February Newsletter - Lufkin

​HAPPY new year! Happy NEW year! Happy new YEAR! No matter how you say it, here we are in a new year and new decade. Oh man! One fifth of this century is over!

EMPLOYMENT REPORT:

• New jobs-1
• Still working-6
• The Fieldhouse-5
• The Mosaic Center-2

Praise the Lord!

January. The first month of the new year. Our days were busy getting into the “after holiday” routine. School classes began again. Work weeks were completed with no middle of the week holidays. Our Texas weather continued (and still continues) to do its “cold one day and warm the next day” dance. So we keep our caps, coats and gloves close by. And umbrellas, too.

The Fieldhouse started classes the last Monday of January. With The Mosaic Center starting the next week, GODTEL has seven residents participating in the Christian Women’s/Men’s Job Corps sessions. One of the men has already dropped out but Bible study and Jobs for Life go on.  Jobs For Life is the curriculum for both groups. We have 13 weeks to see how God’s love and word will change the hearts and lives of all the students.

Andy landed on GODTEL’s doorstep in May of last year. He helped around here. The public bathrooms were kept clean, the cardboard was neatly tied and stacked and the kitchen chores were done well. Early September he got a job. Later that month he started attending the fall session of The Fieldhouse. He completed and graduated from The Fieldhouse the end of November. He is still employed with advancement possibilities ahead of him. He was able to move out into a place of his own.

Dea came in November. She celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas with us. She got a job at McDonald’s by Angelina College. She is studying to take tests to enter Angelina College. She’s a busy girl. And she volunteers for chores, too! If you want to see her contagious smile, which she shares with all, go by Mickey D’s for a burger or order of fries.

Shamaria has stayed at GODTEL three times. It was obvious she had problems. The third time she checked in it was contingent upon her seeking help. She agreed and now she is at a rehab facility. We pray that she will do well and complete her treatment.

The first month of the new year had a grand showing of our guest cooks. Taco soup started the month with delicious meals meeting the need of our hunger. Pork chops followed with chicken spaghetti, lasagna and meat balls with spaghetti not far behind. With school back in session we are back on tract for Second Helpings.

Martin and I were invited to lunch with the Woodmen of the World. GODTEL received a generous gift. Martin was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation for going “Above and Beyond”. We had a delicious meal of lasagna and the leftovers, cake included, came home with us. Yummy!

The Wednesday morning Bible study that I attend started back. “Grace” by Max Lucado is the book we are reading. Grace is much more than we can imagine.

“Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did so much more abound...What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Romans 5:20 & 6:1&2
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“And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”  2 Corinthians 12:9
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“For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8&9

Thank you for your faithful support. Because of you we were able to help Andy, Shamaria and Dea. 

Because we serve a Living God,

Martin and Mary Baker