Tulelake, CA— As in all things, things do come to an end eventually
It was a great week at the Baptist Church in Tulelake, CA. A lot of planning went into the Agency 3D Discover, Decide, Defend program. With Pastor Bob Hughbanks (Vice Mayor of Tulelake) and his wife, Sherry Hughbanks of the Baptist Church at 494 Second Street and their Co-sponsors: Gilbert & Santos Idrogo Pastors from the Rimera Iglesia Bautista Church located on the corner of Main and C Streets in Tulelake, CA.
Missionaries were first picked up in Alturas, CA by Pastor Bob Hughbanks at the Baptist Church in Alturas, CA after traveling from Reno, Nevada to get to Alturas, CA to be transported to Tulelake, CA. One other young missionary was transported by their parents from Redding, CA to Tulelake, CA. Pastor Bob Hughbanks also drove to Susanville, CA to pick up the last of the six young missionaries from 18 years old, to their early twenties. They were a great group of young ladies that I had the pleasure several times to speak with them and break bread in the dinning area of the Baptist Church in Tulelake, CA.
The missionaries were given tours of the local area while they were here in Tulelake, CA. Starting with a visit to Crater Lake on Tuesday. Then the Lava Beds and other areas of interest for the missionaries who came to Tulelake, CA for the Agency 3D Discover, Decide, Defend VBS. The missionaries stayed at Church member’s houses during their stay here in Tulelake, CA.
My time was spent observing and gathering information for this news article and story. I watched at a distance as not to interfere or be a distraction in the outside recreation area and during the music secessions in the rear pews of the Baptist Church as the kids practiced the music and dance moves for the up coming final evening of the Agency 3D Discover, Decide, Defend VBS at the Carnival Sunday and on Monday and Tuesday inside and outside of the Baptist Church in Tulelake, CA.
It all began on Sunday at 2 PM to 4 PM with the Carnival under the canopy next to the Baptist Church where the children had their pictures taken by Sherry Hughbanks for their badges to be given to them the first day with;
. Day 1 – Is Jesus really God’s Son?
Then the rest of the week’s themes were as follows:
· Day 2 – Was Jesus more than just a good man?
· Day 3 – Was Jesus’ death real?
· Day 4 – Is Jesus alive?
· Day 5 – What do I do with the evidence about Jesus?
It was nice seeing so many young people from Tulelake, CA participate in the Agency 3D Discover, Decide, Defend VBS. There were on average in attendance around 40 Kid Investigators each day of the Agency 3D Discover, Decide, Defend VBS.
There were also around 40 adult volunteers that in one way or the other volunteered their services or food or both for the Agency 3D Discover, Decide, Defend VBS.
My plan was to attend the last day, “ Day 5 – What do I do with the evidence about Jesus?” but things for me did not go as planned. I had planned to show up some where between 5 PM and 6 PM, but I had other personal things that got in the way out of my control, where I ran behind schedule (par for the course for me sometimes).
In fact, I was looking forward to seeing all the hard work the kids had been doing all week long with their music and dance part of the Agency 3D Discover, Decide, Defend VBS program but as AJ's Indrogo's father and one of the Pastors of the Rimera Iglesia Bautista Church had mentioned me, it was God's will that I was delayed and else where at the time of the performances that I missed of the kids, while the thank-you cards were being given out and presented to us.
Unfortunately, that portion of the VBS Agency 3D Discover, Decide, Defend program was completed and performed before I had arrived. However, I did make it just in time as awards and prizes were being handed out by Sherry Hughbanks for those who had been there each and every day of the VBS Agency 3D Discover, Decide, Defend program from the very first day.
Then the program moved on to thank you's to all the volunteers who had worked hard through-out the week from working in the kitchen, to doing what ever was necessary for the program. They were each given thank you cards with messages written to them personally by Sherry Hughbanks and signed by her saying, “In His Service, Sherry”
One of the food sponsors who donated food, among many was Tony Giacomelli, owner of Jock’s Super Market located at 395 Modoc Avenue in Tulelake; CA. Jock’s Super Market donated hot dogs for one of the nights of feeding everyone at the end of each nights VBS Agency 3D Discover, Decide, Defend program. Enough to feed everyone who was there each night by all the food sponsors who donated food for the VBS Agency 3D Discover, Decide, Defend program.
Finally, and a very big surprise to me and something I was not expecting. And when it happened, it brought tears to my eyes, as my name was called. A thank you card and a “Be Strong and Courageous" a silver key chain knife was presented to me and to others, all presented by Sherry Hughbanks with a note inside of my card that read as follows:
“Dear James:
Thank you so much for all the promotion on VBS and writing about VBS on your blog. You did a great job.
In His Service,
Sherry
I am honored and humbled once again by being able to do what the Lord has given me the gift to do and the one I love to do the most of all the gifts the Lord has bestowed upon me. And that is the gift of writing, which is what I love doing the most along with all the wisdom the Lord has given me as well over the years from all my trial and tribulation I have had to endure since the day I was born.
I feel so blessed to be among all of those Kids who worked so hard this week on the VBS Agency 3D Discover, Decide, Defend program. As well as with all the parents, grand parents from the community of Tulelake/ Newell, CA who were proud of them for taking part in the program from the youngest child to the oldest teen.
Along with all the volunteers and food sponsors and the main sponsors the Baptist Church and the Rimera Iglesia Bautista Church, both in Tulelake, CA.
For me it was an honor and pleasure to have been part of the VBS Agency 3D Discover, Decide, Defend program in a very small way compared to all the others who spent far many more hours than I did promoting, sharing and writing about the events that took place with all the many people involved in VBS Agency 3D Discover, Decide, Defend program as my community service.
I do willingly keeping the community informed about what is going on at Tulelake City Council Meetings to other local events in Tulelake as well as Yreka at the other end of Siskiyou County and the events that go on there too. For the entire county and for the community of Tulelake, CA. With the goal someday to having Tulelake News on Main Street as a on line news source as well as the printed version by weekly to start and then weekly like the Modoc Record in Alturas, CA.
It has been my honor and pleasure to have been of service for all of you. I hope you had as good a time reading all that I have written as I did writing it for ALL OF YOU younger and older, many new and old friends of all ages and many places world wide and in person in Tulelake, CA and near by to me and to YOU. Last but not least to Sherry Hughbanks.
“Dear Sherry:
Thank you so much for all the promotion and hard work you did on VBS Agency 3D Discover, Decide, Defend program in Tulelake, CA for all the missionaries who came from other places. All of the investagator kids. All of the voluneteers and food sponsors.
You did a great job and so did Pastor Bob Hughbanks (Vice Mayor of Tulelake).
Thank you both,
In His Service,
James C. Garland
God Bless all of you.
Mara natha! 1 Cor 16:22
James C. Garland of Tulelake News
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