music - Mexican style

 

Last week we went to the Basilica of our Lady of San Juan here in San Juan, Texas (almost out our front door). The Basilica was featuring the area school Mariachi bands - one of which played at the inauguration and all were first place trophy winners.  We left for the concert a bit early and are so glad that we did so - it was so packed with people that we had to sit upstairs in the balcony, in almost some of the last seats. There was a Mass earlier, so we thought most of those people would leave, thus enabling us to have a better seat. How wrong we were! The bands were fabulous, the singers were unbelievable considering that they were still school kids. From what we understand, it is a great honor and privilege to play in one of these bands and takes an enormous amount of dedication and practice. Let us use them as an inspiration to us to delve into the Word of God in order to become expert at it.

the altar area from where we sat

a high school group

they look like they really are enjoying themselves

all of the groups singing happy birthday to Our Lady of San Juan

  Last weekend there was a kite festival at South Padre Island, Our friends Dean and Karen picked us up and we proceeded to drive over there early we (we thought) not knowing that on the way to S Padre, a small town of La  Faria was having their rodeo, a really huge affair. The roads were blocked off for the parade and we were re-routed waaaaaaaaaay around town. After finally getting back on track, we ran into hordes of people on their way to the the kite festival - the causeway to the island again was stacked up with traffic, one lane only. Finally making to the beach where the kite flying was going on, we found a spot staked our claim with our chairs. It was a remarkable sight - all shapes and sizes of kites billowing in the wind. They were tied down and just seemed to float in one spot. Every once in awhile, a few kites were flown in exhibition - precision flying in 5's or more. It was amazing to see them flown by different people, but all the same direction. The ever present sea gulls were there, tempted even closer to us by promises of crackers. They often swooped down and took it out of our fingers. One of them very discreetly left a calling card on Dean's pants!!!!

lots of kites on a windy day

parrots and ducks

alligators and octopus

this sweet little guy was walking himself - his owners were just ahead of him

coming in for another cracker

stay off my turf

 

Today we attended Great Oaks Community Church where we met Pastor Tomas Granda from Diaz Ordaz in Tamaulipas, Mexico. We are attempting to establish a partnership of sorts with him, trying to help with food and clothing much needed in that city. A few years ago the Mexican drug cartel took over the city, driving out the residents, causing a children's home to abandon it's building. Some of those children were taken to our refuge in Reynosa, others went home when it was deemed safe to do so. A rain, hail, and wind storm last year destroyed part of their church, which they are now trying to rebuild. Pastor Granda  answered a question about the safety of that area - it is not yet a safe place to travel, although it is getting better. We had planned on traveling to the village via the pull ferry across the Rio Grande, but he advised against it at this time. Some of the people are returning to their homes, trying to rebuild their lives. Please pray for all of the people being threatened by the cartel groups - let those gang members try to realize the shortcoming of their life style and listen to the Word of God, returning them to His fold.  ".....He will not turn His face from you if you return to Him"  2 Chronicles 30:9 This was a message sent to Israel by King Hezekiah, urging them give up their evil ways and  return to the Lord. If God can forgive Israel, He certainly can forgive all of us.






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