SO THANKFUL FOR THOSE THAT COME AND SERVE

  Roy, Carla, Nate, Tim, Brenda, Abby, Seth, April, Lexy, Mike and Bambi. Those are the names of the group that drove all the way from Illinois to serve. We spent 3 days at Big Heart Orphanage in Reynosa.  We formed and mixed concrete for a curb, about 150 feet I think. Poured 5 truck loads of concrete for the new kitchen.  Roy, Carla and Nate spent the night there as Roy and Rick ran the helicopters to polish the floor past midnight.
  Thursday the team came to our house to bag beans and rice before heading to Mexico. It was cold and raining all day, but we managed to get where we wanted to hand out the shoe box gifts. 100 to Casa Hogar Mami, 16 to big heart, we then went to Senda De Vida home for the wandering migrants in Reynosa.  300 people there and about 75 kids. They were happy to get the nice gifts prepared by Laharpe Christian Church,  Stronghurst church, and a few others. We still had about 75 boxes left, so we took them to the Squatters camp,  outside of the colonia we normally work in. The kids braved the cold and rain to come for their gift box.
  A great week inspire of not building a house, as is what this group usually does. The ministry is changing to help those in need without building a house in an area that can be considered dangerous.  Team safety is a priority,  and the orphanages are the best place for now.
  We encourage teams to come back to Mexico and trust God that if He has called you there, He will be with you.

MAGICAL

  Last week, we joined our kids in Florida for a couple days to celebrate Leas 4th birthday. I haven't been to Disney world in 30 years. One 12 hour day visiting all of Leas  Disney friends. Waiting in lines for a photo was worth the look on Leas face when the characters gave her the attention she desired to feel special.
  So better is one day in Disney than thousands elsewhere. We too Kris, Larry and Lea to the airport the next day, drovevKelly to meet a friend in Ocala, then headed to Hilton Head island to spend a few days with a couple that supports the ministry.
  This week, the group from Laharpe Christian Church in Illinois is here and we're working at Big Heart Orphanage in Reynosa. Lots and lots of concrete work. We poured the floor for the new kitchen late yesterday. Waiting for the trucks to deliver the concrete was a test if patients.
  The group brought hundreds of shoe box gifts for the kids in Mexico and well Hand them out today and tomorrow.

A STRONG TOWER

  The name of the Lord, is A STRONG TOWER. The righteous run into it , and we are saved. How often do we run into Him? So often I think I can do it on my own, but it always come up short of whatever, " I'm " trying to achieve.
  Speaking of towers,  the tower in the colonia is getting some much needed repairs, a paint job, and a new well pump to continue supplying the colonia with water.  You don't know what you have, until it's gone. There's been no water in half of the colonia for several weeks, but that's changing as I type.
  Several men along with Scott from ROHI, David, Andres, David Jr, Juan, and several others have been busy getting everything done. This project is costing several thousand dollars and is really the first major maintenance project since installing the water system over 3 years ago.
  Your annual giving statements have gone out, so if you didn't get yours and you itemize on your taxes, let us know, and we'll get it to you. We had over 70 people donate at one time or another last year and we are truly grateful. I just completed our books for the year, and everything balanced. Thank God for 25 column ledgers and old fashioned math. We had donations of 147,453.oo and expenses of 147,478.00. Neither Paula or I took a paycheck from the ministry, we live on our S.S. benifit.  So to everyone paying taxes, Thank You.