Well here it is 2010 and we need to get the building project finished.  I would like to challenge each of you that visit this website to consider helping.  Like I mentioned in my last post  just 100 people with $5,000.00 that they can spare would build the next building.  I know that is a lot of money.  However it is not astronomical.  Maybe you know someone that you could join with to help us reach our goal.  We really need to get the next building built before 2011.  We have determined to take the next step in the construction as the money becomes available.  So when we have the money the dirt work will be done .  Then the forms and slab will be done and we will continue to build until it is complete.  Then we will start on the next building.

Here is what the Lord has done so far;

Tucker Foundation                                                50,685.00

Danny P0wel and associates                            117,500.00

Taylor & Ass.                                                             16,759.00

Dr. Pokala                                                                    50,000.00

Bethlehim Mission                                                      2,500.00

Fredonia Hill                                                                 2,500.00

First Baptist                                                                  25,000.00

First Lakeview Ch                                                          1,000.00

GODTEL Lufkin                                                                1,000.00

Lee Danis                                                                         10,000.00

Misc. Sales                                                                       11,440.00

Anon.                                                                                 12,593.00

Pledged from sale of old building                        341,254.00

TOTAL                                                                             647,509.00

The total project will cost approximately $1,650,000.00.  To date we have paid for the land, the surveying, the plans, the engineering, the land clearing, the staff building , and the driveway.  We still need $1,000,000.00 to finish, furnish, and move in.

The ribbon cutting went great.  We had a good crowd from the Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Directors, and even Brother Dotson (the pastor of Fredonia Hill Baptist Church when we were young).  I had a nice little visit with him before the ceremony and it was great.  The speeches were nice and short.  The snacks and drinks were fresh and hot.  I am sure that we will be on the Ktre news this evening and we will be in the Daily Sentinel tomorrow.

Royce and I had a conversation yesterday and with a couple of our guests today.  The jist of the conversation was that all we need is for 100 individuals to donate $5,000.00 and we could finish the next building or for 200 people to donate the same amount and the project would be complete.  You all know that as a missionary I do not make very much money but I could probably come up with $5,000.00 if push came to shove.  It is something for us to think about.

This is an update on the ribbon cutting so if you are planning to attend make note of the new time 9:00am instead of 9:30am.

We have persevered and finished the staff house for the new mission location.  We will be celebrating this milestone with a Ribbon Cutting on Thursday December the 17th at 9:00 am.  Many of the people that have contributed and sacrificed to accomplish this will be there.  So each of our supporters are invited to join us at the new property to acknowledge GOD’S grace and providence in our lives and in this work.

Directions to the new property:

The property is located inside the loop in Nacogdoches off the Douglas Highway(Highway 21 west) turn north on Jordan street right behind New Way Food convenience store which is next door to Family Bail Bonds.  If you are going west from downtown you will be turning right onto Jordan street and then you will turn right onto the property.  If you are coming off the loop going east towards downtown you will be turning left onto Jordan street and then turning right onto the property.   You will see the new house as you turn.  I will try and have a sign at the Jordan street entrance. 

If you need help finding the place  you can call my cell phone. 

936-676-5647

“He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.”   Psalm 91:4    

It is so cool to be able to write and submit this newsletter article myself.  So let’s continue with the monthly news.  September…School, football, falling leaves, cool mornings, sweaters and lightweight jackets, shorter days, Labor Day and 30 days to pack all this into.  What an exciting month!

How exciting it must have been when Mr. Perry Allgood entered his eternal home of  Heaven this past month.  His life was filled with service to the Lord.  Mr. Allgood was a part of the early days of Lufkin GODTEL.  When we arrived as the directors in 1989, he was the Sunday School teacher on Sunday mornings here at the mission.  After he “retired” from Sunday teaching he would come and visit us regularly.  Sometimes he would come by as an advocate on behalf of a prisoner soon to be released from the Diboll prison.  Declining health did not stop his visits to GODTEL or sharing encouraging words with the director and his wife.  Thank you, Perry Allgood, we will miss you.

This summer another one of our brothers in Christ passed to join the saints praising God in Heaven.  John Stanfill worked at GODTEL for three years until he moved to San Angelo to live closer to a brother of his.  Some thought John was a little gruff, maybe he was, but we have to be firm around here and enforce the rules.  I saw a heart that wanted to please and eyes that sparkled when he smiled.  We praise God that John was reunited with his earthly family before heading to his heavenly family.  We appreciate John’s brother for letting us know of John’s new address.

We had cooks extraordinaire in September.  They came from Lakeview Baptist Church, Kelys United Methodist Church, Carpenter’s Way Baptist Church, the Third Thursday Methodist Cooks, the Last Tuesday Methodist Men and Phyllis K.  We had a special treat when a group from the Texas Bible College came and prepared and served pizzas.  We had a fish fry with fish Bob caught.  He has been fishing a lot these days.  There is nothing better than home cooked fish!  We praise God that nobody went hungry at GODTEL this past month!

Speaking of  Bob, he is still answering the office phone for us.  Joseph, Elton, James, Dolores and Todd are also still “on board” at GODTEL.  Todd has finished building the garden tool shed.  He has been seen doing some repairs around the director’s house.  With autumn and cooler temperatures in the air energy levels are up.  We have three baby beds, or cribs, in the women’s dorm.  They were brought downstairs for a good clean-up and any necessary repairs.  Joseph took the first crib apart and started washing it.  Wow!  What a difference that made.  No painting was required, no repairs were needed.  It was re-assembled (no parts left over) and is back in the dorm ready to be used.  The second crib is still waiting to be given new life.  The third bed, well, it has been reincarnated.  Joseph has been unleashed to create.  He is changing the bed into a love seat.  It is fun watching Joseph think, try, do, undo and go a different way.  I think he is enjoying the challenge immensely.  He keeps me in the loop every step of the project.  Dolores still walks the garden every morning, picking a few okra here and there.  She is thankful for the cooler temperatures, as we all are.  Elton is at his appointed tasks of laundry, chore assignments and supervision, yard work, when needed, playing computer games while subbing for James.  James answers the resident phone, sells drinks and snacks, helps me in getting the newsletter out.  He keeps our roll list up to date.  He, also, is in charge of lunches for the workers which are made after Bible Study every night.

Resident report…Kenneth arrived in August.  He is working.  His son comes on weekends to spend time with his dad.  Brenda and her son checked in mid-August.  Randall attends Lufkin Middle School.  I have first hand reports that he is a bright young man, after he gets focused for the day of learning.  Brenda is still looking for a job.  Hugh and his son came mid-September.  Joseph, also, attends the Lufkin Middle School.  He is a tall young man, taking after his dad.  Hugh has health problems and is taking this time at GODTEL to heal and get stronger.  Several men got jobs that interfered with our evening Bible Study time.  They moved out and we have heard they are doing fine and are still employed.  Freddie came in September.  Shortly after arriving he had hernia surgery.  He is recuperating amazingly fast.  We hope all systems are coopersting to finish his healing process.

September birthdays include our grandson and his mother as they added another year to their lives.  Blaine’s day was busy with school, soccer practice, Open House at school and no hurricanes.  We also came to the conclusion that Aunt Nini gives the best gifts.  His aunt lovingly gave her beloved life  size cardboard cut out of Han Solo to the young  jedi knight in Nederland.  Is that cool?  Or what?  And what did Blaine’s mom do on her birthday?  Well, she, too, was glad there were no hurricanes.  I say this because Blaine and Kara have experienced the “gifts” of Rita, Ike, and Hunberto landing on the Texas coast on their birthdays.

I am really enjoying the rain.  I can’t believe I am saying this, but I have truly embraced the soft falling rain and the nighttime thunder, wind  and rain episodes.  When it ends there is such a calm and quiet and peace.  A gift from God, for sure.  Of course there are leaves all over the yard, but then that just brings us back to autumn.

We don’t want to leave out our thanks to you, our brothers and sisters in the Lord, for your support.  Prayers, visits, encouraging words and donations from you makes you a big part of God’s ministry at GODTEL.  Thank you for allowing us to partner with you as we shelter the homeless and feed the poor.  God does have a spot for each of us in His kingdom

CONGRATULATIONS, Stephen!      Eagle Scout Court of Honor 

We need more positive examples and honorable leaders among our young people.              Until next time…In Christ’s Service,

                              Martin and Mary

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.”   Isaiah 5:20

     If you are reading this that means this grandma can learn new tricks.  Praise the Lord! 

     August. Augusto. Aout.  No matter how you say it the month of August was a hot one.  With God’s grace we got through the hot days and humid nights.  The month actually ended with a “cold spell” and we are most thankful for that sweet gift from God.  We had four pages of names this past month, that is a total of 87 people who came through our doors.  Some stayed and some did not.

     We had no shortage of cooks.  Dick McKay came the first Sunday lunch with pizza.  That evening our faithful cooks from Lakeview Baptist Church came.  Carpenter’s Way Baptist Church was here the second Sunday for dinner.  And Central Church of Christ returned for the fourth Sunday with a delicious meal.  Our Methodist brothers and sisters came on their nights, the Third Thursday cooks and the last Tuesday night cooks.  All showed up with meals that were hard for us not to fall into gluttony.

     Have you seen dominos fall?  It is mesmerizing.  Or a rock skipping over the water?  It is spellbinding.  You already know that the Central Church of Christ has come for several months on the fourth Sunday.  One day the youth minster called and asked if there was a project he and his youth group could do for the next three Thursdays before school started.  So to start the domino run we said yes.  The first week the group came we took a tour, talked about GODTEL and had questions.  At 5:30 pm they washed their hands and served the meal.  The second week they worked in the warehouse, sorting and putting cans on shelves.  Weeds were pulled from the monkey grass and yard grass was mowed.  The third week the group was smaller, but plenty of work was accomplished.  Finishing what was started the week before, the warehouse was put into working order once again. 

     Joseph, Elton, Bob and James are still on board.  Bob’s surgery has been put on hold indefinetly.  Dolores is hanging in there with us.  Resident Josef moved out to the dorm at Angelina College just in time for the new semester to start.  Raymond is working and saving money.  Charlie came, got a job with the city and then reconciled with his wife and moved out.  Praise the Lord!  The Latimer brothers checked in and shortly got a job.  Their work hours did not coincide with our evening Bible Study.  They moved out, but were really excited to be employed.  They have come a time or two to eat with us.  I pray they will do their best and hang in there.  You know God can do anything.

     Many of our August population were returnees.  For one of the men it is his 8th time to be here.  Two men are working on their 5th time.  A few others only have two stays listed on their cards.  Our desire is to listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit and so that is why some folks are here and others are not.  It breaks our hearts to see these former residents become current residents.  I know God gives us many chances because of grace, but He does say “NO” and “not now” if that is what we need.  And we try to follow His leading through prayer.

     Joseph spent a few days with his folks in San Augustine.  We were glad to give him those days off, but we were really glad to have him home.  We got to “slip away” for a night and a day.  Mid month on a Friday afternoon we drove down to Nederland for the annual Baker Birthday Bash.  It is a Supreme Combo Celebration of birthdays for July, August, and September, (and the rest of the year).  Mom, Jim and Phyllis drove down Saturdayfor the festivities.  The pool was inhabited all day long, starting as early as 10:00 am.  Of course, there was food and soft drinks involved.  The best part was the surprise arrival of our daughter who came in from Midland.  God is good…Amanda was actually in Baton Rouge, Louisiana a day early for business.  She rented a car and drove to Nederland.  She stayed the night and drove back to Baton Rouge on Sunday.  Grandchildren?!  They are regular ducks in the water.  I am surprised that they aren’t shriveled up.  Kristen’s room is perfect!  Pink and red do go together.  Kara has put it all together in a most pleasing way.  Butterflies accent the room with the “stage” (also known as a bay window) as a focal point.  Kristen is quite thrilled with her room.  Blaine has the Star Wars theme in his room.  He has Star Wars posters and matching Star Wars sheets.  He is in kindergarten this year.  In the First Day of School pictures taken by his parents he seems quite bored with the whole thing.  It looks like he is thinking “let’s go to school, already”. 

     Mom and Jim are well.  In fact, Jim is in Minnesota visiting his son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren.  He hasn’t seem them in three years, since his “flight” to Texas.  His report is that the grandchildren have grown and changed a lot.  All children seem to do that no matter what we grand-folks try to do.  Jim will return after Labor Day.  And we will be glad to see him.  Mom stayed home to keep the rest of us in line.  I think she did an okay job.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Kara…September 12th

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Nancy…September 19th

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Blaine…September 24th

     A big thank you from all of us at GODTEL for your support.  Your money goes to pay utility bills, groceries, (mainly non-food items) salaries, parts and supplies for auto, plumbing, electrical, and building repairs.  The clothing goes into the clothing room to be given to the residents for free.  Sheets and towels and blankets go into our linen closet to be used.  Any extras will be given to those in need.  The personal hygiene items are given to the residents and when they run out more is given to them. 

     Until next time…

                                         In Christ’s Service,

                                          Martin and Mary