Mike Lechuga: Faithfully Serving Others

THIS MONTH'S SPIRIT OF TEXOMA AWARD WINNER SPENT 30 YEARS WORKING IN AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE IN THE AIR FORCE... AND HIS FINAL ASSIGNMENT BEFORE HIS RETIREMENT IN 1998 LANDED HIM AND HIS FAMILY IN WICHITA FALLS.
MIKE LECHUGA IS TRULY COMMITTED TO A LIFE OF SERVING OTHERS.
FOR HELPING SO MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY AND BEYOND WE HONOR HIM.

Mike Lechuga says, "My mentors were my parents. My parents taught us to care for others, they were church going people and when we were growing up they taught us if you have enough to eat and somebody else was hungry, to go ahead and share our food. 

 MIKE LECHUGA LEARNED AT AN EARLY AGE THE IMPORTANCE OF GIVING TO OTHERS AND AT JUST 19 YEARS OLD HE ENLISTED IN THE AIR FORCE.

Lechuga: "When I was stationed in Arizona our base was involved with an Indian Reservation in Arizona and every year they would collect old bicycles and the units would refurbish them, they would collect toys and then we would take them over to the Indian Reservation for the kids." 

 YOU CAN SEE INDIAN INSPIRATION IN THE "PEACEFUL WARRIOR" HORSE MIKE PAINTED... THE ART WAS AUCTIONED OFF IN THE MANE EVENT FUNDRAISER AND TODAY STANDS PROUDLY ON THE MSU CAMPUS.
 MIKE IS PASSING ON HIS TALENTED HAND TO JERRY...HIS "LITTLE BROTHER"...HE HAS MENTORED SINCE 2008,  IN BOTH THE WFISD MENTORING PROGRAM , AND  BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS.
 
Lechuga: "He is a very nice kid, he is now 12 years old.  I hope to see him through high school."

 WHEN YOU STEP INTO MIKE'S OFFICE IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG TO FIND JERRY'S ART WORK AND MANY OTHER "SIGNS OF SERVICE"... ENVELOPES FROM IMMATES MIKE HAS CORRESPONDED WITH THROUGH THE YEARS..
 HE ALSO SPENDS TIME WORKING WITH INMATES THROUGH CHRIST'S PRISON MINISTRY AT ALLRED.
 
Lechuga: "If you look over there you see a photograph of the travelers who went down there."

 YOU'LL SEE IMAGES FROM MISSIONARY TRIPS TO MEXICO... AND YOU'LL ALSO FIND MIKE ON MANY MISSIONS RIGHT HERE AT HOME.
 MIKE HELPS OUT AT THE SONSHINE HOUSE WHERE FOLKS PICK UP THE GROCERIES AND CLOTHES THEY NEED.
  THIS LABOR OF LOVE IS RUN SOLEY AND SOULFULLY BY VOLUNTEERS FROM FIVE CHURCH OF CHRIST CONGREGATIONS.
  
Lechuga: "Regretfully because of the present conditions of the economy our clientale numbers have increased and we are still able to provide through funds and some in-kind donations from our congregations."

 THE SONSHINE HOUSE ALREADY HAS SERVED MORE THAN 4600 PEOPLE THIS YEAR...
 MIKE ALSO HELPS OUT AT THE CIRCLE OF HOPE.  WHERE THOSE LIVING WITH AIDS AND HIV FIND COMFORT AND HOPE.

Lechuga: "It is a clientele that is not cared for in the open so to speak because of the stigma that is still attached to that disease, but they also need help from someone to help them in their need."

 FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS MIKE HAS ALSO COUNSELED FOLKS LIVING THROUGH LIFES TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS. HE SERVES AS A CHAPLAIN WITH THE WICHITA FALLS POLICE DEPARTMENT.

Lechuga: "The officer that is on site has to his job investigating whatever crime is committed or the allegations and he doesn't have time to take care of some of the affected people who may be emotionally, having an emotional episode, so that's where we come in to cousel, to pray with them."

 MIKE TAKES NO CREDIT FOR ALL THE WORK HE DOES. HE SAYS HIS IS A HIGHER CALLING AND THAT'S WHERE THE THANKS SHOULD GO.

Lechuga: "What is important is helping someone else.  Do it in the name of Christ...all the honor all the glory go to him."

 MIKE WAS SHARING THE SPIRIT OF TEXOMA LONG BEFORE WE MADE IT AN AWARD AND IT'S A LESSON IN LIFE THAT'S BEEN PASSED ON TO HIS OWN KIDS.
 THREE OF HIS DAUGHTERS ALSO SPENT TIME MENTORING CHILDREN, JUST LIKE MIKE DOES FOR JERRY AND BOTH OF HIS SONS SPENT TIME SERVING OUR COUNTRY,JUST LIKE THEIR DAD.
 
Lechuga: "If we lead by example if we do things ourselves we don't need to say it, they can see it and our children, we are the best teachers for our children." 

The following is more information about some of the many causes Mike volunteers for.

Circle of Hope
Open first and third Tuesday of each month 9:30 am- Noon
For more information about Circle of Hope Run of North Texas head over to---->  http://circleofhopenct.org/index.html

The 6th Annual - North Central Texas AIDS Run/Walk - Saturday, October 20th, 2012.  Click to visit our official web site and to REGISTER www.northcentraltexasaidsrun.info <http://www.northcentraltexasaidsrun.info>

Sonshine House
Open Tuesdays from 1:30-4 pm

Big Brothers Big Sisters
http://www.facebook.com/bbbswf?v=wall