The pastoral view from Tim and Betsy Covington’s porch at Lake Martin’s New Water Farms tells a story like no other on Lake Martin. For the Covingtons, it is a tale of inspiration, service, stewardship and a sense of mission to which they are so strongly dedicated that they built a house on a lakeside hill to apply themselves to it.
Texas natives, the Covingtons learned about New Water Farms through a network of medical mission acquaintances, and they began volunteering there several years ago.
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%:> r@G:?8E@?[ 2 7@C>6C A92C>24J AC@76DD@C 2E $2>7@C5 &?:G6CD:EJ[ FD65 E@ C2:D6 C@D6D 2E 9:D q:C>:?892> 9@>6[ 2?5 96 EC2?D76CC65 9:D =@G6 7@C =2?5D42A:?8 2?5 J2C5 H@C< E@ E96 3=24<36CCJ 7:6=5D 2?5 G686E23=6 82C56?D 2E E96 s256G:==6 AC@A6CEJ] p=@?8 H:E9 9:D H:76 q6EDJ[ 96 6?E9FD:2DE:42==J H@C<65 E96 =2?5 2?5 E96 92CG6DE E@ 7FCE96C }6H (2E6C’D >:DD:@?\EC2:?:?8 2?5 4@>>F?:EJ\3F:=5:?8 8@2=D] w6 =2E6C H2D ?2>65 E@ E96 }6H (2E6C 3@2C5 @7 5:C64E@CD]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm$@ H96? $E6G6 sF?42? – 2 q:C>:?892> 3FD:?6DD>2?[ 3F:=56C 2?5 76==@H 3@2C5 >6>36C – AC@A@D65 2 A=2? E@ 3F:=5 9@>6D 25;246?E E@ E96 72C>[ E96 r@G:?8E@?D H6C6 2==\:?] pD @H?6C @7 E96 =2?5[ }6H (2E6C C646:G65 E96 C6G6?F6D 7C@> E96 =@E D2=6D[ 2?5 2D E96 56D:8?2E65 9@>63F:=56C 7@C E96 ?6:893@C9@@5[ sF?42? 2?5 9:D H:76 $96CCJ 5@?2E65 E96 H9@=6 @7 E96:C AC@7:ED E@ E96 @C82?:K2E:@?] %96 ?6:893@C9@@5 56G6=@A>6?E :D AC@;64E65 E@ C2:D6 >@C6 E92? Sg__[___ 7@C }6H (2E6C |:?:DEC:6D[ 2 d_`W4Xb 565:42E65 E@ 56G6=@A:?8 5:D4:A=6D9:A[ C6?6H:?8 C6=2E:@?D9:AD H:E9 4C62E:@? 2?5 FD:?8 E9@D6 D<:==D E@ 96=A @E96CD]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2=6I4:EJ@FE=@@<]4@>^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_`f^`a^}6H(2E6C0d__b0a_`f```d];A8Qmk^2mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96:C =2<6 9@>6 :D 2 >@5:7:65 |@DD rC66< 56D:8? E92E C67=64ED E96 r@G:?8E@?D’ 277:?:EJ 7@C E96 D4@A6 @7 E96 }6H (2E6C AC@;64E] %96 4@?E6>A@C2CJ 4C27ED>2? DEJ=6 2?5 A6CD@?2= 56E2:=D :?4@CA@C2E6 ?2EFC2= 6=6>6?ED 7C@> E96 72C>[ 2D H6== 2D C67=64E:@?D @7 E96:C 72:E9 2?5 E96:C 72>:=J]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmx? E96 8C62E C@@>[ q6EDJ r@G:?8E@? – 2? 2CE:DE 2?5 AC@76DD:@?2= ‘7=F776C’ – AC@A@D65 2 4@DE\67764E:G6 D9:A=2A EC62E>6?Ej :?DE625 @7 =:?:?8 E96 6?E:C6 DFC7246 @7 E96 aa\7@@E =:G:?8\DA246 H2==D[ E96 3FEE65 3@2C5 A2?6=:?8 DE@AD e :?496D D9@CE @7 E96 E@AD @7 E96 g\7@@E 5@@C;2>3D] %96 C6DF=E:?8 67764E 4C62E6D 2 D6?D6 @7 :?E:>24J 2?5 H2C>E9] p3@G6 E96 D9:A=2A EC:>[ r@G:?8E@? 49@D6 32C6 3F=3 7:IEFC6D :? H:C6 4286 D4@?46D E@ 3=6?5 E96 4C27ED>2? 766= @7 E96 C@@> H:E9 E96 4@?E6>A@C2CJ 5CJH2== 7:?:D9 @? E96 FAA6C H2==D 2?5 46:=:?8 G2F=E] %96 D:>A=6 H9:E6H2D9 @? E96 3@2C5D 6>A92D:K6D E96 42DF2= E@?6 @7 =:76 2E {2<6 |2CE:? 2?5 C67=64ED E96 ?2EFC2= =:89E E92E DA:==D E9C@F89 E96 FAA6C H:?5@HD] %96 7:C6A=246 72ç256 :D 7:?:D965 H:E9 4C@DD4FE 96H? @2<[ H9:49 7FCE96C 4@??64ED E96 :?E6C:@C H:E9 ?2EFC6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmu@C r9C:DE>2D[ r@G:?8E@? 25565 D:>A=6 7=@4<65 EC66D E@ E96 D:56 @7 E96 962CE9 2?5 82G6 2 8C2A6G:?6 HC62E9 – >256 3J 96C 72E96C b_ J62CD 28@ – E96 A=246 @7 9@?@C @G6C E96 >2?E6=]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“pE 9@>6 :? q:C>:?892>[ x FDF2==J 8@ >@C6 8=:EKJ H:E9 E96 r9C:DE>2D 564@C2E:@?D[ 3FE E9:D D6EE:?8 C62==J 42==D 7@C FD:?8 ?2EFC2= 6=6>6?ED[ E9:?8D =:<6 A:?64@?6D 2?5 7C6D9 8C66?D 2?5 E9:?8D 7C@> E96 72C>[” D96 D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 4@FA=6 4@?G6CE65 2 5@H?DE2:CD 8F6DEC@@> :?E@ 2 >2DE6C E@ <66A E96:C =:G:?8 @? @?6 7=@@C[ D96 D2:5[ 2?5 D96 42CC:65 E96 8C2J 2?5 H9:E6 E@?6D E9C@F89@FE E96 E9C66\365C@@>[ E9C66\32E9 9@>6[ 255:?8 D>2== DA=2D96D @7 3C:89E 4@=@CD E@ >2<6 6249 C@@> D>:=6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 5:?:?8 2C62 D62ED D:I 4@>7@CE23=J[ 3FE r@G:?8E@?D’ 7FC?:EFC6 2CC2?86>6?ED :? E96 8C62E C@@> 2?5 @? E96 DA24:@FD A@C49 2==@H E96 7=6I:3:=:EJ E@ 244@>>@52E6 >@C6 7@C =2C86 82E96C:?8D @7 7C:6?5D 2?5 72>:=J]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmr@G:?8E@? 56D:8?65 2 3C:89E <:E496? 2C62 H:E9 2 J6==@H :D=2?5 E@ 4@>A=6>6?E E96 D=2E6 8C2J $92<6C 423:?6ED[ DE2:?=6DD 2AA=:2?46D 2?5 F?:BF6 7=@H:?8 A2EE6C? @7 E96 4@F?E6CE@A 8C2?:E6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“x =:<65 E96 >@G6>6?E :? E96 8C2?:E6[” D96 D2:5] “%96 <:E496? :D D>2==[ 3FE :E’D 256BF2E6 7@C E96 =2<6]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm$96 5C6DD65 FA E96 <:E496? 7@C E96 D62D@? H:E9 2 =@?8 ?2CC@H EC2J 7:==65 H:E9 DAC:8D @7 9@==J[ 36CC:6D[ D>2== A:?64@?6D 2?5 9:4<@CJ ?FED[ 3FE 96C D62D@?2= 5:DA=2JD 5@ ?@E 5:DA=246 E96 A6CD@?2= 2CEH@C< H:E9 H9:49 E96 r@G:?8E@?D 92G6 564@C2E65 E96:C 9@>6] %96 2CE[ >F49 @7 :E @:=D @? 42?G2D E92E r@G:?8E@? A2:?E65 :? 96C =@7E DEF5:@ – 2 H6==\=:E 4@C?6C 2E E96 E@A @7 E96 DE2:CD – :D 2? 6IAC6DD:@? @7 E92E H9:49 :D 562C E@ E96 4@FA=6 2?5 :?4=F56D A:4EFC6D @7 E96 36=@G65 %6I2D =@?89@C?[ 2D H6== 2D 4@=@C7F= A2:?E:?8D @7 3=24<36CC:6D 2?5 @E96C }6H (2E6C AC@5F46]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 4@FA=6[ >2CC:65 da J62CD[ DE:== C6D:56D 7F== E:>6 :? q:C>:?892> H96C6 %:> @A6C2E6D E96 4@>A2?J 96 7@F?565 H96? 96 =67E $2>7@C5 `_ J62CD 28@] %96J DA6?5 H66<6?5D 2E E96 =2<6 :? E96 @77\D62D@? – 2?5 H66<52JD 5FC:?8 E96 72C>’D 3FDJ E:>6D @C H96? E96:C 49:=5C6? 2?5 8C2?549:=5C6? G:D:E 7C@> pE=2?E2[ v6@C8:2[ 2?5 vC66?G:==6[ $@FE9 r2C@=:?2]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%@ 277@C5 >@C6 AC:G24J 7@C E96 6IE6?565 72>:=J[ sF?42? C6A=2465 E96 A=2?’D =@7E C2:= H:E9 E9C66\BF2CE6C\96:89E H2==D E92E C6E2:? E96 @A6??6DD @7 E96 @C:8:?2= 56D:8? 3FE DE:== 2==@H E96 ?2EFC2= =:89E E@ 7:== E96 DA246 H96C6 E96 72>:=J 42? 82E96C E@ C6=2I[ H2E49 E6=6G:D:@? 2?5 A=2J 82>6D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmsF?42? 64@?@>:K65 E96 DA246 @7 E96 FADE2:CD >6492?:42= C@@> E@ 244@>>@52E6 2 4@KJ 3F?<C@@> H:E9 2 =2<6 G:6H 7@C E96 r@G:?8E@?D’ 8C2?5D@?D[ 2?5 E96:C 52F89E6C 2?5 96C 72>:=J 42? DAC625 @FE :? E96 =2C86C FADE2:CD >2DE6C]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmw6C6[ 2D :? @E96C C@@>D E9C@F89@FE E96 9@>6[ r@G:?8E@? 3C@F89E D:>A=6[ D6?E:>6?E2= 7FC?:D9:?8D 7C@> E96:C q:C>:?892> 9@>6[ 6DA64:2==J A:646D E92E 6>A92D:K6 E96 G6CE:42= 2DA64E @7 E96 9@>6 E@ >2<6 E96 DA246D 766= 3:8] %2==[ ?2CC@H ?:89EDE2?5D 2?5 96C 8C2?572E96C’D @2< C@4<:?8 492:C[ 2=@?8 H:E9 2446?E H2==D E92E 762EFC6 C2H H@@5[ E@?6 5@H? E96 4@?E6>A@C2CJ 56D:8? 6=6>6?ED 2?5 6=6G2E6 E96 423:? 766=]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmqFE E96 C62= D9@H42D6 :? E96 FADE2:CD >2DE6C :D E96 A:4EFC6DBF6 =2<6D:56 G:6H]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“%96 9@FD6 :D 2E E96 E@A @7 E96 9:==[ D@ :E 2=C625J 92D 2 G:6H @7 E96 72C>[ E96 =2<6 2?5 E96 ?6:893@C9@@5[ 3FE E9:D D64@?5\7=@@C G:6H E2<6D :E FA 6G6? 9:896C[” sF?42? D2:5] “xE =@@<D =:<6 }2A2 '2==6J – 2?5 %29@6]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 56G6=@A>6?E AC@;64E A=2? :?4=F565 7:G6 4@FA=6D – ?2>65 E96 z:?85@> qF:=56CD d – E92E 5C6H DEC2HD 7@C E96 9@>6 D:E6D E96J AFC492D65] %96 566565 =@ED =:?6 E96 D@FE96C? 2?5 62DE6C? C:> @7 E96 72C> 2?5 =@@< @FE @? E96 EC66=6DD >625@H E92E C@==D E@ E96 =2<6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“(6 8@E E96 36DE =@E[” %:> D2:5 9F>3=J[ 3FE H:E9 2 H:56 8C:? 96 25565[ “$@>6E:>6D[ x 2=>@DE 766= 325 23@FE :E]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 C@==:?8 >625@H 36=@H E96 r@G:?8E@?D’ 9@>6 6G6?EF2==J H:== :?4=F56 2 EC6==:D65 3=24<36CCJ 7:6=5[ 2 H2E6C72== 2?5 2 DH:>>:?8 A@@=[ 2D H6== 2D 2 4@>>@? A2C< 2C62]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm~?6 @7 E96 r@G:?8E@?D’ 72G@C:E6 A=246D :D 2? 6?ECJ =6G6= 4@G6C65 564< E92E @G6C=@@<D E96 C@==:?8 9:==D:56[ 72C> 2?5 =2<6] %96 e__\DBF2C6\7@@E A@C49 :?4=F56D EH@ D:EE:?8 2C62D – @?6 @FED:56 E96 8C62E C@@> 2?5 @E96C @FED:56 E96 5@H?DE2:CD >2DE6C]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96J =:<6 E@ @A6? E96 uC6?49 5@@CD @?E@ E96 564< E@ 7:== E96 9@>6 H:E9 7C6D9 2:C 2?5 E2<6 25G2?E286 @7 E96 D66>:?8=J 6G6C\AC6D6?E 3C66K6] %96J 92G6 6IE6?565 E96 A@C49 D62D@? 3J 255:?8 2 A@CE23=6 7:C6 A:E[ H96C6 E96J =@G6 E@ 92G6 E96:C >@C?:?8 4@7766 @C D92C6 2? 6G6?:?8 8=2DD @7 H:?6 H9:=6 E96J E2<6 :? E96 G:6H 2?5 5:D4FDD E96 H@C< @7 E96 52J 2?5 :ED C6=2E:G:EJ E@ E96:C D6CG2?E 42== 2E }6H (2E6C u2C>D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmu@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@? 23@FE }6H (2E6C |:?:DEC:6D[ G:D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^?6HH2E6C]4@>Qm?6HH2E6C]4@>k^2m[ 6>2:= k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i:?7@o?6HH2E6C]4@>Qm:?7@o?6HH2E6C]4@>k^2m @C 5C:G6 @FE E@ E96 72C> 2E ce_ r:G:E2? #5][ s256G:==6]k^DA2?mk^Am
