Gifts of Love and a Seder service

In the late morning of April 3, we pulled into San Angelo, Texas, and met with Pastor Tony Garcia. He led us to his church, where we met some brothers and sisters who were from Mexico but now living in Dallas. They were former attendees of Tony's church, but had moved to be closer to their daughter. We all went out for soup and salad and enjoyed each other's company, keeping up on speaking Spanish to one another and interjecting English every few words.

Afterwards, we met out host family, Robert and Eve Hogue (and we can't forget Cocoah and Peanut). They are both retired military, and are from Biluxi Mississippi. But shortly after they purchased their house there, Hurrican Katrina swept it away. So rather than rebuild, the couple decided to move to San Angelo, to be closer to Eve's daughter.

The Hogues were wonderful hosts, and very kind. Josh and I stayed in a guest room, and Eve and I ha wonderfully interesting conversations when she was home from work.

On Wednesday, Lacy helped pastor Tony organize the office for his ministry, Regalos de Amor (Gifts of Love). Each year, Tony receives many donations from other churches and individuals to purchase blankets, stuffed animals, and clothing to give as Christmas Presents across the border in Mexico City. He has about 4 one-day events, but the planning takes the entire year. To check out this cool ministry, visit http://www.officialregalosdeamor.org

While I was organizing, Josh did some repairs to the building inside and out. After we worked, we rushed home and briefly showered and changed, then returned to the church for a seder service.

The seder was wonderful and memorable. Before starting, we prayed, as Hezekiah prayed when he rebuilt the walls of Jersalem, that God would pardon us for not observing the seder at the proper time, but would rather bless our hearts for remembering to observe and recall all that he did at the passover, in the Old Testament, and also when the passover was fulfilled through the sacrifice of the Lamb of God.

Through the seder, each symbolic act was recalled in the old covenant, and how it was fulfilled in the new covenant through Jesus Christ. If you have never taken part in a passover seder, it is a somber and enlightening experience, especially to see all that God did in the past to prepare this world for the coming of the Messiah. Afterwards, we held a celebration with food and music, and then dismissed. My spirit was very edified.

On Thursday, Josh completed a project that demanded him to learn new skills and techniques. He was asked to build an awning over the back door of the church, because water was seeping into the church through the doorway. With the help of a brother from the church, Joshua and he built the awning from scratch. He has included pictures below to show the project from start to finish. This was the last project we completed before leaving town to go to our next stop, Tyler Texas.