We Have Company

The week went way too fast as we have had company – our sister-in-law Susan from Wisconsin has been here almost week now. We have been to Progresso, Mexico for shopping, Don-Wes flea market for just snooping and fun shopping, a visit to a quilt shop, and a marvelous trip to CHI in Reynosa. We have really enjoyed the time, even taking time for a game or two of cards. Susan joins us in our morning devotions and we have had many conversations regarding what we have read.

Strange that our park is celebrating their 45^th anniversary as is Children’s Haven, so we have been celebrating two simultaneous anniversaries! The park has had back to back activities which we have not attended, as we had our company. From all reports the celebration was a huge success. We did take time to relax and watch the anniversary as all of the activities were represented.

We also enjoyed a good day in Progresso with friends and Susan. It was really busy as many folks are preparing to go home and stocking up on their needed supply of Mexican items. We enjoyed searching out the many stores and street vendors for bargains. Lots of noises, smells, and music.

On Saturday we crossed the border again, only this time to Reynosa for Children’s Haven celebration. We had 3 vans full of us, ready to take  part in the fun. Also in attendance were church groups from Pennsylvania as well as from Kansas. The parents of the children who attend school from the surrounding housing developments were also there. We were so blessed to be a part of this. A wonderful addition was the presence of one of the girls we had sponsored, Sonia, along with her son, Riccardo. Sonia is the sister of Pati, our girl at the refuge who is attending college to become a lawyer. It was great to see Sonia and to reassure her of our love. We were pleasantly surprised to be able to cross back across the border with no wait on the bridge - almost a very first for us.

We had an amazing church service this morning as we were reminded that we need to get out of our comfort zone and do things that seem strange to others When Jesus talked to the woman at the well in Samaria, he broke the culture of the day. Imagine first of all going into Samaria, an area where most folks did not go, as the Samaritians were considered half-breeds - not fit to associate with. Then he was alone with a woman, a Samartian woman at that, and then He began talked to her! How scandalous! And yet, she believed and told others about Him. We need to find our Samaria, a place where others would not expect to find us, and minister to those who are living there - in the streets, in the colonias, anywhere that seems to go against our culture.