A Trip to Mexico... home!

Jason has this theory and I think he is on to something... he thinks that the reason our hearts feel less than alive here on the states side is because God doesn't want us to get too comfortable during our stay on the Texas border! He has a different home in mind for us... and yesterday only proved that theory in my heart. We took a trip across the border and into Reynosa, and though this border town is NOT my hearts desire... we instantly felt at home! Like when your on a long trip back from far away (and lets face it anywhere outside of TX is far away) and you see your city limit sign coming up in the distance and even though your still miles away from pulling into your drive way... you know your home. That's the way we feel every time we leave the States, we might be miles from our drive way to be in the future... but we are back where we belong, and we can breath!

I've told you the story of Hector, the man who was a drug addict and who found Jesus while serving time in prison. Hector reminds me of that story in the bible, when the man digging around in a field happens upon a great treasure... so he covers it back up, sells everything he owns and buys the land the treasure was on! Nothing was more important to him than that treasure, well in the same way nothing is more important to Hector than the treasure he has found in Jesus, and he gave everything up to follow Him... he wants NOTHING more. He runs a shelter nowfor the homeless in Reynosa, where he and his wife and two children choose to live as well. He has no money and no food to speak of but shares his very little with whoever comes to his door. Literally every night he feeds hundreds with a watered down version of what ever is in his pantry... it's a miracle every day that these people eat, really! But though they literally have nothing, they have more than I've ever seen. We worshiped the Lord together Saturday night in a building that someone donated and built for them... stuffed full of people we sat on pews that too, tell of another miraculous story... here are the photos! I wish you could have been there with me, on the front row... watching the Spirit of the Lord burst out and Jason on the drums again! It was the perfect night, praise the Lord... I could say it a million times, Praise to my awesome, amazing, life changing, grace offering, perfect, beautiful Lord! He is so good.

The Church building donated!

The Kitchen...
I'm not lying, it had to be expanded with the amount of people coming in... and they cook everything over a live fire... no electricity, of course!

Worship Time
Now you have to remember that worship here is ALIVE!
They invite all the children to the front
(I know God loves this) and then we all go at it dancing and singing!
That is Hector with the microphone singing his heart out! He has a lot to be thankful for!


And Below is a quick treat,
For one night only... Jason back on the drums!
Like I said, Home!

She did it!

Well she finally did it! My mother graduated with honors from the MCC LVN nursing program at the age of... she'd kill me if I told you! After all these years she is finally doing what she has always wanted and we are so happy for her!

The Family at the Graduation Ceremony

Mom and Grandpa

Grandpa said after the graduation, "I wouldn't have missed it."

Spanish, Spanish and more Spanish...

So tonight at Kidz Club we had over 30 kids come which as usual meant we had lots of kids that don't speak English! That was fun, but what was unique about tonight was that we had about 6 or 7 moms come out and join the fun... NONE of which could speak a word of English! Yikes, but I survived... I even translated the testimony shared at tonights event to some of the women! Not very well, but hey I translated and prayed with them... in SPANISH!!!! I am amazed at God and His grace, truly amazed. When I think of all He has blessed us with... it truly overwhelms me!

Oh, and I kept saying "pescados" instead of "pecados"... "fish" instead of "sins"... aparently Jesus did not come to earth and die for our "fish", who would have known?!?! Maybe I should have attended Bible College after all!!! KingsWay would be so proud of their honor roll student!!!

Love you guys,

Amanda

Kidz Club goes Swimming!

Areili was one of our toughest cases here at Kidz Club... She is a beautiful, smart and very active five year old with the mouth of a sailor to say the least!!! She comes from a sad home and sad circumstances and has learned at a young age that pain is very much a part of life.

Sometimes, we wonder if what we are doing at Kidz Club every week is making a difference. But this Sunday night at the swimming pool, God proved once again... that He does use our small sacrifices to change lives.

Cristina, our kids club leader, had decided earlier this summer that we should take the children whose behavior had improved over the summer months to the public pool. I was a little nervous about this... it would take a whole page to explain why, but trust me this plan made me nervous!!! Luckly she followed through and last night we took over 15 children from the EVA apartment complex in our vans to the pool! Over 15 of our kids proved themselves to be trustworthy and 'improved', that alone say's a lot about the power of God. But Areili's story say's even more. For the last several weeks I have witnessed a child, who was bitter at the entire world, who loved nor trusted no one... open up and almost bloom in front of my eyes. I've wondered if one day a week can make a difference in these children's lives... and seen the difference it has made in this one life alone. Last night this little five year old ran with open arms to meet the group, followed us around the entire evening... didn't say a single offensive remark to anyone and most importantly of all, she realized that she was loved... and in return, this beautiful little girl... LOVED back! And that, my friends... makes it worth it all!

~ Areili ~

My Mom Moved to McAllen!

Well probably not many of our readers know this, because my mom NEVER tells anyone anything!!!! But this August 17th Diana Claverie (my mommy!) graduates from the nursing program in Waco as an LVN and will be taking the Spanish courses at Kingsway here in McAllen with Jason in hopes that God will better be able to use her in Short Term Medical Mission Trips... and in Waco too as she works at the Family Practice Health Center next Spring! We are so proud of her and sooooooooooo excited to have her here with us on the border for the next several months!!! So, when your in church over the next few weeks and your thinking... "what in the world happened to Diana." ...Well, she's with me!!!