The food outreach on Friday instead of Saturday still brought 125 families to the Community Center in spite of the rain. A great time of worship led by David Garcia. Jaime brought the word, Paula had clothes to give, Roy and Carla piled 200 shoe box gifts up, the food was all spread across several tables. It was another great outreach meeting the physical and spiritual needs of the people.
  After the people left, we headed to Lourdes and Lupitas house to dedicate it. A challenge for them to surrender to God's pursuit of them. God has blessed them with this house because of His love for them.
  Roy and Carla left Saturday morning to head back to the cold. It was great to have them if for only a few days.
  Sergio and I drove to Big Heart Orphanage in the mountains near Saltillo Tuesday to deliver a water pump to replace a broken one. Sergio worked on a broken vehicle while we fixed the water system. Carla and Dianna prepared a great meal. Shawn and Carla have 2 groups of 30 plus people coming to Big Heart over the two weeks.
  I spent yesterday with the Power Ministry guys driving to many different ministries they support. I will be joining Power on week three of their missions trips at the end of the month. We stopped at Sam's Club in Reynosa for much needed hygiene products and other things to take to the caravan migrants staying at Sende De Vida in Reynosa. Juice boxes for all the kids plus soccer balls. A great day.

ORPHANS, WIDOWS, AND THE WANDERER

  Roy and Carla Day delayed their trip here, after Toys brother passed away. They left everything in their van, including the 244 shoe box gifts that Laharpe Christian Church and The Stronghurst Youth group had packed up. We deliveredvsome yesterday to the kids at Melodys Orphanage in Reynosa. They now have 14 kids, and what joy filled their faces as they opened up the gift boxes. We had a great few moments before we headed to Sende De Vida home for the wandering migrants from Honduras and Guatemala staying at Sende De Vida.
  As the men jumped on washing our filthy van, we called all the kids to line up and gave them all a shoe box. We unloaded the beans, rice and about 50 pounds of ground beef and took it to the kitchen, where there were four vollenteers that cook the meals. I like to hear their story's about their journey. As our government says, most are looking for a better life away from the poverty and dangers of their countries. I encouraged them all to go back home and make a change in their countries. Bloom where God planted you, I said. It very sad that these caravan organisers lie to these people about coming to America. So they are at capacity there and refuses to take any more refugees. I need to get them blankets, pillows, and much needed soccer balls, to keep them busy, as they wait for whatever is going to happen next in their lives. The goal, USA, the reality,  Mexico, or return home.
  We'll have our monthly food outreach today, and give out more shoe boxes. Afterwards,  we're going to dedicate the house we built for Lourdes and her kids. Two widows with kids living together needing more space, so Roy, Carla, and others from back in Illinois paid for us to build them an addition on their existing house. They are our only group scheduled foruntil a group comes in June. They usually have 40 to 50 people, but this year, 3. The Day family. It's been a great few days with just them.

GOD IS ALWAYS IN YOUR FUTURE

  God IS a God not bound by time. The future is already established. The Carpenter's Crew always comes this time of year. They always have at least 40 people in their group. But this year, only 6 we're coming. The van left Illinois yesterday, but had to turn around and go back home. Roy Days brother passed away and his family needs him and Carla. Pray for Roy and Carla as they navigate through this difficult time.
  They still might come after all is done, but we will build the house before they come so they can just relax and breath for a bit.
  We have been working on the Community Center house little by little.  Also prepared the foundation for Lourdes house. We mixed the concrete by hand last  Saturday when it was very cold, and rainy . Pastor Juan painted all the wood we ordered. His wife has been ill and we're paying for doctors and medicine. He wanted to work for the money, even though it's not necessary for the financial help, but he insists.
  We had a great few days with family in Wisconsin Dell's water park. 4 birthdays including Leas 3rd birthday .

THE POLAR VORTEX IS GONE, AND SO ARE WE

  Seeing the temperature in Chicago the last week, we asked ourselves WHY? Why are we going to Chicago Today, Saturday? Well the temps are rising 80 degrees warmer than Wednesday. Lea turns 3 and that's why we're going. A family reunion of sorts in the Wisconsin Dell's at an indoor water park. Several other nieces and nephews are coming as well. We return next Wednesday and the Net Menders come to the colonia Thursday to paint, and hold a medical clinic.
  Paula and the girls got all 10 quilts done for the guys from Power Ministry that they ordered for delivery before Valentine's Day. Mission accomplished!
  We finished the electric on the house POWER built, went to Sam's Club in Reynosa for food for the colonia and Melodys Orphanage. We had lunch at Melodys Orphanage after shopping and met the new children that are now members of the family. That brings the total to 12 now, and Jaime says that's about capacity for the facility. 2 more boys are coming, so we need to make some more storage cabinets.
  We got all the year end giving statements out on time. 90 different donors to the ministry, what a blessing knowing so many believe in and support our work helping the poor. GOD IS SO GOOD TO US!!!!
  We received 10 pallets of snack food last week, much has already been given away. Most of the Carpenter's Crew headed back north Friday. We miss them and their great friendship already.

YOU WILL RECEIVE POWER WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES UPON YOU

  Power to serve, Power to love, Power to trust, Power to overcome. These are just a few of the Powers you receive from The Holy Spirit. Many of these attributes were present when Power Ministry comes to town. Saturday they came back with group 2 to work on the house. We had put the loft in, rafters and purlins on before they came back to put the roof on and the windows and door.
  Sunday Power came back with all 80 men for their worship and devotion time. It was an anointed time again. Paula sold out her quilts and took orders for another 10 that the girls are busy making.
  Today Steve came with us to wire the house for electric. Our electricity went out, so Sergio bypassed the system and we ran a generator to keep the sewing machines running. Hopefully the roof metal I ordered comes in tomorrow so we can install the last two pieces we were short on the roof.
   I managed to get all of the year end tax statements done and in the mail. What a blessing it was to see just how many people gave of their resources to support the ministry. I think there were about 90 different donors, how blessed are we! THANK you a thousand times over for your generous support.

We joined the Carpenter's Crew Friday as they dedicated Glories house in Progresso .

ANOTHER GREAT WEEK

  Last week, we cut and painted the wood for the house next to the Community Center. The foundation has been there over a year. Power Ministry is coming to build it.
  Sunday morning, 85 men from Power came to worship at our place . The men arrived to A table of Empanadas that Paula and China made, and coffee. They grabbed some of the snacks and sat down to worship. It's really a joyful noise. It reminded me of the Promise Keepers events I attended. I once again was able to strap on my guitar and join the worship team. The word was shared on sowing and reaping. One of my favorite subjects.
  They bought all of Paula's quilts, many t shirts, one guy stuck a hundred dollars in my hand during a handshake. They left and headed to Alliansa Mega Church in Reynosa for their service. Sergio, Andres and I went as well.
  Monday their team came to build. Scott Anderson was the team leader. We stayed at his house in California last Sept. When we attended Powers Golf Outing in Riverside. We got a lot done in only 5 working hours. Yesterday Power Ministry provided us with a load of beans and rice, and over 1000 bibles. They left town yesterday to head back to San Antonio to drop this group off and pick up group 2.

A SATURDAY TO REMEMBER

  Last Saturday we held our monthly food outreach in the colonia. We had beans, rice, oil, flour and Christmas gifts for the kids.  A mix up in communication brought the new colonia that's outside of Nopalera at the same time. We had over 400 people in attendance. The worship time led by David Garcia was awesome.
  I told the people to pray for God to multiply the food, knowing we didn't have enough. I instructed those that came first to only take what they needed. If they had beans, don't take beans, and so on. We were able to give every family something. Praise the Lord! Power Ministry provided us with 200 soccer balls last month and Fortify Ministries gave us bags of stuffed animals. They were all given out to kids with a big smile on their face.
  The Power Ministry comes next week to build a house next to the Community Center. The house will be used as a transition house for families in need, or for our faithful worker Andres and his family. Pastor Antonio and Johnny have been helping paint everything.
  The Carpenter's Crew Senior group is in town and building a couple smaller houses in Progresso , Mexico. We're trying to balance the two teams, and Shawn and Carla Estes are helping the Crew with their building projects. There is very little gas available in Mexico all week, so I've been sifoning gas from my van to help them get to work and school.