OCTOBER was a month in which we were finally able to build a little pond out in front of the Club House; it's not very deep, but it has a fountain and a couple of gold fish. The best part is that it has attracted a lot of birds as we also have bird feeders hanging close by. It's very relaxing to watch the birds fight for their place at the feeder and also on the fountain to either drink or take a bath. They are mostly sparrows, but God notices even the sparrows when they fall so they are not insignificant either at your home or here at Melody Lane as we're reminded of how much He watches over us as well.
Missionaries that stayed with us this month: Saenz, Pendergast, Luciani, Fannin, Richards, Pascual, Jones, Matthews, Williams, Gilmore, Herrin, Schierkolk, Angel, Driscoll, Jones, Galvan, Burnside, Amaro, Sundberg, Sosa, and Baas.
Churches that stayed: Templo Emanuel, Palmview, TX; Iglesia Cristiana Alianza, Pharr, TX; Calvary Chapel, Fort Worth, TX; and Lifepoint, Albertville, AL.
Organization: Mission Walk, Int'l, Pella, IA.
NOVEMBER the most significant thing that took place was our new high speed internet service being changed to ORBIT BROADBAND! This has proven to be a tremendous help in the every day activities here at Melody Lane as we are no longer at the mercy of someone who has been downloading more than we were allotted. It truly is fast and you sign up for it as before through your own computer and pay for it with a credit card.
The Winter Texans began arriving this month and having a great time settling in and meeting all the new people that coming. It appears that this will be a great season and we praise God for His faithfulness in every detail. We are especially grateful for our team of volunteers who are able to step in and take over when necessary.
Missionaries that stayed with us: Garza, Baas, Galvan, Olson, Johnson, Hamilton, Jaquith, Zuniga, Salazar, Burnside, Angel, Moore, Ladd, Jones, Jackson, Houston, Schmid, Campos, Bursey, and Pascual.
Churches were: First Baptist Church, Zachary, LA; Templo Emanuel, Palmview, TX; Calvary Chapel, Forth Worth, TX; and Lifepoint, Albertville, AL.
Organizations: Catholic Marriage Encounter, Rio Grande Valley, TX.
DECEMBER the owner of the property to the West of us very generously and graciously gave us permission to use a portion of that property. Our plans are to fence in the rear portion of it and use the large concrete slab for a basketball court. Because of this man's generosity we will thank him for it by keeping the entire property, nearly 5 acres, mowed and cleaned up. His only requirement was that we sign a paper releasing him from all liability and stating that the property remained his. This is a very deeply committed Christian man and we are continually amazed at the way the Lord opens doors for us and blesses this Ministry! The work still to be done is clearing all the growth and cutting all the bolts off the concrete slabs so no tires get punctured. Previously there was a storage business there and they removed it all but the bolts. The City of Palmview is expected to give us a burn permit to burn all of the growth that is being piled up as the tractor clears it off.
Missionaries that traveled to stay: Pascual, Mazariegos, Burnside, Saenz, Jones, Marshall, Bennett, Galvan, Rodriguez, Launchbury, Navarro, Cassel, Marin, Perez, Harrington, Jaquith, Olson, and Snyder.
Churches that stayed: Lifepoint, Albertville, AL; Immanuel Baptist Church, Poteau, OK; First United Methodist Church, Crowley, TX; and Calvary Chapel, Forth Worth, TX.
Organizations that stayed: Harvest Evangelism, Opelika, AL; Heritage Christian Academy, Rockwall, TX; Promised Land Ministries, Odessa, TX; His Grace Ministries, Inc., La Vernia, TX; and Mission Walk Int'l, Pella, IA.
While Heritage Christian Academy was staying here they were asked if they could help a family with ten children whose house had burned down. They were still living in the burned out rubble! The HCA still had $900 left for projects and a building supply company said they would supply all the material for the rebuilding with that amount. HCA then went to work and built a rough structure on the original site to keep them in a house with a roof over their heads. The students gave up their one night of fun and donated those funds for the family and then they also received an offering of over $1800! There were many tears shed as each day we found out another step that was being taken to help this family. They worked their last night in the dark with their bus lights shining on the house so they could tar paper the roof.
Harvest Evangelism was also here at that time and had an 18 wheeler filled with shoes, blankets, and stuffed animals. The academy was able to find shoes for every member of the family as well as stuffed animals and blankets. What great compassion and unity in the body of Christ to witness and be able to tell others about; thank you Lord for the privilege to be a part of the ministry that happens at Melody Lane Christian Renewal Center! There is more of this story to be told in January.
