Mind Changing Weather

How can the weather change so drastically? Yesterday we were in the high 80’s with a beautiful breeze (actually some high winds) and this morning it was 50 degrees. It certainly presents a challenge – what to wear today – shorts or a jacket?? It seems that all this weather change this past winter has affected the residents by making them a bit more touchy.

Last evening, we went to the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan Del Valle with friends as they had never been there before. It is a beautiful shrine to Our Lady of San Juan. The church itself is magnificent with   mariachi band for services. I realized how very much different the current Catholic service is from the one I was raised in – although the pageantry and liturgical part of it is still there, including the incense. The smell of the incense brings back memories of long ago church services in Chicago – the nuns, the priests, and the sense of awe at attending church services in Latin. I tried to google the church and school we attended at kids, but found out that the church, rectory, and convent had been razed to make space for a “green area” for the students. It was a huge complex, beautiful church and buildings. I guess things never remain the same except in our minds.

We still have a few folks left here in the park, as well as the few Canadians that stop along the way, coming from the Cancun area and taking a break before heading back to Canada. I suppose they are trying to avoid the bad weather as the head North.

It seems that as the produce slows down this time of year, our supply narrows down as we try to keep the people in the colonias in fresh produce for the coming week. But no matter how meager the supply is, there always seems to be enough. We get many donations from those heading back North (for some reason Winter Texans go to Cosco and buy huge amounts of non-perishable items and then do not use them as they spend time in the Valley). It is truly a blessing as we repackage these foods in to smaller packages for distribution. We are still in the fund-raising mode to be able to raise the funds in order to close in the patio area of the distribution building as well as dry wall the existing building. It serves its purpose as it now stands, but adding those improvements would be a huge asset to the ministry of serving others. Caring Hearts Ministry continues to grow as we pray about adopting another area of colonias, this one being communities of older residents – those who cannot work and are on a very limited income, much in need of help. We ask for prayer as to how we can help these folks, also to bring others to assist us, those we can trust and rely on. God is good and will answer our prayers in His timing – but patience is not one of my best virtues.

We received a box of these weird looking things with our produce on Friday - what is it - a fruit, a vegetable, what???

after research and many questions it is determined that this is the bulb of a bnana tree - all those weird looking sprouts are bananas - strange

Church services were very strange this morning as we attended our regular service at a different time Changes are being made as the new sanctuary is now in use – we are still in the older sanctuary with the contemporary service, except at later time to accommodate those who have children and cannot make the earlier service. Guess we are really set in our ways, as we do hate change. There will be a trial period of 2 months to see how it will works out – the only problem is that we would have to leave Sunday School classed earlier to make the service on time – AND we perhaps would not get to sit in OUR pew!!! Are we not all creatures of habit??? There were a few changes in the set up of the service – it almost felt like we were starting over again – I suppose we were in a sense. The message remains the same though. This morning we were challenged to face God courageously. Courageous is defined as doing something that frightens us. Do you talk to God – I mean really talk to Him, not just “thank you” and then present your petitions? God wants to hear our inner thoughts – our fears, hurts, and desires. Pour out your hearts to Him – tell Him what you really fear – are you afraid of failing, are you afraid that following Him will drastically change your life and you are afraid of that change? Courage is facing God – sharing honestly how you are feeling. Courage is hearing the hard word of God and following it – no matter how difficult it sounds. Always share your hurt with Him, but also share your joy. If you can not be honest with God, how can you be honest with yourself?