Eagle Lake to Gonzales, TX in 2 days

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Wow...God has been moving!! We had to take a break just to write about it all! Friday night (2/9) we did go to the house church that meets at Mrs. Gay's house (pictured with a few of the other ladies from the fellowship). It was soooo good worshipping with them and sharing God stories! We met several people who are involved in the ministry of The Lighthouse and we met a missionary, "Bush Bunny Brenda," who is home on furlough from Mozambique, Africa. She shared stories of the work that they are doing in Northern Mozambique with orphans that touched our hearts! After the service, she said "The Lord is laying it on my heart to carry you to Halletsville tomorrow morning." Chris & I couldn't believe it because that was about 35-40 miles away with really nothing in between. We prayed about it and felt that we were supposed to go with her. So early Saturday morning we set out after telling Lyle & Dana goodbye. (Aren't the new pack covers pretty?! Now they are in Spanish AND English.)

Brenda shared stories of miraculous healing and God's hand of protection throughout her time in Africa. Her testimonies encouraged us as we near the Mexican border and more unknown territory! We serve a HUGE God, so there is no need to fear! She also gave us a few contacts along the way "just in case" we came across them in Gonzales or Seguin. Brenda was recently in Austria for a time of retreat and renewal, so she had to buy some warm clothes. She offered me a pull-over and some gloves since she had no use for them in Africa--Right on time for the COLD weather...Praise God for His perfect timing!

We left Brenda and decided to check our e-mail at the library one last time before heading out. By about mid-morning we began our trek to Shiner, TX...just the next town over...about 10-12 miles away. We walked and talked and prayed for about 8-9 miles. At the top of a hill, I looked at the up-coming road and realized that it was under construction. It was looking like a little off-road walking. To our surprise, a truck pulled off the road right beside us. It was the librarian from Halletsville, and she was on her way to Shiner. We couldn’t believe it…so we road in the back of her truck into Shiner. (She had planned on going to Victoria that day, but she changed her mind and went home instead…Thanks, Lord!) We missed ALL of the construction area! We ate a late lunch and tried to decide whether or not to head on to Gonzales. I felt like that’s where we were supposed to go, but a lady who’s from the area in between the two towns told us not to travel near dark because of WILD BOAR and COYOTES along the road. We took that as a word from the Lord to stay the night in Shiner!

As we walked around Shiner we found two places to stay the night…a little country inn and a bed and breakfast. We met Mrs. Dorothy (the owner of the Shiner Country Inn) who told us about Mass at a really pretty Catholic church nearby when we stopped in at the Inn. We couldn’t find anything or anyone at the bed and breakfast. . We hadn’t been in a Catholic church since we started our journey, so we decided to go to Mass. After Mass, we met Father Frank who shared the story of how he was called to be a priest. Then he arranged for us to stay at the Shiner Country Inn. Again, we saw God’s provision!

Sunday morning, we got up early to go on to Gonzales (It’s 18 miles away.) because we knew we were supposed to move on. We wanted to be in church, and we really weren’t sure how we were going to make it there, but we started walking anyway. After we’d walked about 3 miles, a car pulled up beside us. The Novosad family said to us, “Hey, we just heard about y’all in Mass in Shiner.” We talked with them a few minutes, and they drove on. We kept walking for about 3 more miles, and then the same car stopped again. They had stopped at their family’s house to pick up some wood. Edwin was going to leave a few pieces of wood for us at a little picnic area up the road, but we told him that we were hoping to make it to church in Gonzales. Edwin quickly told us to pile in with his family, so they could drop us off. As we rode we chatted with him, his wife-DeeAnn, and their daughters-Hannah & Gracie! They were so sweet!! They wanted to take us to the First Baptist Church where DeeAnn went where she was growing up. As we were taking a picture with the Novosads, Travis Burleson, the pastor of the church, came out along with several of the other men in the church. We shared a bit of our story, but Sunday School was going on, so we wanted to go on in to class.

After Sunday School, we met Norvi Mayfield who’s from Honduras. Now she lives in San Antonio and she is a missionary here in the US…she connects people and places all over the world to further the Gospel. Just to watch her in action was intriguing! She loves the Lord and just desires for Him to be known!! We sat with her in church, and just in the few minutes before the service, she gave me contact information for 2-3 cities in the US, a pastor in Mexico, and a pastor in Columbia! The message talked about being a friend of God and being a good friend. We are to mimic Jesus closely, obey Him fully, and act responsibly. In applying this to our lives, he explained that Christian love is not a feeling…it’s an ACT of will! Love makes obedience easier!

Before we knew what was happening, Norvi darted out to talk to some people and different members of the church started talking to us. People started heading home, and Pastor Travis & his wife, Terri began talking with us. They have had quite a miracle in their lives…her name is Lydia. Terri shared testimony of how she came into their lives 12 years after they got married. After being married for a little while, they decided that it was time to start a family. But no matter what they tried—fruit drinks, fertility drugs, etc.—they weren’t able to have a baby. So they decided that they would adopt which lead to two failed adoptions. All of this was so difficult, but they kept seeking the Lord. Soon after accepting the call to First Baptist Gonzales, several of the women called Terri into the Lydia classroom(hence the name) to pray for her. They anointed her stomach with oil and prayed over her. Not long after that, Terri got pregnant with Lydia!! Although they want to have other children, they keep seeking the Lord…desiring what He wants!!

Norvi had been at work while we were talking, so we learned that we would be going to lunch with Jeff, Robin, Ross, & Hannah Lester. Then they would drop us off with Carol Dubose who we would be staying with while we were in Gonzales! We couldn’t believe it! The Lesters took us to lunch, and we learned about their travels and their business while we shared some of our stories too. They live on a farming ranch (we didn’t even know what that was!), so they took us back to their place to show us the chicken houses, cows, farm, etc! It was sooo exciting! We had finally arrived to the place we had imagined when we thought of Texas!!! There’s open land, cattle, chickens, ranches, oil wells etc. every where you look!!! After seeing the Lesters’ ranch, they dropped us off with Mrs. Carol.