“MAMA DODGE”
(Save These Pictures)
In
China
My Favorite Picture
|
|
Mama & Papa Dodge
Home
in Utopia, Texas
|
In
front of Mission as they
were
traveling.
I
cherish these pictures because they tell us so much about Mama Dodge that no one can really put in
adequate words. As I try to write this small dedication page in her memory…I can understand
why it took her daughter Mary Dunham Faulkner so long to get it into print.
Mama
Dodge’s name is really CeCelia Evangeline. Many called her Celia…but most of us called
her Mama Dodge.
As
I think about her this morning, I know that she had become so like her Lord, that we couldn’t
begin to write enough books to tell all the things she did in her walk on earth. Her eleven natural
children, many grandchildren, and great grandchildren, would each have a different book to write. Then
each life that was touched by her would have another book. There is no end to the books that could
be written about our Lord’s daughter, Mama Dodge.
I
know now that the Hand of God was hovering over me the day I stood in one of the off-rooms of
our little church, having coffee and fellowship with members of LivingWatersChurch. I began to
confess out loud to anyone who would hear me, “Mama Dodge’s story must be written. There
must be a book about her life.”
At
that point a quest began in me to see her book written and published. I was not a natural daughter
of hers, but a spiritual daughter. I claimed her as did so many others.
Surely
the Lord had placed this same desire in her natural children. All I know, is that He placed it
in me.
Her
son David, who has always been available to help me as needed spiritually, began to do taping sessions
of Mama Dodge, as she told her story on small cassettes.
On
an old computer, I began transcribing those tapes and later mailed them to her daughter who was a better
writer than I. I never felt that I should be the one to write Mama Dodge’s story, I just
knew that it must be told.
And
Praise God…the book finally came out in May 2004. I would encourage you to order this book
for yourself. Mary gave it the name: Gentle Wisdom for Tough Times
– (Stories of High Adventure and Raw Faith). If you’ve ever wanted to meet a Real Christian, walking in True Faith,
this is your opportunity.
I
wish I could share all the special times I had with Mama Dodge. The times she prayed for me on
the phone; when I was hurting, always taking my side. “Let’s go preaching.”,
she would say. And this meant that I would drive and take her from house to house as she would
go winning souls for the Lord wherever she felt the Lord directing her. Towards the end of her
life on earth, she wanted to go to the prison with me. The men would have loved her, but the chaplain
felt it would be too risky for her, so I wasn’t able to take her. But, in the Spirit, I
know she went anyway. I was allowed to take her to the JuvenileDetentionCenter where she won a
young man to the Lord. The thrill on her face must have caused the angels to sing. So precious.
Such
a tiny little lady. I couldn’t imagine her birthing eleven children. Her birthday is
the 4th of July and we knew that she was a little firecracker for Jesus. Even at the
age of 92, her Home-Going age…there was still the “Little Girl” in her. Sweet,
gentle, trusting…fun loving…alert, and wonderful sense of humor. We could always
tease and joke with each other and we understood each other. Forever young is Celia Dodge, like
the little girl who climbed to the top of the windmill and wanted to jump so she could go straight
to God after her salvation…before she could do anything wrong. She
wouldn’t let us tell this
story for a long time. Ha.
Oh,
there’s too much to tell. Please try to get her book. Call David Dodge at Ministry
of Mercies 830-966-3763 or write to him at Ministry of Mercies–Box 600-Utopia, Texas78884. You
can email him at
mom@rionet.cc
until the end of this Jan. 2004. Also, his web site is listed on my Angel Food site under Favorite Links, Daily Help by
David Dodge.
www.dailyhelp.com
The
first reason I wanted Mama Dodge’s book written was because I wanted young and old missionaries
to see what they could accomplish just by stepping out in Faith that God would provide all their needs.
Mama
and Papa Dodge traveled strictly by Faith in God, preaching His Word wherever God sent them. Other
countries and at home, taking their children with them.
I
have never heard such personal stories of Faith as I heard from Mama Dodge’s life. Spunk
and love and laughter. How could a little lady be so quiet and yet so much fun? Usually a
twinkle in her eye, either because she was thinking of something funny, or she already knew what you
were thinking. How could she speak up and fight so boldly for her family when she had to remain
submissive to her husband that she loved dearly, but disagreed with him from time to time? She
knew how to take her problems to her Heavenly Father. It was her Private Relationship with God
that brought her through many hard times to victory.
FRESH BREAD 101
This
is the Fresh Bread one hundred and one, that I promised you. There is no end to the Fresh Bread
Mama Dodge began so long ago…and passed the recipe on to her children. You will see it
in their smiles, wit, and most of all, their love for God.
Mama
Dodge’s son David, gave me permission to use these pictures. I ask you to save them because
they are not in her book. So, perhaps God will use these pictures together with Mary’s book,
and David’s recordings…to give you the Truest Picture of Mama Dodge that we humans can
share.
If
her life doesn’t inspire us to “get out of the boat and walk on water with Jesus”…I
think we must all need to be added to the Angel Food Blessings prayer list. Just joking, in a
way. But, in sincerity, my desire for her book was to inspire others to have her kind of faith. She
and Papa Dodge both. But he is a whole different story. Another that should be told. He
was a prophet and brought a lot of interesting and exciting experiences in many of our lives. Her gentle wisdom, his bold proclamations,
made many opportunities for training and a rich heritage for their children. God always knows
what He is doing. Thank You Lord.
This
is not my favorite picture,
But
just to let you know
She
studied to be a nurse.
David
is second from the left in green shirt.
Mary
is center behind Mama Dodge…I think.
