Miller’s ag teacher roots lead to mission work calling

Leave it to an ag teacher to find a place with animals in missionary work.
For years, Randy Miller of Eunice, said that when he retired from teaching, he was going to volunteer his time with mission work.
He’s already kept his word, participating in trips to Nicaragua and Guatemala, the latter of which has peaked his interest.
“Guatemala touched me in a way that Nicaragua didn’t; I don’t know what it is, probably because I knew I’d be involved in the animal program,” he said Tuesday as he spoke to the Rotary Club of Crowley.
What has really grabbed him is a project that four young people from Florida started with animals.
Through the Animal Donation Program of the Mission Housing Ministries, Inc., those interested in supporting can provide a “hand-up” for needy families.
The program, based out of Mount Dora, Florida, helps families in Comitancillo, Guatemala, on the principle, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”
With that in mind, the program provides qualified applicants with an animal – a sheep, a pig, etc. – and then helps the person to understand the idea of breeding and selling and slaughtering the excess animals to not only feed the family, but make them entrepreneurs.
In Guatemala, diets consist of corn, so the addition of meat — sustainable meat at that — is at the heart of the mission’s work.
Under the program, those interested in helping can send a one-time donation of either $20 for six chickens or two small turkeys or $40 for one small pig or one small sheep. The money includes a starter supply of animal feed and basic care instructions.
Miller has set a personal goal for himself, to have 50 animals paid for and donated, explaining that he has “a vision for it.”
“I’m going to be involved in it,” he said. “I’m going to be going on a regular basis.”
Certainly, the work with animals, which Miller is familiar with, has drawn him in, but so have the human interactions.
Reflecting on his trips, Miller fondly remembered his time with the people of both Nicaragua and Guatemala, and, in particular, the children. He recalled their special greetings as a sign of respect that even a child of roughly 2 was performing.
It was enough to tug at heart strings, he said. Coupled with the sheer gentleness, humbleness and grateful nature of all the people, the mission trips have been more than fulfilling for Miller.
“It was a fantastic trip,” he said.
For more information or to donate, on Mission Housing Ministries Inc.’s work, visit http://mhm-guatemala.org/Give.html.