The connection with Team Rubicon all began with a cup of hot coffee out of the back of my minivan after an EF3 Tornado hit Glenn Heights and Midlothian, TX on December 26, 2015. Someone asked, “Does your church have showers, Ms. Sandra?” To which I answered, “No, but my house has three of them and Team Rubicon is more than welcome to come use them.”
Zachary Urquhart and his mother-in-law Sandra Smith at the Grace Church of Ovilla in Texas.
Hayley, Amber, Sarah and Jr. (Jacob) arrived later that night for a hot shower after which I learned all about Team Rubicon. A relationship was forged that night between Grace Church Ovilla, the Smiths, and Team Rubicon that none of us could have possibly imagined; but the Lord knew. After a week of serving hot, home-cooked dinners at the church to TR and getting to know them; the relationship took a very unexpected twist which stunned us all.
I was sharing the history of Team Rubicon with my daughter’s family, which included the story of Clay Hunt. At that moment, Zach, my son-in-law looked at me and said, “Sandra, that is my good friend who committed suicide. He was at your house in Houston (Memorial/Spring Branch) for our wedding shower.”
Sandra and Larry Smith, along with their son-in-law Zach, shared their connection to original TR member Clay Hunt.
That night at dinner, as I shared this with the team, there was utter astonishment along with skepticism. No one could believe this connection. I was asked to find out how Zach knew Clay. As it turned out, Zach Urquhart was very good friends with Clay, and they had shared quite a bit of “life together.” They met and worked at Wendy Gap, NC Young Life Summer Camp. In the fall, Zach was off to TX A&M; Clay to Blinn College, so they stayed in close contact as the colleges are next to each other.
Zach knew Clay’s parents and had stayed in their home; as well, Clay had been to Dallas to stay with Zach. He and Clay had taken several trips together, which included a ski trip to Utah and a road trip to Florida. Clay came to the wedding shower in Houston and shortly after, headed to the Marines.
Team Rubicon asked if they could meet Zach, so three weeks after our first encounter with TR, the Smith’s Life Group prepared a special Thanksgiving Feast a few days prior to their departure. Zach came, brought a picture of him and Clay, and shared many stories of their friendship and relationship; lots of laughs were shared that night in honor of Clay.
Team Rubicon will forever hold a special place in our hearts, just as Clay Hunt does in the hearts of those associated with Team Rubicon. We know the Lord ordained this divine appointment because there is no humanly way possible a tornado in Glenn Heights, Texas could have led to this meeting and connection between Team Rubicon, Grace Church Ovilla, Sandra and Larry Smith, Zach Urquhart and Clay Hunt. We thank the Lord daily for this special blessing of sending TR to us and for the gift of being chosen to serve them. It was our honor to do so.
