Faith Sparks Faith!

His faith sparked my faith. Even though he worked 15 years for the railroad, I only really ever knew my dad, George Walter Hufham, as a missionary to Mexico. He left his position in Louisville, KY, at L&N railroad and moved our family down to Brownsville, TX. I was 5 at the time and reveled in the adventure of staying at the Holiday Inn, enjoying the swimming pool and eating cheeseburgers at the local diner. What does a 5-year-old know but living in the moment!?

What I didn't know until much later was that our house was being finished and my dad was getting a loan. He had sold our house in Louisville and now only had financial support from a few churches. The loan application kept coming back rejected because they couldn't understand how he would meet his financial obligations. He told them to run it through again.  He knew God had called him to the mission field and wasn't taking no for an answer. Miraculously, the loan went through, and we moved into the house.

There were many stories of God's goodness and provision over the years. Some I am sure I have forgotten, but some still remain to this day. I listened intently, and his stories of faith in God took hold of my heart. Both my parents regularly quoted scriptures to us growing up. One of my Dad's favorites was Hebrews 11:1- Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen.  If we had a need, we prayed! Sometimes, Dad would write down the need on a piece of paper, lift it in his hands to the Lord, and start thanking God for meeting our needs!  One day, my brother noticed we

were down to just a little milk and potatoes.  All of a sudden, Dad came in and said, we're going to Kroger to get groceries! As he finished the shopping and arrived at the register, a man came up to my dad. He told him he'd been looking for him for two weeks and gave him a check for $250! Dad asked the cashier if they would cash it. They did, and there was God's provision!

One big memory I have was after my dad had fasted for 40 days. He shared about seeing a young boy on a tricycle cross a busy road. The car ahead did not have time to stop and hit the boy. He said this young boy was struck by the car, knocked in the air and landed 30 feet away flat on the pavement.  My dad went to check on the boy and said there was no life in him. My dad prayed for life to come back into the boy. Immediately, the boy took a breath!!!  That little boy came to life! Someone in the neighborhood must have witnessed it because they came running up to my brother, telling him that my dad prayed and raised a kid back to life! Afterward, my dad took the child home. The 6-year-old said he had gone to Heaven!  My dad prayed and led him to the Lord. 

1976 found my dad with two other missionaries in Guatemala. The Lord told my dad he needed to get out of Guatemala, so they left without knowing why. Later that year, there was a devastating earthquake that hit Guatemala. This and many other instances God has shown His faithfulness! After my dad's passing 10 years ago, I was clearing out his office. I came across some newspaper clippings and correspondence. As I read, I learned that my dad had written to his boss back when he was working for L&N Railroad. He asked permission to have a prayer meeting at work during lunch break. God gave him favor and the boss granted his request. He and coworkers met and prayed together. They were even given space to make a chapel. I wish I could ask him questions about it all! That will have to wait until our reunion one day. I thank God for giving me a father who led me to faith in Jesus!

“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

Leigh Aten

Brownsville, Texas