Bacaville

Kisses from the Lord

Well, Christmas came and went and was rather quiet this year.  Due to our life of service to the Lord Jesus Christ and our ministry here on the border and after 325 children, we know not to expect that to remain.   Well, January came and we jumped into the new year.   Everyone on campus returned with tales of their visits and Christmas activities and the campus was again bustling with activity as we resumed our dispensas (food box program) and our meetings, and dinners and chapel time.   Along with the busyness came the preparation for the visit of Michael J. Englund and his beautiful wife, Stephanie.   Mike came to the House of Cornelius before he was a teenager and went to New Mexico Military Instititute to complete his high school and associate degree, then transferred to Betel College in Indiana to complete his bachelor degree.   He went active duty in the National Guard and  was deployed to Iraq for a year.   He returned from Iraq the 28th of December.   He was able to meet up with Valentine who was managing our base in Louisiana for a day and then his wife met him in Mississippi to process back into the states.   On January 11th, they traveled to Fabens for a visit.   Georgia planned a dinner for them, since we have not had a chance to do anything for the two of them since their wedding 2 1/2 yrs ago.   Many people have asked about Mike and never had the chance to meet Stephanie.   Mike had not met the new staff at the base here in Fabens, so it was a wonderful opportunity to have a reunion.  

The menu was Mike's favorites: tamales, menudo, brisket tacos and sopa, along with horchata and jamaica to drink.   The dinner took place on Friday the 13th (perfect day for it) and Bacaville was full to the brim with loved ones.   We had about 65 people present and what a time of fellowship took place.   Even Rob and Joanne Harmon came along with their 3 children.   The Harmon's have been a blessing to Mike in his years at NMMI and in college and have encouraged him seemed to always have been stationed close to wherever he lived at the time.   Rob is now stationed at Ft. Bliss for 18 months as he continues his career in the Army.   Renata Kingwell who always asked about Mike and used to come and give hair cuts and provide swimming parties for the kids over the years was present along with her daughter.  Even Bill and Betty Ott, Billy Ott's parents who now live in El Paso were present.  It was a wonderful precious time in the Lord to visit with so many faces and it gave Stephanie and Mike a wonderful time of fellowship.

But it doesn't stop there.   All of this was in the plans and our desire was to have Valentine return from Louisiana during that time.  Valentine introduced Stephanie and Mike to each other at the Summitt in Manitou Springs, Colorado and then was the best man at their wedding in Nebraska.   Valentine called Georgia and said he was going to be able to come, since we were closing up our base in Louisiana.  He was also bringing the pastor Greg and his wife, Joan, who had the church where our office was located in Louisiana.  Georgia had wanted to meet them, but with her demands at home was unable to get away to do so.  They were going to drive the second vehicle that we had in Louisiana and then fly back home.    The timing was perfect since they too would be able to meet the many people with IFM and the Christian body of Christ and see where Valentine came from as well as experience some down home mexican cooking.     Oh, by the way, Valentine called back to inform Georgia that his return home was supposed to be a surprise. Oh well!

All of this happened and took place at a precious time for Georgia as she was to celebrate her 59th birthday on the 14th of January.   What a joy to see some of the kids from the House of Cornelius, the staff from IFM South, and the many precious people who have been a part of her life, all together in celebration of the safe return of Mike and Valentine.  There were NO leftovers from the meal, but everyone was fed.   A special thanks to Gigi's sister Maria who prepared the tamales and menudo and to everyone who attended.  It was a celebration and a precious time.