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!!
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