Our last day in Mexico. Our cook crew started it off on a good note with a breakfast of eggs and french toast in cafeteria at Faith Missions. After singing praise songs, Doug H. shared the story of Jesus washing the disciple’s feet. He says in John 13:10 that they are already clean, but just need the dust washed from their feet. The lesson for us is to stay connected to Jesus! We took communion, then it was off to work at Casa Esperanza in Acuna.
After a brief stop at the border (they insisted that we pay a $50 ‘duty tax’ on the construction materials that we had in our van), we continued to the orphanage. A lot of us wore shorts, as it was a bright sunny day. The storage shed and apartment additions went very well. All the walls are up, the electrical wires installed and the plywood tar papered and the corrugated metal attached on the roofs. A total of 10 hinged bunk beds were finished, and stored inside for future use (they will be used at a homeless/handicap shelter, not at Casa Esperanza). Our crew that was replacing the patio roof had some challenges, but got 2/3 of the new plywood roof attached. It still has to be papered and the joints strengthened with wood cross pieces screwed on under the plywood. Next week’s POWER crew should be able to completely finish all these projects.
We did have some fun and fellowship, celebrating Anna’s (Casa Esperanza’s co owner) birthday at lunch with a cake. She had invited her friend who runs several food banks in Acuna, and Pastor Oscar, who is experiencing tremendous growth at his Acuna church. POWER has assisted Pastor Oscar in various ways for many years.
Back at Faith Missions at the end of the day, we shared a steak dinner with Charlene Ehlers (co founder of Faith Missions) and several of her friends and family.
We debrief in the morning, then head in separate directions back home. It has been another great trip, serving our border ministry partners along the Rio Grande River.
Doug Blois, Journalist for Group 1