Another warm day in Texas

This morning we headed on over to King Ranch for a morning tour. On this ranch they have over 825,000 acres of land, 60,000 head of cattle and 300 horses. We only got to see a tiny fraction of the operation. If you want more information just check them out online. Our bus driver suggested we check out Lydia's for lunch, seems like we were not the only ones who took his suggestion to heart. We choose the special - beef enchiladas with retried beans. You might be starting to think about how we can choose to eat Mexican food so often, but the reason is simple. We like it.

Drove through Corpus Christi over the large bridge and onto the north part of Padre Island. Stopped to take a walk on a pier and enjoy the sound of the ocean as the waves gently crashed onto the sand. We drove along the island, as someone of TripAdvisor said it was a nice drive, although I did not find it to be so as there was very little to see. Upon reaching Port Aransas we took the very short free ferry ride across the causeway and continued on our way. Our next destination was Fulton Mansion. Unfortunately we arrive a little too late to take a tour, so instead we walked around the old place and took a photo from the front porch. What a lovely view!

Tim just had to stop and pick up some fresh shrimp which he is currently eating at the moment. Not tasting quite as he had hoped, so hopefully sometime on our trip we can find a nice restaurant who knows how to cook up some yummy (or in my case, yucky) tasting shrimp. Each to their own, as the saying goes.

Our next plan, or travel trip was to head towards Galveston but as night fell we decided to stop in Angleton, at a WalMart of course.

Another perfectly warm day in Texas.

Thank you Lord for loving us the way you do!

Warm

With some reluctance we left RGBI and headed out on the road again. We decided to take a more scenic route to South Padre Island. We drove the old #281 or "The Military Highway". At certain points along the route we could see the fence bordering USA and Mexico. We saw fields of cabbage, sugar cane and some corn.

South Padre Island: wouldn't want to live here but it was nice to visit. Riding our bikes and then walking in the sand on the beach with the cool ocean water lapping at our feet. The weather was warm, the sun was shining and just enough of a breeze to not feel too hot. We climbed the windy stairs of an old lighthouse, just for fun and the view of course.

On our way to Kingsville we had to stop for a security check point. Not a problem. Arriving in Kingsville we attempted to find a place to eat that was not fast food but that seems to be almost all that exists here, well except for some buffets joints (I dislike) so we ended up eating at the only other place we saw, Chili"s. Tim had some shrimp tacos that he liked and I had soup. Sorry Jordan but I forgot to take pictures.

Here we are once again at McD's using their Free wifi and catching up on our emails. Our overnight plans include a stay on the black top of the WalMart parking lot.

Thank you Lord for another day to enjoy your beautiful creation.

Prayer update: my sister is having surgery tomorrow.

Powerful

The plan was to leave RGBI but with a few flat bicycle tires that needed to be fixed and then since that was happening laundry may as well be done and so it went.

We had lunch with Ruth & Larry at their home and were planning to leave but Tim was having so much fun helping the guys on the roof that he didn't want to leave. So we stayed. Tim helped on the roof, I did a bit more help with quilting, visited a few people and just had an enjoyable afternoon.

Went out for supper with Peter & Martha and then joined them at Bibleville to listen to another message by Dr. Kroll, who is a very good teacher of the word of God.

We are, or maybe just me, anxious for what awaits us next. We are planning to do some sightseeing on the way to Alabama. Just what we will see and do we do not know but look forward to the adventure.

Just some prayer requests: safety for our travels, good health, Matt's recovery from bronchitis, my sister Eunice for her surgery on Friday to put plates and pins on her broken wrist, and for the ministry here at RGBI.

God is Powerful.

Sunday

Sunday, Jordan's birthday. Happy Birthday son! We attended church at Bibleville and listened to an enjoyable sermon on Daniel by Dr. Woodrow Kroll (from Back to the Bible Ministries).

Celebrated Ruth's birthday at their house with the family. Enjoyed a walk in the beautiful Texas weather, fed the fishes. Enjoyed some supper on our own and then headed over to Ruth &Larry's to play some games.

The weather was beautiful today, had great visits and felt encouraged. Planning to head away from here in the morning although in some ways I am sad to be leaving. We just might have to come back here someday.

God is good, all the time!

Relaxing

Friday morning we took the RV to get an oils change. We both sat and enjoyed our books, Tim had the paper variety - true story, while I read on the iPad a fictional story. After the oil change was complete we ate some leftovers, bought a few more groceries and headed back to RGBI where I just HAD to finish my book. I did! It was very enjoyable reading.

We then headed over to Ruth & Larry's to see what was up and Ruth was preparing a big meal for the board members and their wives. We decided to pitch in and help and then ended up staying for supper and eating with the "kids", Micah and his wife Lana and Nathan. Nathan and a fellow from Bolivia made some coffee using a siphon coffee. It was pretty cool and Tim said it tasted very good as well.

Saturday morning we headed over to see Elijah, Ruth & Larry's oldest son, at the farm where he works. We went along with Peter & Martha, Ruth and Nathan. At this farm, they grow potatoes for Frito Lay, and they were almost done planting and we got to see some of the fields and the potatoes that were already coming up. They do not store any of their potatoes as they wash, bag, and ship they all directly to the processing plant. It was especially a treat for Tim so see how other farmers operate. Forgot to mention that we stopped for a $1.99 breakfast, two eggs, hash browns or beans, bacon or sausage or ham, toast or tortillas. Pretty sweet deal.

For lunch we went to Rudy's for lunch with Peter & Martha, where Tim had beef brisket and I had smoked turkey. Came back to the camper and rested for a bit before biking around and enjoying the sunshine.

We decided to walk a mile or so along the frontage road of the highway to go and see a movie. We watched "The Impossible" a story about a family and what they went though during the 2004 tsunami. It was moving and yes I shed a few if not a lot of tears as it was a true story. We walked back home in the dark and made a delicious late supper of steak, onions, peppers and zucchini all wrapped in a flour tortilla. Now to clean up and get ready for bed as tomorrow we head off to Bibleville for church.

Praise The Lord! He is always good.

RGBI

Today was our first full day at RGBI. Tim helped the guys putting a new tin roof on the girls dormitory while I did some computer work for Ruth in the morning and helped out in the sewing room in the afternoon. Had lunch with Peter & Martha (Tim's uncle) who are down here volunteering for a month.

Talking about a small world... One of the ladies heard we were from MacGregor so she asked me if I knew Dale & Cheryl, who were once pastors of the Bagot Church. Of course I knew them, as their daughter Lisa was in the same grade as our son Jordan. Well, it just so happens that this lady is Cheryl's mother.

Did some bicycling around but the streets outside of the campus are not very cycle friendly. Spent a relaxing evening at home.

Thank you Lord for all the volunteers who come down each year to help here at RGBI. Not only for the school but for many other areas. Students are blessed with homemade gifts and blankets, clothes made or hemmed or modified. Furniture is made or repaired, mechanical and electrical needs are seen to. And, there is a lady here who Loves to clean, bless her heart. These volunteers love what they do, they are not content sitting in their rocking chairs. They want to serve! And serve they do!

Praise The Lord!

No more long days (of driving)

Last day of endless driving. Leaves are on some trees, there is some green grass and the occasional palm tree. Current temperature while driving is +16, so inside the RV feels great with the sun shining down but outside there is a cool breeze. Stopped for lunch at yet another Mexican restaurant which is the easiest for me because a basic burrito doesn't include dairy or eggs.

We arrived in Edinburg, at the RGBI Campus, around mid afternoon and was soon able to locate Tim's cousin Ruth. She showed us to our camping site and then gave us a little tour around the campus of RGBI. We ended our tour at the office of the President (of RGBI) to meet up with Larry, who is Ruth's husband. Together, us couples and two of their sons and one daughter-in-law went our to eat at a Mexican restaurant. I know, another one but they taste good.

We are not sure what tomorrow will bring but are looking forward to how we can be of help.

Thank you Lord. Give us wisdom as we strive to serve you.