2018

2017 is almost over and we are now looking forward to 2018. When I look back and reflect on the past year, I am amazed by the goodness of God – how He has provided for Caring Hearts Ministry and how far we have come from just delivering a few Wal-Mart bags of fresh produce to a very few residents of a colonia. The ministry has so exploded that we serve 7 colonias in one area and are now taking on one more to handle the extra that God provides. Two weeks ago we received over 100 dozen eggs – just at the right time. The kiddos are home from school and need meals at home or they may have had a bit of staples to bake Christmas treats but were missing eggs. The weather has been extremely cold and nasty – so the extra food also helps produce energy to help keep the body warm. We also received buckets full of dried peaches – so we packed them in quart bags to distribute – we had more than enough to make sure all 114 families that showed up last Friday received a bag. We were asked if we could take 4 recliners – all in good shape. They are the medical kind with wheels and iv holders, etc. We took them, as we always do with donations knowing that God has a plan for them, otherwise He would not have brought them to us. We don’t know where they came from but do know that God orchestrated that they be delivered here in S Texas for those who need them. We took then to Ida to the church in the colonias for storage, where she informed us that we only need to store 3 of them- the other one would go to a family with a physically disadvantaged child who were on the way to pick it up.  The recliner was perfect -it makes into a bed, which they were in need of. The child needs medical assistance, so the fact that it is a medical recliner was perfect – also the fact that it is on wheels helps them to wheel him up to the table to share their meager meal together as a family. God is good!

dried peaches - taking off the dumb labels

ready to bag

we got 12 bags per basket

4 baskets in all - plus 6 boxes of apple bar mix - the mixes are used for Bible study snacks for the kids who come to Bible study perhaps just for the food for the body - hopefully they are receiving food for the soul too .The white pails were full  of

dried peaches.

The inevitable Texas crud is going around right now – our little Miss Opal has had it for 3 weeks now. Fred wound up going to the doctor to get a shot and stronger meds – I came down with it on Friday. It is nasty –just when you think you are getting better, it wallops you again. Mornings are rough then a person begins to feel better – by then is time to collapse in the living room again for a bit. We did not go to church this morning as we do not want to spread it around – probably the only time this year we missed Sunday services.

We did revive ourselves enough to purchase 7 slow cookers on sale at HEB – the local grocery store. The ladies who religiously help out on Fridays with the distribution are having a holiday brunch on Tuesday (let’s hope we are able to attend) but do not know that these are a thank you gift for them. They may have electricity at times – otherwise they go to a neighbor who has it. Most do not have stoves that work – so a slow cooker is perfect for fixing warm meals for the family. Thanks to all of you who contribute to Caring Hearts Ministry which has enables us to purchase these Christmas presents to some very dedicated ladies.

When you start making you New Year’s resolutions, make them to help others as well as yourself. Last year I resolved to be better not bitter – and believe I stuck to it most of the time. The results were amazing!! This year I resolve to not to be irritated when someone cuts me off in traffic, or cuts ahead of me in line, or worse yet, grabs the pineapple I was reaching for. I will not roll my eyes or have a disgusted look on my face – I will just smile a friendly smile and pray that their day goes better.

Happy and prosperous 2108 -