September Newsletter #2

Cross walks, students with backpacks school buses, school bells ringing, teachers welcoming children into the classrooms...busy, busy, busy. “Texas Roadhouse”, you say. Well, let me tell you about the “new guy” in town. Before the official opening of the restaurant, we received a call from a representative of the Texas Roadhouse. It was asked if we would like to receive 30 or so of plate dinners from a practice run of the menu. Well, I don’t know about how you would answer, but we said “yes, yes and YES! Our treat was scheduled for Sunday evening. We picked up the plates about 5:30 pm. This homeless shelter ate delicious food for two days. We ate steak and mushrooms, shrimp, baked potatoes, beef tips, salmon, chicken, salads, broccoli, corn and rolls. And this wasn’t the complete menu. We were glad to be test subjects or is it guinea pigs? Thank you, Texas Roadhouse and welcome to Lufkin. School started early in the month of August. Our grandchildren in Spring and Nederland returned to class the second week. Our youngest granddaughter started kindergarten this year. She was excited. She would be going to school with her older sister. She would even get to ride her bike to school on Tuesday mornings. Our daughter started this routine a few years ago and she is still doing it. Emily leads the way, then Lauren and mom brings up the rear. Our grandson, Blaine, is a senior this year. Yep, he will be graduating this coming May 2022. He is in the band and has already performed with his band members at the first football game of the season. His sister, Kristen, graduated two years ago. She is continuing her college classes at Lamar University. What an opportunity we have to unite in prayer for all our students, teachers, administration, bus drivers, cafeteria personnel and all support workers. They have a challenging year ahead of them. In case you haven’t heard it enough I want to shout it from the roof tops, “God is good!” Through the years, as I have answered the phone, I have “met” a lot of people. This past month I got to meet one of these special people face to face. For 20 years or more when the police have called at night (usually after midnight) I answer and the police dispatcher tells me the situation. First, she would apologize for waking us, mainly me, because the phone is on my side of the bed. Anyway, she would have the name and situation and ETA at hand. Then we would go from there. DeeDee is her name. I don’t know if spelled her name correctly. She is short like me-no wonder it was not so bad that she awakened me. I truly appreciate her. She now works days, but the night time crew is still considerate. Not once, but twice, the phone brought an unexpected blessing. I received a call from a church outside of Lufkin. The woman called to get information and find out how her church could help GODTEL. As we talked and shared more info, some of the talk went to how we got to GODTEL. El Paso, where I am from, was mentioned and a surprise to “meet” a fellow west Texan from El Paso. We talked about the beauty and allure of the flat, brown terrain, no trees and being able to see for miles and miles. She did not go to the same high school as I. In fact, I found out that she actually graduated from San Augustine High School. God is good ALL the time. And all the time God is GOOD. I shared these personal blessings because this past month has been tough. The residents would not volunteer for chores, rules were broken, bad choices were made and they had to leave. Some of the residents have been here more than once. A couple have been here three or more times. When does helping become a hindrance? Pray for us as we seek God’s wisdom and discernment in our everyday decisions concerning the people He sends to us.
   We had sickness, not covid, in the camp among our staff. But we do know several people who died from covid. There is no respecter of victims in this merciless attack of this virus. God is still on His throne and very much in control. Our guest cooks blessed us with the food they prepared and served. We ate spaghetti, tacos and pulled pork sandwiches. Thank you. You truly are a blessing to the residents and staff. God bless you. The Mosaic Center and The Fieldhouse started their fall sessions. No woman residents are attending Mosaic classes. We do have three men attending The Fieldhouse classes. Praise the Lord. Pray for all the students of the Christian Men’s/ Women’s Job Corps. May our Lord be glorified in the fruit of this fall session.
   The time is now to wind down and thank you for your support through prayer, encouraging words, volunteering and financial donations. Remember our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.

​Because we serve a Living God, Martin and Mary Baker