You might have seen him today on Highway 35 E heading toward Italy. I am talking about a young man wearing a cape and pulling a wagon tied around his waist running down the highway. You were probably thinking, what in the world is he doing? Well, let me tell you what he is doing.

First of all the young man’s name is Mauro Avila. He hails from Uvalde, Texas and he is on a mission. A mission for God. His ministry is called “Walk for One Chance Against Alcohol, Drugs and Abuse”.

He started his pilgrimage on the International Highway in Eagle Pass and will walk/run all the way to Dallas and turn around and go all the way back. He will have gone eight hundred and fifty miles from start to finish.

When I asked him what he was doing he said, “I am spreading hope and faith for those who have addictions or have been abused or do the abusing. When they explain their problem I open the Bible and tell them about Christ.” He went on to say, “God is my inspiration, I am a messenger for God to spread his Word.”

Of course the idea behind the beautiful colored cape and pulling a wagon is to get attention. And it works! Mauro painted the colorful cape and everyone he talks to signs his cape. Avila said, “I have had the opportunity to talk to tons of people and that is what it is all about, spreading the word of Christ and letting people know there is hope.”

Avila will be attending the University of Texas in Dallas where he will be studying to be a cartoonist. When you see his cape, you will know, he will go far with his talent.

Just another day in Italy, Texas!