Power Ministry

With breakfast finished we went across the border to Senda De Vida for devotions. As usual Hector Luna was there with his million dollar smile. Doug continued building on his previous two devotions out of John 15:18-24. -Commision- we are ambassadors to the world (in the world, not of the world).
Alianza Christiana was the place for Sunday morning church. We participated in singing and three of us shared our experance on Power. After lunch provided by the church we continued to Refugio Internacional Orphange for a festival. We all had a great time hosting and playing games with the kids, squating down and bending over a couple thousand times.
We finished the day by having all you can eat dinner at Golden Corral.
God is good, my boy is getting out of the hospital and back to normal.
Praise the Lord!
Chuck Cram

 
We all converged on San Antonio last night, loaded up in the Vans and left for Del Rio. Van rides are a good time of fellowship and getting to know new friends.
Woke up this morning – breakfast and then Doug Wible gave a wonderful, challenging devotional John 15:1-8  Getting the order right God, Jesus, us and abiding in Him.
Then off to the JOY tours and job sites.  Projects included the building of a couple of houses, a dinning hall for a school, and classrooms for an orphanage.
Praise God for all that was accomplished with His help.
Chuck Cram

2016 POWER TRIP …. Week Two – Day Five
 
“When I couldn’t …. He could do all things” – Charlene Ehlers (Who with husband Allen Ehlers founded Faith Mission International over fifty years ago) on trusting God.
 
We arrived at Faith Mission International at about 1:00 am last night; and after settling in to the bunk room sleeping arrangements and completing the routine end of the day duties, the men started “hitting the hay”. As I was writing the Day Four blog, sitting in the Mess Hall, I certainly could hear and nearly feel the rumble of the snoring vibrating through the bunk room wall!
 
Day Five almost started before Day Four ended, as we experienced another short night. Jay Taverez led the praise songs again …. Another touch of the Holy Spirit! Pastor David Burkett shared about his own faith story; stating that his faith and trust in the Lord were tested during a first time missions trip to Mexico in 1990. During this trip David was convicted that full time missionary work on the Mexican border would be his calling. By 1995 David and his wife, Amy, stepped out in faith, leaving family, friends, home church and jobs behind, to become full time missionaries at Faith Missions Ministry on the border in El Cenizo, Texas.
 
Pastor Burkett and his family are living out the focus verses shared with the men this morning, Psalms 37: 3-7. Pastor Burkett challenged us not to trust in our own understanding, skills, strength, and intelligence; but to learn to trust fully in God’s plan for our lives. Fully trusting in the Lord and stepping out in faith is clearly a common thread connecting all the missionaries connected to Power Ministry, many of whom have shared their testimonies with the Team this week.
 
Being reminded to trust God’s plan and not lean on our own abilities was a great reminder and encouragement as we set out on a full day of building projects and ministering over the border in Acuna, Mexico. Four construction projects occupied the efforts of three work groups during both the morning and afternoon sessions. Work continued on a 24’ x 48’ dining hall to enhance the ministry at the Victoria School. Enclosing a former car-port and adding a second story to the same structure will provide much needed classroom space for the Heart of the King Orphanage. Construction on a home began for the Aguilar family, whose former home was destroyed, forcing them to live in tar paper shack. Construction began on a three bedroom home for the Rodriguez family, a family with five children.
 
In addition to the construction work groups, one work group in the morning and another group in the afternoon had the opportunity to go on a Joy Tour into two local neighborhoods. The purpose of a Joy Tour is to meet the physical and spiritual needs of very impoverished areas that are clinging to a meager existence, if not literally clinging to a rocky hillside with little or no improvements. The presence of the Joy Tour Team is announced by a portable sound system playing lively upbeat Christian music to draw the residents out of their homes. As the men, women and children gather, a distribution of rice, beans and clothing items takes place to provide much needed physical assistance. Toys and lollipops are handed out to the children; providing them with something sweet and a new toy that they can call their own! If soccer balls are part of the distribution, you can guarantee that the children will engage some of the men in impromptu soccer games! The smiles on the faces of the adults and the excitement in the eyes of the children goes beyond heartwarming.
 
With the assistance of the Spanish speaking members of the Week Two Team, including Missionary Mike Magee and Pat Schmeling of Faith Mission, several of our men gave testimonies about their salvation and how knowing Jesus as Savior has changed their lives. One of the men shared with me that he had not intended to give a testimony, but that when he saw these men, women and children, he just felt compelled to try to share about his relationship with Jesus … to help in filling the void that can not be filled with rice and beans alone.
 
That is the beauty of Power Ministry …. To meet both the physical and spiritual needs of the Mexican people living in great need along the Texas-Mexico border. While the Power Trips focus their activities in a three week span, Power Ministry is helping local missionaries throughout the entire year with rice and bean deliveries and the provision of Spanish bibles and tracts …. Helping those missionaries to live out the admonition to “ Trust in God and lean not on your own understanding” as they faithfully live out God’s plan for their lives.
 
Terry Hickey, Week Two Team
 
 
 
 
 
 

2016 POWER TRIP ….. Week Two – Day 4
Where is Builder Bob …. It’s Time to Get Back to Work!!
 
Day four, (Monday, 1/18) took us back across the border to Reynosa for three building projects and a prison visit. Our morning worship and devotions took place in the chapel at Senda De Vita ( Road to Life ) Ministry. Senda De Vita, under the care of missionary Hector Luna, is a ministry that provides food, clothing and a place to sleep and the message of God’s love to homeless and recently deported people. This vital ministry has literally risen from land that had been a garbage dump.
 
Jay Taverez, a Week Two team member and pastor at a church in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, led a spirit filled time of praise music; followed by our morning message from Pastor David Burkett. Pastor Burkett built on Sunday’s message from 2 Kings 4, focusing on V 16-37. Elisha had told the Shumanite woman, who had been unable to have children, that she would give birth to a son within one year. The woman in great joy was rearing her son, only to have the child die suddenly. The woman’s reaction in her deep grief was what Pastor Burkett drew our attention to; as the woman immediately sought out Elisha. Elisha seeing her great grief agreed to follow her back to her home, where he brought her son back to life! The Shumanite woman moved forward toward the person she knew would be able to help her.
 
The question for us to consider, is where do we turn when something or someone is taken from us, or when any tragedy confronts us. If we are like the Shumanite woman (and we should be) we should turn to God … Our only source of hope in times of trouble … Even when it may be difficult to see the Lord through the storm raging around us. Pastor Burkett challenged us to keep moving toward God, because he never leaves us or forsakes us!
 
The need to press forward toward God in the midst of difficulty seemed to be playing out all around us in the border towns in which we have been working. Many of the Mexican people are living in very dire circumstances … In physical conditions that we would classify as unlivable. Power Ministry has been called by God to provide opportunities for physical and spiritual change through the projects undertaken each year, as well as the rice and beans, Spanish translation bibles and tracts provided to the partner missionaries for use throughout the year.
 
Today the Team focused on three building projects and a prison visit in the Reynosa area. Work continued on the construction of a two classroom education building at the Mission Familiar Classrooms project, with the completion of the roof trusses and the siding of three walls. Improvements were made to all of the classrooms at the Big Heart Orphanage; which had been built by Power in prior years. Improvements were also made to the Power Storage Building, located on the grounds of the Refugio International de Ninos, a large orphanage located on the border in Pharr, Texas.
 
Today’s fourth activity took place as part of our Team ministered in a prison in the Reynosa area. The men were able to minister to about thirty of the eighty-five women living in this prison. Jay Taverez led the group in praise songs, several of our men gave testimonies of God’s mercy and grace in their lives, two of the women gave testimonies as well; followed by a message preached by Jay Taverez. The spirit was moving, touching our men deeply and leading several of the women to come forward in response to Jay’s invitation to accept Jesus … praise God!
 
A definite highlight of the day was the smoked barbecue lunch prepared by “Gator Carter and his wife Deanna, who established and lead the Big Heart Orphanage.
 
Well in full disclosure, the barbecue was amazing … But the real highlight of the day occurred once in the morning, listening to the testimony of Hector Luna of Senda De Vita, and again after lunch in listening to the testimony of “Gator” Carter. Both of these men and their wives and families made the “Jump” into full time ministry service in the Reynosa area many years ago. Their stories, while not identical, are very similar in that both of these men and their wives live daily in the presence of God, fully dependent on his grace and mercies. They continue to move forward, pressing into God, in the face of storms that daily confront their ministries … Not turning away in frustration or defeat at every seemingly insurmountable roadblock.
 
It would seem that not only the Shumanite woman in 2 Kings, but also Hector Luna and “Gator” Carter got it right, and learned the importance of seeking God’s presence and moving forward toward God in times of trials …. It makes you stop and think ….it would also seem that a Power trip will do that to you, as well!
 
Terry Hickey, Week Two Team
 

POWER TRIP: Week Two – Day Three …… “Worship Is More Than A Song” …. It Could Be A
Community Carnival!
 
After a light breakfast at our hotel we set off for the border, crossing into Reynosa, Mexico; as we made our way to Alianza Christiana (The Dome Church); which is church of about 10,000. Arriving at about 8:00am our group held our morning worship and devotional in one of the many educational classrooms in this large church complex. Pastor Dave Burkett preached from 2 Kings 4:8-15, recounting the story of the woman who with her husband created a room in their home for use by the prophet Elisha, when he was visiting in their town. Pastor Dave emphasized that this woman recognized that Elisha was a man of God; and that she desired to be in his presence. She made an extra effort to be in his presence; in the same way that we should make all efforts to be in the presence of God, at all times. We can not have a relationship with God unless we spend time with him in prayer and in his word; which should result in desiring to worship him through all that we do, at all times.
 
Our Power Team joined another Power Team, based out of the Crossroads Church from the Dallas, Texas area, and attended the 9:00am service at Alianza Christiana. Alianza’s Senior Pastor, Mario Perez, an energetic (think Dynamo/energizer bunny!) led the singing, prayer times, made announcements,and preached the message (he did everything except the take up the offering and clean the glass on the entryway doors … The ushers were doing that as we walked in!). The service lasted nearly two hours, but seemed to just fly by; as we were caught up in the Spirit’s moving throughout the room. The combined Power Team was called up on the platform to be recognized by the congregation. The Week One Power Team had on Saturday, put on a major festival for the Reynosa community.. The appreciation of the sixteen year relationship between Power Ministry and The Dome Church, and their recognition of the work done by Power Teams over this time, was very evident in the enthusiastic response received from Pastor Perez and his congregation.
 
Following the service we departed for an afternoon at the Rio Bravo Children’s Home and School in Reynosa. This ministry; which has been called “The model for children’s homes across the state of Tamaulipas”, was founded in 1991, and currently provides a home for fifty-two orphans, and a school for 180 children. Power Ministry has a long relationship with the Children’s Home, having constructed many portions of the campus. Before and after lunch we joined with the Texas Power Team to set up for a festival for the children of Children’s Home, as well as families from the community.
 
This annual festival is provided as a way to share the love of Christ with this community. The children and families, totaling over one thousand were treated to hot dogs, popcorn, cotton candy, and about two dozen fun and challenging games. The games, manned by the Power guys, had a variety of prizes, ranging from little toy items, books, baseball caps, and stocking caps with sports team logos. The most sought-after of the prizes were the soccer balls!
 
The festival ran approximately two and a half hours and involved a lot of walking back and forth(my Fitbit hit over 14,000 steps!), bending down or squatting to pick up bean bags, frizzbees, whiffle balls and other elements of each game and handing out prizes …. “Exhausting” work in the seventy degree sunny afternoon (did I mention that the Ohio, Idaho and other cold weather guys were reluctantly enjoying the marvelous weather!) Without a doubt, the most enjoyable part of the afternoon was interacting with the children, and watching their faces when they were successful at a game, or won a prize … Especially if it was a soccer ball! It was even more enjoyable to watch the adults take part in these simple games … When a soccer ball is on the line even the Moms and Dads got competitive!
 
I am not sure who had the more enjoyable afternoon … The children and parent from the community, or the men of Power! While our intention was to share the love of Christ with these beautiful people …. I think our men may have received an equal blessing, not to mention a full memory card full of stories and the children’s grins and giggles! Our afternoon only continued the amazing worship we had begun at Alianza Christiana several hours earlier … praise God from whom all blessings flow!
 
Tomorrow, Monday, is our fourth day and will involve work projects in Reynosa, a visit to a local prison; and a long drive to Del Rio, Texas in the afternoon and evening. We are looking forward to what the Lord has in store for us, as we strive to be available and useable.
 
Terry Hickey
 
 
 
 
 
 

POWER TRIP – Week Two … Day Two
 
After a short nights sleep (sometimes referred to as a nap!) the Team set out for a 6:45am breakfast at Luby’s Cafeteria ( how cool is it that a restaurant that does not even open for breakfast, would open their doors to serve the Power Team breakfast!). Worship time and devotions followed breakfast in the main dining room at Luby’s.
 
Pastor Dave Burkett encouraged and challenged us from 1 Samuel 30:1-8, where King David’s response to the destruction of Ziklag and the death or capture of the wives and children of David and his men, was to turn to God. David inquired of God to determine how to respond to the devastation at the hands of the Amalekites. Pastor Burkett challenged us to remember that in all we do on this Power Trip and in life, we can only be victorious through the strength of God and his Holy Spirit working in and through us … And certainly not in our own strength!
 
Today was our first wok day and first border crossing, into Matamoros, Mexico. Our
Team was scheduled to continue the construction of three 24’ x 12’ portable kitchen units, build church pews for use in local ministries, prepare lunch for our Team and the students at the Instituto Biblica Magdiel, and to conduct an outreach at Bagdad Beach ( a light day on 3-4 hours of sleep/nap time!).
 
Construction of the portable kitchen units had been started by the Week One Team earlier in the week. The units were being constructed on the grounds of the Instituto Biblica Magdiel, a local bible college that for the past seventy-six years has been training young men and women to be ministers of the gospel. The three kitchen units, when completed and outfitted with food preparation equipment, will be transported to local public schools. Once in place these kitchens will be used to prepare meals for local school children; alleviating a rampant problem of hunger among the school age children of Matamoros.
 
These units are in effect a pilot program conceived and developed through the collaboration of Mike Magee (a local missionary and long time local partner of Power Ministry) and leaders in the government of Matamoros. In fact the City of Matamoros will be providing the food that will be prepared in these kitchens! It is hoped that a total of forty such kitchens will be placed in public schools throughout the area. By the end of the day the three units were nearly completed, and that much closer to being ready to be outfitted with food preparation equipment!
 
At mid day we had the joy of eating lunch with the Bible College students; a sloppy joe lunch prepared by part of the Power Team.
 
Team members not involved in the kitchen unit construction or lunch preparation were busily engaged in constructing thirty-two church pews for use in local ministry settings.
 
After lunch work continued on the kitchen units and church pews, while a portion of the Team set out on the Bagdad Beach Outreach. Bagdad Beach is an impoverished area on the Gulf of Mexico, dependent on their fishing trade for survival. Unfortunately a severe red tide in the recent past has decimated the fishing opportunities, and their daily sustenance. The Power Team delivered rice and beans, toys for the children, and tools for the men. In addition eight of the benches constructed in the morning were delivered to a local mission, and provided additional seating for a service attended by the Power Team and the local community. In talking with several of the men who participated in the Bagdad Beach Outreach, the devastation and need in this community was overwhelming … Please pray for the ongoing physical and spiritual needs of people of Bagdad Beach.
 
Today was very productive, and by the strength of God working through seventy men much was accomplished … Praise God!
 
The day ended with a great dinner at Rudy’s Barbecue in Hildago, Texas and a check in at the Super 8 Hotel, where we will be staying through Monday morning. We are all looking forward to Sunday service at Alianza Christiana (The Dome Church) at 9:00 am, and hosting a community festival at the Rio Bravo Children’s Home on Sunday afternoon!
 
Thank you, Lord, for using our willingness to serve in your strength … to accomplish much on our first work day. Please continue to pray for our Team this week, so that we would continue to make ourselves available for God to work in and through us along the Texas-Mexico border.
 
Terry Hickey