Bella, Muchachos and a Little Ewe

Greetings in the glorious name of Jesus Christ!

I am finally updating our blog after a long delay. I apologize for that. Things here have kept us busy.

The first weekend this month, we had a nice visit from Susan Carver and Robert Strickland from Knox City. They brought Robert's one-year-old female Great Pyranees named Bella for a local rancher. Mario Ramos had asked us if we could get him one of these dogs for his ranch in Palmira. He raises pigs and sheep there. He was pleased with Robert's great gift of this dog. We were able to bring Susan and Robert to the rehab to meet Alejandro and his family, and the men who reside there. We had a great time visiting with everyone that weekend.

Bobby, Bella and Susan

Bobby and Susan visiting the Rehab with us

We have been spending more time with the Agua Viva Rehab in Centinella and yesterday we took Alejandro and Veronica to run errands in Piedras. We picked up enough garbage bags full of food for the pigs from a restaurant, filling the bed of the pickup overflowing, and they received several kilos of tortillas from a tortilla factory there. We also went to the store and picked up some tomatoes, jalapeños, onions, potatoes and eggs for the “muchachos” (boys) as Alejandro calls the residents there. When we got back to the rehab, they unloaded our “treasures” and washed the pickup completely. It’s been some time since we washed it. I guess it was well overdue.

Last week I spent the day at the funeral home where the family gathered to mourn the passing of their 14-year-old son, Ivan. We have been supplying Ensure and diapers for him for over a year and we are saddened that the Lord took him home. He had been disabled since 2 months old, and was a sweet boy, always smiling when we came to visit him. Please pray God comfort his family. His parents are Teodoro and Yolanda.

The past week I have spent several days transporting people to the hospital and clinics in Piedras and Acuña.  Last night, I drove Manuelita, her son Christian and his father, Ignacio to Acuña to meet the bus for Monterey. Christian in waiting to have a kidney transplant and his father has been found to be the compatible donor. Lord willing, this will happen soon. Christian will be 7 in May. We are working with the family on a fundraiser to help them as they have many out-of-pocket expenses for this major surgery.

On my way back home, I picked up some cappuchinos and some cookies for the soldiers outside of Acuña, and they were grateful. It was after 11:30 pm and I'm sure a cup of coffee was a welcome treat. I has asked them when I passed going into Acuna if they'd like some coffee and they all said yes.  I told them "God bless you," and headed on home.

We are pleased to announce that the fire extinguishers for the rehab have been supplied by Aspermont Community Church, and that Alejandro was able to pay his license plate fees in payments, and they have new license plates on the pickup now, so are free to travel throughout Piedras for their supplies and donations for the rehab center.

Recently, our neighbor’s sheep have been having their babies, and two nights ago, one of them gave birth to 3 little ones. We are now feeding a female baby sheep in our home, and it‘s been quite an adventure. She’s so sweet, black with a few spots of white on her. We picked up a special formula of milk for her yesterday at a feed store in Piedras and hope it will be just what she needs to gain strength and start growing. I admit, it’s taking me awhile to get used to the constant ‘baaaaaaaing.’ Eileen Cochran of Aspermont gave me some pointers on the phone today. She has lots of experience in the area of raising farm animals.

Bill giving the baby lamb a bottle of milk

 

We want to thank all of you for your notes, calls, texts and prayers for us. We thank God for our friends and family and we want you to know how much we appreciate you.

I will update this post with pictures soon, and appreciate you reading our updates.

May God bless you and keep you, and continue to use your life for His glory.

In His loving embrace,

Toni and Bill