A SHOPPING EXTRAVAGANZA

  We decided to go to Sam's Club in Reynosa today to buy the food and juice boxes for the colonia food outreach next Saturday.  I called Jaime from Melodys Orphanage to come and buy whatever they needed for the orphanage. Jaime and Macedonio had already filled up 3 flatbed for us and 2 shopping carts for the orphanage before we got there. Paula and I loaded up another flatbed with 240 juice boxes and 210 cans of jalapeños. It looked like a train at the checkout station. What a joy though to be able to buy that much, to bless over 200 families. The support we receive every month makes it possible to hold this outreach every month for 13 years running. Wow! Thank you all!!!

  We unloaded at the community center and went to Melodys Orphanage for lunch. It's 100 degrees here today, yawzaa

THE DAY OF THE CHILD GIFTS

  After successfully getting the shoe box gifts to the community center,  we awaited the arrival of Ricky from Alabama with a Penske rental truck full of shoe box gifts, pack packs, bibles, clothes. Several pallets were easy to unload but Ricky and I had to hand unload the rest.  We crossed a majority of the boxes in two trips and about 500 dollars in taxes. The truck, van, and trailer were used to get everything across.

  Ricky, his wife and 3 other couples are coming next week to give out all the gifts in several different colonias in Reynosa. There are hundreds of kids living in a park in Reynosa just across the border from several different countries. They have no shelter, no tents, no place to go. All refuge camps in Reynosa are full, but they continue to come. Thanks to Biden, there seems to be no end to this crisis. We are funding ministries that are feeding these wandering migrants trapped in Reynosa. They can't cross legally and can't afford to pay the cartel fee to cross. There's never any news on the situation on that side of the border. 

  Paula and I drove to San Antonio this week to the memorial service for Paula's adopted mother who went to be with Jesus early this year. We haven't seen her friends there since my heart attack 2 years ago. A luncheon out at Benita and Juvenauls ranch in Poteet were Isabel spread some of her Moms ashes. The ranch was a favorite spot of Nachitas, and a dying wish. 

  A couple of surprises for Paula's birthday since we were gone last month. One at the colonia,  and another at Melodys Orphanage. 

FINALLY, FAMILY TIME

It's been 7 months since we saw our kids and grandchildren. Way too long!! We left Texas and spent some time at a friend's house in S.C. before traveling to Kentucky to visit Shawn and Carla Estes for a day. We arrived in Illinois just before Easter and enjoyed the time with family friends. Lea turned 5 in February and she is just the cutest. Paula and I took Lea to a farm to see animals and the Bunny. It was chilly but fun. 

  We hated to leave, but Paula had to fly home, and I headed to LaHarpe, IL to rent a uhaul trailer to haul the 400 shoe box gifts donated by LaHarpe Christian Church and a few others in the area. What a blessing they will be on April 30th and May 1st when we'll give them out in Mexico 🇲🇽.  After spending the afternoon eating some steaks at the Days house, Rick Balmer graciously brought the uhaul trailer to the church and a few guys helped load it. I spent the night at the Balmers and headed out Wed morning.  I made it to Oklahoma city in time to get measured for my 3 teeth. I got home Thursday afternoon. 

  Early Friday morning I got up out of bed too fast and blacked out hitting the bed post and faceplanted on the tile floor 😴. I broke my nose, busted my lip, and had a few gashes on my head. Testing at the hospital was all negative, but they kept me there 11 hours to make sure. I'm fine.

  While we were gone for a few weeks,  ministry continued. Jaime traveled to the mountains of Chihuahua Mexico where he lived for 10 years. He blessed a lot of people with food, blankets, bibles, and the Word of God. Andres took his whole family to Tampico and gave out food, blankets and soccer balls.  Sergio was also at work removing the decal on our truck, and it looks great. We received several unexpected donations while we were gone and are looking for more outreach opportunities, we never have to look to hard!!!

  Blessing to all that support the ministry and we look forward to seeing what God has next.

FAITH. OR FEAR?????

We can't have it both ways. We must choose one or the other! Paula and I have decided that we're going to stand on the promises of God and the provision of God in the midst of this crazy time we find ourselves in. Fear has gripped the majority of people on this planet. Fear of tomorrow,  Fear of the Unknown, Fear of the Virus, Fear of death, sickness. The Bible says that the Fear of the Lord is the beginning of understanding.  Misplaced Fear 😨brings worry and anxiety.  

  I've probably read the book of Revelation more times than any other book and you know what? WE WIN !!! But perilous times will come first, decisions will have to be made in light of what we know to be true. Our very souls stand in the balance. 

  Enough about that. Trusting God comes easy when you have to do it to survive. We've seen it and experienced it so many times over the last 14 years in ministry. Hearing the still small voice of God that helps us all make wise and godly decisions. 

  Our adventures never end, but they certainly are changing. Food distribution and helping out orphanages is an ever present need. We traveled to Big Heart Orphanage in the mountains last week with Jaime Mayorga and a load of food, soccer balls. Blankets and coats. Jaime is going to pick up the trailer at Big Heart and head to the mountains of Chihuahua Mexico where the gospel will be preached, and needs met. Jaime needs 3 thousand dollars to make the trip and buy more food once there. He's going march 19th with several volunteers with him. I want to go, but we'll be out of town for the Easter holiday to visit family we haven't seen in far to long.

  Our monthly food outreach had been postponed due to cartel violence in the area. We had it this past weekend with no problems. We are coveting prayers for wisdom 🙏we need to make decisions about our selling our ministry center, and down sizing. Our old house in Pharr is being returned to us.  The people simply cannot afford it since covid crushed the day care business they own. Again we rejoice in the Lord and trust him.

  Thanks for all the prayers and support 🙏.  Everything we do is because of God's provision through people. 

  

WHAT A WEEK INDEED

Record cold temperatures crippled the entire state of Texas and Mexico last week. Below freezing temperatures killed all our plants, grass, and froze some pipes. We were without power and water for over 3 days. Today it was 90 degrees!!!

  We made it a point to help where we could even though we were in survival mode. Thawing pipes, and staying warm. We went to a store 3 times that sells blankets and purchased 225 to give away. Jaime from Melodys Orphanage used my van to cross milk, juice, onions, and other food to help people in Mexico. 

  Today we loaded up the truck from Hearts for Kids with pallets of food, water, snacks, juice, tea, blankets and coats. They are an organization that helps in their community and one of the refuge camps in matamoros Mexico. 3 children died in one colonia in Mexico from hypothermia. 

  We've only gone to Mexico a couple times in the last week. Andres had to replace some broken pipes at the community center. We stopped at the orphanage a couple times as well. They continue to distribute food almost daily to pastors and people who come.

  A definite time for prayer as Texas recovers, as well as for our nation as things spin out of control 🙏. 🙏.  Thank you all that pray for us and support us. We are going to hold our second food outreach this month as opposed to only one. The needs are increasing and we will do all that we can as God provides. 

GLOBAL WARMING???

 As most of the country experiencing record cold, the global warming cult is silent. Why??? I digress. Its really cold in south Texas, but not as cold as ya'll up north. It's actually going to be below freezing Monday night for long enough to freeze pipes. 🙃. 

  It's been a couple weeks since Andres and Goyitas wedding. It was a beautiful service and they were very happy 😊. Paula did great officiating the big event. Great food followed the vows, music, cake, and a great time of fellowship. 

  Last Saturday we held our monthly food outreach.  About 100 families came, which is more than the last several months. We split the colonia into 2 shifts to avoid a crowd. Jaime came to share a message. The day before,  he brought all the kids from the orphanage to get clothes and shoes from Paula's mountains of clothes.

  On a brighter note,Lol, the situation on our border is getting worse since sleepy Joe started his executive orders to change everything that our President Trump 😉did. Riot gear was being displayed on the bridge when we crossed the other day. 

  Oh that Jesus would blow the trumpet and call us Christians home and let these unbelievers have it all for a short period until Judgements come on all of them. 

NEW BEGININGS

Today Paula gets to perform her very first wedding as an ordained minister. Andres and Goyita have worked along side of us for 5years. We have known them for many more than that. 3 years ago they got engaged 💍 and today they exchange vows. They have been together 20 some years, so it's time!! The Community Center is decorated and we're heading over at 1 for a 3 o'clock wedding. 

  Our daughter Kelly came to visit a few days at the same time Cody, Marc, and Ben were here from Power Ministry. We all went to Melodys Orphanage for breakfast one morning,  and showed them the amazing facilities God has provided this special family and the orphans they have been entrusted with. President Trump was at the border that day and made a mess of traffic. We took Kelly to Top Golf ⛳ that night before she headed to Florida. 

  I had fly to Oklahoma last week to see my dentist. One of my implants didn't take to the bone and had to be removed. A few more months of healing before I get my teeth. Paula has been seeing a dentist 😬in Mexico for some work.

  Ministries are still coming for food for thier churches and communities almost every day. We are privileged to be here to meet the needs. We need to go to Illinois next month for Leas birthday and to pick up several hundred shoe box gifts collected by LaHarpe Christian Church. Several churches in the area. They usually have a team come down and bring them, but this year no one is coming so we're glad to go see them. 

  We sent out our annual giving statements last week, so if you donated and didn't get one, or it's inaccurate,  let us know. In spite of Covid-19 keeping groups from  traveling,  it was still a good year financially for the ministry. Helping the orphanages with our resources, as well as purchasing lots of food for those in need has really been a great transformation for us. I don't miss building houses, but we do miss the groups. 

  Be blessed and thanks for the prayers and support 🙏.