TIME, TIME, WE HAVE NO TIME

  Most people I've talked to, don't like the moving of time. Now it's dark in South Texas until long after 7am. I vote to leave it, and not fall back. The bible says that man will try to manipulate time I the last days.
  We celebrated Paula's birthday Thursday and the girls in her sewing class had a surprise party for her. They are a special group of friends to Paula . Jaime and his family brought a cake, the girls brought a cake, and when we got home, Mary Lou brought yet another one. LET THERE BE CAKE!
  We went and cut the studs and made the rafters for next week's build with Sunset Presbyterian Church.  This family is are all time favorite place to eat in the colonia.  No offence to the others, but they bring it , every time we're there.
  Our fork truck was spewing oil everywhere , so Sergio came and we removed one of the hydraulic cylinders to get it rebuilt. A greasy mess for sure. Filled the giant batteries as well.
  The 3 day revival that Jaime held in the colonia was a huge blessing to the colonia . We went last Saturday, but the place was packed on Sunday's service. We helped take the huge stage apart on Tuesday after cutting the wood. Hot temps made the frame and all its screws almost untouchable . We filled 3 buckets with the bolts holding it all together.
  We'll hold our monthly food outreach at the Community Center tomorrow afternoon. The team will forgo church in the USA , and we'll do church in Mexico .
  We need a baby fix! We haven't seen Lea since last November . They will be packing and moving in May, so I'm thinking we'll go and help. Help watch Lea, not moving lol.
   Thanks for your support of the ministry.  Ten years in and God remains faithful. Imagine that! Trust!

REVIVAL IS COMING.

  Do you ever get the feeling of urgency concerning the people that don't know Christ? Is evangelism something you do, or depend on others to Do? The bible says that in the last days, God will pour out His Spirit, on all flesh. I thought about this the other night as Shawn, Mathew and I drove over to the colonia where Jaime was holding a 3 day revival outreach. He had an awesome stage set up, speakers to blow your ears out, and a message to change hearts. I don't know how many people came over the 3 days, or how many had a revival in their hearts, but I know I did.
  It was in the 90's when we got there, so we stopped at the Community Center and grabbed all of the umbrellas we had to give out for shade. Man we're they a welcomed gift as we handed them out. We stayed a few hours, until well after dark and headed home.
   The warehouse is full once again as Rick Caywood Ministries brought the last of the beans they were holding for us, along with 6 skids of boxes of gift packs for emergency relief left over from hurricane Harvey, a pallet of diapers, and a pallet of flavored lemonaid.
  The team from Sunset Presbyterian Church in Portland Oregon arrives Saturday night, well have our monthly food outreach Sunday after church and start building next Monday. We'll get everything ready this week .
  Andres, Johnny and Sergio installed insulation in our house in Mx. What a difference it makes. They will start putting the siding on the walls today .  Thanks for the prayers and support that make it all happen.

ALL IS WELL

  After 3 days in the hospital, and a bunch of tests, everything tested normal for Paula. A bottle of Malox was the doctors prescribed medicine. She still feels weak, but better. Not much rest in the hospital. Thanks for all the prayers.
  The team from Sunset Presbyterian Church in Portland Oregon arrives on the 24th. We'll hold our monthly food outreach at the Community Center Sunday the 25th with the team, before they start building on the 26th. We're looking forward to meeting a lot of new faces from Sunset.
  We have a load of beans and MREs  coming on Friday from Rick Caywood Ministries . They have picked up our beans in South Dakota,  stored them, and now will deliver the last of the beans in stock. When these are gone, I'm sure God will show up and show His provision once again.
  Our daughter Kelly has started raising money to come build a house in June. Donations can be made on Mexico Missions pay pal link, or sent to us, and marked Kelly's birthday gift to the poor. Gracias.
  The last photo is of a family from church and their 6 Foster Grandchildren. How awesome!

PRAYERS FOR PAULA POR FAVOR

  Paula has spent the last 2 nights in the hospital.  She has been short of breath and extremely tired, so tightness in her chest led us to go to the hospital.  All tests on the heart have been negative . A pulmonologist is coming today, so please pray for healing for whatever is going on.
  We have been wondering what a short sabbatical would look like. God has brought enough people into our life to carry the ministry on without us for a few months. Just be praying for wisdom for us.
  How do like the new look on the blog? Shawn Estes gave it a makeover,  added a calender of available dates,  so check it out and reserve your week, via email or a phone call.
  Shawn and Carla Estes had their team come by yesterday and bag up enough beans and rice to feed 100,000 meals. 30 college students giving up spring break to serve God, rather than their flesh at the beach.

WHAT IF??????

  What if? How many times have we asked that question? What if I had done things differently ? What if we never went on a missions trip 21years ago. What if we never helped people in need. What if we just held on to the resources God has entrusted us with? What if the Holy Spirit stopped leading and guiding us? What if we just stopped procrastinating about the calling we know God has put in our heart to step out in faith and trust God. What if ? What if? What if?
  I should have never started out posting this! What a rabbit hole that is. There are a bazillion what ifs in life. So what if we just simplify it all? What if we just Loved God and Loved people, period!
  Loving God, kinda easy, sort of, providing that love doesn't disrupt "our" life too much . Loving people, let me know how that goes.
  Father, help us to walk in your perfect love for people. Your kind of love is the standard,  not the exception. Amen

 

SO MUCH ACCOMPLISHED IN A FEW DAYS

  The last 4 days has had the Carpenter's Crew busy, busy, busy. Three projects kept everyone engaged in the colonia. Building a house for Yeraldy and her son Alejandro, putting a porch on her mother's house, Blanca, next door. We also built a huge outhouse for the two families to share, and also built an elevated water tank storage platform.
  We started Monday, and battled very strong winds both Monday and Tuesday . Blanca porch was done on the first day, and everything else was ready by days end on Wednesday .
  Yesterday we held our monthly food outreach at the Community Center , so the Crew could distribute the shoe box gifts they brought. We started with worship and prayer before the Doctors Without Borders arrived to hold a clinic and give info about their free clinic in Reynosa .
  170 families were there on a chilly morning . Most of the kids were in school and the per school kids got all the gifts. Many came forward for prayer for various reasons , one of which was the whole colonia was grieving the loss of two sisters killed in a car accident, that leaves 5 kids without their mothers. So sad!!
  After the despensa , Shawn and Carla Estes took the Crew to the garbage dump in Reynosa to bless those that live and work in the dump. Paula and I stayed behind to get everything loaded for the house dedication .
  When the Crew came back, we headed to the dedication. The food the family prepared was ready, so we ate first and then dedicated the house. Roy Day shared scripture, Pastor Jaime and Pastor Antonio both shared a word with the family, and Blanca was reduced to tears and re committed her life to Christ and her son in law prayed to receive the gift of salvation . What a GREAT DAY!!! The whole family was so blessed by the entire team all week. Two ladies from Michigan joined us for the week as their scheduled mission trip was cancelled and they came anyhow. Sabina and Kari we're a huge blessing and a great help on the build. George Bladey joined us yesterday and know Sebinas father in law in Michigan.  It's a small world afterall.
  The week before last,  Paula and I were blessed with an all expense paid trip to South Carolina to join the generous couple for a few days. A great time indeed.

A FACE LIFT FOR THE COMMUNITY CENTER

  The Net Menders Ministry came in Tuesday and painted the Community Center,  inside and out. A team of 13 ladies came to mend our nets. That's what they do. They don't reinvent the wheel , they come every year to help established ministries. The community center has been blessed by them for years. They built the kitchen, tiled the floor, and now fresh paint. Gracias!!!
  We're getting ready for the Carpenter's Crew coming next week. We have by the Grace of God avoided the flu so far, but the changes in weather makes it hard. Yesterday 74 at sunrise,  11 am 50 and rainy.
  The generosity of people never ceases to amaze us. At years end, I always empty the ministry checking account, #1, to trust God to provide for the coming year , #2, to avoid paying tax on money we have at years end. So, God put a few ministries on my heart to bless, orphanages, a couple t.v. ministries , and the Salvation Army . Two weeks later we're sitting at Rudys Barbeque Restaurant with the Power Ministry guys . Three days later we get a check in the mail for exactly twice as much as we have at years end. The more said, " as I was sitting eating my supper, God told me to give this to you guys". Wow!. When we let go of what's in our hand, God opens his.