We serve a loving God

Earlier in the fall, Pastor Israel and Becky Rodriguez of great Oaks Community Church in Mission, Texas, felt lead to start an Outreach Mission, serving those in Colonias as well as church members who needed help with food and clothing. As Becky is a part-time office assistant at CHI, she casually mentioned their additional calling to Fred. With the help of Chaplain Dennis Maloney of Christian Resort Ministries, we partnered with them to help with their project. Food was donated at our park, and it just almost overwhelmed all of us. We began to deliver the donated items to Pastor Israel and Becky- the food just kept on coming all year long. As Winter Texans began leaving for their Northern homes, they left their food at CHI, which Fred began to sort. The children in Reynosa do not eat the same way we Gringos do!!! The items that were useful for Reynosa were sent to Mexico for them - the other things were given to Becky for their outreach. As we became more involved, we mentioned that clothing, bedding, blankets, were also needed. As of today, there are more than enough donations

 We presented Pastor Israel and Becky with monetary donations to help with their outreach ministry - one from a lady who was healed of cancer by the Great Healer (her doctors made a comment that there was no way on earth that this could have happened - how right he was!) and another one from the Church @ Alamo Rec Veh Park.

                                   The worship center at the Great Oaks Community Church.


As I mentioned in an earlier blog, we delivered much needed quilts to a Colonia just before a cold spell set in. Cold in South Texas for those of Hispanic descent is around 60 degrees or lower. We recently contacted the gracious ladies who had donated the quilt tops, and they promised us approximately 200 -500 quilt tops for the fall!!!! Way too many for us to use. I contacted another ministry at the Cone Oasis Baptist Camp in La Feria, Texas, who was overjoyed to hear that we could donate some quilt tops for their group to complete. They will complete the tops and take them to Colonias in Mexico, as well as this side of the border. If we want, they would return some completed quilts for us to also deliver in the Valley here in Texas. God is good!!! "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you". Luke 6:38  The more that people gave, the more that was received.

As the time is nearing for us to leave the Valley, we would like to thank everyone who has supported us, through in prayer and monetary donations so that we could concentrate on serving our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We pray that you, too, would receive a good measure, pressed down. You continued support will bless you in ways you cannot imagine.

Carol and Ron Pease who are full time residents, are great neighbors and friends here in the park. During the winter they are busy shuffling (they have won numerous trophies) and we are busy with the Lord's work, so when things begin to settle down, people leave the park, and activities cease, we find time to fellowship together. We found an afternoon when we could fellowship over great Mexican food at a beautiful restaurant in Edinburgh called Trevino's. The atmosphere is magnificent - like being in the courtyard of a Mexican hacienda. The food was delicious as well as reasonably priced. It was a time when we could just sit back and enjoy each other's company.

                                                             Trevino's Restaurant

                                                                    Beautiful tables

The owners told us these murals took a year to paint

 

                                                                        More murals

                                                        good times, good friends


Our next blog will be awesome - pictures at RIN in Reynosa of  Dia Del Nino (Day of the Child). It was a fun time to honor the children at the refuge. We are saddened that this was probably our last trip to the refuge until September. The girls we sponsor were also sad. but are looking forward to our return next fall, when I am sure they will have become more beautiful young ladies.

More Playa Bagdad Fun

 After spending fun time in the gulf and a short rest and lunch time, we herded all the kids and headed to the entrance of the beach to take pictures and present the kids with large paper mache Easter eggs filled with treats and blown egg shells filled with confetti. Seems that it is a Mexican tradition to smash these eggs (coscorones) over the head of a friend - seems strange to me. I am sure there is a story behind all of this. In some Mexican states this is a pagan tradition, but in most areas it is not. The kids had a great time amid squeals of the girls and laughter from the boys. The little ones were more interested in seeing what other goodies were in their eggs. It was a great time to let off some extra energy!! I did sneak up behind Susan and manage to smash one over her head.

group picture!

Angel holding tight to his egg

another happy recipient

Larry watching a bubble show

looks like he was egged

even the Tias were not off limits

Sergio managed to surprise Betsy - she thought he was giving her a hug to say thank you but he egged her instead

We then all trouped back to the beach where there was more snacking - beach vendors selling mangoes, drizzled with - yep - hot sauce! The mangoes were so  ripe and delicious as they were from Nicaragua - the hot sauce was a perfect touch. . Wiping up all the stickiness took a bit of time, and then the kids and adults rushed into the water again -  splashing and just sitting on the shore admiring the beauty of God's creation. Susan and I took care of the two babies so their mothers could enjoy a bit of freedom - they both were soundly sleeping in our arms.  It was then time to round everyone up and head for the showers (it is easier to wash all the kiddos up before we returned to RIN). As we waited for everyone to get done, it was snack time again - huge ( really HUGE) marshmallows and cups containing a mixture of sliced pineapple and jimicia, drizzled with - yep - hot sauce. Too soon it was time to climb back into the vans and head back to Reynosa. Traveling home was fairly quiet, as most of the children were sleepy and tired from their long day - which was not over yet!

beach mango vendor

Tio Elfredo helping the kids with hot sauce

enjoying a fruity treat

last dunking in the Gulf

reflecting on the day

Baby Kayla still awake and ready to go

Arriving after dark in Reynosa, Betsy decided that the children could eat there, rather than make the Tios and Tias prepare food for them after we arrived back at the Haven. We stopped at a tacqueria stand for Reynosa Tacos, Frescos (soda), chips, onions, cilantro, and - yep you guessed it again - hot sauce. The kiddos were wide awake and ready to eat!!! The owners of the stand were so very accommodating and helped us with everything. It suddenly got very quiet, the only sounds being hungry children (and adults) eating.

a wonderful tacqueria in Reynosa with great food

asking God to bless this food - and also those who prepared it

looks like they are enjoying it

the older kids doctoring up their tacos

lots of hungry kids

and adults!

Across the street from the tacqueria was a grocery/pharmacy store - sort of a Mexican style Costco or Sam's Club.

no shoppers at this time of night

We soon arrived back at RIN, where very happy but tired kids and houseparents were dropped off, many of the children shouting "thank you" ( in English!!!) as they tried to retrieve their belongings and looking for their big eggs. The bottom of those eggs were filled with confetti, so Fred and Larry had their work cut out for them the next day - vacuuming up all those tiny dots of color. We traveled back across the border with no problems what so ever. We are often warned about the dangers of going into Mexico, but we pray every time we leave the office on the American side, and always pray for grace and safety. We do not usually travel at night and not on the dangerous roads.We just are so thankful the God has given us this opportunity to minister to these kids - children who are given a chance at getting ahead in their country of Mexico, and not relying on becoming a part of the street gangs or prostitution. In addition to regular school,we  have 5 children in college at this time - others have graduated, one becoming a lawyer (a notary in Mexico, higher in status than a lawyer). Each child that is saved from the streets is a praise unto the Lord.

A/C Time

It is getting warmer here in S. Texas, so we have been running the a/c in the afternoon. We are lucky to have a nice breeze otherwise all day long. We have had some strong winds lately - so strong that my neighbor and good friend, Carole, came to my back door on Friday with my sheets in her hands, and said she was tired of picking them up off the ground. Thank you, Carole!

Last Monday, 4 of us Winter Texans along with CHI directors Betsy, Randall, and Malena took 22 children, plus some houseparents from RIN in Reynosa  to the beach in Matamoros, Mexico. These are the children that for some reason were not able to go home for the spring holiday. Betsy wanted to pack this day with fun activities for the children, and she certainly did so!!! We left around 7 PM from the Texas side of the border and drive to RIN in  Reynosa, then continued on to Matamoros on the gulf on the Mexican side.We finally returned back to Texas about 9:30 PM. Normally, we do not cross the border after dark, nor be out  in the Mexican cities, but it was deemed to be safe. It was a tiring day, but filled with fun and the knowledge that the children (as well as us adults) had a day to remember.

ready to to go in Reynosa - the children were very excited

Mexican director Malena showing off her beach pedi

our youngest child in her Disney swimsuit

in the van, anxious to leave

                                                            even the baby has a beach hat!!


The trip to Playa Bagdad at the beach was at least 2 hours, but we made a rest stop about halfway there, complete with snacks of Mexican Twinkies, a type of of delicious, Mexican  graham cracker, chocolate milk for the kids, and orange juice for adults. With that many children and adults, it was really called for. The children were so good on trip in our van, as Betsy kept them entertained with her driving!!! The Mexican roads are a bit bumpy in places, almost like a roller coaster ride, so the squeals from the back were fun to listen to. The children also serenaded us with Mexican children's songs and hymns  for awhile.

the manufacturers and warehouse along the border

huge sorghum fields on the way

we are making progress

Mexican toll road

one of the many beautiful homes we saw

we've arrived in Matamoros

the Mexican gas stations do not advertise the price of gas, because the government owns all of them and the price is the same at every one

a street in Reynosa

                                                       hmm - I think I have seen this before

fries anyone?

After arriving at our destination of Playa Bagdad, we proceeded to round up the kids, gather up all the beach bags, food, etc. and headed for the beach. The kids as well as adults were lathered up with sun screen and we adults received our instructions. If we chose to do so we were assigned to a child to be under our constant surveillance. Fred chose to sit under a palapa and be a general overseer - keeping watch on everyone. I was assigned to Angel, the youngest of the 4 brothers who recently came to the Haven. After becoming more acquainted with him, we proceeded out into the warm water, with him in my arms. He stared around, completely mesmerized by the water, waves, and other kids laughing and playing. He felt the water and smiled at me - all of a sudden a huge salty wave smacked him in the face. End of water time!!!! He was very content to sit on the shoreline after that, playing in the sand and letting the waves wash over his feet.

here at last

 getting sunscreened and final instructions

inviting, shady palapas

splash down

time to get wet

 this little guy is not really sure if he likes it or not

the little one in the middle is Angel (with the shirt on) content on the shore

washed up by a wave

 all in great fun

 Anthony( one of our RIN children)  trying to sell us his seaweed necklace for $5, as there were many beach vendors hawking their products - a vendor cart in the background

houseparents Tio Juan and Tia Susann - I think she was a bit wary of the waves

 a beach vendor

Soon it was time to come in, dry off, and get ready to eat. A delicious meal of Church's chicken (spicy, of course), mashed potatoes, coleslaw, biscuits, bread, potato chips (also spicy) and drinks were ready for all. It takes a lot of planning and coordination to handle a big party like this - there are many more surprises for the day - I will show you some more in my next blog!!!! Sort of like a sit com - lots of laughs and fun.

volunteer Susan Brown and Betsy serving up the food.

 

We just thank the Lord that He has given us the opportunity to be a part of this outreach ministry. Through partnering with Christian Resort Ministries  we can reach out to those across the border in Christian love, instilling in them the love of our Savior, Jesus Christ.