May Newsletter - Nacogdoches and Livingston

Joe Update
 
 Our resident assistants, Joe Martinez and Joe Sager have “retired” from GODTEL.

Joe Martinez was a part of the Nacogdoches GODTEL for over 11 years, doing the cooking for several of those years. Joe was placed in the intensive care unit of a Nacogdoches hospital before Christmas last year suffering respiratory distress. He was later transferred to a Lufkin hospital and is now back in Nacogdoches at Lexington Place Rehabilitation Center. He is still on a respirator but slowly showing improvement.

Joe Sager, a former Marine suffering with schizophrenia (more or less controlled by medication) was a part of the Livingston GODTEL for over 15 years. The past couple of years he could be seen daily sitting on a bench in front of the mission to help unload vehicles arriving with donations of clothes, furniture, toys, tools, bicycles, rugs, televisions, etc., etc., etc. He would greet each donor with a smile and offer them a newsletter.

Earlier this year, he spent a couple of months at the V.A. hospital in Houston and had part of his foot amputated due to his diabetes. Then the first part of April he had an episode that took him back to the hospital and we have been informed that he will not be able to return to us. The V.A. is trying to find a facility that can meet his physical and psychological needs  in better ways than we can.

We will miss both of these gentlemen and ask that you please remember to pray for them.
 
Diet and Exercise

Most of you are aware that Bro. June had a couple of heart attacks back in November of 2018. He now has three stints to keep the blood flowing to his heart. Since then we have faithfully watched (as in decreased) our fat and sugar intake (no fried food, white vegetables, white bread, candy, sodas, or, sob, sob, ice cream) and we take brisk, 30-minute walks five days each week. He has lost 22 pounds and I have lost 25 pounds. (I am so glad I did not get rid of one of my favorite dresses from 30 pounds ago because I can now zip it up—and in just five more pounds, I will be able to wear it again!)

Why have I lost more weight than he? I think it is partly due to the fact that when we walk, I take ten steps to his eight so I am getting more exercise! It does not hurt that I drink 8 ounces of water when I first wake up and I stop eating by 6:00 p.m. daily.
I praise God that He has made this possible.

Associational Meeting
 
On April 15th Bro. June and I drove a little over an hour from Nacogdoches to Chester, TX for a meeting of the New Bethel Association where he spoke to the WMU (ladies’ missionary organization). They were interested to know more about the work we do at GODTEL’s three homeless shelters. They were also concerned with how they could help us in practical ways. They now have a list of items they could provide and projects they could participate in (such as preparing and serving a meal).

Speaking of meals, we were delightfully well fed prior to the meeting and were made to feel very welcome. We appreciate their hospitality and the generous honorarium we were given for GODTEL.

One of the pastors attending the men’s meeting that night was Edwin Findley who teaches a weekly Bible study at our Livingston mission and who brings a group from his church, Calvary Baptist in Woodville, to serve a meal once a month. He plans to have Bro. June speak to the men at an upcoming meeting of the New Bethel Association. We are looking forward to revisiting these precious Christian friends.
 
Volunteers Serve in NAC
 
The Prelim Class of the Omicron Delta Kappa Sorority from SFASU came one day last month and served a delicious spaghetti supper to our appreciative residents.

We also were blessed by a visit from a group of ladies representing Chapter 210 of the Woodman Life organization. They served our evening meal and distributed individual bags containing personal hygiene items to each of our residents. Each bag contained 2 pair of socks, 1 bar of soap, 1 toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste, 1 washcloth, 1 bottle of water, 1 candy cane, 1 stick of gum, and a card with a blessing  written on it.

Other greatly-appreciated guest cooks came throughout the month and many of those will return this month. We are truly blessed by the delicious variety of foods prepared and the loving way it is served. God be with you all.
 
~Nancy Gentry