Sharing the forgiveness God gives........

Recently we had a group from Campus Crusade for Christ come to the Rio. They were able to share the story of salvation and forgiveness through a drama. After the drama we had a women's Bible Study of accepting God's forgiveness for our sins. The women took turns reading about the various people in the Bible, their sins and how God forgave each and everyone of them if they only asked. We then took time to write our own sins on a piece of paper and put them on the cement floor in the center of the circle. We prayed as we saw our sins turn to ashes and disappear. Thanks was He does. We takes away our sins and throws it into the deepest ocean. We can never be good enough for the Lord. We need Him, we need to accept the gift of forgiveness and turn away from sin. We need to depend on the Holy Spirit to give us strength to not fall into our temptations and to live for Him. Amen.

School House Rock Live

This month our boys participated in their first musical. Ben was the stage hand as Mark and Luke each had speaking and singing parts. They performed several songs from School House Rock like 3 is a Magic Number, Noun is a person, place or thing, Elbow Room, Circulation and Interjection. They worked so hard and thoroughly enjoyed it. Miss Jessica also put in so many hours as she was quiet busy adjusting the play to fit our kids, teaching songs and dances 3 times a week. Miss Ruby helped too and provided a great back drop. This musical was one of the things I thought our kids were going to be able to experience being such a small school. However thanks to our great teachers, the did a great job and loved it. Yeah SMCA (Sierra Madre Christian Academy)

Dia de los Ninos, Day of the Child

One of the things I love about the Mexican people is that they have a party for everything. At the end of April we celebrated the Day of the Child. (on a side note, our boys wonder why we don't celebrate this in the US, I told them its because everyday is kids day there, they didn't think it was funny.) We took time out to celebrate at the soup kitchen as well. Reviewing the fruits of the spirit with fruit smoothies, games, crafts, face painting, balloons and goodies. The kids from Santa Claus Camp gathered school supplies and placed them in a plain canvas backpack type of bag. The kids stenciled and decorated their bag. Then they explored their bag to find, a folder paper, pencils, a ruler and other fun things. Soon after completing this task a line was developing to have me translate the personal notes written from the kids of Santa Claus Camp to the kids at the Rio. They also had so much fun hearing what their child wrote just to them. Jesus said , "Let the little children come to me." I think He created the first Day of the children.

2 Cor. 4:7 "We have this treasure in jars of clay...."

2Corinthians 4:7 "We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. " Not sure if you can see this, however this gorgeous flower is growing in side of a old coffee can. The can is rusty and dented. The flower is gorgeous. I haven't repotted it because honestly I had no idea of the beauty of this plant. It reminds me of what Jesus can do to our life like this an old rusty coffee can. Through the power of God springs forth unexpected beauty. It like peace seen in times of turmoil. Joy found within sorrow. Hope amongst the hopeless. Our God has all surpassing power and He wants to display it in our jars of clay. You are a coffee can that He is just waiting to use, are you willing?

The beauty of hard work

Choosing what is comfortable......

Sleeping in Getting up early

ice cream sundae Food that is good for me

staying home Getting out to visit a neighbor

keeping to myself Sharing life with others

Not sharing what I'm struggling with Going to a respected person and asking for prayer

avoiding pain Trusting God will see me through and that I will grow

doing only things I'm good at Trusting God will give me strength for

anything He calls me to do

God is teaching me more and more that comfort is over rated. It is. It seems good. But it leaves me out of so many growing moments that the Lord has for me. It leaves me flabby when He wants me to exercise. Sure it can hurt. A good exercise causes small micro tears in our muscles that must exist for your muscles to heal and grow stronger. (that's my Occupational Therapy background coming out). So recently I'm seek God to help me know what to do and not. I'm not relying on my "want to's or don't want to's". Cause with my judgement, I just end up flabby. I don't want that, do you?

Pray for Leslie

Please pray for Leslie, her tumor is growing back. The doctors had said that she might need two shots of this vaccine, however we were all hopeful that it would only take one. It is not fun receiving a shot in the face without anything to numb it. Pray as her family is away from the Lord. Pray that they would seek Christ now.