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THE JOY IN GIVING
As they stood in line, waiting to receive Christmas gifts for their children at Bullard's Mission House on Wednesday, they had mixed emotions. "We're here because we need presents for our nineyear old twins," Milton said. "And it's hard." His wife agreed. "The children understand what's going on to an extent," Angel said. "But we are so grateful to the Mission House and Emerald Bay for helping us give our kids hope." The Moore's story is, unfortunately, one most have heard before. Completely self-sufficient until recently, they became clients of the Mission House - an arm of Bullard's First United Methodist Church which provides a food pantry, medical services and clothes to those in need. But when Milton's VA check was stopped - due to a glitch in the system - the family was stuck.
"I was at the end of my rope one day, driving around and I stopped at the Mission House," Milton said. "I stopped in and talked to one of the ladies who introduced me to Hazel Mason (founder of Mission House). "Once I explained what was going on, they just stepped in and helped." Ironically, it was the Moores who once went out of their way to help others before they fell on hard times. "It's hard to believe," Angel said. "We went from donating to things like this to being the ones who need the services." The Milton's - as they picked up a bag of toys for their children - are still very grateful. "The kids know our situation; we can't hide that," Angel said. "But they're still so innocent and scared." The family - who was in the process of building a house on Lake Palestine - was forced recently to move to a motel until their situation improves.
Not only is the family grateful, they are hopeful and determined. "We will get through this," Milton said. "And someday we'll be back on our feet, and we'll help others the way we've been helped." Angel agreed. "It makes us stronger. Everything happens for a reason, and this has caused us to strengthen our faith and hold on to what's important," she said. The Moores were just one of the families helped last week as Mission House teamed up with Emerald Bay Benevolence Foundation and solicited gifts for 300 Bullardarea children. Jan Verzosa, foundation member, and Mason began approaching other entities and through what they called a community effort, they were able to amass toys for in-need children. "We couldn't have done it without the community," Verzosa said. "Texas National Bank put up a wish tree, St. Mary Magdalene helped, as did the Emerald Bay Community Church, REMAX, the Bullard schools, the Bullard Church of the Nazarene and many more." "God has truly blessed us," Mason said. Children in need were identified by Mason, who sees the clients who come into the Mission House, and by recommendations from school principals, counselors and teachers. And with the help of businesses and myriad volunteers they were able to dole out the bounty to a large group of parents waiting in line. Mason said the church and Mission House have been giving out Christmas gifts now for about three years. But this one, she said, is the biggest so far. The parents picked up the presents today and the children don't have to know where they came from. "This way, they can keep some self-respect about it," Mason said. Verzosa and Mason both said they recognize that Christmas isn't about gifts, but for them and the rest of the volunteers, it's the giving that they've enjoyed. "We believe in hope for the future, and we hope that when these parents are able, they, too will give back," Verzosa said. Mason said that she just "thanks God every day for all his blessings." Meanwhile, the Moores left the church, bags in hand, and did the same thing they do every day. "We're going to try to find lunch for the kids," Angel said. For more information about Mission House and its services, call 903-894-0109.
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