March Newsletter - Nacogdoches and Livingston

Time MARCHes On

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​Have you ever had a frustrating morning when nothing seemed to work right? I guess I could just as easily ask, “Are you a human living on planet earth?” Our youngest son, Joshua, called me recently to share how his day had progressed from frustration to joy. The process of getting ready for work, taking care of morning chores, preparing the baby for the day with the baby sitter, met with difficulties and caused a delay in getting his wife, Erin, delivered to the high school where she teaches art. Though annoyed, they both were making choices to maintain control of their words and actions.

Needing to fuel up his vehicle, he headed for the nearest gas station but found the driveway partially blocked by a pickup truck with its flashers on. Joshua had the equipment to tow another vehicle, so he asked the driver if he would like assistance. His offer to tow the truck out of the way was graciously accepted. The other driver was on his way to drop his daughter off at the high school (they were late) so Joshua loaded them up in his vehicle and took her to school. In their conversation he learned that the young lady had taken an art class from Erin the year before.

As they drove back to the man’s truck, Jesus and God’s provision for His children were in the conversation. The man offered to pay for Joshua’s services but was told that God had apparently sent him to be of service. As Joshua drove away, his heart was full of joy. And that is what happens when we let Jesus live and love through us. Obedient service to our Lord brings joy.

Kroger Super Bowl Food Drive
 
Our thanks to Kroger Co. for their continuing aid to GODTEL. This year we received 267 boxes, each containing one jar of peanut butter, one box of spaghetti, one jar of spaghetti sauce, one box of macaroni and cheese, one packet of taco seasoning, and four cans of either green beans or corn.
 
Thanks Also To:
 
Staci and Toby Self, who own Self-Made Donuts in Cushing, for supplying the Nacogdoches mission with pastries to add enjoyment to our breakfast meals.
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New Life Gravity Church Youth Group in Center for bringing personal hygiene products and serving a meal at our Nacogdoches mission. (Photo below)

Deluxe Dental in Nacogdoches for bringing over 40 bags of toothbrushes and toothpaste for our residents. The ladies that brought the donation were quite friendly and animated. A few days after bringing the donation they came back and provided lunch for everyone. (Photo below.)

In Livingston we are so blessed to receive food donations from the Livingston Rotary Club on Thursdays following their weekly meetings. Since the cook and I do the weekly grocery shopping on Thursday afternoons, having prepared food delivered while we are gone is a great help to her. She seldom has to add much to it for everyone to be fed.

We so appreciate our regular volunteers at each of GODTEL’s three shelters who come weekly or monthly to prepare and serve meals. They encourage the staff, help with the grocery bills, and show God’s love to our residents. Thank you and may God bless you all.
 
Foreign Missions Here at Home
 
Since opening the doors to our first homeless shelter in 1977, we have ministered to a wide variety of people from many different states, some from foreign countries. One of the most memorable was a young woman from Germany who came to the USA and accepted the wonderful salvation God offers in Jesus Christ. She came to volunteer at GODTEL shortly after that and I had the great joy of discipling her until she returned to Germany where one of the first things she did was lead her fiancé to the Lord—and he became a preacher.

This year she sent me a Christmas/New Year gift of several types of Lebkuchen (which I dearly love). Then this last month I received a letter from her that I would like to share. I sincerely believe it will bless you as it has me:
 
Dear Nancy, Dear June,

40 years ago, on January 20th, I converted to Jesus. It’s a long time ago and many years are passed… It was the most important (!!!) and the best (!!!!!...) decision I ever made. At that time, God sent me to you. In you, Nancy, I found my mother in Christ.

I thank you both so much for this wonderful time we spent together. You were my home. When the farewell came, I cried many, many tears, and now 40 years have passed… What a long time!

I got a wonderful big family, five wonderful children, and all are converted to Jesus and beloved children of our wonderful heavenly Father. All five are following Jesus. I’m so blessed by my husband and my family! Praise God!

In our little town in Neumarkt, much is moved by His Spirit. The atmosphere has changed. There are many born-again Christians now — I was one of the first born-again Christians here.

I want to share the joy and the blessing with you. You are a part of this blessing … Hallelujah! Thanks to God first, and then to you! ...Thank you … thank you … thank you so much for your love, for your prayers … You still live in my heart full of thanks for your love you gave me.

Be blessed with all heavenly blessing! God is so good, soooo good! Praise to His GLORY!!! Love K
 
I doubt I will see Karin again on this earth but I have confidence that we will have a joyous reunion in Heaven. We owe our thanks for this ministry primarily to God but also to all who support GODTEL. We are deeply grateful.

~Nancy Gentry