April Newsletter - Lufkin

​Daylight Saving, spring break, St. Patrick’s Day, baptism and Hearts for Hope kept us busy in March.

EMPLOYMENT REPORT:

• New jobs-1
• Still working-3
• The Fieldhouse-4

Praise the Lord!

We made it through the third month of the year. And God is faithful.

Dark or daylight our guest cooks did not disappoint us. We had Santa Fe chicken casserole, pork chops, frito pie, pizza, a chicken and rice dish and meatballs. We can safely declare that no one went to bed hungry in the month of March.

As I went up to the women’s dorm to “check my chickies” at our 9:00 pm curfew, I reminded the women to move or spring their clocks forward an hour. I am pleased to say that they did and they were all on time the next morning for Bible Study. Our minds may have appreciated the  hour of extra daylight but our bodies lagged behind about a week. I think we survived the transition well.

Spring break came in the middle of the month. The youth of Central Church of Christ came on a Tuesday to GODTEL. They planned and prepared and served the delicious meatballs. They not only served the meal they did the chores. What a blessing to see that service to the Lord is still alive. Thank you, Dan, for sharing your incredible youth team with GODTEL.

Green was seen all about as St. Patrick’s day came and went. Some of us had to find a sprig of green to wear while others have a built-in presence of green...such as green eyes.

Joshua in February and Nick in March became our brothers in Christ. Martin encouraged these two men to read their Bibles on their own time as well as at the regular Bible study attendance in the morning and evening. Joshua and Nick requested baptism as the outward sign of the inside change of their hearts by the Lord Jesus.

Martin asked our pastor if they could be baptized at our church. He said yes. A date was set and Pastor Scott talked with both men about their salvation experience. Joshua was baptized. Nick was not.

Nick got up one morning and headed off to work. Later that day we found out he had been arrested. We were upset with this turn of events. The scripture tells us that our “sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23) and Nick’s did catch up to him. We were relieved to find out that the crime had been committed  before Nick accepted the Lord as Savior. But he still needs to be held accountable and pay the consequences. Martin visited Nick a few times. He prayed and encouraged him.

Nick has just been released from jail. He went before the judge and he will be on probation four years. He will have other requirements to meet. Nick is back at GODTEL. He is ready to accept his guilt and make restitution for his crime. Pray for Nick that he will see and understand God’s love for him. Pray that Nick will seek God’s will for his life.

We entered the banquet room. Tables were set with 8 places each. The middle table was quite long and full of amazing works of cake art. Other items set up for silent auction bids were along the back wall. The front stage was ready for the emcee for the evening.

This is what Christi and I walked into on the last Tuesday night of the month-The Hearts for Hope Fundraiser for The Mosaic Center. Christi spends Thursday at the Center mentoring the women who are attending the classes there.

Christi attended a session at the Center a few years ago. She was asked to give a brief statement (filmed at an earlier time) how the Mosaic Center has made an impact on her life. She invited me to come with her as her guest.

The food was delicious. The program was delightful and the live auction was fast and furious. The silent auction, also, did well. The GMC Trio was the dinner music. I have mentioned them before-they are so easy to listen to and their songs get you singing along with them. It was a marvelous evening full of blessings deluxe.

CHECK IT OUT:

• April 16th-Hamburger Fund Raiser for The Fieldhouse at The Fieldhouse on Denman Avenue 5:30 pm
• April 21st-RESURRECTION DAY
• April 22nd-The Fieldhouse Graduation at Carpenter’s Way Baptist Church 6:00 pm
• April 25th-The Mosaic Center Graduation at Christ Congregational Church 6:00 pm

Cody left, heading to Tyler and reconnecting with his family. Joshua moved out, also. He is still working at Pilgrim’s Pride and attending classes at The Fieldhouse 3 nights a week.

Misty was here almost a month when we found out she was a missing person. I praise God that she had a safe place to stay while her care givers were trying to locate her. She is back home and safe.

We continue to have the Texas weather roller coaster. Even so, we have planted tomatoes and cream peas in our raised garden plots. The lawn mower is out and has been serviced ready to start grass cutting season. Our backyard is the low spot on the property and so it holds water longer than the rest of the property. It may be a jungle before the mower can cut it down.

Jungle or not, we thank you for your support this past month. Thank you for the oatmeal (we are lowering our cholesterol) and jelly. Thank you for your prayers.

God bless you.

Because we serve a Living God,
~Martin and Mary Bake