Celebration Week

This week was so very full of celebrations - all in preparation for Christmas Day. The first and best day was Monday when Fred was released from the hospital. It was later in the afternoon, but that was just fine. The pic line was removed and he was allowed to take the antibiotic orally - two days in the hospital turned into 7 - we were both happy to see him home! The rest of the week was a blur - two doctor appointments later we were well into preparing for the Christmas distribution in the colonias which involved making sure everything available was ready to be packaged up. Thanks to some very great friends and neighbors, all was loaded and delivered to Iglesia Batista Emmanuel in order for the ladies to wrap, package, and store until Saturday's distribution. Friday's produce pick up proved to be so bountiful, including 90 dozen eggs!!! What a blessing - we did run out of eggs at the usual Friday distribution, as we fed 100+ families. God just continues to give all the time.

getting ready to finish loading

Chaplain Roy hard at work

the girls showing off the beautiful handmade quilts to be distributed

cuddling in quilts although it was 80 degrees (this was Saturday - this morning was 45!!!)

more quilts

and boxes of clothes

the store room ready to begin packaging

and the overflow

On Thursday, we traveled to Reynosa for RIN's Christmas party with the kids at the refuge. As there were some new children there, the excitement ran high- many of them never saw a Christmas celebration, decorated trees, or presents. It was chilly in Texas, yet Mexico seemed to be colder. Sure wish I knew how that works - when hot in Texas it is hotter in Mexico, when cold in Texas, it is colder in Mexico -makes no sense to me. The program was carefully planned out, with a concert by the kids and a great video of them individually singing Christmas songs. Lots of dun and laughter. We were served a lunch of  delicious beef, the ever present green pasta, mashed potatoes, dinner roll (no butter, salt or pepper) after which the presents were opened. As a larger portion of the kids at the refuge are younger, the noise level was louder with much laughter and squeals than normal. After a time to visit with the kids, we loaded the 3 vans and headed back to the US with a 45 minute wait at the border.

 The manager scene at RIN

 some of the Christmas visitors from the US

 Belinda - who is growing into a beautiful young lady

 the amazing house parents in Belinda'a Casa

 Belinda and me

 Paty, Fred, and Belinda - these are the two sweeties we sponsor

 one of the new girls who was so excited with everything 

 look at the beautiful hair style

 Matt - our Canadian intern and his wife - it was his birthday and he wound up with a face full of frosting

 the special concert for us of all the kids residing at RIN

 our Christmas meal

 the house parents ready for sort of a hot potato game

Paty's Casa

 Belinda's casa

 waiting for the countdown to open presents

Paty and her gifts

Saturday dawned bright an beautiful as we drove to the colonias along with Chaplains Roy and Paula Gee. We were a bit late as we ran into two accidents with traffic tie ups. Luckily the program started late so we were actually there in time! Lots of Christmas carols sung in Spanish, a Spanish Christmas message, a wonderful lunch of tamales, sort of a creamed corn veggie, hot Mexican chocolate, kool aide, soda, and cupcakes, after which the younger kids were lined up and handed out Christmas stockings, made by Big Valley RV Park, filled with toys, candy, and an apple. About 200 hams were collected to be included in the Christmas food bag. 214 stockings were handed out, as well as gifts for each family (a homemade quilt, store bought throw, or crochet afghan), as well as presents for all the rest of the kids up to 18. I just marveled at all the excitement and realized that this was what Christmas is all about. Paula did not want to leave as the love and happiness was just flowing all around.

 the ladies  love to "shop" for clothes - they make a game of picking through the piles, just the way they like it

 pinto beans - so good

 the minister singing Spanish Christmas Carols

 a basket full of store bought warm throws

 just a part of  the large group awaiting the celebration

 tamales and rice

 our table of friends enjoying the meal

 tomatoes, lentil mixes, and bags of commodities ready to hand out

 some of the workers scrambling to fill more more bags

 presents for the families

 a baby quilt for an expectant mother

 clothes shopping - colonia style

 a shepherd watching his "flock"

 a colonia Black Friday frenzy

 quilts for everyone

 a fairly quiet line up waiting for Christmas stockings

 an apple in each stocking

 look at that smile of happiness

 checking out her present

 the clothes shopping continued all afternoon as more clothing was added

 lovely Sol and her goat

a gang sign despite the calmness of the celebration

We attended church this morning at Ranchero Village with Miss Opal, our constant church companion. She goes wherever we go to church and loves every minute of it. Chaplain Bob Ostermaier gave a wonderful sermon from Matthew 2:1-12, "The Wise Still Seek Him". The wise men began a trip because of a star.  As they were astrologers, they were interested in the skies and realized that this new star meant something great was about to happen. The star is also a message to lead us to seek Jesus. God has made a very conscious effort to reach those far away from Him. the Magi were Gentiles, not the same religion as the Jews, so did not know about a coming Messiah. As they followed the star, it is a reminder to us that if we strive to follow Jesus, He will never leave us - He is always close by - we have not gone too far to be brought back to Him. They found Jesus and the first thing they did was to bow down and worship worship Him. We bow our heads in prayer to show that God has authority over us - we offer ourselves to Him. We we find God we are just at the beginning of our spiritual journey  just as the wise men did. They continued on their journey home to their country just as we continue on in our journey with the Lord.

As we draw closer to Christmas Day, always keep in mind why it is called Christmas, and not Santamas!!