It’s Fiesta Season! THROUGH ERYN’S LENS!
Capturing an honorable Veterans Day Celebration at Pharr South. See photos on page 11.
• • • November 21, 2018 UPCOMING VALLEY EVENTS!www.welcomehomergv.com BON APPETIT! Check out this week’s listings of what’s happening in the RGV!
1
Executive Chef Bettina Tolin shares a side dish just in time for Thanksgiving!
See calendar starting on page 14.
Try this recipe on page 25.
VOLUME 4 • ISSUE 6 • November 21, 2018
hello
• • • your official connection to the rio grande valley • • •
FR OM KRI ST I
This
week’s cover story is near and dear to my heart for many reasons. First of all, we are honored to support the work that Christian Resort Ministries does throughout the season...and the year. It’s more often than not that we receive an email, phone call, or letter thanking us for publishing their columns, and we are honored to give them another avenue to fulfill their calling. The other reason is that I know I was called to do the work we do at Welcome Home RGV. Even though I don’t show it as often as I’d like, on Sunday mornings, my faith is solid. I know we are doing God’s work in serving the Winter-Texan community. I also know I have been guided through the last 11 years of service because, in all honesty, I didn’t know where we were headed. It was through blind faith that we plowed ahead, breaking barriers and charging into a world of unfamiliar territory. I started this business on my diningroom table in 2008. My timing, if you’ll remember, wasn’t so great--right smack dab in the middle of the recession. But having been laid off from my ‘real job,’ and having a little daughter at home, I needed something that was flexible so I could take care of her. I had a vision in the middle of the night, a vision of what Welcome Home RGV was supposed to be. I just didn’t have the road map. So off I went, not knowing where I was headed but with faith that I would be guided in the right direction. I know God has watched over us every day as we try to make a difference in your lives. Some days we succeed, some days we don’t, but I always know we are not alone in this journey. This Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for you, for the opportunity to be of service, and for allowing me into your lives. Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours! • We’re just connecting the dots,
Kristi
THANK YOU TO OUR
2018-2019
SEASON SPONSORS
Vicki Troutman, front, plays the hymn Count Your Blessings on the piano as Glen Lehman, right, sings along with the congregation Sunday, November 4, at Citrus Valley RV Park in McAllen. The service is part of Christian Resort Ministries’ network of Winter-Texan preachers who provide religious services in RV parks in the Rio Grande Valley. // photo by Nathan Lambrecht
Fisher of men
RV park preacher provides year-long service for part-time congregation Story and Photos by Nathan Lambrecht
“There is an old saying,” said Rev. Jim Troutman, 76, as he stood
in front of his congregation giving his weekly sermon. “Better to have people think I have nothing on my mind than to open my mouth and remove all doubt.” A chuckle and head nods move through the crowd of 22 souls this Sunday morning inside the recreation hall at Citrus Valley RV Park in McAllen. They are gathered to hear the word of the gospel from Troutman, one of many chaplains of Christian Resort Ministries in the Rio Grande Valley.
Rev. Jim Troutman stands at the pulpit during his weekly service inside the recreational building at Citrus Valley RV Park. Troutman joined Christian Resort Ministries in 2011 and preaches in the park for about five months a year.
FISHER OF MEN CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 >>