WHAT A GREAT YEAR IT WAS !!!!!

As Paula and I shared with the team from Moraine at dinner on New Years Eve in Reynosa, we both made the comment that 2008 was by far the best year of our lives. We have never worked physically harder than we did last year, but the strength of the Lord carries us. This past 10 days has been awsome with so many friends from Moraine Valley Church coming and ministering to the people in the colonia that we love so dearly. We built two beautifull homes, had three days of sewing classes and making drapes and clothes, that the women in the colonia just loved doing. We also had childrens bible school, a beauty parlor and countless hugs and kisses both given and recieved. Our house in the colonia was far enough along in the building process, that several women sorted and organized a lot of the things that were donated so that distribution will be much easier. I built a much higher house so there would be more room in the attic space for storage. The Bosi's. Gilligans, Wells and 6 other people came a few days early to help us get ready for the team. We had people sleeping on the floor everywhere! We spent the week in Reynosa in a new hotel and was marvelous. The Federal Police had 100 of thier best staying there and they all recieved teddy bears for thier children from us and it sure brought some big smiles to thier faces. As always, we all learned a little bit more about the heart of Jesus and how much better it is to give than to recieve. But we all recieved a huge blessing when the families opened the doors to thier new homes and were blown away by the goodness of God and actually brought Cayatano to the point of inviting the Living Resurrected Christ to come and take up residency in his heart and grant him his palce in heaven. You see, people will see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven, just as Jesus said it would. Thats the purpose in life, To give God Glory out of our lives by the things we do, and I saw 31 people this past week all take part in a miracle. The children in two orphanages were blessed when we brought them gifts prepared by Leigh Leinwebers 6th grade class in Illinois with each of thier names on them and gifts bought by these kids especially for each child in the orphanages, so many lives were touched by those gifts. Thank you to each of you that take part in what we do here. I'll get Paula to load some pictures now because I could talk about this trip for hours. Allen and Lyneaa Wells are still here and were trying to get them to stay a few more days. We hate it when you guys leave. HAVE A GREAT NEW YEAR!!!!