September 9, 2002
Austin volunteers piece together picture of God's love
___By George Henson
___Staff Writer
___AUSTIN--It may have been only tiling a bathroom to some, but Westoak Woods Baptist Church in Austin hopes this act began a mosaic of ministry at a Baptist orphanage in Mexico.
___That the orphanage is located only a four- to five-hour drive from Austin was a key factor in the church choosing it as a point of ministry, Minister of Youth Tracy Dean said.
___"We were looking for some place where we could have a long-term relationship. More than just doing a chore and coming back, we wanted to make a difference in people's lives," Dean explained. The relatively short drive time to do international missions allows trips on three-day weekends, which also allows more youth to participate.
___The work of the youth evolved overthe course of the three days they were there this summer, Dean said.
MEMBERS of Westoak Woods Baptist Chuch in Austin laid tile floors and ministered to children at an orphanage in Mexico this summer.
___"Initially, we were there to do prep work for the skilled tile work--cleaning the room and just doing whatever it took to get the room ready for the adults who came later," he explained. "As time when on, though, we worked hard enough and fast enough to get to spend some time with the kids there."
___Spending time with the children at the orphanage was a key part for the youth involved.
___"This trip made a strong emotional impact on the youth from our church," Dean said. "For one thing, they realized how good they have things when they saw how little these children have. Also, they realized that even as young as they are they can be ministers and change lives."
___Byron Hinton, who managed the tiling project, said the adults also were thrilled with the relationship that developed with the people at the orphanage.
___"We had taken a couple of fact-finding trips looking for a ministry that would have a long-lasting effect, and I think we have found that in the Baptist orphanage in Piedras Negras," Hinton said.
___A heart for the welfare of children made this trip especially meaningful for Hinton.
___"I had never been on a mission trip before, and this is literally something that changed my life, and I probably won't ever be the same again," he said.
___It was not only getting to know the people in Mexico that made the trip special for Hinton, however, but also developing relationships with the other men and women from his church who made the trip.
___"There were several people I knew well enough to say 'hello' to at church, but really didn't know. It was a real blessing to have those connections and relationships develop," he said.
___One of the most memorable events of the trip arose out of a misunderstanding, Dean said.
___"One of our men wanted to bring a barbecue grill down, but before he did he asked permission. The interpreter told the man who ran the orphanage that we wanted to do a cookout for all the kids. Well, we cooked hotdogs and hamburgers for everybody, and it was great. That cookout is probably the thing that most allowed us to develop a relationship with the kids."
___Dean and Hinton said both youth and adults are anxious for a return trip and the youth already have one in the planning stages. They want to continue to do whatever most enables the orphanage to best serve the children who come there.
___As the pieces of this ministry continue to come together, members of Westoak Woods Baptist Church hope to create a picture of God's grace.
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