Bastrop Area Archives - Page 12 of 15 - Feed the Need Missions

Blessed Abundantly

Marilyn is a single grandmother raising her four grandchildren: Alex, Brett, Amari and Kaylee. Struggling to make ends meet, her grandchildren started coming to Mission U-Too for a burger.

Quiet and meek they would sneak in the line and wait patiently for their time to be served. Not knowing a soul around them other than others in the community they would walk back home with their food in hand and eat with their grandmother.

Alex, the oldest of the four grandkids attends Bastrop High School and is on the track team. Breaking out of his shell he started finding HOPE and community at Mission U-Too. He began to serve and started building trust with those he was finding peace. “It’s just different,” Alex said in an interview. The ‘different’ Alex was feeling was the love he was experiencing from those who were pouring into him, Christ’s love. Alex’s siblings later followed behind to serve.

Marilyn was seeing positive change in the children. Once her grandchildren were able to find peace and comfort she started coming to be served as well. They even decided to dedicate their lives to Christ in their church and were baptized. Carol, a Mission U-Too volunteer, was invited to join the baptism.

And then on a summer afternoon Marilyn and her grandchildren were in Houston trying to head back to Bastrop and their car broke down. She was able to get help and a ride back to Bastrop from family, but her car was not repairable. Left alone at home without a vehicle they all began to pray. Little did she know, a family who had just started serving with Mission U-Too had a car that they had been praying about for several months to be able to donate to someone in need, negating the need for the family to look at or somewhere similar for a replacement car in order to be able to transport the family around again once more.

Carol introduced Marilyn to the family and they found a perfect match. Marilyn was blessed with a car.

Marilyn said in an interview, “I have never met people who cared as much as your volunteers do. My family has been blessed abundantly and my faith is stronger.” And Alex followed with, “I am loved and I have a purpose in life that I never knew I had.” They ended with that Mission U-Too’s impact in the community has made it a better and safer place to live.

God is on the move within Mission U-Too. Actually, it’s not about the name or who we are, it’s about Jesus Christ and making disciples. He uses people within Mission U-Too to reach out with His love.

January 11, 2017/by Christy from Feed the Need

Bastrop Area, Events, Giddings

Serving Christmas Meals

Christmas time is here! The holiday season doesn’t stop Mission U-Too from serving every week. What a great way to spread Christmas cheer and to proclaim the gospel. One of the best ways to proclaim the gospel is through serving others in practical ways. We have two Mission U-Too locations serving on Christmas Day. We’d love for you to come join us and help serve those in need for the holidays and be a blessing to your community!

Mission U-Too Locations:

Giddings: 190 N Harris in Giddings from 5:00-6:00 pm. Set up starts at 4:00.
Bastrop North: 603 Linden St in Bastrop from 5:00-6:00 pm. Set up starts at 4:00.

“Though he was in the form of God he did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” ~Philippians 2:6-8

Be amazed at the ways Jesus has served his people. When you see Jesus serving you even to the point of death, you’ll be willing to serve others in radical ways.

Come be a part this year by serving in your community or join us by serving at one of the two listed locations. Have a blessed Christmas! We look forward to serving with you.

December 16, 2016/by Feed the Need Missions

Bastrop Area, Testimony, Volunteers

Meet a Volunteer: Jane

Jane and Mike first started serving with Mission U-Too in November 2015. We first met them a month earlier when they stopped to get some food from our disaster relief team as they were nervously waiting out the Hidden Pines Fires in Smithville, TX where they lived.

Mike and I began serving with Mission U-Too November 2015. It was our first Sunday evening serving at the Bastrop North location that I noticed a young woman moving down the service line receiving her food and condiments. She maintained no eye contact whatsoever and in fact, had tears rolling down her face, staring downward as if she wished to remain invisible.

I watched as she progressed to the end of the line and took her food to sit alone, with her red plastic cup. I was moved by her obvious sadness and was very uncomfortable that she sat alone, head lowered. I broke away from the line and approached her and in a futile reflective statement I had learned from years of psychotherapy training, I recall saying, “I can see that you’re sad.” I asked her if I could pray with her and she nodded.

Regarding prayer as something intimate and private, I had never done anything like this before, which speaks to God’s stretching us beyond our felt comfort zone to empower us in anything that may be part of His plan.

Disheveled, a bone thin body worn from years of addiction and domestic violence, wearing flannel pajamas, her name was Paula. She revealed she was “dying”, she couldn’t stop drinking, telling of her body failing and succumbing to advanced alcoholism, and held up her cup in almost a question of ‘what are you going to do?’ as she told me it contained her vodka drink.

I listened as she talked and eventually we were joined by two other Mission U-Too ladies who prayed with us and accompanied us across the street where Paula resided to assist her, at her request, in pouring out her bottles of alcohol. She knew drinking was killing her and agreed to allow Mike and me to drive her to an AA meeting that evening. The meeting room was darkened by the time we arrived, so we took her with us to an ice cream shop where other Mission U-Too folks had gathered and once again she could feel acceptance and support from our group.

Weeks later our hearts smiled and our awe of God’s gracious intervention magnified as we watched Paula eventually come back across the street to step into the Mission U-Too service line to help prepare and serve meals for others. She grew in spirit and health in her recovery and was named as a line chief of the serving line, which she manages now with confidence and grace. As Mike and I experienced the calling to serve Mission U-Too after their ministering to us in a time of emotional distress, so Paula had come to serve the very ones among whom she had so many months ago been one of.

December 14, 2016/by Feed the Need Missions

Events, Smithville

A Mission U-Too Thanksgiving

The holidays are here and we are thankful for you! What a great time of year to come and serve the community of Smithville.

Mission U-Too’s Smithville site has been serving on Thanksgiving Day for the past four years. Because the site’s “normal” serving day is Thursday, we are blessed to continue to serve on Thanksgiving day. But instead of the normal burgers you might find, our volunteers serve a full on Thanksgiving meal with all the fixings.

A Mission U-Too Thanksgiving Story

Our second year of serving the Smithville community and building relationships as a community, a gentleman by the name of Mike who has lived in Smithville almost all of his life, asked us if we were serving on Thanksgiving. Mike had been coming every week, but his question stood out to us. Mike didn’t have much and he had no family close by to celebrate the holidays with. We realized many others might be in the same situation as him so we decided that regardless of the weather or holiday we will still serve on that day.

We showed up Thanksgiving Day and we started setting up for our meal. Little did we know that the community of Smithville and Bastrop came together and surprised us with a full Thanksgiving feast. We still cooked some burgers and hot dogs.

When our friend Mike, arrived to the site he was excited to see a feast waiting before him. “I have never seen the Smithville community come together. I can’t believe this. I had no money for food this week, now I will have plenty.” What a blessing it was to come together as a community without asking for anything and Jesus provided the entire meal. Mike went home with some leftovers to feed him at least through the weekend.

How You Can Help

Bring your family and come serve with us from 5:00-6:00 pm on Thanksgiving day at The Neighborhood Place on MLK and 95 in Smithville, TX. Share your love and the gospel with our friends from Smithville. Also if you know a family in need of a hot Thanksgiving meal, please let them know where they can come. We would love to have an abundance to share the holidays with.

If you would like to help with food, please contact Brittanie at 512-575-5289 for needed items.

We THANK YOU for your generosity, prayer, and servant hearts during the holidays.

November 14, 2016/by Feed the Need Missions

Smithville, Testimony

“Now I know why I came”

“I shouldn’t have come,” Nancy said. “Why?” I asked. “Because I’m embarrassed others need it more than me, I should go.” I walked around the picnic table to sit down with her and asked her to please stay. She looked at me in the eyes and said, “Thank you for having me.”

Nancy is a 55 year-old single woman who resides in Smithville, TX. She lives in an efficiency apartment and is on housing assistance. Nancy heard about Mission U-Too from her neighbors who attend regularly, but it took her 4 months to join us. She recently started coming because her grandson is staying with her for the summer, and they were both hungry. For physical food and spiritual food.

“I have a fixed income and can barely feed myself. I now have my grandson with me who needs to eat more than I do.” Nancy and her grandson took home three burgers and three hotdogs each and some extra food for the week since she wasn’t sure when their next meal would be other than the free lunch for the children of the community.

When asked how we can pray for her she broke down in tears and started crying. “Now I know why I came. I have been needing prayer but have no one to turn to.” Divorced and living by herself, Nancy dwells on the past. She has never been able to talk about her divorce because of shame and people judging her. She said, “I’m tired of hypocrites and getting hurt. I need more positive people in my life.”

Now knowing that Mission U-Too is at the Smithville location every Thursday rain or shine, Nancy found a new place where she can come and be herself and feel loved and accepted just the way she is. Building relationships and tearing walls down one by one, we now have a new friendship. Confused, Nancy asked why we were doing this. “Because Jesus told us to. We’re to love you and care for you just like Jesus loves us and cares for us,” I said. She smiled.

Nancy’s story through Mission U-Too is not finished yet!

October 25, 2016/by Feed the Need Missions

Giddings, Testimony, Volunteers

Meet a Volunteer: Molly

Molly serves every week at our Giddings location. Here is her story about the impact her life has had from building relationships through Mission U-Too.

Serving at Mission U-Too has been one of the best things to happen to me since moving to Texas almost 2 years ago. I remember so clearly the first night I was able to go, I ended up playing with all the kids that were there, chasing them around and laughing with them, giving them hugs and loving them. My heart had been aching for “little people” time and interaction, and God was so faithful to bring it at just the right time.

As I continued serving the people of Giddings, God began to stir my heart for them in a way I didn’t expect. So many of them were searching, I could see it in their eyes and the conversations I would have. Most of our prayer times at the end would leave me in tears because of stories I heard or just a desire for the people of my city to know the love of God through Jesus.

This past year I started going to Mission U-Too more frequently, being able to build relationships with the people there. God gave me opportunities to pray for people, love on the kids and even bring my guitar and play and sing while our guests came through the line.

In October of 2015, I met the Garcia family, a mom with four kids. They would come and get food and then go home, but eventually the three oldest kids would come and jump on the line to help serve while the mom would sit on the side with her 1 year-old son and just watch.

She was beautiful and her little boy was so precious. I felt an instant love for all of them and as I began talking with the mother, my heart swelled even more. She only spoke Spanish, but by the grace of God, I was able to hold conversations with her and sometimes her kids jumped in to help translate.

Meeting the Garcia family was a divine appointment. She immediately invited me to her home and I was able to go and visit and spend an afternoon with them, and have some of the most delicious food! Their life is not easy, but the strength God has given to them is astounding. They are so faithful to come and serve every Sunday, and now even the mother serves on the line! It’s so beautiful to see how God has put us together. He has loved me through them and I am so grateful for their friendship.

Serving at Mission U-Too Giddings has given me new eyes and perspective to see people through the lens of Jesus. God has broken my heart for the people of my community and has provided an avenue for me to take action and love them. I am forever grateful to be a part of this ministry. To God be the glory.

August 24, 2016/by Feed the Need Missions

Bastrop Area, Volunteers

Meet a Volunteer: Josh

Did you know that Mission U-Too allows children to come and serve? We have families ask us if they are able to bring their children to serve at our sites or during a disaster relief trip. The answer is YES! We have found that in order to reach the children in the neighborhoods, it’s best to have someone their own age they can relate too.

Hungry little children run around their communities night and day. Some don’t know when their next meal is coming. We have children that ask for a burger for every day of the week, so they have something to eat at home. We are blessed to be a ministry that can fill children’s bellies and to teach them Christ’s love. At some of our locations, the children are the only ones from their families that come and get food to take back home. Eventually the families will join their children once trust is built and consistency is proven.

Josh Farquhar is 11 years old and has been serving with Mission U-Too for 4 years. He heard about Mission U-Too through his mom and from their local church. His sister Hannah heard about Mission U-Too from a classmate who wore a Mission U-Too t-shirt to school almost every day. Now Josh says that his sister’s classmate is his best friend.

Josh has been learning how to put others first and himself last. Just like what Jesus did for us. Jesus had to prove to so many in order for them to trust in Him, He had to live a selfless life and serve those before himself, and then sacrificed his life for us. Teaching children like Josh to be more and more like Jesus is necessary in today’s world.

A great story that Josh has about Mission U-Too is at the Bastrop North site where his family served consistently: “We pulled up Sunday afternoon and there were girls and moms in the street yelling and cussing each other out. We almost had to call the cops until my mom broke it up. She started talking to the girls and then their moms until everyone was calmed down. After a couple years we haven’t seen any of that because of our impact in their lives. That’s important because that shows us that spreading the word of God and meeting the need physically and spiritually is important.”

He also said “The difference now is that it is totally different than before and I can’t believe our impact in their lives is so powerful. I use to feel very uncomfortable and I chose to never leave my parents side because I was so scared of my surroundings and now I am not scared to talk to people or meet kids. I even get on the mic and read scripture.”

Mission U-Too has helped Josh figure out his future. He said “I want to go all around the world and be a Pastor and preach at different churches.”

Children like Josh are going to be our next leaders. Why not get them involved by serving others and teaching them that everyone is loved by Jesus?

June 30, 2016/by Feed the Need Missions

Stony Point

New Site Location: Stony Point

We’re excited to announce the start of a new location at Stony Point in Del Valle, Texas! This has been a site we have desired to start for a number of years, as it is an area that’s impoverished and has great needs.

Stony Point is located on the border of Bastrop and Travis Counties and is a neighborhood in Del Valle, however it is a somewhat forgotten community with lots of poverty and several gangs who call this area home.

After lots of prayer and God leading the right people to use to cultivate relationships, the ground is fertile and the community is ready to receive us. The Mission U-Too Stony Point site officially started 4 weeks ago and has been growing ever since.

Gang members in their mid teens are even stopping by to get a hot meal. They enjoyed the meal so much they came through the line three times! They asked before leaving “are you really going to be here every Monday night?”

A local that runs and owns a little convenient store on the corner in Stony Point has said “we’ve been needing this for a number of years. I’ve tried helping people out but I can’t do it by myself.” He’s grateful that we are there to help his community. Even with the little resources this store has, the owner has a huge heart to help. Every week he gives Mission U-Too bags of ice to keep our drinks cold.

Steven, a young boy who serves at this new location, waits for our arrival on Monday evenings. He serves until feeding time is over and then will take food back to his family. If there are any leftovers more food is sent to his family and he shares it with his neighbors as well. Steven has found a place that he can make a difference in his community.

Another volunteer, Gabriel, started cutting the grass and helps keep the area cleaned up. The grass has been overgrown and the park hasn’t been taken care of. It’s great to see the community coming out and helping serve with Mission U-Too but also shows care and respect of their community.

Persistence and consistency are key to our sites. Serving each location the same day every week at the same time builds trust and grows relationships. Larry White, one of our volunteers, said, “It’s been a great blessing and has refreshed my spirit to be able to serve in Stony Point. People are so grateful there and are surprised that we have kept our promise to be there.”

We are so excited to now be serving hot meals to the people who call Stony Point home. Mission U-Too will continue using the body of Christ to come together to serve communities across the country.

Stony Point meets every Monday night.

June 13, 2016/by Feed the Need Missions

Bastrop Area, Volunteers

Saying Goodbye is Never Forever

Saying goodbye is sometimes hard, especially when you’ve been in ministry together and doing life for a few years. However, saying goodbye is never forever and we’re excited for a new adventure for our friends!

Lee and Shirley have been volunteering with Mission U-Too for five years. They helped start and lead two sites until other people were able to step up and lead, and then they trained those new leaders. Now it’s time to celebrate all they have done within Mission U-Too and their life.

They love the Lord with all their heart and they are obedient to His Word in making disciples and being the hands and feet of Jesus. Now Jesus is calling them to a new journey. As they leave the Bastrop area and head to Austin they are leaving a legacy behind. The people of Bastrop will greatly miss them, especially the lives they impacted through Mission U-Too.

Lee is fighting prostate cancer and skin cancer and Shirley who has many different health issue, dementia being one, are moving closer to family members who can help take care of them. They served the Lord with open hearts and now it’s time for them to be served.

Thank you Lee and Shirley for being the hands and feet of Christ and feeding people physically and spiritually with Mission U-Too. They prayed for others and honored every relationship they came upon by cooking and serving a burger. We are thankful for their service and obedience to the Lord to serve our community, they truly changed lives.

April 29, 2016/by Feed the Need Missions

Bastrop Area, Testimony

“You are not a burden”

“What, a free burger? What do I have to do to get a free burger?” said Phylis who is paralyzed from the waist down. When we told her nothing tears began to flow down her face.

Phylis was in a terrible car accident several years ago and it left her paralyzed from her waist down. She lives by herself in the government subsidize housing in Bastrop. One of our Bastrop sites is set up down the street from her front door. As you can imagine life is a challenge for her, not to mention she feels like she’s a burden.

Most of you know how it feels to feel like a burden to others. Now imagine your life having to depend on others all the time. Phylis is a believer in Christ and knows that her time on earth was not suppose to end when she had her accident. She was 1/4″ away from severing her spine in half and dying. Phylis says “she wished everyone would have a life transformation and know that Jesus is there and loves them.” And so do we!

Earlier this week at the site we saw Phylis outside by her house. We walked down to check in on her and the first thing she said was “what are you cooking today, a burger?” We told her yes and had a conversation with her letting her know she’s welcome to come every week, not just when she’s in dire need. Then we walked back to the site with her and she gave us an update on herself letting us know that she was hungry. She said she was glad to see us set up and was thankful we came down to visit her because she feels like a burden. We assured her that we miss seeing her and she’s not a burden. She told us that her ride wasn’t able to take her grocery shopping yet and she had no food in her house. There was joy in our hearts that God was using us, as this is why we were there!

Mission U-Too strives to feed people physically and spiritually. We never know the battles that are going on in the home or within one’s heart. When you are hungry physically life around feels like it’s in shambles, but when you are hungry spiritually you feel alone and empty. Phylis was feeling both and, with the relationship we have built with her the last two years, she finally felt like she could stroll down in her wheelchair for the first time instead of us taking food to her, and enjoy a hot meal in the presence of her Mission U-Too family.

April 14, 2016/by Feed the Need Missions