Loaves and Fishes

I am sure most of you have read the Bible story of the loaves and fishes - Jesus feed over 5000 people with just 5 loaves and two fish.  And after the people were fed there were still 12 baskets full of pieces left over. The New Testament scripture tells of this incident in various places - look it up.  I saw this very thing happen this week - I cannot explain it, but I was amazed! We have been collecting small canned hams in our park for the food ministry so that those less fortunate than we can have ham for Christmas dinner. Our Helping Hands group of sewers donated quilts also. Sunday night was the Great Oaks Christmas program where we distributed the hams and quilts. Every family received 2 hams and a quilt for each family member present. After the distribution and most people left I looked at the ham and quilt stacks and was totally awestruck. There was enough left over to do this again next week with a different group of people!!!! How could this be?? There were many people receiving hams and quilts - and then I remembered the loaves and fishes “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”Matthew 9:26.

everything ready and waiting

the theme of the program was "the signs of Christmas"

 

 at practice the evening before this cross was displayed - these are the crosses Fred makes to give away

 

 

 

serious Mary and Joseph

 

adults depicting the Nativity

this sweet lady loved her quilt

this gentleman made the decision to let his son chose a quilt, before he realized that he, too, could have one. The joy on his face was indescribable

It as also the Christmas party for the kids at RIN in Reynosa. The excitement is very high - imagine 57 kids waiting to perform the Christmas program while thinking of all the presents awaiting them.They worked very hard on the presentation and did a great job.  We were treated to a noon meal - chicken in a sauce of some sort (very delicious) and the ever and always present green pasta. After the festivities, we were all boarded on the 4 vans that brought us over the border. We were sent off to the US with a heavily frosted cupcake. Fred and I did not have one - he had to drive and I did not want a blue mouth!!!This is a time that most sponsers come to visit and the energy is at a high level. After an exhausting day, we left with lots of Feliz Navidad!!!

 

 

 a very young Mary

Paty, Belinda and us

the twelve days of Christmas - a frozen turkey poses as a partridge

can you see the 4 calling birds? too funny

 Canadian visitors

 Uriel graduated from college and will be leaving the home after being there 15 years!!!

 Belinda standing beside her box of presents - the boxes formed a tree

Paty wondering what is in her box

 Casa 7 family, where Paty and Belinda live

 Paty's 1st item on her wish list - and she can play it a bit

 this little guy rode his new bike all evening

 Belinda with stash of presents

 lots of hugs and good-byes



We want to wish each and every one of you a very blessed Christmas - and remember that
"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

 

 

 

What Happened to Sunday???

It seems that this time of year gets busier every day. I could not believe that Sunday slipped by and no new blog appeared (guess those blog angels overlooked me). As we continue in this glorious Christmas season, let us not let the busyness of the days get in our way of the true reason for the season.

It was a week of parties - one day it was 2 at almost the same time. Children's Haven had the "Welcome Back Volunteer" luncheon at their office in Pharr, Texas.  It was a good time for fellowship and catching up on what everyone was doing throughout the summer. The resale store did very well last year - $37,000 in sales with most of the items selling for $3 or less! What an achievement. Fred and I worked our 1/2 day this afternoon - the store was packed and busy all afternoon - I barely had time to price items and get them on the shelves. Sometimes they were purchased as I was getting ready to mark them. Praise God for His blessings, Pastor Jesse and his wife Belinda came into the store this afternoon to visit, bearing 2 hot wonderful meals that Jesse had cooked for us - what a godsend for sure as I had not yet figured out what we were going to eat for supper!!! Beans, rice, and a delicious goulash (but they call it something different) of hamburger  and vegetables. Thank you Jesse and Belinda for your saving grace - just as God saves us with His grace when we get ourselves in a bind.

the lobby of the CHI office with the pictures of the amazing kids at RIN in Reynosa

some of the volunteers, enjoying the appetizers

don't they look good?

Director Betsy Chicon welcoming us all

dessert

Friday was a gorgeous day as we met for our monthly/Christmas Chaplain meeting at the Echo Hotel. The seafood buffet there is excellent and very reasonable, especially for us seafood lovers! Of course, there was the hamburger bar for those who do not care for seafood. The salad bar is so good, especially since they featured cheveche - the awesome seafood cocktail.

Chaplain Bill addressed Spiritual Warfare as Satan is truly rampart in the world today. We all need to be prepared to meet the enemy -  "Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:10-17.

Our Helping Hands quilting group donated 20 adult and 25 youth quilts for the food and clothing distribution this coming Sunday. Imagine the joy of a child who gets to pick out his very own quilt - not to be shared with other siblings or relatives. What joy there is in their eyes. Our park has also been donating small canned hams so many can be assured of a ham for Christmas. Most of these people share a grill with neighbors (they probably have no stove, electricity or gas in their homes). These small hams can be put on a grill to heat them or cooked any way they choose.

Judi, Vera, and Rena, avid quilt makers, along with Fred and one of the three bags of donated quilts

the Monday morning quilting is a beehive of activity

men are even involved

tying the quilts

sandwiching the layers

busy at work

another row of sewers

this was actually a tree skirt pattern turned into a cozy child's quilt 

another creative pattern

quilts ready to distribute 

On Saturday we were invited to an 80th birthday party for a park resident, as well as a shower for the niece of the maintenance man,  Pablo. We started out at the birthday party for a time then advanced to the Annex for the shower. There were the now familiar Mexican shower games and wonderful food. This is the first baby for the young couple (a boy ) and you could see the joy on their faces as they talked about their son.

 First the birthday party

 

 80 years old and still loves race cars

 Jim and his wife celebrating Jim's 80th birthday

 lots of help serving

 

 From there we went on to the shower.

 Pablo and his beautiful wife Margarita

 

 the decorations were very elaborate

 cute candy/nut cups made from small Styrofoam cups - adorable

Mama Ashley waiting for Zachery

 

 the proud parents-to-be

 

 cake pops - actually frosting covered cake balls - very tasty

      

the girls had to dress the men as babies, then the men had to drink a baby bottle

 

 

Along with all of our other commitments, you can see it was a pretty busy but fun filled week. We would find time to read Scripture each day to prepare us for the day's ups and downs - it seems that things seem to go much smoother when you start the day with some quiet Bible time.  Try it this week.  



 

 

Late Again

This week has just flown by - cannot believe that it is already Sunday night, and we have not had our Popsicle break yet! There are this amazing, delicious, cherry-mango Popsicles that we can buy here - very cheap and low in calories. Every night around 9 PM we indulge. (Old people and set in our ways, I guess). And so I am late in sending this blog - actually I am late in composing it.

Today I am a year older and was totally awestruck by the people who wished me Happy Birthday on facebook. It is so humbling to think these people took time out of their busy schedules to wish me a great day. It was a good day - Church services, a learning, fun Sunday School, then home to read all my bd greetings, then late lunch with good friends. Afternoon of answering important (or so it seems) e-mails, washing dishes, then company arrived. I have not even time to read the paper today.

Chaplain Bill's sermon this morning revolved around the significance of the Christmas Tree and how much of it can help us remember the true reason for the season. The Old Testament relates the stories of many people who used items to help them remember - Joshua and others even used stones. The shape of the tree seems to point to heaven. The tree topper is often an angel who appears many times in the Bible to "bring you good tidings of great joy". Elizabeth, Mary, and the shepherds, to name a few, all received joyful news from angels. The topper could also be a star - you know the story of the Magi. The tree also contains lights - the brightest light on top of the tree to represent the greatest light of all. "I am the way, the truth, and the light: no man comes to the Father except through me". John 14:6.  The smaller lights represent the church - us as followers of Jesus. To make the tree live and stay green longer, you cut off the bottom and put the tree in water. It must have water to live. Picture cutting off the part of you that keeps you from receiving the true living water and receiving the life giving truth of Jesus Christ. So now when you see the Christmas Tree, you can admire it's beauty, but be reminded of Jesus.

As we got out our Christmas decorations, I realized we were missing something - the tree was gone. Where did it go? No clue - unless we disposed of it for some reason last Christmas. CHI resale store had a lovely small one, just what were  looking for, and a great price. Just needed a bit of readjustment in the stand and we were good to go. Now to decorating it tomorrow and finish putting up the manager scene.

Last month, the church and Chaplains served donuts at the Wednesday morning meetings, where we find out what is happening in the park. It does not take a lot of preparation time and is really fun as we get to greet and speak to many park residents.
We served out our month, now a new group has taken over. Most activities are run by volunteers which are a big part of the park.

the December servers ready to go

too much to choose from

looks like hard decisions, but the donuts are the same every week

serving coffee from the endless coffee pots, always available.

the decorated stage in the hall

The wonderful ladies from Illinois again brought a trunk load of quilt tops, which our Helping Hands group finishes, then distributes to area hospitals, shelters, and even to our food and clothing ministry. They also sent beautiful home crocheted or knit scarves, hats, and afghans. So many little heads and faces will be warm this winter, although it does not get bitter cold here, the cold affects those here in the Valley. Thank you Lord for caring Christian people.

 

homemade hats, scarves, and afghans

 

one of the many scarves - made with love

 

We try to visit park residents often, sometimes because they need prayer and encouragement, but mostly just to visit, welcome them to the Valley as returning snowbirds or new residents. Just listening to others and their personal stories makes it so much easier to communicate with them. At our age, we are a wealth of knowledge, so to visit them increases our awareness of different areas of the country as well showing that we do truly care for them as our Heavenly Father cares for us. God wants us to talk to Him often. It really does not matter when or where or even how - just develop a relationship with Him and you will find yourself talking to Him more often - just like a best friend.  Talk to Jesus this week - thank Him for your blessings, and do not be afraid to ask Him about your own needs and wants. He listens.