September Newsletter - Lufkin

Cooler temperatures, colorful falling leaves, autumn smells, peace and harmony...if only in our dreams.

EMPLOYMENT REPORT:

• New jobs-4
• Still working-5
• The Fieldhouse-4

Praise the Lord!

In spite of the whining and crying school classes began as planned. Some of our east Texas students hit the books as early as August 14th.

Our first grandchild is a senior in high school. She has grown up so fast. I know, I know, we all age the same-one day at a time, one year at a time. Martin and I will be there to watch Kristen walk across the stage as she receives her diploma in May.

Granddaughter Emily is just beginning her school days. She has a unicorn backpack and lunchbox and wears a big smile on her face. Her younger sister, Lauren, is in preschool 1. School girls, school days and school stories are here.

No, I have not forgotten our grandson. He is a sophomore this year and just as busy as his older sister. Class, piano lessons, band, Boy Scouts, and sleep fill Blaine’s days. Best grandchildren EVER!

GODTEL has three students, with their mom, who are enrolled at three Lufkin schools. And mom has a job, too. This family, minus three, checked in the end of the month. Crystal had her children in school and a job in two days. Crystal has six children. Three of them are with their grandmother. Crystal lost her home, in another town, due to a fire. This will help Crystal and we pray the time passes quickly so that she and all of her children will soon be in a home of their own.

The Mosaic Center and The Fieldhouse began their sessions as planned on August 26th. Seven men were at the first class of The Fieldhouse. In one short week two dropped out and one new student started attending. Four of the students are from GODTEL. Three of the men are working during the day and heading to class three evenings a week. Pray for these men and all who have a part at The Fieldhouse. There are plenty of volunteer opportunities if you are looking for a place to serve.

Once, again, the heat did not keep our guest cooks out of the kitchen. Main dishes of meat loaf,  baked potatoes, barbeque chicken, lasagna, spaghetti and sides plus dessert were served this past month. With our mouths full and bellies satisfied we say “thank you”.

They wear a badge. They carry the law on their shoulders. They are the Lufkin Police Department. It was a Monday when we called the Lufkin police. Their response was quick. Kathy (not her real name) was not acting normal. We tried to calm her down, but to no avail. That is when we called the police. She calmed down when the police came. That did not last. Later that afternoon we had to call the police again.

Three officers arrived. One of the officers knew Kathy from previous situations. We had asked  her to leave. One of the officers had to respond to another call. The other two spent an hour talking and listening to Kathy. They were patient and yet firm with her. They were able to get her off the property. Sadly, she will not be able to come back to GODTEL. Pray that Kathy will find the help she needs.

You’ve heard “raining like cats and dogs”. We had “raining blue jeans”. What do you do with 300 pairs of jeans? Well, I had gotten word that Nacogdoches GODTEL needed men’s clothes. Christi and I went through the jeans. We put them in piles of sizes and male or female (when applicable). We separated the jeans. Of course, we kept many for us and sent some to GODTEL Nacogdoches. We, also, sent shirts and socks and belts. All three GODTEL locations give these clothes away for free. When one of our locations receives an abundance of ”whatever” we share with the other two missions. We are blessed in many ways and praise God for His provision-like men’s clothes for the Nacogdoches GODTEL.

Joshua has a job. After working all week he got paid. He moved out on Friday evening. He did not take all his belongings with him at that time. Monday or Tuesday he came by and asked if he could return. He was present at 4:00 pm, our check-in time. He passed a drug test. He had a bed, once again, at GODTEL. He worked another week and got paid. He moved out, again, on Friday with his clothes still here. A few days later he landed on our doorstep wanting to return. By this time we have noticed a pattern. Joshua is not the only one who has operated this way. We try to break this habit by saying no or putting extra rules or stipulations on their return. Our desire is to find out what God would have us do with each situation. So, does Joshua stay or go?

Brooke had been here one night several years ago. She called a week ago and told us of her plans to go to another ministry in town but asked for a bed here until a bed opened there. We said yes. She was here at 4:00 pm to check in. The rules were read to her and she would have a bed after Bible study that evening. She ate dinner with us. The Bible Study bell rang and no Brooke. She was not here at curfew, either. Her belongings are still here. She comes and gets what she needs  for the day and she is gone again.

We praise God that He does not come and go in the lives of His children. We praise God that our thank you’s don’t come and go. Our thank you’s are true and steadfast...

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