Grateful for State Missions
By Rudy Camacho

When I was asked if I would write an article concerning the Mary Hill Davis Offering for State Missions, I became excited since I do have a testimony to give. I have always been grateful for Texas Baptists and now Texas Baptists Committed who have embraced and made the Hispanics in Texas an integral part of our convention. I want to thank David Currie and Charles C. McLaughlin for attending our Hispanic Baptist Conventions. I believe that both of them can understand the term “mi casa es tu casa” better now since we have also welcomed them as one of us.

Especially I thank God for the Baptist General Convention of Texas and Vision 2000. This reveals a desire to cooperatively use our resources in a strategic plan to reach Hispanics in Texas. I want to express my appreciation to Texas Baptists Committed for the support of this effort. Although I feel a Spirit of Thanksgiving, I must stop and write on my topic.

My family grew in Brownwood. I did not say “up” because if you knew the Camachos, then you would know we are short in stature. Our father worked and retired from the Santa Fe Railroad. He must have loved to read the Old Testament. In a family of twelve, there are names like Rebecca, Sara, Ester, Daniel, David, Moses, Noah, Elias and the rest of us. Eight names from the Old Testament and none from the New Testament.

The trend in those days was to drop out of school in the fifth grade and work. Our father would not permit this and insisted that we continue school. He encouraged and supported the family for us to attend college. Dr. Jose Rivas was our pastor at First Mexican Baptist Church and informed Dad about Mary Hill Davis scholarships. Thus began a long list of Camachos receiving an education with the help of State Missions support.

The State Missions Director at that time, Dr. Charles P. McLaughlin, came to know Dad, Zenaido Camacho, since about seven of my brothers and sisters applied and received Mary Hill Davis Scholarship assistance. I remember Dr. McLaughlin asking Dad, “How many more Camachos are there?” Dad replied, “One more.”

My brothers and sisters attended Baylor or Howard Payne where they also secured work and scholastic scholarships. However, it all started with Mary Hill Davis. As a result my brothers and sisters have served as state and government workers, school teachers, as Dean of a Medical School at Baylor Hospital, as political science professor and Dean of Admissions at Rice University.

In addition, my wonderful wife, Micaela Espiricueta, a Howard Payne graduate, was the first recipient and graduate of the Mary Hill Davis Latin American Scholarship. She has been an elementary school principal at the same school in Fort Worth for twelve years.

To God be the Glory! Thank our Lord for the Mary Hill Davis offering for State Missions. Thank God for the opportunity to pursue a dream that Dad had for his family. I am proud of all of my brothers and sisters for their accomplishments. I am indebted to Texas Baptists for their faithfulness to and support of the Mary Hill Davis offering.

September 1996