The Trip Home...

On the way to and home from Disney World we stopped in Mobile Alabama, which is not the greatest place in the world from our two nights in that town, but good enough to drive through. Sorry if you are from Mobile. Our trip took us from Mobile to Jackson Mississippi and then to I 20 into Dallas. Jackson Mississippi is a special place to me for a strange reason and this is one part of our trip that Shar did not plan and yet it was very special and meaningful for us and for some dear friends.

Bubba was my youth minister growing up. He was not just a youth minister, but my mentor, my employer, one of my best friends and one of my best men in my wedding and outside of my own dad he is one of the most significant men in my life.

Bubba was raised at a children's home in Mississippi, on the north side of Jackson called Sunny Brook. I do not know all the details of why Bubba and his siblings went to Sunny Brook, but I do know that his childhood was not ideal or pleasant and he lived at Sunny Brook from his elementary schools years until he left for college. He considers Sunny Brooke his home, and the couple he considers responsible for raising him are Alonzo and Catherine Welch.

Alonzo was one of the founders of Sunny Brook and served as it's director and in several other capacities for over 30 years. He has impacted thousands of lives for the kingdom and one of those lives was Bubba.

The accurate details of how Bubba went to Harding, met his future wife Robynn, returned back to Sunny Brook to serve as a house parent and then moved to California are more than I can share. I do know that Bubba was encouraged to go to California, where Robynn was from, by Alonzo and he also encouraged Bubba and Robynn to seek out and serve in the church in Escondido that meet at 7th and Orange. This is where my family went to church.

How Bubba became the youth minister and then got into construction and then did both full time and hired me and helped raise me is too long of a story. The fact is this. Bubba and Robynn were my second home throughout high school and college and they have loved me and my family, and my wife and my children as far as I can recall.

I tell you all of this in a ramble and in random sentences to impress upon you the unexplainable respect, appreciation and love I have for Bubba and Robynn.

So, when we left Mobile last Monday morning I called up Sunny Brook and after explaining my relationship to Bubba and how that kind of connected me to Alonzo, I requested a visit with him. The receptionist explained how age and health had required the Welches to retire to a home north of Jackson and then offered me the phone number of their daughter who was helping to care for them and encouraged me to call her. Being a Bundy, which means I have no problem starting conversation with complete strangers, I called her. Her name is Mary.

Mary was kind and polite, but confused at why I wanted to see her dad, until I relayed the connection I have with Bubba. Once I had explained my relationship she immediately invited us to her parents home and said her dad would be awaiting our arrival after lunch.

We arrived at a large plantation style home on the north side of Jackson, in Madison just after 1 p.m. Mary waved us toward the back porch and pointed us to park by her truck. We unloaded the family and moved toward her and after introductions we proceeded toward the house. I explained that we only needed to stay for a few minutes and that we did not want to impose on her parents. She smiled, escorted us through the back door and through the kitchen toward the sun porch were her father was sitting in a large wicker chair.

Sharla and the kids stayed behind me with Mary as I went to Alonzo and shook his hand. I took a knee next to his chair and began to explain my visit. "Why are you wanting to see me today?" he asked in an eloquent voice. I explained, "my name is Byron Bundy and my family and I live in Fort Worth." He smiled. I continued. "I was raised in California and Bubba Martin was my youth minister." His smile grew as he sat back in his chair. At that time Shar and the kids came by to make their introduction. He held Sharla's hand with both of his and smiled and then I introduced Blake and Anna Jo. He naturally held out his arms and motioned them toward him. He wrapped his massive hands and arms around my children, kissed them both on the head and smiled. As they went on to Sharla I began to explain myself.

The entire conversation was random and scattered. Alonzo is 92 and he does not know me from Adam. But I had something to say to him and this was my only chance.

I explained to him that I wanted to come and meet him so I could thank him face to face. He looked confused and I continued. I wanted to sincerely thank him for his efforts, time and energy that he spent raising Bubba. I wanted him to know that his work created a mighty man of God and I was a beneficiary of that work since Bubba was so influential to me. As I explained my admiration for Bubba and the impact he had on my life Alonzo took my hand in his. "Words like this young man are worth more that all the wealth in the world". He quietly listened as I shared stories of how Bubba had greatly impacted so many lives and how Alonzo had truly changed the kingdom by loving and caring for that one boy.

This was my opportunity to share my gratitude to the previous generation for faithfully serving the kingdom in order to impact future generations for the glory of God. Alonzo had done that and I wanted him to hear me say thank you. Bubba has followed the example of the man that raised him and has impacted the kingdom and I remind him of that and thank him often.

As my conversation ended with Alonzo he explained to me again how grateful he was that my family stopped by. He then proceeded to explain that this is God's plan for the kingdom. We are to work doing God's will in our lives so that the next generation will be moved toward God. The glory is not for us, he reminded me, but we do these good works so that God will receive glory and the kingdom will grow. He then hugged me, shook my hand and we left.

I assume that I will not see Alonzo again in this life. Shar and I made that stop in Madison to honor Bubba and to thank Alonzo. I am grateful for both men. The greatness of the kingdom though is that there was a person somewhere in Alonzo's past that moved him toward serving God, and I in turn need to be working to impact the next generations that will come after me.