Northward Bound

We are on our way North to visit family and friends - planning about two months more or less. We left early yesterday morning and ran into severe rain and wind on the way to Joshua, Texas to spend a couple of days with fellow Chaplain, Roy and Paula Gee - so we are in Texas yet!!! Goes to prove that the sun has rose and the sun has set, and we are in Texas yet! Planning on leaving tomorrow to head for Arkansas, with a stop in Oklahoma to visit Dennis and Sally Maloney although the storms warnings are out for Oklahoma area.

A truly busy week last week, as we volunteered at CHI resale store on Monday, did some packing on Tuesday, spent the day at the hospital with friends Bob and Barbara O, as she had surgery on her foot. Ran around checking on locations for our ladies conference in February, Thursday we had to make a delivery run to Reynosa, Mexico, Friday was our produce pick up day, as well as delivery to the colonias then birthday celebration dinner with Barbara O. Saturday was the 3 month birthday party in Reynosa which we attended, early to bed and on the road Sunday morning at 4AM. Now to put it all In reverse for a couple of months.

so many fresh veggies

filled to capacity

no more room

unloaded and ready for distribution - the little boy is awed by the sight

more veggies

a beautiful flower in the colonia

came from this tree where they are yellow at first

a faithful worker for the Lord with Fred

packing boxes

more flowers amidst the poverty

more flowering bushes - the ladies love their  plants even if they grow wild everywhere

preparing a meal for us from their meager supplies as a good bye for now party

chicken empanadas, rice, beans, fresh guacamole, salad, Mexican sour cream

 

 

even a small gift for us

and an early birthday cake for Fred

as we ate, other ladies boxes up 70+ boxes to be distributed

plus bags of rice

Ida with beans too 

The birthday party in Reynosa was much fun as usual. We took a van load of of us to Reynosa where the kids were all excited about being treated to a movie, popcorn, and drinks. The move "jungle Book" was all in Spanish - luckily we were able to follow along the story line anyway. We then returned to the haven for pizza and more soda - followed by the opening of presents and squeals of delight from the birthday kids. For some of the kids, who had never even been to a movie before, all of this was almost overwhelming. God had laid it on our hearts to care and give - it is so warming to see the fruits of God's provision. "Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute, open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy". Proverbs 31:8-9. We all need to stand up for those less fortunate than we are.

party time

homemade decorations

birthday kids

 

Paty - one the children we sponsor on the right

Darlene fixing Belinda's hair

Darlene and Jesse Curtsinger - devoted kids sponsors and volunteers with Belinda

us with Belinda

passing out presents

the first presents this boy has probably ever received

1, 2, 3 open presents!!!

smiles on these girls faces

Paty and us

us and our "girls"

 

Selene a birthday girl, who had an emergency appendectomy on Friday - notice the nurse call button on the wall

we took the party to her in a Mexican hospital which reminded me of a hospital setting in the 1940's - very sparse and old

the stand next to her (notice the rust on it) held two bottles - pain medication and saline. Celene was in pain at this time - she was awake during surgery - just given a pin block of some sort. Remind me never to wind up in a Mexican private hospital.

a beautiful building downtown Austin

just one section of a row of many apartment buildings - there were 12 units like these connected together - I am glad I don't have to live here.

 

 

Everyone have a wonderful enjoyable week - love yourself and your neighbors.