“He who forms the mountains, creates the wind, and reveals his thoughts to man, he who turns dawn to darkness, and treads the high places of the earth-the Lord Almighty is his name.”   Amos 4:13

February…ahhh February.  Our shortest month and yet it was 28 days packed full of busyness.

Martin and I started the month with a visit to St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church.  GODTEL, along with CISC and LOVE in the Name of Christ, were featured ministries that evening.  We had a delicious meal and then each of us got up and gave a report of current happenings.  Martin and I enjoy our evenings out, however, we really like sharing what God is doing at your local shelter.
Our faithful cooks and some special chefs showed up for KP duty.  The first Sunday: Dick McKay Sunday school class supplied our lunch.  We ate pizza from Papa John’s.  That evening our Lakeview Baptist Church group came with chili.  Our dear friends from Keltys United Methodist Church were here Thursday evening.  Then Carpenter’s Way Baptist Church showed off their culinary skills.  Chicken spaghetti, salad, and bread were served.  Our Third Thursday Methodist Cooks came with a tasty meal, cooked and ready to serve.  You should see the desserts they make and bring, it pleases any sweet tooth connoisseur.  The third Saturday a youth group from Denman Avenue Baptist Church came with home grilled burgers and the fixin’s.  What a treat!  I “double-booked”, as they say, and had to ask the LMS-CIAs to come the next Saturday.  They were agreeable and I sure do appreciate these young folks being flexible.

Martin made a six day trip to west Texas.  His main destiny was to Midland to visit our precious daughter and her husband.  He managed to drive north to Denver City to visit friends and family there.  He also was able to handle the last minute request from his mother to empty out her rented storage room and bring the items home to east Texas.  The wind was…well…west Texas.  Martin and James did some shooting while the wind was blowing “ninety to nothin’ ”.  I praise God for keeping these two safe and for bringing Martin home.

GODTEL received a couple of gift cards for Christmas.  One of them was for Sam’s/Wal-Mart.  We spent ours at Wal-Mart purchasing commercial shower curtains for the staff shower/tub units and the women’s dorm shower stalls.  We also bought some small electric alarm clocks.  The clocks seem to be “kidnapped” a lot.  When we can, we try to replace them.  A big thank you for the gift cards.

Resident news: James is still manning the resident phone.  John is picking up a few days of work here and there plus his work around GODTEL.  Bob’s report from Houston was good.  We have him answering the phone in the office.  Toney came in and is cooking for us.  Todd is back to “fixing” things.  In fact, last week he did a plumbing project at the director’s house.  Todd knows his stuff.  Even though he has experience and skill in plumbing there was a situation that he could not figure out.  Todd called his dad, a master plumber.  His dad came to GODTEL and looked over the problem.  He gave his expert opinion and the solution to the problem.  And it HIT me!  We try to solve the problems of our lives OURSELVES.  We fall short and we have to call on our “dad”, our Heavenly Father, Master of Creation.  Of course, God didn’t have to come to our house to fix the problem, but He was always there with His perfect wisdom BEFORE we ever ran into the problem.  All we need to do is seek Him first.

For one night in February we had nine children between two mothers in our women’s dorm.  Sember arrived mid month with five children.  Nathan is 11 years old.  He and two of his younger brothers are in school.  A brother and sister stayed with mom during the day.  She was able to find a place and moved out the last day of the month.  Becky checked in two days before March.  She has four children.  Her two older children attend school.  Her plan is to get a job.  We pray she finds the job God wants her to have.  Once again, several residents moved out because they broke the rules.  However, on the positive side the “resident savings” is up.  We get excited when people are working and saving.  We encourage people to move into an apartment or house, not a motel room, when they leave.  Most of all, we pray that the hurting souls who come through our doors will leave with a new heart and changed lives.  Lives now living for Jesus.

This year we are getting down and dirty.  What am I saying?!  We have access to a lot across the street from GODTEL and we will be putting in a garden.  Martin, Todd, Joseph and John were seen tapping the ground looking for bricks, pipes and such.  When these obstructions were found they were dug out and put in a pile away from the garden area.  One Saturday, a brother in Christ came with his tractor and turned the dirt.  Even though the guys tried to go deep enough to get the bricks and stuff out more trash was turned up.  Todd and Joseph were there to pull things out of the way.  The dirt is turned.  Fresh dirt is soaking up the sun and now we need to get to the next step of gardening.  A little rain wouldn’t hurt.  It’s been awhile since we (Martin and I) have put in a garden so we are excited to get back into the experience of growing our own food.  Thank you, Robin.
While dirt turning was going on, Martin and I were in Nederland at a business meeting.  You could say we  had another reason to see the grandchildren.  It was a short visit.  Kristen was at a dance lesson when we arrived.  Blaine was busy conquering the evil empire and Darth Vador.  Our son and his wife are busy.  Their business juxtapose inc. is doing well.  They are opening a branch in Jennings, Louisiana.  I remind our son frequently that our shares belong to the Lord and to be wise in their decision making.  Paul just grins.  Our cup runneth over with blessings.
Burkina Faso.  What’s that?  Glad you asked.  It is a country in Africa.  Former GODTEL missionary Darrell Banfield is leaving for a two month service tour to that far away land.  His family will remain here.  Please pray for Darrell and his family and pastor Jeff and the people of Burkina Faso that God’s truth will be shared and accepted and His people will grow in love and wisdom.
We will be here at our assigned post, sharing God’s love and truth.

In Christ’s Service,
Martin and Mary