Gayla's Magazine

Piles of Miles

It is always a rush to get everything on board the Coach, clothes & shoes, food and supplies, ministry items and work projects. But once it is all in and stowed away and the wheels start rolling I can settle down a bit.

While we traveling I am working on my speech that will be given later this week.  We are going to North Carolina  to a very important Conference being held for a select group of leaders. 

Missy baby is with us and she is such a good traveler.  All she does is sit in any ones lap that will have her and sleep.  She does floor duty constantly so I am glad she takes care of all crumbs!

We drove to Alabama and spent a quiet night next to tall trees and a hotel. 
Today we will drive the rest of the way and then get to rest a little tomorrow - hopefully. 
I look forward to this day - may it be a blessed day for you too.

Here's my list to do today:

finish my speech

work on my joomla education

keep us going with drinks and attention

text family, friends, staff, and ministers

maybe study a  Spanish lesson

work on another Proverbs 31 lesson

Breakfast is coffee, tea, toast and fruit.
Lunch will be grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup.
Supper is Peanut Thai Chicken with noodles.
Snacks today are  tangerines, popcorn and fresh homemade hot walnut, white chocolate, cranberry cookies that are named, 'take your breath away they are so good!' cookies 
(it's a  little surprise for the guys -I brought my frozen cookie dough from home)

We won't even notice the piles of miles passing we will be having such a good time!

While we are away here is what is being played at home!

It's Ok.....

Sometimes rushing around just can't be avoided. Some stresses in life are placed in ones life by others, or circumstances beyond control.  Yesterday was like that for us.

We get to the airport at 10am - 2 hours before our flight like experienced world travelers do. The plane is late.

Ok..... no problem we wait ...........
But time didn't wait.  The hands of the clock started moving quickly. 
We arrive in Toronto Ontario Canada and walk through the terminal towards baggage to get our bags almost 4 hours later. 

Ok ..... no problem we walk..........
But time didn't wait.  The hands of the clock are now spinning around.
It took a solid hour just to walk through the terminal. 
Ok...... no problem we start hurrying now.

But time is now passing us and starting to look over it's shoulder at us saying, 'catch me if you can'!!!!

Ok..... now it's a problem but we can do it.  The meeting we were to attend is halfway over.  It takes some more time to get the rental car, find it, put our bags in it and figure out how the Canadian GPS works, put the directions in and start driving.

The cell phone starts ringing..... where are you?  The meeting is starting to end where are you?

Ok..... it's a BIG problem now.  How does this GPS work??!!??

We are in a car we have never been in before, driving roads we have never driven on before, trusting a GPS we have never worked with before, going to a location we have never been to before!  NO PRESSURE.

OK .... now it's not ok!

Look at that building!  Wonder what it is?   No comments Gayla..... time has run out ahead and left us. The phone rings...... the meeting is over.  Where are you? 9 miles away!

Ok..... no problem we will just wait here for you at the church.

We arrive.... a few are still here waiting on us.  But time is gone. Now everyone is gone to the rehearsal dinner.

It's ok...... just follow us.  Time laughs ...... it's now almost 6 in the evening.  We have not eaten since this morning.  Time whispers 'I beat you and stole your opportunity'! 

We arrive and walk straight in to the dinner starting.

It's ok......  Please welcome His Grace, the Archbishop Gregory Holley to the podium.

And time stops. And what was a hectic day of travel and arrangements suddenly comes to a complete halt.  And while silence settles on the guests, my husbands strong voice of wisdom and preparative guidance fills the room.  All eyes are trained on him.  I have no idea how he is able to have such presence of mind to be so focused and prepared, having just walked in under such pressure! 

But I remember the race against time and think.  'Ole clock... you just thought you were beating us'!  Really time cannot win against God. Never will.... never shall.  For missed times and thwarted timing ALL are in God's hands.  And it turned out to be the perfect time for his speech.  No distractions.... no milling about..... all seated, all quiet and all listening.

It's ok....... he shared his heart and planted seeds of devotion, direction and divinity in the hearts at the perfect opportunity in the lives here.

 

 

After a 4 course marvelous dinner, we go to the hotel - it's now after 10pm.  I am ready to iron everything for tomorrow and crash land into bed. While my husband and Dr Lonnie Rex head downstairs to another meeting. 

It's ok...... all is ok..... I'm glad God is in control.

 

Dr Ned Hicks

What a wonderful day this has been, although jam packed from the moment I got up this morning till I will fall in the bed after tickets are printed, packing gets done and all details are ready for tomorrow's trip to Toronto Canada. 

Today we have been so honored to have a very special guest with us - Dr Hicks from Spur Texas, The Community Bible Chapel. This is one of God's Hero's on the earth.

Spending time sharing hearts and vision for the future we all were inspired with God's plans ahead.

Dr Hicks has a powerful Bible School for prisoners serving time.  There are over 5,360  inmates currently involved in this intensive Bible School in State, Federal and private prisons in 43 states and the District of Columbia.

We are honored to help in his mission by providing goods for the Bible School and it's students in need. Every time the inmates mail back their tests, he sends something back to encourage them along with their next studies.  Today we  will send  goods to be a blessing to those enrolled.  Go and see for yourself what is happening!!

www.communitybiblechapelofspur.org

Then it was time to load up the blessings and send Dr Hicks out fully loaded.

Dr Hicks has another awesome ministry that really touches my heart.  They are completing a Hospice House for terminally ill inmates dying of cancer.  How sad it is to think of people that are in their last few days of life struggling alone in prison without family or anyone to compassionately care for them. Can you imagine dying with only a prison guard watching your life fade away.  It makes me shudder just to think of this.

So Dr Hicks and his church are remodeling  a home just for this purpose.  Did you know that in the state of Texas alone there are around 500 terminally ill inmates?  What a humane ministry!

We were able to pack them with blankets, a washer and dryer, all sorts of building supplies from light fixtures to sheet rock, tile, windows and more.... I am so happy we get to be a part of this!

Lots of things to help the Hospice.

 

I was able to spend a little time visiting with him about Bible studies and his expertise in the Word. The time was too short!

 

Dr Hicks thank you for loving the unlovable and caring for those that are forgotten and ignored in their dark sin.  Thank you for being Jesus to so many people.  Only eternity will tell the whole story of how many souls you saved.  Thank you.

 

Proverb 31 Talent Show

My Proverbs 31 Studies expanded to include a Pro31 Talent Show (we have another special event later in the year about Pro31 again.  But that secret will have to wait till then!)

I have always felt like one of the important building blocks in a woman's life, is to be shown the natural talents in another woman's life.  This expands and encourages her to try different things in her own life.  Proverbs 31 is the fully complete explanation in the Word of God for the  responsibilities, creative abilities and freedoms of a woman.  Praise God for His liberating freedom!

Here is  what happened.

 

Shelby was the Role Model in charge of this event and she did a wonderful job preparing every detail for this. All the behind the scenes details she took care of.  Well done!!

 

 Pastor Angela taught about 'How to save money'  by Coupons and special savings plans in department stores, drug stores and the grocery store.  Every woman can save money by her developed expertise in this area.

Together they planned their money spending and used their coupons wisely saving their family loads of money!

 

The Fashion Lady Jasmine provided bookmarks  for  each lady all about Proverbs 31.

 

And she  taught about fashion dos and don't for each lady to learn from. Learning how to make one's clothing work better is always a good thing for women.

 

She and her assistant Rhonda took 3 outfits and made 15 different looks from them.  Their models were dressed and redressed for us to see and learn from.  It was great!

 

Then Gladys taught about sewing and what a valuable talent it is to learn for every woman.

 

She taught us the skill of how to take up pants and also how to lengthen the stride.  She gave out such easy instructions I think we all learned from her capable wisdom.This craft is an invaluable learned skill that will save money life long!

 

Then she showed  how to make a round table cloth from lengths of fabric. Oh yes.... we all can use this information.

Connie taught about healthy eating and detoxing a woman's body from all the toxins and poisons in our world. Taking better care of ourselves, so we can take good care of our families.   Soooo important to learn.  

There were door prizes that were wonderful for the ladies and teens that won.

 

Ana taught about organizing our prayer closets and our prayer lives.  Her insights and words of wisdom were a blessing and  Very inspiring!

 

Walterene taught about P.O.P.  Plan, Organize and Prepare.  She trained everyone on how to make a week's worth of meals in one day.  This makes life so much easier in our hectic family schedules.  She served us samples of good food and how to make one dish turn into many!  Very very informative.

 

Then I spoke at the end and tied each of their sessions to the different Proverbs 31 verses.  My ladies are so responsive and I enjoy teaching them.  We all have a great love between us all! I truly feel I am raising some wonderful Role Models in the earth!!

 

 

 

 

 

Role Models of America is for the young teen girl as well as the  elderly and senor matrons. We are married, divorced, widowed, single, and include all ethnic groups.  We represent women who have been through breast cancer, all sorts of abuse, addictions  trials and tribulations and we have seen God do incredible incredible miracles for us all!  RMA enjoyed this Proverbs 31 Talent Show immensely and we WILL have another one of these events!!

 

Role Models of America 2009 Tea

Galveston Today

We drove down to Galveston to see how progress is going in the recovery efforts from Hurricane Ike.  This was the RV State Park we used to stay at, now nothing is here - the RV Check In Park Building was a big tall building that set right here - this road led straight to it.   Now there is nothing left here but the little guard shack.

Parts of it look pretty normal now and life is moving on.  But there are other areas still devastated and it will be a LONG time before recovery is over.  The beach is back (in town) but outside of that it's still gone. The beach houses along the beach front I took some pictures of to show you. This is the way the road still looks.

 

 

 

Look at the piers up out of the ground.  This house was on the front row on the beach. 

Look at this house!  You can see the bedroom and everything still in it!

Shocking to see!

This was a fishing pier that now is destroyed completely except this little concrete area.  As you can see somehow a truck was plunked down here.  So strange!

How the owner will get this truck off will be very tricky!

  This hotel out over the water has lost it's concrete drives to get to it!

See the chunk of wall gone from the side?  With no way to drive out to this hotel - it's going to be a long time before this is fixed!

 

The beautiful and docile sea holds the seeds of destruction within the warm and sunny breeze that flows ever so gently today.

 

RMA Proverbs 31 Talent Show

Role Models of America hosts a wonderful event called The Proverbs 31 Talent Show
This is something I felt was important for Christian woman to develop practical ways of serving the Lord through their expert care over their families. 

So this event is my way of encouraging growth in the ladies through being a Role Model.  It's going to happen this Sunday evening April 19th  at 6pm. If you are in Houston come!! 
Here is our agenda for the evening.....

                                          

 

6:00 WELCOME AND OPENING PRAYER- SHELBY (The RMA Team Leader)

ANGELA MOONEY-COUPONS - How to Save money in the home!

JASMINE POULLON-3 OUTFITS TO 15 - How to turn what you already own into something much more useful!

2  DOOR PRIZES - Blessings come to those who attend!

GLADYS OWENS- SEWING DEMONSTRATION - How to use a sewing machine and make simple things at home.

CONSTANCE GORDON - Detoxifying a woman's body and staying healthy

2  DOOR PRIZES - More goodies!

ANA PEREZ- ORGANIZING YOUR PRAYER CLOSET - How to get your personal prayer time and devotions in order.

WALTRENE JONES-P.O.P. FOOD DEMONSTRATION AND SAMPLING - How to serve wholesome food to your family  in this hectic paced world.

GUEST SPEAKER- PASTOR GAYLA  How God gave women directives on what and who she is through Proverbs 31. 

CLOSING PRAYER - Shelby the RMA Team Leader

 

Easter Fun!

Kisses, candy, coloring eggs, Bible stories about Easter, Easter baskets of goodies, chocolates, stuffed animals, exploding eggs  and new cross necklaces.... MiMi and PawPaw had as much fun as the grandkids!  Kissy kissy kissy and lots of hugs as they go back to their house, another memory is made and set in their minds of how fun it is to come to our house.

Why all the fuss?  I guess I am making up for not having grandparents in my own life when I was little.  (Living in Africa did have it's own lonely sacrifices in our family)   So.... it's going to be a BIG deal -we are the grandparents now - everytime we can turn a  special day into an event.

This has truly been a blessed and wonderful Easter for us all!!     

 

The Footsteps of Jesus

Our children's drama held on Saturday is something special to see!  I think every church could do something like this for children.

Every classroom is set up with a different part of the Easter story and there is a guide that walks everyone through.  One of the cast speaks in every room and takes the part of the story describing Jesus and what was happening to him.  There are special lights, and sound effects in each room.  These pictures don't do it justice at all.  It was truly special!  Well done to everyone that works in the children's ministry!!! You have made a deep impact on every child that walked through. 

At the end we are taken inside the tomb, and the guide suddenly turns around and it's Jesus!  He talked with us, and such a sweet presence of the Lord came in the room.  It was very quiet and gentle, but his words were stirring and pierced the hearts of all there.

This drama lasted from 1 to 4 pm with a different showing every 30 minutes.
It was wonderful!