Open Doors

How often have we heard or even said, "When God closes a door, He opens another one"?? But how many times have we heard the Lord knocking on a door and not listened? We are studying Revelation in Sunday School, and how strange (although not strange at all) that this verse popped out at me, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and eat with him, and he with Me". Revelation 3:20. We at CRM are in the process of ending our 5 year partnership with Children's Haven. This only means that we have almost accomplished our 5year plan to help raise the funds for the education wing at RIN in Reynosa. We will still be the chaplains for CHI, conducting Bible Study, volunteering, and doing whatever necessary in our position as chaplains there. We were beginning to wonder where God was leading us next - what door He would open and would we be able to see the open door? Just last week, our involvement with the Great Oaks Food and Clothing Ministry took another turn, as our Helping Hands group here at the park donated about 25 handmade quilts to the ministry - Becky Rodriguez was totally thrilled to receive them. We often thought that the food we collected was a supplement to their food distribution to the colonias and needy, but found out that we actually are helping to provide almost 50% of the needed food supplies. We are striving to involve more of the CRM parks to help in this collection effort - the need is so great at this time. We were able to deliver the quilts and some much needed canned goods and beans and rice this last week in time for the next distribution. I have included pictures, but will soon have pictures of the actual quilt distribution. While talking to Becky, we discovered that a Children's Mission in Diaz Ordaz, Mexico, was reopening. This was a children's home similar to CHI across the Rio Grande at Los Ebanos. It had previously closed due to the cartel involvement in the area and the danger to the children. The area has become safer and the home has been opened as a mission house for Mexican missionaries and ministers. The pastor who originally ran the children's home has also started a box food program, where a person can contribute $15 a month to feed a family. Can you imagine living on $15 worth of food a month?? We may be able to become involved by bringing food to the border on the Mexican side by way of a pull ferry - the only operating one across the Rio Grande. Hopefully we will be able to travel to the village about a mile or so away to interact with the village residents and find out what their additional needs are. Please pray for us as we enter this open door and see where it leads us.
NOTE:  (There is a change in the way to attach pictures to the blog - a lot of us using blogspot have yet to figure it out. I will keep trying, as I know the pictures are very important to all of you.)

It has been wet and cold here in S Texas, which does not add to the illnesses that we have all had. I am up and about, but the fatigue and tiredness still avails -  as it seems to with all of those who have been ill. Luckily, it is earlier this year, so that as Sally Maloney and I plan our 5th annual God's Worthy Women retreat next month we can do so in good spirits - it seems the last few years one or the other of us has been under the weather. We are really excited about this year's retreat as we have so much to offer the ladies - worship thru music, a style show, a wonderful buffet lunch, "The Woman at the Well" drama and song, "Living Waters" Bible study, free give aways, door prizes and great Christian fellowship. Where else could you go and receive all of this for only $30.00???  Sally dreamed this retreat 5 years ago, I encouraged her, promised to assist in any way and a dream came to pass.  We never could have believed that we could touch so many women in so many different ways - proving to them that they indeed are worthy and could tune their hearts into mission work, no  matter how simple it may seem to them. Just having a loving heart for others, doing whatever necessary to make someones life a little bit easier, and having compassion truly makes us worthy in God's eyes. His grace we receive even though we often do not deserve it, His love is always there, His forgiveness is constant.

Volunteering at Children's Haven resale store after being off or two weeks due to the holidays was almost like starting over again. All of the Christmas things have been packed up and put away, Valentine's stuff is on the shelves, and the donations keep pouring in. Fred and his helper Jerry made three large pick ups on Tuesday which resulted in many, many items to be sorted through and put on on the shelves to be sold. A very steady customer, one whom we have grown to look forward to seeing, brought us 2 dozen homemade tamales, still warm from the oven. Oh, they tasted so delicious. We ate a few and froze the rest, as tamales seem to gather around the waist line and not go away!!!

As we begin another week, let us be available to open doors, to be always aware of opportunities to serve, and have the willingness to do so.

Also please keep our park in prayer, as Chaplain Dennis and Sally will be leaving this spring. We are searching for a new chaplain - pray that God brings us the proper one to continue what Chaplain Dennis has started - to bring the understanding of the Word of God to all of us here at Alamo Rec Veh Park.