Wednesday afternoon Pastor Frank Schmitt from Grace Mennonite Fellowship Church in Seminole, sat on his front porch and shared memories of two teens from his congregation. 

Lidia Penner, 17 and Steven Wiebe, 17 were killed Monday morning in a car accident on I-20 near Sweetwater. The teens were on a missions trip, headed to Louisiana to help clean-up damage from recent historic floods. 

“That’s one of the things that we believe,” Pator Schmitt said. “That’s one of the things that these young people were doing.  We want to be the hands and feet of Jesus.”  

Penner and Wiebe were both home schooled but attended the same youth group at the church.

“Steven was a very respectful young man,” Pastor Schmitt said. “That is what I really appreciated about him. If I were to explain Lidia, in 1 Peter 3 it says a woman should have the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit and she definitely had that. She was a very beautiful person.” 

DPS officials said a semi-truck crossed over the median and through the cable barrier. The truck his Wiebe and Penner’s vehicle along with two others. 

The two other Seminole teens in the vehicle sustained only minor injuries. 

“Susie was in the backseat next to Lidia,” Pastor Schmitt said. “I think she is OK physically, but she definitely has  her friend died right next to her. That is pretty hard on her.”

This week the GMF canceled all bible study and regular classes, instead they opened up the church to help feed the victims families.

 Wiebe’s funeral will be Thursday at 2 pm at Community Church. Penner’s funeral will be on Friday at 2 pm at Community Church.