And the beat goes on . . . .

Apologies for the late entry. Yesterday was a half workday and half a sightseeing and EATING out day. Several of us participated in the once a month food delivery program. We put roughly 620 boxes of food in drive-up recipients' vehicles--in trunks, in back seats, and on people's laps. Now, that's really drive-thru fast food. iI got a chance to interact with many of the folks because I alternated with Neil in opening doors and trunks. The food was a blessing for the recipients, but perhaps was a greater blessing to the givers. Dick Swain had the awesome opportunity of meeting and greeting all the recipients as they validated their eligibility credentials to receive the food boxes. We were fortunate to be here at the time of the once-a-month food delivery program. As of yesterday I believe we have created 5,000 health kits and 2,600 layette or birthing kits. That's about 1% of the materials here in the Depot with materials coming in all the time. Do you think you might have the time to share some of God's work here at Sager Brown next year? You will find it a unique and uplifting experience, to say nothing about the social milieu that develops between our members and those from other churches. During our half-day off, our eminent and multi-decorated (no that's JJ) leader planned an excursion to Avery island, the home base for Tabasco pepper sauce. The newbies took the factory toour while the veterans were seen "just sitting and rocking" on the porch of the Tabasco store. They had their tasting of Tabasco ice cream, cola, dips, and sauces. Hot and spicy is to my liking but the habanero pepper sauce exceeds my pay grade. We travelled through tree, plant, gator, and bird sanctuary and viewed the Buddhisyou should consideryou should considert shrine. The Buddha was a gift to Mr. McIlhenney (sp?), tabasco's originator, from someone in China. I'm happy to report that the Buddha spoke to none in our midst as we remained steadfast in our Christian beliefs. On a sadder note, I'm ashamed of most of my colleagues (not all mind you--certainly lLafoyle is exempt) for their excessive eating habits during our outing. I dubbed Mary's salad Mt. Everest because she had to stand up to start eating it. I tried to set an example by ordering light--two 7 oz. blackened chicken breasts smothered in Rotel tomatoes, onions, and cheese all firmly erected on a bed of onion straws, baked potato, mixed vegetables and shrimp bisque. I harken back to George's sermon on gluttony. I'm sure glad we took that to heart because we are NOT sinful folks. Well, it's back to the Depot to work. All my colleagues are their and here I am witing to you. Seriously, you should consider joining an expedition to Sager Brown. Contact Bill Kolstad and tell him i sent you. Craig

Casa Hogar la Familia

Many of you have participated in ministry to and for the children at Casa Hogar la Familia in Mexico. The following are recent updates about their wonderful ministry (sorry that we can't transfer the picture).


Many of you will recognize the two young women pictured below:

On the left is Raquel, a girl who has grown up at La Familia.

On the right is Ivonne: a girl that left La Familia over a year ago to live in a home for girls in Colima.

Both are now 19 years of age.

Raquel just recently left La Familia to finish high school in Colima. In Quecholac, Raquel was only going to school two days a week for 1-1/2-hours a day. In Colima, she is able to go to school for three hours a day, five days a week. And they use the same educational books and material, so she will naturally be able to finish much sooner.

Both Raquel and Ivonne now carry the designation of Adult Volunteers with adult responsibilities at the orphanages in Colima as they work to complete their work to graduate from secondary school.

When I was at La Familia in March, a missioner asked Raquel what she wanted to do when she graduated from secondary school. Her answer: I want to be a doctor!

Robert Sawyer, the director of Casa Hogar, will be with us at Acton in May . . . more details on that later.

More from our amazing missioners!

Please respond to them by clicking the link at the end of the post:

Welcome from the Bayou Branch of Acton UMC. Wish you were here. It's becoming more difficult to capture people doing "unusual" things because they are now on to me. But, if you know some or many of our traveling troupe, you'll know that "usual' is still noteworthy. Here's a prime example: you'll notice in one of the pictures that JJ is sitting at a desk. Do you know why? She's been promoted to acting Gen. Mgr. of UMCOR at Sager Brown. Yes, our very own JJ. The rest of us are still performing our regular duties of putting health and layette kits together. Here's JJ in her nice office and there's Lovay sweating it out with the rest of us in the warehouse. Notice our talent seamstresses producing materials for distribution. I waited until the bleeding had stopped before I took the pictures of Su and Jeanine. Those serge machines are weapons! Pay particular attention of Bill K. picking up TWO desserts BEFORE his lunch meal. He'll probably claim one is for someone else--maybe Lovay? I have serious doubts! I mentioned yesterday that there might be a weight overload problem on the return trip. Well, we went for a lighter lunch of boiled shrimp, sausage, boiled potatoes, corn on the cob, salad, and bread pudding. I was famished so I had to go back for seconds. However, Bill beat me to it. In addition to our regular duties, we're getting ready for food distribution day tomorrow--about 700 boxes will be given in a couple of hours. We're continuing our devotional tonight at 7:30 discussing our mission statement and the degree to which we're fulfilling it. Again, I want to emphasize the reverence to which Sager Brown is held and the dedication of the volunteer folks from the state of Washington, Texas, and Arkansas--about 72 in total. You can be assured that we're carrying the flag of Acton UMC and flying it high, unfurled to its fullness by the Holy Spirit. God bless all. Craig

Day 2 . . . Sager Brown Mission Extravaganza

Yesterday I told you that I had drawn KP duty today. Well, was it some tough duty under the command of Maj. Gen. JJ. Do all y'all think it was appropriate to tell diners to fhurry up and finish their lunches and get their dishes and trays to us? Fay Fisher, Bill and Linda Eslick, and myself are putting in for the Methodist KP Medal of Valor (that's MKPMV to you military folk). You'll see a tuboat pushing a barge filled with molasses out our back door. They acknowledged our audience and waved. I had a difficult time holding Su K. back from jumping into the bayou and hitching a ride. Only when I reminded her of gator and snake sightings did she see the light. Praise the Lord! You'll see a lot of pictures of us sitting and eating. We may have to charter a second bus to return home on Fri. if we can't make weight. And, there's boiled shrimp tomorrow! BUT SERIOUSLY you need to be proud of all our fellow congregationalists for their support of UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) and the Sager Brown Depot. The amount of relief materials here is humungous and the work to prepare goods for delivery is endless. And yet, the fun doing God's work is wonderful. I believe that God is having as much fun shepherding our mission than we are in executing His plan. You need to see this sacred place for yourself. And, if that's not possible, then continuing or increasing support for UMCOR will be a blessing to so many others here and abroad, but maybe even more to you. We need to tell you the Sager Brown story in more detail so that you can live a little of what we're living. We are honored to represent Acton UMC way down in bayou country.

First, a big thank you to the folks who gave us the send-off this Sun. AM. It was real early (Yawn!!!) and your presence was appreciated. A special thanks to Dawne for her prayerful reminder of the purpose of our mission. God was riding shotgun and we arrived without any issues. Needless to say, but I must in my "official" capacity, that Ms. Su K. was her usual self (I hesitate to say "normal" because that wouldn't capture the truth. She brought homemade choc chip cookies to perhaps "buy" some silence but the truth will eventually come to light. More on this later, I'm sure. There seemed to be a lot of raucous laughter from the rear of the bus, but i wasn't able to takes names BUT JJ was seated at the back. Think there might be any relationship? Bill K. kept good attendance recors on and off the bus but at the last count we had one more than we stated with. This number is yet to be reconciled. Orienation went fine except for the few that slept through it but they'll pick it up. For all my good efforts I've drawn KP tomorrow. We have no real duties yet assigned but that will come Mon. AM. You'll see your reps hard at work Sun. night eating chicken and pizza and playing games. Did I see some money changing hands? Or, was this all in the spirit of camaraderie? Most assuredly it was the latter. We will have fun but more importantly it will be fun doing God's work. look for the next report!

And Away we Go!!

This morning 27 AWESOME AUMC volunteers left for the UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) mission depot in Baldwin, Louisianna. They go to pack health kits, school kits, layette kits, birthing kits and flood buckets that will around the world to disaster sites in the name of Jesus. They will touch each kit with the love of Jesus and learn much about our connectedness as disciples with the world. Please pray for them as they travel and serve and continue to follow the blog for updates on their trip.

AUMC Loves Granbury

The Body of Christ is made up of Christians of all shapes, sizes and understandings of God. On Saturday, April 17, hundreds of people from the churches of Granbury came together,worshipped and then went out into the world with the love of Jesus. 43 faithful disciples from Acton UMC bagged groceries at David's Supermarket in Acton and in Thorp Springs . . . and to top it all off we bagged them in our AUMC Go Green for God (G3) reusable grocery bags . . . 1700 of them!! Even the rain couldn't stop the smiles and the good will and the love of God.

Loving the Whole World

Next Sunday, April 18, 27 faithful AUMC disciples will be comissioned volunteer for one week at the UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) Depot in Baldwin, Louisianna. There they will be making disaster response "kits" which are shipped all over the world when disaster strikes. How amazing to be "connected" to our brothers and sisters in Christ all over the world. These pics are from a kit-building workday on Saturday. Please start praying now for our team! The team will be departing for Baldwin, Louisianna at 6:45 AM on Sunday, April 25 . . . why don't you come and pray them off???

The Easter Bunny Lives On!`

What happens when thirteen faithful disciples go to work on behalf of God for the world? Lots of good things! Today these full-of-Easter-faith disciples spent their morning volunteering at the Rainbow Room . . . a support ministry for children in the care of Child Protective Services. Many hands make light work and the supply room was inventoried, the storage building was organized and we all learned a little more about the ways God is at work through this all volunteer organization. Just look at the smiles on the faces of the volunteers . . .

After Easter FaithWork

Off to Rainbow Room today for our FaithWork workday! The Rainbow Room is a support ministry for the caseworks of Child Protective Services . . . providing clothing and home support items for foster families or children of families under CPS care. Surely these are "the least of these" to whom God called us to minister. Watch for pics in a later post! Christ is alive!

New Life for Easter

Hip Hip Horray!!
. . . . . 45 flocks of chicks
. . . . . 10 trios of rabbits
. . . . . 3 goats
. . . . . 1 heifer
What a great way to fill some Easter baskets! Way to Go Acton UMC!!