I have been in our industry for over 25 years, so most people know me as a truss guy. I have been blessed to have the opportunity to work for some really good truss manufacturers through the years and have made some great friends. Like many of my fellow truss guys though, I know the importance of giving back and reaching out.
It was at Stark Truss Company about 12 years ago that I had my first opportunity to go on one of several mission trips to Guatemala. That first trip we built a morgue and Chapel at Hospital Shalom in the Petén Jungle. My wife Karen and I have participated in awesome mission trips the last two summers through our church, Lakeview Baptist, including 10 days this July.
For my family, the children’s’ home, Casa Para Ninos Aleluya | providing hope where none exists is a very special place. It is a wonderful ministry that takes children out of horrible life conditions and provides them with love, stability, and education. One of the beautiful stories at Casa is Josue, the first child adopted by Mike and Dotti Clark in 1989, who now has three college degrees and is the new director of Casa Aleluya. I would encourage each of you to look into this organization if you or your church has a passion to help children. This ministry will be a blessing to you! My oldest daughter, her husband, and two boys are going to be missionaries and dorm parents for Casa’s seven to nine year old boys’ dorm, so please pray for them as they adjust to living in a foreign country with two small boys.
During our involvement with Casa we met Adam and Velma Clements. Adam came as a missionary to serve at Casa and Velma was raised at Casa. Married now with two beautiful children, they started Live Him Loud Ministries. We were so blessed to put new wood burning stoves in 10 homes through this ministry. That doesn’t seem like much in our country, but in Guatemala it is a big blessing to the families. We also went into a village and passed out Bibles, and we went in a school and passed out clothes and shoes. Live Him Loud Ministries does so much in helping the people in the small villages with food, clothes, and love, it was a joy to spend this time in Guatemala.
So now that I am back in Arkansas, I am starting a new company, Solid Rock Truss Design. We will be doing final truss design and estimating for roof and floor trusses. Be sure to reach out to me to talk about trusses or about giving back. Be Blessed!