Party Time

Child's Haven Int'l celebrates birthdays for the kids at the refuge in Reynosa every three months - this month was the July, August , and September birthday party. Originally, it was planned for the Water Park, but because of uncertainty of the weather, it was held at Peter Piper Pizza in Reynosa. Five of us (including Director Betsy) went over to Reynosa Saturday morning, arriving right after the kids all got there. There was the usual excitement as they waited for the preparations before they were all let loose into the game area. I am always amazed at the behavior of these kids - kids who, in another life,  have been without food or sometimes even a roof over their head, been exposed to unimaginable abuses, and in many cases, left to fend for themselves. After a few months at the Haven, they are more well behaved than children of "normal" families. Their respect for others is a wonderful thing to see - taking care of the younger ones and watching out for us older ones, too. After a time of exhausting play, they settled down to pizza, soda, birthday cake, and some wonderful Mexican ice cream cones - sort of like our soft serve only a bit grainier maybe. We chose the pink cones and I could not identify the flavor, but it certainly was delicious. The time then came for birthday wishes and opening presents to be oohed and aahed by everyone. The gifts are always some item of clothing, shoes in some cases, and a personal item from the list they had made earlier. One college boy received a money counter and money rolls to roll his American money in. He is in his last 6 months of college before he receives his degree in architectural design, is working on his internship right now, and has his sort term visa to visit the US. He loves the US and is saving all the change he has to spend in the US when he comes to visit. He plans to join a Mexican firm after graduation and be a role model for others. After all the excitement, everyone lined up for Betsy's inevitable photo shoot, and we headed back to the US, with a very short wait on the bridge.

waiting patiently for the signal to go!

                              

trying to dance on the pad

 

the Tios with some of the younger kids

the older boys trying desperately to get the most tickets

Tia Brenda (who was amazed that her name is the same in English and Spanish) with Carolina, who soon will have more surgery to fix her handicap

bumper cars, the favorite

rides for even the littlest ones

Faviola and Jessie doing the hand jive

enough pizza for everyone

us with Belinda and Paty

the birthday kids

Maryanna, showing Darlene her birthday shoes

chocolate and white cake

Little Kayla is growing - she was just a baby when she came to RIN

our college students - Nelson, on the left, will have his degree shortly  

the Casa of Paty and Belinda with Tia Carmen

 Pastor Israel's sermon this morning just reiterated CHI's mission statement - "and whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me". Matthew 18:5. Israel's sermon  calls us to be LoveStrong in the knowledge that love always costs something, - our time, our talents, even our money. God commands us to have such a great love for others that we would lay down our lives for them. John 15:13. It is not easy - doing the work for the Lord is hard, both physically and spiritually but it is how we are supposed to live. We were reminded of it this week as we were on our way to volunteer at Border Missions - a long and tiring day but one filled with love for others. As we traveled there, we noticed a helicopter near the Rio Grande, hovering above a grove of trees. Border guard vehicles were converging upon the spot - obviously there were immigrants waiting to be picked up and granted asylum. Is this the correct way to freedom - perhaps not, but are we turn them away? Send them back to their countries where their very lives and the lives of their families are in danger? If we see them struggling through the dense trees, almost dehydrated, are we to offer them a bottle of water??? Do we turn our backs on the homeless ones asking for a bit of food along the roadways?? Are they really homeless and penniless, or are they just begging for beer money??? We need to give from our heart according to God's command. The rest is in God's hands. Pray that God shows you how to LoveStrong - it may be a very simple thing like taking a casserole to an ailing neighbor, or giving up an hour of your day to visit a nursing home, or being nice to an unfriendly co-worker, or even a bigger scale like taking a mission trip. The opportunities are endless. Let God and the Holy Spirit in your heart show you!

 

Have a blessed week.