BROWNSDALE – Randy and Penny Deters hope to make a difference in people’s lives this summer.

Friday, July 13, 2001

BROWNSDALE – Randy and Penny Deters hope to make a difference in people’s lives this summer.

So do their children, Tara, Amanda and Matthew.

So does Dale Tate and his daughter, Katarina Langr.

So do Debra Lambertson and Charles Krell and his daughter, Vanessa.

So does Ryan Corey and the rest of the Austin Christian Fellowship team preparing for a trip to Monterey, Mexico.

The Austin-based church is sending a group of its members to Mexico to assist the Youth In Mission project.

Randy and Penny Deters have been there before and said it changed their lives. They hope this summer’s trip will do the same for the newest team members from Austin Christian Fellowship.

Penny is the veteran, having made six trips south of the border. Her husband, Randy, has made four.

The Brownsdale couple is chaperoning a group of 14 people, including teens 13 to 17 years of age.

They will be based at the YIM facilities and do much of their volunteer work at New Jerusalem Church at Santa Catarina.

They will distribute food to the poor sections of the giant metropolis of 6.5 million people, help at an orphanage, go into the most impoverished sections of the city to share the teachings of Jesus Christ and otherwise try to make a difference.

"Youth In Mission is one of the largest missionary projects for lay people in the world if not the largest," Randy Deters said.

YIM in Monterey, Mexico, is based at a city about 150 miles from McAllen, Texas. Dale Tate, an electrician, has been there. Tate joined a group of men from ACF last summer to volunteer their skills on a building project at the YIM facilities.

He also has done volunteer work in Albania and Haiti.

Tate said he enjoys "being a servant to people in need" and added, "You get more back than you put in when you help others."

Among the young adults giving up a portion of their summer to make the trip is Ryan Corey, 21. Corey is making his second trip and he said, "It’s is very definitely a satisfying experience."

"To be able to step out into the world and do something for other people is very satisfying," Corey said.

The ACF team will also go into neighborhood parks, a popular gathering place for families, and do some evangelizing with music, clowns and balloons.

Randy Deters said the ACF team will come away with a sense of satisfaction and knowing "there are places, like America, where people are blessed and there are places like Mexico where people are not so blessed as we are."

Penny Deters said the trips have become the highlight of the Brownsdale family’s summer. She said there is a lot of work involved in assisting the YIM effort, but it’s all worth it, "knowing you are doing God’s work."

"We hope we are making a difference in people’s lives," her husband added.

With the full support of the ACF church and Pastor Bruce Eckern, this summer’s team is taking with it one of the youngest volunteers ever.

Vanessa Krell, 8, is accompanying her parents. "If I wouldn’t be gong on this trip, I would be probably swimming. This way I can help other people," she said.

The ACF team plans to leave July 28. Presently, they are finalizing plans for their 10-day trip to Mexico. They also are seeking donations of money to purchase food items to distribute to the poor.

According to the chaperones, all money donated will be spent on purchasing food. The church and individual team participants are paying their own way to Mexico and back this summer.

For more information on how to help, call the Deters at (507) 567-2578 or the Austin Christian Fellowship at 437-6327.

Call Lee Bonorden at 434-2232 or e-mail him at lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com.