Member Spotlight
Nellie Ledesma
March 10, 2017
Nellie Ledesma was born in Nueva Laredo, Mexico, and adopted by her family who lived in Cotulla on a ranch where they raised cattle and chicken. She spent most of her early life in Cotulla from kindergarten through high school. Besides her mom and dad, her family included four older children.
Nellie fondly remembers her childhood on the ranch. They would go to the river, which she loved. “I loved listening to the river,” Nellie says. Since Cotulla was very dry and hot, a favorite thing to do was to play in the huge spigot from the irrigation pipes. She had a pet deer, brought home by her dad when the mother was killed. Nellie loved the faun, and the faun loved her, even after she grew up and had two baby bucks. Even as an adult, her doe would eat out of Nellie’s hand.
Nellie rode the bus from the ranch to school, and remembers trading her tacos for sandwiches. She thought sandwiches were wonderful because that meant being rich. The kids who came to school with sandwiches thought they got the better deal because they though tacos tasted better. School was rough in the beginning for Nellie, as she spoke no English and the school spoke no Spanish. A big change for her came when one of her teachers took a special interest in Nellie, and she made the promise to learn what she needed to learn.
Nellie has been married to Rob Ledesma for 20 years. Rob does commercial flooring for places such as Army bases, schools and hospitals. He is on the road constantly, since they have been blessed with a lot of contracts. They have no children, but she has three dogs, and they have lots of nieces and nephews. She is now taking turns with her sister caring for her elderly mother.
Nellie no longer works because of an accident that left her disabled two years ago when she fell off a ladder. Before the accident, she worked in the prison for seven years, and before that in other positions as an administrative secretary in Round Rock and Austin.
A member of Taylor FUMC for a month, Nellie used to be a Catholic, but likes her new Methodist experience. Betty Brown invited her to come to church and she especially appreciates our pastor who was most welcoming to her when she attended. She reports she was actually shocked when she first came because the members of the church were so outgoing and welcoming. Her Catholic experience was of a much more reserved and quiet congregation. “It’s awesome,” she says. “Before when I left a service, I felt like I was carrying the cross, but now I feel uplifted when I leave.”
Nellie reports that she always wanted to sing in the choir. [The writer enthusiastically let her know the choir welcomes new members and would love to have her take part!] Her favorite hymns are “I’ll Fly Away” and “Go Rest High Upon the Mountain.” She loves those because they free your spirit, and remind you that it is okay to let go. She loves the bluesy, belted-out, soulful, old gospel music.
As a good friend, Nellie can be boisterous and out-spoken but she gave up being snarky for Lent. “I want to be a friend people would like to have,” says Nellie. Her husband says she’s a good wife.
If money were no object, Nellie would be a missionary somewhere she knows the language. She would love to help communities. And as for where to travel, she would love to go to Nazareth and the Holy Land.
The most fun Nellie has ever had was going to Costa Rica, sightseeing and learning about the county. She particularly enjoyed getting to know the citizens of Costa Rica, and remembers one family who was selling coconut water on the beach. The mother was working very hard, and had several children helping out as well. Rob asked one of the boys if they liked soccer. They replied “Oh, yes!” Rob and Nellie came up with the idea to go to the little market near there, and buy the boys a soccer ball and whatever else they needed so that they could play. “That made their day and it made our day,” says Nellie. “It made me feel so good.”
Nellie fondly remembers her childhood on the ranch. They would go to the river, which she loved. “I loved listening to the river,” Nellie says. Since Cotulla was very dry and hot, a favorite thing to do was to play in the huge spigot from the irrigation pipes. She had a pet deer, brought home by her dad when the mother was killed. Nellie loved the faun, and the faun loved her, even after she grew up and had two baby bucks. Even as an adult, her doe would eat out of Nellie’s hand.
Nellie rode the bus from the ranch to school, and remembers trading her tacos for sandwiches. She thought sandwiches were wonderful because that meant being rich. The kids who came to school with sandwiches thought they got the better deal because they though tacos tasted better. School was rough in the beginning for Nellie, as she spoke no English and the school spoke no Spanish. A big change for her came when one of her teachers took a special interest in Nellie, and she made the promise to learn what she needed to learn.
Nellie has been married to Rob Ledesma for 20 years. Rob does commercial flooring for places such as Army bases, schools and hospitals. He is on the road constantly, since they have been blessed with a lot of contracts. They have no children, but she has three dogs, and they have lots of nieces and nephews. She is now taking turns with her sister caring for her elderly mother.
Nellie no longer works because of an accident that left her disabled two years ago when she fell off a ladder. Before the accident, she worked in the prison for seven years, and before that in other positions as an administrative secretary in Round Rock and Austin.
A member of Taylor FUMC for a month, Nellie used to be a Catholic, but likes her new Methodist experience. Betty Brown invited her to come to church and she especially appreciates our pastor who was most welcoming to her when she attended. She reports she was actually shocked when she first came because the members of the church were so outgoing and welcoming. Her Catholic experience was of a much more reserved and quiet congregation. “It’s awesome,” she says. “Before when I left a service, I felt like I was carrying the cross, but now I feel uplifted when I leave.”
Nellie reports that she always wanted to sing in the choir. [The writer enthusiastically let her know the choir welcomes new members and would love to have her take part!] Her favorite hymns are “I’ll Fly Away” and “Go Rest High Upon the Mountain.” She loves those because they free your spirit, and remind you that it is okay to let go. She loves the bluesy, belted-out, soulful, old gospel music.
As a good friend, Nellie can be boisterous and out-spoken but she gave up being snarky for Lent. “I want to be a friend people would like to have,” says Nellie. Her husband says she’s a good wife.
If money were no object, Nellie would be a missionary somewhere she knows the language. She would love to help communities. And as for where to travel, she would love to go to Nazareth and the Holy Land.
The most fun Nellie has ever had was going to Costa Rica, sightseeing and learning about the county. She particularly enjoyed getting to know the citizens of Costa Rica, and remembers one family who was selling coconut water on the beach. The mother was working very hard, and had several children helping out as well. Rob asked one of the boys if they liked soccer. They replied “Oh, yes!” Rob and Nellie came up with the idea to go to the little market near there, and buy the boys a soccer ball and whatever else they needed so that they could play. “That made their day and it made our day,” says Nellie. “It made me feel so good.”
Be sure to let Nellie know how much we appreciate her being a part of our congregation, and wait until you hear how beautifully she sings!
By Robin McKinley