How Old Are Your Curtains?
Trava Houser writes of her visit with Helen Lacey, a missionary who has spent her adult life serving the people of Belize. Mrs. Lacey is shown at the right, along with Treva's daughter and a Blizean youngster.
How old are your curtains? Strange question one might ask? Well, Helen Lacey (wife of Tom Lacey, now deceased) has living room curtains 50 years old. They are a wedding gift hanging beautifully in her home in Cristo Rey, Belize.
Tom and Helen Lacey spent most of their adult lives serving the people of Belize, having answered the call in 1970. Mrs. Lacey said their "first few years were busy with preaching in the small hut churches, building new buildings to house growing congregations, writing courses for membership classes, teaching people to sing and read Spanish, and teaching Profession of Faith classes. Tom wrote the courses himself, while I had Sunday School classes in each village, often meeting under a shady tree. Children of all ages came to learn God's Word and His Truth."
I had the honor and pleasure of meeting Mrs. Lacy this past July on our mission trip, a lady I had heard about for years. When she invited me to visit home, I delightedly accepted. Her home sits across the street from our Vacation Bible School. Mr. Lacey built this house himself. We entered the front porch only to notice the front door--an extra-wide mahogany screened door built by Mr. Lacey (mahogany trees grow abundantly in Belize). As we entered the house Mrs. Lacey asked that I watch my step because the floors are very uneven due to the poor foundation. I was mesmerized by the charm of her home--ceiling fans, the untattered living room curtains, and the "traveling piano" that played a huge role in starting their mission. This very piano was rolled down dirt roads and the sounds of the piano and singing drew the children out of their homes. The piano worked like a charm!
On showing me the backyard, Mrs. Lacey pointed to the outhouse. She explained, "Electricity, indoor plumbing, and a telephone were only installed 17 years ago. I am 80-years-old and have only been driving for 10 years. I never saw the need until now."
The sun could not help but shine through the spectacular colored glass windows of her home. The windows came from their church across the street. The congregation decided to replace them with windows that could open. Mrs. Lacey did not want them to go to waste since her husband had searched years for these. She saved one in every color.
I shall never forget this tour of Mrs. Lacey's home, nor Mrs. Lacey herself. She and her husband welcomed many missionariies, nuns, priests, Belizeans, Americans, Mayans, etc. into their charming home. This home helped the Laceys spread the Word of God to thousands of people. God is good, God is great!