craig. "It's a sacrifice for me to be here, and I'm sure for a lot of you it's a sacrifice to be here -- and that's what it's about."

At day's end, several men shared about their experiences today. In addition to the start of building projects, one team had the opportunity to make a visit to a local men's prison. Today was a cold, windy day in Acuña. Overnight low was 30 degrees. A number of men in the prison walked around in shorts and flip flops, because it was all they had. The POWER team delivered hygiene kits, shoes and denim jeans, prayed with the inmates, and more than 20 men received Christ.

That is the kind of real building POWER is here for.

2013 Week 1, Day 1: Arrive in Del Rio

We've arrived! Faith Mission in Del Rio, Texas.

Dave Barnes of Corona, CA calls the group of more than 80 men (with a large contingent of first timers) to the dining room for the late night orientation. He jokingly scolds one of the bunk rooms. "We're here less than an hour, and it already looks like a tornado has hit!" At least I think he was joking... Pat Schmeling of Faith Mission welcomes the men, and turns it over to the leadership team. Pat will have more to say in the morning as we prepare to head across the border for our first time this trip.

Bob Krull of Palo Cedro, CA has a few words for the drivers and shotguns: be safe and be serious. He covers basic rules of the road in Texas and Mexico. Mark Cygan of Riverside, CA announces the prayer team for tonight. Prayer is an important part of this trip, and there are prayer leaders and team members every night.

Marty Read of Riverside goes into the details we need to know to survive the week: Devotion starts at 7 AM. Sharp. If you don't know what shirt color to wear for the day, wait a few minutes -- there will be 10,000 guys wearing the right color.

Then the serious business. "Wherever we go, we need to remember we are guests," he's says. "No wandering off on your own," he adds. And for some men, there will be challenging times, where they need to step away and take a breath. "If you see one of the new guys struggling, go talk to them," Dave Barnes added.

Tonight, men were also called on to receive their three-year jackets. While many in Southern California making the third year plunge, were recognized at a meeting last Saturday, not everyone on this trip is from SoCal. Martin Foster of Georgia, Dan Bruxvoort of Iowa, Lincoln Yee of Ohio, Ben Sullivan of Oregon -- and Pat Schmeling of right here in Del Rio, were all recognized.

Dave Barnes closed the meeting with some reminders. Don't get all caught up in this being about the projects. We're here to impact lives.Have a servant's heart.

Be open to whatever God has in store for you, adds Marty. Oh, and of course... The color of the shirt for Tuesday is"Gravel."

US Highway 90

We're about 45 minutes out of Del Rio on Hwy 90 in a caravan of 12 POWER vans, having stopped for dinner in San Antonio. Richard Chabolla in our van was the facilitator, introducing guys to one another, learning how they ended up on the trip this year. Joel Ontiveros is our driver. More on our stories after we get in to Faith Mission sometime after 11 PM tonight...

I'm writing this from a US Airways flight, heading into Austin, Texas

This year, rather than flying in with the POWER guys from Southern California, I used frequent flyer miles to save some green, staying with friends in Austin Sunday night. 

Traveling as a single for a trip like this offers its own opportunities. From Ontario to Phoenix, I sat next to Ryan, a signalman for the BNSF Railway. And in case you think you're particularly smart (like I did, until Ryan set me straight), "BNSF" does not stand for "Burlington Northern and Santa Fe" -- it's an acronym for "Better Not Start a Family." 

Constant travel is a big part of his job: on the road many days at a time, up to 12 hour shifts and work in remote areas. For some of the "younger" guys (the 22 year olds as Ryan explains it), they'll get back to the hotel after sundown, and go out carousing.

But at 31, Ryan is one of the "older" men. He's in the middle of the age range on a crew working around Barstow, California in the Mojave Desert. The oldest on his crew topped out at 42. They install equipment that allows dispatchers to safely control trains remotely (often from hundreds of miles away).

Now, Ryan at 31 is not so old (at least not from where I sit). He still wears a ball cap with the bill spun around backwards. Burly without being big, he sports cleanly cropped facial hair and displays colorful tattoos running down both arms. From upstate New York in the Adirondacks, Ryan has settled 45 minutes south of Tucson, Arizona with his Eugene, Oregon wife and six year old son. They have, he says, moved to the opposite end of the spectrum.

When I told him what POWER is doing this week along the Texas and Mexico border, he explained that from where he lives, he sees first hand the impact of neighboring what is in so many ways a third world country to the south. 

Most Americans who visit Mexico don't visit the poverty stricken colonias. They stick to the groomed sand beaches of Cancun or Ixtapa. But for the next two weeks, 132 men of POWER (from all across America) will not be like most Americans. They'll move for a short while to the opposite end of the spectrum.

We'll be building Sunday school rooms, new homes and church pews in Acuna. Stopping in the colonias, providing warm hats, gloves and toys for the kids, visiting a local prison, praying with inmates.

Heading to Reynosa and Hidalgo, we'll be working on a high school, senior citizens dorm and a clinic. We'll deliver beans, rice and bibles -- and the puppet team will perform for the children at Refugio Orphanange.

We'll be privileged to fellowship with the students of Magdiel Bible School in Matamoros and participate in worship services at Alianza Cristiana with the people of Reynosa.

Want to be a part of it? You can! Just come back here every day over the next two weeks to read the blog postings and see the photos. And pray: that God is revealed in every project and every visit.

Also, do me a favor and pray for Ryan and his family as they plan to move from the desert up to the Flagstaff area later this year -- and for my friends Arturo and Susan and their four great kids here in Austin who have put me up for the night.

I'm excited to see what God has in store for us this week!