March already

Beautiful, gorgeous day here in S Texas - a wonderful clothes drying day - 3 loads on the line dried so softly and smell so good!!! The best part of the week is that we are no longer sick!!!!!

On  a bit of a personal note, a friend from high school had a heart attack this last week - she wanted to make sure her husband notified me. Of course, we immediately started a prayer chain because her condition was servere - to the point of having a leaky heart valve and being transported to larger hospital. I talked to her husband one evening, and the following day I called her personally at the hospital. Imagine me surprise (why the surprise??) to hear her sounding normal and quite perky. Her first question was, "Were you praying?",  She knew the answer, as she then told m me that all of her tests so far came out normal - no heart problems whatsoever. I felt so humble that she knew I would be praying, and that God answered our prayers. The neatest part of the whole episode is that she knew who the Lord is in charge!

Our ladies conference was so very successful. Over 100 ladies came to hear the Lord's praise, as well as listening to a ministry that stirred all of us to have willing hearts for Jesus (the theme of our conference). One of our speakers and worship leaders was Angela Neese who traveled to Tajikistan on the Afghanistan border, a former Soviet Satellite country who was left devastated when Russia pulled out and took everything with them There are ladies there who were left alone, no husband, no money, nothing at all to raise their children in a barren land. The women there are considered less than nothing and nothing they say or do is considered worth listening to if they even dare speak up. The word of God is spread to all of the tiny communities through storytelling - relating Bible stories in everyday terms and situations that all can understand. This way, as there is no written word, the women retell these stories to their children, who hear about Jesus' love for them.

Joann and myself at the registration table

some of our ladies at the beautiful Echo Hotel

not only were our ladies touched by the worship music, but one of our servers bowed his head in praise

Angela Neese in typical Tajikistan dress



the two ladies on each end saw our t-shirts, asked what it was all about, and joined our conference - PTL. Sally Maloney, co-founder in pink, and the three speakers




Chaplains wives and speakers

Another event was the monthly CRM meeting, where we join together in fellowship and food (everything here seem to revolve around food).

the table was groaning with food

one of the conference speakers, Brenda, from Campus Crusades



an added highlight Chaplain Fred Campbell (on the right) , who re-dedicated his life to Christ though baptism in our park
 pool

We took a break from work on Saturday evening and went to the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan de Valle to a Mariachi concert, featuring three area Mariachi bands.

the altar of the Basilica

the balcony which was filling up quickly

Mariachi Nueva Era, from Valley View High School in Hildago, TX

Mariachi Juvenile de America from Veterans Middle School in Rio Grande City, TX - they won the National Mariachi competition and are waiting to hear if they are going to be on America's Got Talent

the star of the show

members of the Basilica Mariachi



more Basilica members

We  took a tour group to the Haven in Reynosa this week where we had the pleasure of meeting the 4 newest children there. The mother was also present, as she will be leaving in 3 days to work to earn support for herself and her children . Because of many circumstances, she cannot support them right now - food, clothing, a roof over their head, so the children are safely in the hands of CHI. How devastating it must be to leave you children, especially a baby, in the hands of strangers!!!! But we all tried to assure her that her children will be much loved and raised in a Christian environment. She can visit them often, and when her circumstances change, have her children again with her.  

the addition to the auditorium at RIN - all the work done by volunteers

the youngest of the four new children we have - what a gorgeous baby

some sponsors and their "children"

Back in the world

I really need to apologize for not updating my blog lately, but Fred and I have had the "Texas crud" (a respiratory infection) that really got a hold of us for about 3-1/2 weeks. We finally went to the doctor last week, and after a shot, 4 prescriptions, and $100.00 later, we eventually got it conquered this week!!! Quite a few people here (Winter Texans) have had it also. The fact that the weather was wet, muggy, and moldy did not help either.

We had so many happenings that I actually was relieved when this part of February was over!!! Although everything blessed by God's grace, we were extremely busy, busy, busy as well as not feeling well.

Our church board sponsored a piano concert early February as a thank you from our musicians. Last year we had a fund drive to purchase a new piano for our church services, The musicians did all the leg work, investigating and presented the congregation with a proposal for a new piano which was figured to take about a year to raise funds for. Needless to say, God intervened, and we acquired the funds in 3 weeks!!!
We have awesome musicians here at the park, so very talented and willing to share their talents.

Our 5 very talented, gifted musicians - do they look nervous?

a thank you for the piano

Vera Welty, our choir director and musician - she also graces us with special vocal music

a full house

two church board members preparing punch for the reception

As a benefit fund raiser for Children's Haven a dinner concert was held, given by Gordy and Debbie Wenzel from Branson, Mo. Debbie and Gordy are wonderful supporters of CHI, and donated their time as well as all the proceeds from CD sales that evening to CHI (CD sales amounted to $700!!).  When God is involved in any situation, wonderful things happen. The event was held at our park (graciously donated for free by Barbara Hamel, manager) and catered by an amazing group. We were served on real china with real glass goblets. The meal was wonderful, and we felt like royalty being served and waited upon. The servers performed like clockwork, almost a choreagraphed production,  serving 299 people and attending to our every need. It was a great success, affording CHI a clear profit of $4800.00. PTL. 


tables set for the special evening - real china!




a very competent catering service



servers working diligently to keep us fed

Gordy and Debbie Wenzel - if you get a chance to see them in Branson, it is well worth you time

Another event this past month (I told you this was a busy month) was the 50th anniversary celebration at our park. All of those couples who have been married 50 years this year were honored with a very special celebration, complete with cake and punch. It seems everything revolves around food here in S. Texas. The service was so very well done thanks to narrator, Dorothy Miller, the musicians, Chaplain Dennis Maloney and Anne (Minnie Pearl) Fleck.

one of our honored couples, Stan and Betty Wilkens (Stan is  our church board treasurer as well as worship leader, and Betty is one of our talented musicians)

a beautiful cake made by one of our park residents

Don and Kay Schmidtknect, another honored couple and our wonderful next door neighbors

Anne Minnie Pearl Fleck entertaining us with "How to Keep a Man". The seven honored couples were featured on stage after entering through a golden arch (not McDonald's).

Even with all of these happenings, there are at least three more events that took place this past month!! The Lord gave us the strength and perserverance to see them through, even in our somewhat weakened condition!!! Someway, we were able to accomplish the things He presented to us, albiet collapsing every night. Perhaps that is why it took us so long to recoup. We give all the priase and glory to Him for the success of everthing we do in His name. When we say,"I'm too tired", God says, "I will give you rest".     Matthew 11:28-30    Amen to that.

Hopefully, I will fill you in on all the accomplishments for this month within the week. God's blessings and grace on you until then.

chocolate, chocolate, chocolate!!!

One really fun event in the past two weeks was the Children's Haven International  (CHI) Chocolicious Extravaganza and style show. CHI does not have one large donor or patron, so they have to raise funds with many smaller events. This one took place at our park here in the Valley and was ever so much fun. CHI volunteers modeled clothes that are available at the resale shop in Pharr, Texas. These clothes are all name brands, excellent to new condition and very reasonably priced. After the first part of the style show, everyone was invited to the chocolate fountain, where they could dip fruits and pretzels i n the flowing fountain of rich chocolate. There were so many different ways to do this - my favorite was a piece of pineapple and a banana - tasted like a banana split without the ice cream. Also available were tiny chocolate
cupcakes. Those in attendance returned many times to the fountain. Our park was surely energized the rest of the afternoon!!! After they had their fill of chocolate, there were chocolate goodies for sale - cookies and candies made by the CHI volunteers. While all of this was digesting, the second half of the style show was presented, including a full length mink coat modeled by our director, Betsy Chacon, for the special price of $100!!!!! What a deal. No one here took advantage of it, as the weather does not permit wearing mink coats! The style show was stolen by volunteer Larry, as he modeled a beautifully cut suit and red shirt. Amid many catcalls and whistles, his wife informed us that he was not for sale!

Betsy with two of the three fur coats available to purchase

Kerm with the homemade cookies cookies and candy for sale

some ladies shopping early to get the best deals

Josephina, a lovely  volunteer model

Larry, the star of the show, modeling his golf outfit

ladies at the fountain (as opposed to the well)

more chocolate treats

Betsy, in the full length gorgeous mink coat

Larry, in the infamous suit and shirt

CHI is in the middle of a few building projects. One of the most recent is the remodeling of a shed at the office in Pharr into a new conference room, as the older conference is being remodeled into more space for the thrift shop. This remodeling only took about 2 weeks with the help of all the volunteers. It is so nice and big, allowing for not only meetings, but luncheons as well.

remodeld shed - how wonderful it looks

Another project was headed up by POWER, a group of volunteers from across the United States who join together to work on building projects throughout Northern Mexico. They arrive in Reynosa to build the addition onto the auditorium at the refuge there. In one afternoon they accomplished this! They returned a few days later and finished the project. Our hats off to them for all of their service.

POWER project

While traveling one day in Reynosa, Mexico, we saw a funeral procession on the road. It consisted of a hearse, one car, and this pick-up, carrying the flowers. Quite different from the funeral processions here in the States.

While at the refuge (RIN) we again were allowed to have lunch with the children and sample some of Maria's wonderful cooking. This time we were treated to picadillya, a meat and vegetable dish just oozing with Mexican flavor, and cooked rice, the Mexican way.

beef picadillya

flavorfull rice

these 3 boys are 3 of the 4 newest kids at the refuge

the great room in a casa

Whew!!

Our lives been totally hectic since my last post. We both have the Texas crud - an illness that comes around every year here in S Texas - it passes around the park faster than a juicy piece of gossip!! Sort of a congestion in most people, some get flu symptoms, aches, sore throat, cough, you name it. We have had it over a week now - some days we feel good, then all of a sudden it whacks you again. Luckily, we have had only coughs some congestion, and exhaustion. Praying for this week to be better.

I promised you pictures of a group of us delivering quilts to the colonias. It was such a heartwarming experience. This weekend turned colder so they were just in time! We delivered 70 quilts to a smaller colonia - if the volunteers from Helping Hands manage to make more then that next year, we may deliver them to larger areas. The homes in these pictures seem fairly well cared for - the reason being that they have been updated by many volunteers - a project that a group have taken on. We tried very hard to instill in the people that these quilts were made from them through the love of their Savior, Jesus Christ. TheHispanic ladies were so wonderful, giving us hugs and wishes for God's blessings. What an awesome way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Many thanks to each and every one who was involved in this project.

ready to deliver

loading the vehicles (there were 2 of them)

a truck full of quilts

"I made this myself" as she presented a quilt to a beaming teen

volunteer Zoe and some of happy recipients

even though it was hot that day, this young boy stayed wrapped in his quilt

Nomad volunteer Don Laughlin and missionary pastor, Roland, who took us to the colonias

We have a ladies Bible study at our park on Fridays where we are studying our life in the wilderness - times in our life when we felt lost and perhaps wandering - and how this wilderness time brings us closer to the Lord, allowing us to trust in Him.  A wonderful study led by Sally Maloney.

listening to one of our ladies discussing the lesson

                                                                                 more of our group

There have been many more events since the last time I posted: a Chocolicious Style Show, our visit to the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, a piano recital at our park, and renovations at Children's Haven International, both in Pharr and Reynosa, as well as many busy February events. I will try to keep you all updated as God keeps us on our toes to serve Him in any areas we can. This coming Thursday, many of us CRM chaplains will be traveling to Reynosa, Mexico to the refuge there. For many of them it will be a first time visit; those of us who have been there before are anxiously waiting to return. Please pray for God's grace and protection as we cross the border in some areas where there has been danger.







                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

More opportunities

I cannot believe how the Lord has opened doors for additional opportunities to serve Him!! And what always truly amazes me is how He places all of the right people in the right places to make things happen. We are opening doors in another ministry whereby hand made quilts are placed in the colonias (barrios, poor Latino neighborhoods here in the Valley of S Texas) for children and parents. Children's Haven International received a large quantity of quilt tops and backing to be put together and quilted for the ninos in Reynosa, but due to the fact that they were not large enough, Vicki, the awesome quilter for the Haven, donated them to our sewing group, Helping Hands, here at our park, The people, men and women both, began putting together quilts from these pieces, adding when necessary, etc. Someone got in touch with two men from the clergy who actually go to the colonias with donations and agreed to take us to deliver these quilts personally - and I get to go along!!!! Hopefully, I will have pictures for you soon. Imagine the numbers of people involved - the ladies who made the tops, the person who transported them here from Illinois, Vicki, who donated them to our park, those who actually made the quilts, tied them, and readied them for delivery, the clergy who are taking us to the colonias. And, I almost forgot, a local hotel who donated sheets to be used for additional backing if necessary. Nothing is wasted - all of the scraps are used to fill home made doggie beds that are donated to the local humane shelter. Only the hand of God could orchestrate such an undertaking!!! And we are ever so grateful to Him.

Our 4 daughters contributed money at Christmas towards the purchase of Bibles for the two girls we sponsor in Reynosa: Lupe and Paty. We had them engraved with their legal names and hope to deliver them soon. Thanks to our daughters for their loving and kind natures!!!





Bible for Patricia Carolina and Maria Guadalupe

The Church at Alamo Rec Veh Park (our church here in Texas) had a very moving and beautiful Memorial Service last Saturday. It was a time to remember all of those who went on to be with the Lord that were residents here at the park. Each name was read, followed by a moment of silence, then a chime on the organ for each one. The service was lead by Chaplain Dennis Maloney, with help from Rev. Reynould Wijtman of the Liberal Catholic Church of Canada, bringing a sense of  fellowship betweeen two counties and denominations. Father Reynould is a winter resident here at the park and a great help to our chaplain.

The Lord has brought another ministry to our hearts here in the Valley, as well as a few others across the border. We need your prayers as we decide how would be the best way the Lord can use us in these areas.

We had another CRM Chaplains meeting this month but due to the Memorial Service here at our park we were not able to attend, although did meet them in Port Isabell for a fellowship meal at Pelican Station, a branch of Dirty Al's in South Pardre Island. The food was wonderful as usual. I had my first taste this season of fresh Padre Island shrimp ( coconut shrimp) and savored every bite.

There were two hay wagons full of fresh veggies and fruit here at our park on Friday - fresh being picked the day before!!!! We purchased a large, beautiful head of cauliflower, a head of lettuce that looked like a croissant when you broke it in half because it was so fresh and light, some tomatoes, some green onions, green peppers, and very fresh cilantro, all for the small sum of $5.25. How I love the fresh fruit and veggies here. I miss them terribly when we return back North for the summer.

All is well here, beautiful weather, good friends, and the love and favor of the Lord. I pray that we always stop and listen to God as He continues to direct us.





2012

The New Year is starting off with a full schedule. It seems as if our days are always full and we are keeping so very busy.

Last night we attended a wonderful Christian concert at our hall here in the park. Dave and Daphne were really spectacular - Dave was really very funny. They sang some very beautiful hymns and gospel songs as well as some county. If you get a chance to see them, please do so, as you will certainly not be disappointed.

Bible study at Children's Haven is going well - we have more volunteers attending and a really good discussion group. Many things at Children's Haven are changing right now. The thrift store is being enlarged, so that is in a bit of a turmoil. It is going to be pretty awesome when the remodeling is finished - we will have so much more room. We have 5 new children at the refuge - a family that really needs the love and security that CHI can give them. We are so thankful that the Lord has provided for us so we can take care of these children who so desperately need our help. I know we cannot go out and save the entire world, but doing what we can does make a difference.

Our ladies Bible study has begun on Friday mornings. We will be studying "One in a Million" , a journey to the promised land. It has been very thought provoking to realize the many things that keep us from living an abundant life. Sally Maloney, who is leading this great study, is an inspiration to us to continue studying the word of God and applying it to our daily living.

We are long overdue for a trip to Progreso, Mexico - just as a shopping trip and for nothing else. We need to pick up a few medications and just have a day to enjoy the city. Regardless of the newspaper reports, there seems to be no danger in this area - they actually love us Winter Texans as we seem to help their economy.

Our pepper plant on the patio is doing well - it seems to have a couple of different plants in the pot, as some of the peppers are mild and some are very hot!!:-(   But it is fun to grow them and use them in omelets.
A person never knows what it is going to taste like!!!

patio peppers

The moon here in S Texas has totally different shape as it does farther North. Isn't this the most perfect half moon shape you have ever seen, except that it seems turned upside down!!!!

Our grandchildren give us so much pleasure - they are all so very different in personalities and looks. This picture was taken this spring of our 4 granddaughters - a very candid shot of them just being themselves. God has blessed us in so many ways.



our granddaughters  from the left: Casey, Sydney, Dela'von, and Katie. Our  hearts are overflowing with love for them. 



We pray that this New year is a blessing from God to you - that it brings all good things your way. We are looking forward to finding out where He is leading us this year and what wonderful surprises He has in store for us.












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