Mm is for Missions

God has brought James 1: 27 to my mind recently: "What God the Father considers to be pure and genuine religion is this: to take care of orphans and widows in their suffering and to keep oneself from being corrupted by the world." Part of the Spanish program is getting involved in a work in the community. Currently, students are in three locations, 2 orphanages, and an old-folks home. It is my responsibility to coordinate these activities, and it is my pleasure and blessing to be able to visit each place regularly and work alongside the students involved in that location.
This last week, I had some long-distance help! The PreK kids at Trinity Christian Academy collected winter items for kids for a missions project. There are a lots of kids and people who are not properly equipped to withstand the cold. Especially orphanages. So, the kids collected all this:

21 hats

29 pairs of gloves

4 scarves

1 bag of socks

1 baby sleeper

2 sweatshirts

for me to give away to kids who need them. I took most of the stuff to one of the orphanages called Libres Por Amor. (Free Through Love) It's a children's home that houses about 130 kids. It's the only children's rehab place in the state of Chihuahua - most of the kids are recovering from drug abuse, substance abuse or have been removed from a drug atmosphere at home. Many have also suffered other abuses. The kids were very excited to get the hats, gloves, scarves, and one of the workers there snapped these pictures when she was giving some things to the boys...
I just saw one of the workers again today, and she said the kids are wearing their hats & gloves & loving them! Thanks so much TCA PreK kids for your generosity and serving the Lord by helping take care of orphans!

Home for the Holidays

This Christmas, the Lord provided for me to be able to go home to Texas to spend some time with family & friends. It was a wonderful time of resting, celebrating Christ's birth with family, and catching up with friends.

One night, I think the coldest night I was there, Elisabeth & I went downtown in the big city of Ft. Worth to look at lights! We had a fun time together.

It was really cold, though, so we ended up going into a bookstore & reading books inside where it was warm.
We celebrated Christmas with my Grandma, aunts, uncles, cousins, and their kids, etc. It was a houseful!
I think my Grandma enjoyed the colorful butterfly I brought her from Mexico.
On Christmas day, Elisabeth were at home in her house.

Christmas Dinner!!

One of the highlights was a real blessing from the Lord. Elisabeth & I were able to visit with the whole Hefft family, my parents' partners from Panama, who where in Dallas for the holidays. We met Ben Taussig, Katie's fiance! And, saw Doug & Sharon, and also Paul & Melissa and their kiddos. Paul & Melissa just moved to Dallas to attend Wycliffe's linguistic training. They are members of that mission and are trusting the Lord to be able to come work in Mexico in the summer of 2009! I can't wait.

HOLA & FELIZ NAVIDAD

Some friends & I went downtown before Christmas and got some fun pictures. The plaza was all decorated with lights, trees, etc. It was beautiful.
Feliz Navidad!

City Tree at the Plaza Fountains with Christmas colors
Saraí, Raúl, Katie, Judit, Me, Ruben.
There were long sparklers that people were selling at the plaza. We tried to find short things to say with easy letters! HI MOM!!
Saraí, Katie, Judit, & Me. Saraí & Judit are sisters. Saraí is the one that I do the Girl´s Bible study with. Judit helps out a lot, too. Katie grew up here and is the daughter of some missionaries. She was back for Christmas & we all went out to see downtown decorated together.

Thoroughly Chastised

I have been thoroughly chastised about not posting in over a month, so here goes. I will try to be more faithful.