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About life on the border, Trel writes, "Here the population
growth is phenomenal, with a large influx of people coming from
southern Mexico in hopes of finding work in the máquilas
[factories] or crossing into the United States. The infrastructure
has not been able to keep up with the growth, and a large number
of people live in colonias [poor neighborhoods] outside the town,
often without potable water or drainage. In one of the colonias
is a very active Presbyterian church with nearly 40 members and
20 children. In spite of the hardship of their existence, their
faith is displayed as they work and worship together."
About finding his call, Dennis writes, "I followed Trel’s
call to mission work only to find my own call. God had long been
whispering to me to venture out in the real world and involve
myself with people again. I used the excuse that I didn’t
have a gift to share to ignore his calling. When Trel answered
the call to the border of Mexico, I was forced to reexamine my
priorities and decide who I was to serve with my life. I surrendered
my excuses and feelings of inadequacy and decided to give my life
to God and let God worry about whether I had useful talents and
gifts. This surrendering all has been the most wonderful thing
in my life. I am now able to let God have his will with my life,
and it has been such a freeing experience. I approach each day
with the thought that God is in charge and with his guidance my
life can make a difference in the lives of those around me."
Working in rural North Carolina, Trel came to know and feel a
part of the lives of the families who lived there. She worked
for twelve years as a family nurse practitioner with the Columbus
Medical Center, then for five years with a physician’s private
practice, a year with Blue Ridge Community Health Center, and,
just prior to her appointment to the Border Ministries, for four
years as director and nurse practitioner at the Foothills Medical
Center, a rural health center in Columbus. When St. Luke’s
Hospital was given approval to open the Foothills Medical Center,
Trel was employed to develop it, deliver health care, and provide
administrative services.
In the early 1970s, Dennis worked in child welfare with Polk
County Department of Social Services in western North Carolina.
Later, he worked with the Polk County Mental Health Department
as volunteer services coordinator in a senior citizens program.
He then worked for Miller Industries, a maker of liquid measurement
devices.
Trel received her associate degree in nursing from the University
of South Carolina in Spartanburg and a family nurse practitioner
certificate from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.
Dennis graduated from Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina,
in 1971 with a bachelor of arts degree in sociology.
Dennis and Trel are the parents of two adult sons, Travis and
Thomas. They attend Laredo Presbyterian Church, although their
membership resides in Saluda Presbyterian Church in Saluda, North
Carolina. Trel served on the National and Global Missions Committee
of the Presbytery of Western North Carolina for eight years and
on the Partnership Health Task Force for Guatemala. She was also
an active deacon in the Columbus Presbyterian Church.
Birthdays:
Trel - October 19
Dennis - May 25
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