When Roger and Paulette invited us to join them on a vacation, all expenses paid I might add, to Costa Rica Paula and I were all in! We had never been to Costa Rica before so we graciously agreed to allow them to bless us. lol! With the team that just left after a week of serving in Mexico from Moraine Valley Church, we were a little tired after all the team accomplished in just a few days. The dedication ceremony got rained out and that was a huge let down for the team. Anyhow the family got their house, the Orphanage Melody got some much needed professional help from the team and all was well that ended well.
Paula and I left for the airport the 19th only to find out our flight to Houston was cancelled because of storms in Houston. Our missionary friend Shawn volunteered to drive us to Corpus Christi 2 hours away so we booked a flight on S.W. Airlines to Houston. It too was delayed over 2 hours and now the 600 dollars I spent on a 33 minute flight was all for naught because we were going to miss our connecting flight to Costa Rica. BUT GOD! He knew all things and the connecting flight was also delayed, we still had faith we could make it. We took off two and a half hours later and got to Houston at 6pm. We had only one hour to drive all the way across town to Bush airport. The taxi driver we hailed was a Christian and he said only God could get us across town at this time of day, so we asked God to do it, and He did. It was like the traffic parted as the Red Sea. we were at the airport in 45 minuets. The ticket counter person said we were already rebooked on the next days flight because our flight out of McAllen was cancelled. I said " Maam, were here to get on the flight waiting at the gate for us now! She talked to the agent at the gate while Roger was talking her into holding the flight. She gave us our tickets but said our luggage would not make it. Who cares, were going to Costa Rica and I have my bathing suit in my backpack. Now TSA security! Several people let us pass them to catch our flight until we got to a man with his family who said, " I have to wait and so do you". Hope fled from our hearts as we looked at the line ahead of him. Were not going to make it. How long can an agent at the gate hold up a 737 passenger jet loaded with 300 people? we took the opposite line of the devil and his family, and made it through security and started running, yea remember O.J. running through airports before he ran from the police? That was us. While we were far off we heard someone yelling' ARE YOU THE HEPBURNS??? YES YES YES we yelled, she said' WELCOME ABOARD WE'VE BEEN EXPECTING YOU. We almost cried, in fact I think I did a little as we thanked God for His Favor once again. We said Hi briefly to Roger and Paulette as we passed them to find our seats. They were as excited to see us as we were to see them. I joined them for a few minutes while in flight and after we landed Roger hands me a thousand dollars to cover the cost of our Southwest flight and taxi ride across town. No I said, you don't have to do that, it's what we had to do to get here. He forced the money into my hand and said it an honor to bless you guys. Don't steal my blessing he said. THE GOODNESS OF GOD WILL CHASE YOU DOWN IF YOU LET IT!! A long story but another example of Gods provision. We had an awesome time the next 5 days. Zip lining, horse back riding, mud baths, swimming, snorkeling, kayakking, Rest you ask? No we'll rest when we get to Heaven.
Our return flight got us into San Antonio on the 25th at 10;30 pm. I had surgery on my eye at 7 the next morning after driving 4 hours from S.A. and sleeping 3 hours. Saturday we attended Madison Estes wedding to Eliseo, a man of God she met at The Rio Grande Bible Institute a few years ago. A beautiful place on the Mexico side of the Rio Grande River. Sunday we celebrated Mimis 10th birthday at her Aunts house down the road in the colonia. Great food and a great time.
It's known by some that Carmelo and Ruth will no longer be part of the ministry in Mexico, because God is doing something new in their lives as well as ours. They have served along side of us for 8 years and we are so very grateful for all of their help through the years. We will enjoy time together as friends, and really family, but in a new and different way. We'll be having families wanting a house to invest in their own home by building the foundations themselves. We will still provide the materials that they will need to build it, we just won't be involved it building it.
Ok I get it!!! I've waited to long to post anything and now the story is too long, sorry. We love you all and thank you for all of the prayers and support you have showered us with. The ware house is full of beans and rice as of yesterday, Sergio is a huge help to us and the orphanage, God Is Great and AMEN
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