Be Strong In the Lord

It has been an exceedingly stressful week where all of us have been reminded to stay strong in the Lord. We have had many people in our park ill and in the hospital. Last week Chaplain Bill made a comment that we have not had many people in the hospital lately - this past week there have been at least 6 people to be visited, most of them with huge medical issues. 2 of the residents have left for their Northern homes because of medical conditions, and other are dealing with major life decisions. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against the authorities, against the powers  of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms". Ephesians 6:12.  We need to stand strong of Jesus, especially in these very difficult times.

Our helping Hands quilting ladies again donated quilts for another great ministry - we soon will be able to accompany those who minister to the colonias with food and clothing in order to present them with homemade quilts. It may seem strange to you that quilts are needed here in S Texas, but when the temperatures fall to below 50 degrees, it feels very cold to the residents here.

We attended the annual mariachi concert this past week - as usual it was amazing to see the young kids who have a passion for the musical heritage of their culture. The groups were from junior high to high school age and all were 1st place winners in various competitions across the country. There was also an older group of mariachis from McAllen, Texas,   who were the world wide national champions. The Basilica was packed for this wonderful night of entertainment.

Yesterday at Bibleville (a nearby RV Park  which sponsors many great Christian groups) we were privileged to see the Collingsworth Family, an extremely talented family who's passion it is to praise the Lord through music. The mother of the family, Kim,  plays a Baldwin grand piano which is taken everywhere with them. A special climate controlled trailer houses "Lucille" (the piano's name) wherever they travel. Kim is an extraordinarily accomplished pianist who truly loves playing for the glory of God. Her music is beyond any other praise music I have ever heard. We are so thankful that Bibleville is able to bring such talented groups to their park for our enjoyment and pleasure.

Last night Chaplain Bill showed the powerful movie "God is not Dead". After we enjoyed a cartoon and free popcorn, we settled in to watch the debate between an atheist professor and a Christian college freshman, who was challenged to prove that God is not dead. If you do get a chance yet to see the movie, please do so - it will open your eyes not only to the truth, but to the scope of unbelief.

As we begin yet another new week, please pray for all of those who have physical issues, especially our older saints who are entering another phase of their life here on earth. As we have be subjected to some passing of friends and relatives, we also experience God's greatest blessings of new life - wonderful new children of God to carry on His Word.



 

Sunday is Here

Sunday is here and I am working on this blog. Not such a busy week, but still lots of things going on here in the park and elsewhere. There was an incident in Progreso Mexico where we shop - but I see it as the fault of the visitors.  A Winter Texan drove his vehicle into Progreso and down a side street to a dentist's office. Two men then entered and at gunpoint asked for his vehicle keys. Point #1 - do not drive your vehicle into Mexico, especially is it is one of the vehicles desired by the drug cartel - ( a truck, certain type, color, etc). Point #2 - do not wander off the main street - Point #3 - do not wear a lot of jewelry or anything that would make you look like you have money. We have an older Ford Taurus which the cartel would not want, we park on the American side and walk into Progresso, we do not veer off the main street, and certainly do not wear expensive jewelry (as we had had a lot of that, either). We are cautious, but anything can happen, of course. We won't go to Progreso for awhile until things calm down again.

Last Sunday I was invited to yet another baby shower.  You would think that at my age I wouldn't know so many expectant mothers! The hostess is the wife of Pastor Jesse Alvarez of Puro Jesus Church (Pure Jesus). We work with him and his lovely wife Belinda at Border Missions (when we can manage to be there), so it was an honor to be invited to the shower. We played the usual games evident in all of the Hispanic showers I have attended, accompanied by fun and laughter. The guest of honor was radiant in her pregnancy, and so very grateful for us Americano guests. We even had Pizza Hut Pizza, along with fruit and salad. We excused ourselves early as we had to attend a supper at our park - West Texas antelope and ham dinner. It was interesting, but I really did not care for the antelope - it did not taste gamy, but was sort of tasteless and tough. At least I tried it!!!!

see how close you can come to the correct waist measurement using toilet paper - I won this one!!

yummy fruit kabobs - the cotton balls in the background were from another game 



Lovely Linda - expectant Mom

Pastor Jesse's wife Belinda - looks gross but was only candy bars in diapers -we had to guess which candy bars were in three different diapers -

drinking a baby bottle - glad I did not have to do this one

see how many clothespins you can remove from a hanger with only one hand - I was ahead in this game until former farmer's daughter Alberta held 11 in her one hand!!! Comes from milking cows, I suppose.

 

 We facilitate a Bible Study Monday nights for CHI for volunteers and whomever wants to attend from November until March . We are on our 3rd year in the book of Luke, but I have confidence that we will finish this year. We don't have a big crowd, but it is really interesting just to read passages, and then open it up for discussion. God tells us that no matter how many are gathered together, He is there with us. Of course, you can guess what else we do - yep - eat!!! It is a good time for fellowship and sharing. Right now I am making a split pea soup in the slow cooker for tomorrow night - we take turns preparing the main dish and the rest just fill in with salads, desserts, etc. Last week I took advantage of the wonderful supply of fresh fruit here in the Valley and made a fruit platter - of which almost all was gone before the night was over.

my contribution - it looks so good

 

 

Saturday here in the park we celebrated those who were married in 1965 - a 50th anniversary celebration. We only had 4 couples this year, but the stories were so very funny, especially when one gentleman said that the car "wouldn't start" on the first date. Hmmm - where have we heard that line before? The two ladies who put his together did an amazing job and provided great memories for all. God has truly blessed these couples over the years as their many stories seem to confirm the fact. When God is for us, who can be against us?? A dinner was served afterwards, along with wedding cake and ice cream.

 

 one of the event planners - and some of the beautiful decorations - she was "the tall"

 

 the co-coordinator - they were billed as the short and tall of it - she was the "short"

 the four honored couples

 Chaplain Bill giving the invocation - and telling a couple of cute jokes!

 This couple has been married 72 years!!!!!! She was 16 and he was 17 when they married so many years ago.

and he proclaimed "the car would not start" on their first date 

 

 

We try to make it a habit to ask our server at a restaurant if we can pray for anything for them as we pray over our food. This past week we received two very surprising answers - one for prayer and cleansing, and the other for thankfulness for all God has provided in his life. Both were young gentlemen and already have turned their lives over to the Lord. Try asking your server next time the same question - you will always be surprised at the answers.



I'm Back

Actually, I haven't really been gone. It has been a very busy past two weeks - I have thought many days about posting this blog, but there was not a minute of time that was not accounted for. It was with great relief that we could relax late yesterday afternoon, and reflect on our activities.

A week ago Thursday, Ali Artherholt and I hosted a Victorian Tea Party for the ladies in the Bible . Study class. We had previously held a hat decoration day when we prepared our hats, and then waited with anticipation for the day we could wear them with pride! Except for a slight mishap with 4 broken teapots prior to the tea, we had such a fun time. The ladies arrived all decked out in their finery, with their tea party treats in hand. The Annex was abuzz with chatter as we sipped different teas, and enjoyed the many tea time treats of cranberry/white chocolate scones, dainty cookies, baklava, tiny cream puffs, even Twinkies, cut in small pieces topped with whipped cream and strawberries. A few fun door prizes rounded out an afternoon of relaxation an fellowship.

some of the many teapots



one of the two tables of treats and teapots

another teapot table and more treats

lovely ladies and hats

more of our tea time ladies

me and Ali - my mother wore hats regally, I just look resigned

hats, teacups, and teapots

We celebrated the birthday of friend Karen at South Padre Island, which has become a yearly tradition. It was cool that day, but the shrimp at Pelican Station was wonderful as always. Karen and I always feed the sea gulls, with warnings to "stay away from the vehicle or you will be washing it!" It does not take them long to devour a whole loaf of bread. I love the sweet little gulls and their bright shining eyes. We then traveled to Brownsville along the channel to see the USS Constellation. Connie, as she was lovingly called,  was commissioned on October 27, 1961, under the motto "Spirit of the Old, Pride of the New." In response to North Vietnamese attacks on U.S. destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin in August 1964, CONSTELLATION departed from a scheduled port visit to Hong Kong and was the first U.S. warship to launch strikes against North Vietnamese vessels and bases. June 2, 2003, Constellation returned to San Diego after completing her 21st and final deployment to the Western Pacific, during deployment, she took part in the war on Iraq, Operation Iraqi Freedom. After her impressive 41 year service life, "Connie" was decommissioned pier side, at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, California on August 7, 2003. Mid September 2003, Connie was towed to Puget Sound Naval Station to begin preparation for permanent storage or be stricken from Navy records. She recently was towed to the Port of Brownsville to be scrapped.

 the USS Constellation in her days of glory

 today she sits in a shipyard in Brownsville, being taken apart for scrap

 I love these little guys

as I was taking a picture, this guy swooped down and stole a whole piece of bread from my hand!

 the surfers never did make it out to the waves

 the beauty of the water

 one of the many hotels on S Padre Island, which is a bee hive of action during spring break.

 an off shore oil rig, being worked on at the shipyards

another aircraft carrier being dismantled

The biggest time consumer this week was the 7th annual God's Worthy Women conference. This year was another huge success, as over 140 women were blessed by speaker, Naomi Miles as she delivered a message of forgiveness. God has so blessed this ministry over the years as we try to touch women of all ages here in the Valley. We had in attendance two younger ladies, one of which is expecting a baby very soon (I am going to her baby shower tomorrow!). Naomi's message was based on our theme verse Matthew 6:14 - "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you". But you need to read further on to verse 15 - "But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins". We put a cross on a white tablecloth (for purity) and circled it with a red cloth (the blood of Jesus). As Naomi was finishing her presentation in the afternoon, the ladies were encouraged to write the name on a piece of paper (we provided two of them) of the person they wanted to forgive or who they wanted forgiveness from and walk forward to place the names at the foot of the cross, to be forever forgotten and marked "Paid in Full". It was so moving to see the many ladies doing so to be released forever from the bondage of unforgiveness. God is good and we give Him all the praise and glory for His forgiveness! We are now planning for next year's conference, asking God for His guidance.

 some of the ladies who attended

 Naomi, who is little but so very powerful in her presentation

 taking our forgivenesses to the cross

the foot of the cross - and many who were forgiven once and for all - Amy as she released the person from the debt she feels was owed to her for some offense.



This week surrender your unforgiveness to God - write "Paid in Full" on those who you feel have offended you, and ask for forgiveness from those whom you have offended.