Cold, Warm, Hot

The crazy weather here in S Texas keeps us changing clothes all day! The mornings are cold (as defined as S Texas cold - 40's and 50's), mid morning warms up beautifully until the middle of the afternoon which becomes almost hot. It is a challenge as to how to dress - layers works the best for me.

We have had such an influx of donations this week - stacks of a fabric like material - sort of a quilt batting with one side of fur. Ida is more than glad to receive it to use as batting in the quilts the ladies of the colonias make as well as many folks are using it for blankets or floor coverings (anything is much better than a dirt floor when the weather is cold). Fred also bagged 300# of black beans this week, and I sorted and packed  30 bags of clothing, most of them being ladies and men's jeans. Not ordinary jeans, but Levis, Dockers, Gloria Vanderbilt, etc. Beautiful clothing for those in need. First of all we praise God for allowing others to have giving hearts so we could receive these items, for giving us the energy and stamina to get the job done, and thee ability to distribute these items to those who are desperately trying to make ends meet. They can wear almost new clothing with pride, bringing up their self-esteem, and allowing them to rise above their current station in life. Of course, the food donations help them to not worry about when or what the next meal will be, and allowing them the freedom to look for and continue working for their families. It brings such a feeling of happiness when some of our people tel us they found a job, or their kids won awards in schools, or they now have electricity or water - all these things we take for granted. There are many though, who seem to not want to make a better life for themselves, - those are the ones we pray for the most - to help change their hearts from sorrow to gladness in knowing the Lord and the the fact that He does love them , too. He wants what is best for them.

We often grumble and complain when things do not go well for us. Simple things, -  like a crowded grocery store,  long lines, cleaning house again,  having to buy gas for the vehicle, a spot on the tablecloth, etc. Such minor things that mean nothing When this happens, I try to acknowledge the real problems of folks in this world. Of our our loyal workers here the park Maria, was diagnosed with tongue cancer, and was scheduled to start her chemo last Friday. She did so, but just prior her husband (who was not ill ) suffered a heart attack and died. In the middle of her health situation she had to deal with the death of her loved one - her spouse who was so wonderful in supporting her through her diagnoses, surgery, and then hopefully her treatment. Our hearts break for her - she and her husband, Lupe, were wonderful, caring Christians. So when you spill the coffee on the floor, wipe it up and praise God for your health, the ability to stoop down and wipe it up, and  fill the cup again for your spouse.

We are going to make those wonderful plastic bag mattresses that the ladies in Mission Bell make for the colonias. We were invited to join them in a work day - all we have to bring is a big stick!! We are looking forward to it and to see how a simple bolt of upholstery fabic (donated to us ) becomes 17 mattress for folks who need them. Again much better than sleeping on the floor. A lady in our park made pillows that fit them exactly by cutting in half pillowcases and making two pillows from it. Amazing what a person can do with so little. Thank you Lord for giving people the creative minds to do for others at a very little cost.

Church services this morning at Mission Bell were so blessed. we listened to special music by Shelia and Freddie,  a couple who comes to the valley in the fall and winter to entertain the people in the parks. It was cool in the hall, but the beautiful  hymns and great sermon warmed our bodies and hearts. Pastor Jim Mxson asked us a good question. How much does our salvation cost?? Nothing - it is free, !!! But the cost of following Jesus  is another question. It always costs something. A learner must follow heir leader - that is discipleship. What does Discipleship cost.?
It costs denying yourself. God does not want us to deny ourselves the food we love, the entertainment we watch, or our hobbies. No, He just wants us to submit everything to His control .Put Him ahead of our personal desires and share His truth with others. Consider Gods will regardless of how we feel.
Discipleship also costs us to take up our cross. In Jesus' time, if you saw a person carrying a cross, you knew he was only going down a one way road - the road to crucifixion. Discipleship is putting to death the desire to be #1 - putting others ahead of ourselves. Don't worry about tomorrow it is not here yet. What you worry about probably will not happen anyway. Don't worry about yesterday -  - yesterday is past and you cannot change it. Jesus has all of this covered for you.
Discipleship is the desire to follow your Master. Today's world tells us to follow ourselves. Be who we want to be. Follow your dream. A particular car ad says that if you buy this car you will own the world. In order to follow your Master, you need to  know Him - read your Bible and pray. We need to become like Him. Let Him lead you every hour of the day - every step of the way. Trust and believe in Him - hear His voice and obey. Just knowing how to follow Jesus is not enough, you must do what He says. Pray always, be honest about what He want you to do, and then have the courage to do it.

Have an amazing week - as you celebrate Martin Luther King Day remember what and who he stood for - God and equality for all.

Mariachi

This is the time of year the Mariachi bands enter competition and put on performances, We went last night to the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan to see 4 area school Mariachi bands perform, some of the them had won National Championships. They were wonderful as usual - the kids are so dedicated and perform with such exuberance and energy! There was also a group of dancers performing authentic Mexican dances, all participants ranging in ages  from about 10 to perhaps 17. They, too, were excellent. This afternoon there is a group coming to our park, which we are planning to see. This type of music is very revered here in the Valley and competition is great to be involved. The kids are awesome.



Cooler weather this morning as we headed to Mission Bell and church services with Pastor Jim Maxson. We were treated to a men's quartet for special music. It amazes me that men of retirement age have such wonderful voices that harmonize so well. Pastor Jim preached a sermon on Trials and Tribulations - sometimes referring to the  Kris Kristofferson song "Why Me, Lord?". How many times in your life have you wanted to ask that question?  Just thinking about the mountains and valleys in my life alone makes me know I have thought that. I see others doing so many sinful things, defying the Lord's commandments and still breezing through life without a worry, when I try to follow His Word and still run into brick walls. When we find ourselves in valleys, no matter how small it seems, as in Pastor Jim's life when a rat chewed through his water and sewer lines, or when life threatening illnesses strike us, we always need to praise the Lord for the good things - such as Pastor Jim being able to repair his chewed up lines, or overcoming or dealing with an illness or death.
It is difficult to do - to try to remain faithful to the Lord! But how we react to the hard times in our lives is definitely a reflection of our Christianity - so don't say those words when you hit your thumb with a hammer, or you get a flat tire. Praise God that you are not bleeding to death, or that perhaps you can take time while you are waiting to have your tire repaired to examine all the praises you can give to the Lord.

Our CRM organization allows us to write a devotion to the Winter Texan Times. I wrote one a few weeks ago which was published. I hope this is not a sign of being boastful, but more than one person has said how much it meant to them - one lady even cut it out and saved it. I would  like to reprint it here for your now - perhaps it can put a new light on your happiness.
 "What is happiness? If you ask 100 people what happiness is or what makes them happy, you will probably receive 100 different answers. If you look up happiness in the dictionary, you will read. "happiness is the state of being happy". No help there. Happiness is a mental or emotional state of mind ranging from contentment to euphoria, depending on where you are at the moment.
Psalm 144, verse 15 reads "Happy are the people who are in such a state: happy are the people whose God is Lord." God's people were living in a time when their barns were full, their livestock were productive, and there was peace in the villages. They were happy, living living in a time of abundance. Psalm 144 is all about praising God for His grace and provision.
What makes you happy? Are you so wound up  in the world happenings and possessions, thinking that the more you possess, the happier you are? Or are you happy or content that Jesus is your Savior, the Lord of Lords, and King of Kings who died for your personal salvation? Yes, He died for YOU as well as me and everyone else.
The Book of Psalms refers to happiness many times. Psalm 3:13 reads, "Happy is the man who finds finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding". Wisdom is not in reading books or listening to the news. Wisdom reading God's Word until you really know and understand it. Wisdom is knowing that God want you to live His Word as well as read it - to make it a part of your daily life. God wants you to be happy. When you gain wisdom from the Lord, you will live in total happiness and contentment.
Life presents many mountains and valleys that may make us happy beyond belief or may leave us depressed. How we deal with every situation in life depends on how we trust the Lord. He is always with us. Rejoice and be happy in every area of your life because he lives."

I just reprinted this because it seems to fit in with this morning's sermon - all the trial and tribulations in this life are only the preparation for the life eternal with the Lord. 

Reflections of Christmas

Bob Steele - chairman of the CHI board and the lovely ladies of Casa 3

Last week I posted that I would tell you about the wonderful Christmas party at Children's Haven in Reynosa, Mexico. 4 van loads of us traveled across the border (and back) with no problems whatsoever, except for a longer wait at the border, which I did not mind as the border guards were being cautious. We arrived just in time to receive instructions form director Betsy Chicon ( as she always has for us). We were not to go to the casas where out kids were but to gather in the gym where we were told that the kids were excited to see us in their own casas with wonderful supp rises for us.They had made ornaments for us from pasta! They we so very pretty and ornate and they were so proud to present them to us. Each casa had a presentation of a typical Mexican Christmas food and drink tradition also made with the help of their Tias (housemothers or aunt in Spanish). Casa 1 had a star or tree ornament (we were instructed to take only one), Mexican Christmas cookies - you know - the small ones coated in powdered sugar. There was a pecan flavored cornstarch drink. Sounds dreadful, but was really very good. Casa 2 had a flower or wreath ornament, champurrado - a hot thick Marxian drink made of corn masa and chocolate (which I did not particularly like, perhaps due to the thickness of it,), and popcorn. Casa 3 presented us with a shepherds crook ornament, Mexican Christmas punch, which was super delicious (a fruit drink with real fruit in it), and Mandarin orange slices. Casa 4 had stars and hearts ornaments, typical Mexican hot chocolate ( a strong chocolate/cinnamon drink), churros which a long skinny Mexican donut (very good). Casa 5 is not lived in at the moment but is used for the church plant for Sunday services - the kiddo now do not have to go out of the compound to church - a much safer way to worship. Casa 6 is being renovated right now - the last of the 7 casas to be remodeled. Casa 7 held the Holy Family ornament, including a baby Jesus in swaddling clothing. We tasted an assortment of nuts -some sweet tasting and some very spicy hot, followed by a strawberry maicena - a cornstarch drink which I had to sort of force down! We were allowed a bit of time to visit the kids, as we were on a time schedule  to be ale to return to the US before dark. We returned to the gym where we were served by the kids a dinner of a beef roll, covered with bacon, the ever present green noodles, veggies, and dinner rolls (no butter or salt). The kids had made a video based on the Christmas story using each letter of the alphabet to tell the story. - it was excellent. They had worked so hard on it, even speaking in English!! Our Pati had a non-speaking part as she does not like to speak English (she thinks it is way too hard to learn). She played the part of Mary to perfection. You can go to their face book page to view the video - these kids learned and perfected this video in less than 2 weeks. They were so anxious to show is their accomplishments. After all of this excitement we were ushered out onto the patio where the kids were presented with their Christmas gifts - that is when all chaos breaks out. Each child received 1 large, 2 medium, and 1 small gift according to their wish list. We were all so won out, including the kids, as we bid farewell (adios) to the kids until we see them again soon. I know they will sleep well tonight knowing that they are cared for and loved all through the generosity of many of you.

loading up and ready to head to Mexico

Fred, Pati, and me

lovely Carolina, who could not walk when she came to the refuge but through surgeries and therapy, she now can walk with the help of a cane. She is returning to her family now after a few years here at the refuge. 

Some of the homemade ornaments

the beautiful senoritas in Casa 3 with their houseparents

Mexican cookies and pecan mecina

popcorn anyone

churros, hot chocolate, and heart ornaments

bacon wrapped beef, green noodles, and veggies

I envy Pati's red shoes

Big presents

our Pati and her presents - one more year of college and she will be a lawyer!!!

lots of presents

This young boy has disabilities that make walking difficult - he received a special present of a motorized scooter so he could easily get around, with a promise that he would not let anyone else use it  - he promised

I am going to reprint a meditation sent to me by a friend in Arkansas. He sends us one almost every day  but this one really struck me as being so apporpiate
Everybody needs a coach or mentor. Tom Landry, the Dallas cowboy head coach for nearly 30 years said, "the job of a football coach is to make players do what they do not want to do in order to achieve what they always wanted to be". We do not always want to pay the price necessary to become who we are destined to be. On our own we don't always know what to change or even how to make the changes that are necessary to grow In our relationship with Jesus. Who we associate with is who we will become. If you want to be wise and become more Christlike, find someone who is where you want to go. Look for Godly qualities in their life. Then listen to them and implant their counsel. As you walk through life consider the company that you keep and make adjustments in those relationships so that nothing holds you back from becoming the person that God wants you to be. Taken from A Minute of Vision for Men by Roger Patterson.
How very true this is. Do you sometimes find yourself with a group of people who are not very Christianlke and all of a sudden you are acting like them - becoming like them. When you realize what has happened your value in their eyes decreases - they wonder of all Christians act like that! Step away from these people - when a group begins to gossip do not join in - just quietly excuse yourself and leave. If they enjoy telling off color jokes do not join in the laughter -  again just leave. These people are not your friends if the try to involve you in the their unchristian behavior. Surround yourself with Christian friends - you will find your life so much more peaceful.

Join me in prayer for two very special people in our lives - friend Paula Gee who has had several infections and misery this year here in S Texas - she is heading back to Joshua, Texas, again for a doctor's consultation. And our dear sister-in-law Susan Preuss, who will be having open heart surgery this week on Wednesday. She lost her husband 3 years ago (Fred's brother) and needs all the love, support, and prayers that are sent her way.

The Color of Chrisrmas

What color do you think of when you think of Christmas? This year was a red Christmas for us. We spent a few days with the Gee family in Joshua, Texas. What a wonderful time of semi-controlled chaos!! Roy and Paula have a daughter, 2 twin sons, and twin grandchildren, plus a few random relatives. Last Friday was a quiet day followed by 3 days of eating and celebration frenzy! Saturday was a finger food evening followed by a visit from Santa for twins Mack and Mallie although we adults seemed to enjoy it just as much.  We ladies all wore red and black lounge pants and monogrammed black monogrammed t-shirts, the guys in black lounge pants and red monogrammed t-shirts - a family tradition to all dress alike and act crazy! 

The Gee family - do you see red

acting foolish - they always take some goofy pictures

Mack and Mallie were so surprised to see Santa

even Santa relaxes sometimes

us in one of the silly pictures 

love my red/black loungers and slippers

Fred does not look too impressed with the silliness with the Gees

my Christmas wish list is that each and everyone one you have a wonderful and blessed New Year

Sunday was a beautiful Church service with a sermon based on the many names and meanings of Jesus. Following the service and much discussion of where to go for a family dinner at a local Mexican restaurant was enjoyed by the entire family. A sort of quiet afternoon getting ready for a huge family Mexican dinner on Monday followed by opening of presents, then followed by the whole family attending the movie "Mary Poppins Returns". Actually very entertaining. A hour or so followed with a rest time before bed and some rest before facing another day of eating and Christmas fun. Tuesday produced the annual Christmas dinner of ham, cornbread dressing ( much different than our Northern type), cranberries and all the fixings followed by apple pie. We gave the twins a gingerbread boy and girl - when Mack opened his sister Mallie said,"Look Mack got the old man". Those two keep a person entertained forever.

Even with all of the worldly disruptions going on we managed to always keep in mind the real reason we celebrate. God allowed His Son to be born of man, to suffer and die so that we could spend eternity with Him!! In church last Sunday we heard a song about the trials Mary went through when she was preparing to deliver the Savior. She was in a cold, foreign place, in a dark and dirty manger with animals milling around, no midwife to calm and reassure her, a husband who was just as fearful as she, no cute baby clothes, only rags she had taken with her on their long journey to Bethlehem. Imagine her great surprise when the shepherds came to adore her son!!!! What a powerful song.

Now that all of the celebrations are almost over, we need to think about the coming year. Pastor Jim Maxson's sermon this morning was just about that - commitments. Not the normal commitments of going on a diet, more exercise, etc., but commitments to yourself to release yourself from the bondage of past sin - of allowing yourself to forgive others as well as yourself. To rely on the fact that God has forgiven ALL of your sins so you do bot have to wallow in the guilt of your past. Move on - release those past ghosts and live the life God promised us.

Next week I will have some awesome pictures of the Christmas Party at Children's Haven International in Reynosa as we attended their Christmas party before Christmas. What an amazing time we had. I did not want to overwhelm you with Christmas pictures as any proud parent would do, so be sure to come back and see them.

There was not going to be any food distribution this past Friday as there were not a lot of folks to help out, but an amazing group of young missionaries came to the Valley from NewMexico and were looking for someway to serve. Jim Maxson stepped up and delivered produce to them so they could serve the Lord as well as supplement the pantries of the people in the colonias. A person is never too young to serve - these young folks also are not afraid to share the gospel with others. We thank all of those involved.

Now as we closed out 2018 - let us resolve to not being bitter but being better in 2019. Do random acts of kindness throughout the week and see what a warm and fuzzy feeling you get from it!

What is a Christmas Gift

This was the title of the sermon this morning at Mission Bell with Pastor Jim Maxson. I'll get to that later on, but it certainly makes a person think. Why do we give gifts at Christmas? My thoughts are because we want to thank folks for their friendship and support during the year, or because we "always do that" with our family. I remember years ago when someone in our immediate family needed to conserve funds, so suggested we draw names for Christmas. That was all well and good, except we were a family for 6 and there were not enough other family members to insure that we did not get our own family! We had to buy gifts for my husband's parents in order to make it work well. That only happened for two years - after that my in-laws rebelled and went back to buying gifts for those you chose to - we opted for the in-laws and kid only which seemed to work out much better. Funny how some traditions become non-traditions as the years go by. Kids grow up, families move farther apart in distance as well as personally. But the reason remains the same - Our Savior was born on Christmas Day (Although it was not in December -any theologians think it was in the fall, others int he spring But whatever the day the message is the same.

A group of us ladies went to the local Women's Shelter with gifts of quilts and toiletries. We collect the small soaps, etc. that we get from hotels and motels which make for great gifts for those in a shelter. The women are there for various reason and often come with only the clothes on their backs.  they and their children may be homeless, it is a refuge from the dangers of a bad relationship , or it is a pace to gather the mother and her children who have no where else to go due to financial circumstances as they try to rebuild their lives. Every Christmas the volunteer's and directer of the shelter invite groups who donate to the organization to a delicious meal - we are served a tamale dinner and waited upon wonderfully as a"thank" you for helping them. Pictures are taken around the tree with smiles on everyone's face. No matter their own internal struggles these ladies are gracious hostesses.

Zoe and Marie delivering toiletriess and quilts

The weather has been pretty crazy - 30's in the morning and then 70's in the afternoon. So dressing in layers is a must! We are so grateful to everyone for their donations of blankets, quilts jackets, hats, gloves, etc. to help those in the colonias keep warm in the cool evenings and mornings.

I posted a picture on facebook of my brother and myself in Chicago in 1947 with a State Street Santa. I thought I had lost the picture, but found it one day as I was changing pictures in the frames -it was hidden under another picture. I love the picture as it is truly a picture of childhood innocence and anticipation as we waited for Santa to arrive. We did get a recording of what we actually asked for that year, but that somehow got lost in moves and transitions. I distinctly remember one Christmas as I lay in bed I hard the jingling of bells and the reindeer hooves on our apartment roof (we were on the second floor, therefore close to the roof). I was petrified that Santa would know I was not asleep and would not leave any presents.

 how innocent we were

We stayed away from all of the stores this weekend as it was a tax free weekend. Hundreds of folks from Mexico came to the US to shop (they receive a card which allows them to enter the US for only 25 miles - they also have to prove they have a reason to return to Mexico, least they use the card as a ruse to illegally enter the US. The stores are packed, the restaurants have long lines and there is not a motel room to be found for miles around. Those unfortunate people who went to Mexico to shop had a 3 hour wait at the border - usually there is a just couple minute wait to cross back to the US. Needless to say we did not anywhere near retail stores!

I stole a couple of pictures from a to Mexico (a chiropractor from the US who feeds hundreds of kids daily just across the border, and owns a pharmacy and spa in Progresso). The pictures give you an idea of the vastness of the fields and amount of produce grown here in The Rio Grande Valley.

one of the many fields of cabbage

cilantro growing everywhere

As I said earlier, Pastor Jim gave a really great sermon this morning. His question"what is a Christmas gift" made us all begin to think. On that Christmas night, the angels proclaimed the truth and the heavens opened up  in praise and glory. But are we puzzled by God's gift? A gift comes wrapped and presented usually in person to another person. God's gift to mankind was presented thousands of years ago in a mall, dirty manager. It was not gift wrapped or sent from Amazon. God created mankind, but mankind spurned Him. He created us to have fellowship with Him, but we hide from Him just as as Adam and Eve did.  Mankind rejected God just as we sometimes run and hide form Him today. From Genesis to Luke, Man continues to spurn God. A child was born, given to us for salvation, but suffered abuse form the time he was a baby and had to flee frorm Herod to the time he was crucified. The Christmas Story is a story of A God who gave until it hurt.

It was not easy to save the world when it did not want to be saved. God knew that there were those in every generation who would not believe or care but He sacrificed anyway. The Christmas story began in a lowly stable and ended at the cross. Jesus was born in a borrowed stable and buried in a borrowed tomb for our sake. Jesus would crush the devil and destroy his work. Revelation says that before creation that He was the Lamb who was slain for our sake. "So that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Romans 14:11

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

We may be out of pocket for Christmas, so there may not be blog until later in the week. We wish everyone a very blessed Christmas.

Fruits of the Labor

This is a picture of the Red Mill in Waupaca, WI whuch I consider my hometown. There is a covered bridge where many a bride walked across to the little chapel in the woods. A beautiful setting any time of the year. For a time it was a wonderful gift shop,with lots of Christmas decorations as well as pictures and stories of the past. A great place to visit.

The anticpiation and preparations for the Christmas celebration/distribution in the church group from the Dallas area were there to help with all of the festivities. We made various trips to the colona area where the program was to take place in order to make sure everything that was needed was there, as well as of of the donations were in place. A group of folks from Big Valley RV Park made over 100 Christmas stockings and filled them all for the kiddos, as well as donated hams, canned goods, quilts and blankets.

The ladies of Big Valley at work filling stockings

fruits of the labor

 The day started out very wet and cold, but as the day wore on the rain let up but the dreariness remained. when we arrived at the sight, the driveway and all of the area was muddy and soaked. There were three vehicles but we managed to get to where we were supposed to be without too much trouble. We immediately began to fill bags with hams, canned goods, peanut butter, pudding and cake mixes, rice, beans and whatever commodities that we had gathered. Two very helpful young ladies worked right along with us as we set up an assembly line -calling out to the other helpers as we ran of out beans, rice, etc. They immediately supplied us with more and kept up the pace. As we filled bags, a short Bible study for the kids was being held, as well as a short Scripture reading. Lots of Christmas singing, as well as beautiful hymns sung in Spanish. It was then time to eat! The ladies had made 175 dozen (yes you read that right) tamales, beans from the large commercial cans which were donated to us, and rice (from the rice we provided) was the menu for the afternoon. After this warm meal, we handed out boxes of food for ladies, the kids received gifts and stockings for each one of them. The joy in their eyes as they hugged the stockings realizing that this was for them , just for them and they did not have to share. It was such a rewarding and blessed day. As the day was coming to  an end the program was cut short as a result of the weather, the clouds seemed to break up and blue skies were seen. As we cleaned up , tired, cold, and muddy we maveled at how everyone helped so the job was done quickly. We did get stuck in the mud and had a bit of a problem getting out, but we made it. Car wash today for sure!!

a multitude despite the mud and cold

Ida trying to keep order despite the bad conditions

singing Spanish hymns

praising the Lord

packing boxes

ready to deliver boxes of food - a big job done

some of the many tamales

hot sauce anyone - I did not try it

hot meals for the family

Fred, Chaplin Roy Gee, Zoe (a faithful worker) and Ida

a special family - Sol, Emily, and Jr along with Fred - we hope to help achieve Sol's goal of being a veterinarian

Sol, Emily, and Jr's mother, Jessica

Fred, Brenda, who graciuusly allows us to have our distribution on her property, and Chaplain Roy

stockings ready to hand out - notice all the other presents

and more presents

smiling and happy for the blessing of lots of food for the family


As I leave you today, I ask you to remember the reason for this season, and to always be thankful, no matter what the circumstances. this lady certainly portrays that. 

Beans and Rice and More Beans and Rice

In case you don't know it, my very, very favorite Christmas decoration (other than the beautiful manger from my brother) is gingerbread! I like smiley snowmen, and reindeer  and bells and holly, but gingerbread puts me in the holiday mood. Not only the taste of gingerbread,  but everything gingerbread. Although this is not a gingerbread scene, it reminds me of one.

We are going to be pretty busy these next coupe of weeks, as this coming Saturday is the 1st Christmas distribution, there will be 2 in the colonias, so we are preparing to gather up everything that we need to make sure that those  folks have a few things to help them celebrate the season. Saturday will be a day when  all the people come together to celebrate, with skits,Christmas worship music, a Bible study, a wonderful hot meal and gifts and