The year was 1994 and we were just beginning a new school year at CSOM, a bible school that I founded and director for a number of years in SoCal.  We had a full class of eager new students who were wild and ready to change the world.  Rob Smallwood was one of those students.  He was a quiet man who spent most of his time in class soaking up the teaching like he was a sponge.  He was full of ideas, but most importantly and significantly, he was devising a plan with which he could put those ideas into full blown action.  For two years I had the privilege and honor of imparting some powerful truths into Rob and no matter how many questions he had for me, he was someone that I never turned down for a conversation.  It was such a cool experience to watch Rob grow in his belief system and in the methodology he used to put those beliefs into practical use, as he changed the lives of everyone he met.
After graduating from CSOM Rob began taking trips with a local minister down to Tecate, Mexico (and other parts of Baja Cal) on short term missionary excursions.  It was during these trips that Rob ran straight into his destiny on this earth and eventually started organizing trips to Tecate himself.  He called himself the Tecate Treader because that's just what he did, he tread the dirt roads of Tecate every single weekend, sometimes with various teams and sometimes (and often times) on his own.  His love for the people of Tecate was unlike anything I've ever seen.  There were many many unseen moments that Rob devoted all that he had for people, no appreciation needed, no adoration expected... just pure unconditional love.
Rob Smallwood is one of my heroes.  What I remember most about Rob is that whenever there was a need, he was there.  Whether it was building new walls in a church or feeding people who had no food or clothing those who needed it, you could count on Rob.  But especially you could find Rob distributing God's love to people who were starving for it, everywhere.  I love Rob and his whole family for the example that they have set year after year.  For not knowing when to give up and for never understanding the word 'quit'.  Rob was a gem in this rough world that we live in and I for one am blessed and humbled to have known such an incredible man of God.  I carry his memory with me, as I do as Jesus (and Rob) did to the lowest and the least.